bookstoreadmin, Author at HERALD AND BANNER PRESS

August 30, 2020: The Need
August 30, 2020: The Need

August 30, 2020: The Need

THE NEED
When we find a really good restaurant or read a really good book, what is our typical reaction? We want to tell somebody. And it should go without saying that we want to tell someone if we come across something they really need. The group of lepers who had found a source of food outside besieged and starving Samaria said to one another, “We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace . . . now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household” (2 Kings 7:9).

If we have found new life in Christ, we have found the most wonderful thing in the world. But of course, many around us would not share our enthusiasm, considering the news of a clearance sale more exciting. How can we share with others what we have found? Should we try?

Be ready to give your class the answer on Sunday!

bookstoreadmin2020-08-24T15:42:17+00:00August 28th, 2020|Categories: God's Word for Today|Tags: Great Commission, sharing|0 Comments

Aug. 26, 2020: The Master’s Commands
Aug. 26, 2020: The Master’s Commands

Aug. 26, 2020: The Master’s Commands

Read Matthew 10: 9-16

The Master’s Commands

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (vs.16).

Jesus was our perfect example. His preaching and teaching were sometimes pointed, and at other times couched in stories and allegories. He knew his audience and how best to speak to them. We do not have His wisdom! But we need to seek a measure of His wisdom when approaching others. Some will dismiss you immediately, some will be curious, and others will scoff and seek to argue. Others, prepared by God, will seek to know more. In any case, a gentle wind will leave a pleasant breeze, where pontificating may leave a fretful scar.

Will it stir the stormy waters or bring a peaceful calm;

speak as Jesus did and breathe a restful balm?

Will it greet the wayward son, or heap on bitter shame;

mend the broken fences, or seek to assess blame?

Will it lift a lowly spirit, or drag it farther down;

bring joy to others, or let them slowly drown?

Will it fuel an angry conflict, or give the gift of peace;

trifle with their feelings, or bring a sweet release?

Will it wound without a cure, or remind of God’s great love;

taste of empty words, or fill with joy above?

Take caution every day, that blessings flow from what you say

-Jan Hamilton

bookstoreadmin2020-08-24T15:29:26+00:00August 26th, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: commands, example|0 Comments

August 30, 2020: The Great Commission
August 30, 2020: The Great Commission

August 30, 2020: The Great Commission

PRINTED TEXT: Mark 16:14 20; Matthew 28:16 20

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ's command to proclaim the gospel requires a ready response from every Christian.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list things they can do to obey the Great Commission.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. The Church's Task (Mark 16:14 20)

II. The Lord's Power (Matthew 28:16 18)

III. The Lord's Presence (Matthew 28:19, 20)

bookstoreadmin2020-08-24T15:21:45+00:00August 24th, 2020|Categories: Front Page, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: Evangelism, Great Commission, proclaim|0 Comments

Christ Serves the Hungry
Christ Serves the Hungry

Christ Serves the Hungry

Read Luke 9:10-17

Christ Serves the Hungry

“Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them,

and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude” (v. 16).

Have you ever served in a shelter house for the homeless? I have not, but I know people who enjoy the ministry of helps. Three people come to mind. Our church honors those who help others, so my son-in-law has served meals at a downtown mission a few weeks before Christmas. My hairdresser goes one day a month to the same mission. She began this service with hesitation, but now it’s her sweet blessing to serve. My sister leads a Bible study for inmates at a prison, and she’s done this for many years. What impresses the women is that they can count on her being there; her faithfulness is appreciated.

The crowd who gathered to hear Jesus that day could not be called homeless, but they would have missed a meal and more of Jesus’ teaching if not for the miracle of feeding the 5000 (not counting women and children). With no grocery store nearby, Jesus took what was available – five loaves of bread and two fish – and turned these into a banquet for the multitude. With His blessing, all were satisfied. (Ann Coker)

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,

Cords that are broken will vibrate once more.

–Fanny Crosby

Taking one’s turn to serve others is no chore.

bookstoreadmin2020-08-19T16:34:39+00:00August 19th, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: homeless, hungry|0 Comments

August 23, 2020: The Measure of Greatness
August 23, 2020: The Measure of Greatness

August 23, 2020: The Measure of Greatness

PRINTED TEXT: Mark 10:35 45

CENTRAL TRUTH: Service to Christ and to others is the true measure of greatness.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list ways in which they may serve others.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. Greatness Desired (Mark 10:35 40)

II. Greatness Described (Mark 10:41 44)

III. Greatness Demonstrated (Mark 10:45)

bookstoreadmin2020-08-18T13:20:02+00:00August 18th, 2020|Categories: Front Page, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: greatness|0 Comments

Waiting for Christ’s Coming.
Waiting for Christ’s Coming.

Waiting for Christ’s Coming.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18.

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (v. 14).

From 1955-58, my father was pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the little town of Dublin, IN. There were not many men in that church. I can only think of three. One of them was Donnie Day. This brother carried his guitar and songbook from revival to revival in our area. The song that he sang that sticks in my mind said, “Wait a little longer, please Jesus…A few more days to get our loved ones in.”

Waiting is usually not much fun, at least not for me. I often find myself counting from 1-100, over and over, while I wait – just hoping the event will happen before I finish. For me, waiting is associated with inactivity – wasted time. But Donnie Day’s song reminds us that not all waiting is time wasted. Waiting may mean the difference between a loved one being saved or lost.

But how can we redeem the time while we wait? A retired missionary from Alaska, Sis. Honeycutt had a different perspective. For her, waiting on Jesus is like a waitress “waiting” on you at a restaurant. That person’s goal is to meet all your needs as best they can so that you will have a good experience.

How are we waiting on Jesus? Counting to 100 over and over again, wishing He would hurry up? Or are we busy meeting HIS needs? (Gordon L Snider)

“While I am waiting on Jesus to return, I will focus my mind on pleasing Him and meeting His needs.”

bookstoreadmin2020-08-10T19:58:25+00:00August 12th, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Waiting|0 Comments

Preparing for Christ’s Return
Preparing for Christ’s Return

Preparing for Christ’s Return

PRINTED TEXT: Matthew 24:32 51

CENTRAL TRUTH: All should take heed to Christ's warning and prepare for His soon return.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify things a person must do to prepare for Christ's coming.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. The Time of His Coming (Matthew 24:32-36)

II. The Nature of His Coming (Matthew 24:37-41)

III. Be Ready for His Coming (Matthew 24:42-51)

bookstoreadmin2020-08-10T19:53:15+00:00August 10th, 2020|Categories: Front Page, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: return, Second Coming, warning|0 Comments

Flee Hypocrisy
Flee Hypocrisy

Flee Hypocrisy

Read 1 Peter 2:1-5.

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (v. 2).

“I do not feed my children spoiled burgers…” Years ago, I was privileged to hear Attorney David Gibbs II illustrate the meaning of the Scripture, “Train up a child…” (Prov. 22:6a). He explained that to train a child is to reach back and touch the palette with wholesome food, because, once the palette senses the taste, it will remember it moving forward. Therefore, should spoiled meat touch the tastebuds, the partaker will instantly sense that the substance is not genuine, and will be able to reject it, thus preventing illness.

The best way to flee hypocrisy is to stay away from the company it hangs out with – malicious, envious, backbiting, disingenuous, selfish, criticizing people. Hypocrites love to add members to their cast, creating drama to deceive everyone around them. Removing oneself from their influence – in other words, “resisting the devil” – is a step that leads to spiritual growth. The sincere milk of the Word is nutritious, edifying, and whole; it is not watered down to 2% by distorting the truth.

Stay away from the drama in which Satan delights.

He’s a master at causing turmoil and strife.

Instead, search the Word – truth God wants you to know,

And feast on His promises so in wisdom you’ll grow. (R. B. Kuhn)

Acquire a taste for the good things of God; that’s the best way to avoid succumbing to the devil’s false food.

bookstoreadmin2020-08-03T16:21:03+00:00August 5th, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: flee, Hypocrisy, Word|0 Comments

The Sin of Hypocrisy
The Sin of Hypocrisy

The Sin of Hypocrisy

PRINTED TEXT: Matthew 23:25 - 37

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ is deeply grieved when men reject Him.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list reasons why hypocrisy is a sin.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. Majoring on Minors (Matthew 23:16 22)
II. Emphasizing Externals (Matthew 23:23 28)
III. Condemned by Deity (Matthew 23:29 39)

bookstoreadmin2020-08-03T16:16:29+00:00August 3rd, 2020|Categories: Front Page, Uncategorized, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: Hypocrisy, sin|0 Comments

Better in Love
Better in Love

Better in Love

Read 1 Corinthians 13:9-13.

Better in Love.

“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (v. 10).

This week we are focusing on God’s Better Plan. The world talks and sings a lot about love. So it is very evident that love is also a part of the world’s plan. So what makes the love that is in God’s plan better than the love that is in the world’s plan? To answer that question, read back through 1 Corinthians 13 – the chapter that describes God’s plan of love.

From this chapter, we can see the superiority of God’s love first because that love never ends. God never says, “I just cannot love that person anymore.” His love “never fails.” God’s love is also superior because it is not self-centered – it “seeketh not her own.” Further, this love is not based upon a fantasy, but upon truth – “rejoiceth in truth.” Verse 7 emphasizes that God’s love motivates us to positive action in the worst of times.

In comparison, the world’s love often ends, is often selfish, is based upon feeling rather than truth, and often turns to hate when circumstances change.

God never met a person He could not love! He has a better plan! (GLS)

Make my love like yours, dear Lord,

Unending, selfless, and true,

So that when others see my love,

They will quickly think of You. (GLS)

bookstoreadmin2020-04-24T14:36:50+00:00April 29th, 2020|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: better, plan|0 Comments

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