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What is the most common word for sin in the Old Testament?

In "Word Focus" Danny McCain writes:

“Cleanse me from my sin.” The word used here (chatha) is the most common word for sin in the Old Testament. It basically means “to miss the mark” or “to come short of the goal.” Robert Girdlestone says, “If man was originally made in the image of God, it must have been implanted in him as a first principle that he should live as God lives. Every departure, therefore, from the law of right is a coming short of the purpose for which man was made, and a missing of the goal which ought to be reached” (Synonyms of the O.T.).

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 46.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-20T09:00:00+00:00October 20th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: sin|0 Comments

The Fruit of Repentance
The Fruit of Repentance

The Fruit of Repentance

Read Psalm 51:1-10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (v. 10).
My mom loved planting trees. Sometimes the trees she ordered arrived looking like lifeless twigs. With proper care in planting and nourishment, however,we would soon have a foliage-filled tree bearing beautiful, delicious fruit. God has a desire for every human being ever conceived to live such a wholesome life with a guilt-free, purified, and loyal heart toward Him.
Why would we remain a "lifeless twig" when we can have an abundant life? This doesn'tmean our lives will always be easy, with no sorrow, health concerns, or broken relationships. Those are often the tools of cultivation and means of nourishment that produce the sweetest fruit. With God's plan of growth through repentance and forgiveness, we can prevail through all this world's storms of sin. We can have a victorious, peaceful, and bountiful life, knowing we have a whiter-than-snow heart, a home in heaven, and a Savior, who has it all under control. (Wanda Skeen)

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- James Nicholson (Public Domain)

Forsake sin and live free and clean.

This devotional is the Sunday, October 23, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-19T09:27:00+00:00October 19th, 2016|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Repentance|0 Comments

The Barrier of Unfamiliar Songs

The post-modern Church has been blessed with a large repertoire of worship songs. One unintentional barrier we may place before the unchurched who visit our services and Sunday school classes may be the songs we choose to sing.
Unfortunately, our society has lost much of its Christian influence. While expressing our love for God in newer songs is important to keep our faith fresh, many unchurched people have limited knowledge of songs, often knowing only hymns sung at funerals. At the other extreme, while some of the older hymns have great words and meaning to us, the unfamiliar wording and cadence may be confusing to our guests. These observations should be tempered by the recognition people do need to learn new worship songs to broaden their faith.
The point is that public worship, even in the Sunday school hour, should strive to bring people together in unity. This is made difficult if only a few are participating in the singing, due to a barrier of unfamiliar songs.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-18T09:00:00+00:00October 18th, 2016|Categories: Teacher Helps|Tags: Songs|0 Comments

Freedom From Sin

Lesson 8 - October 23, 2016
Focus Text: Psalm 51:117
Central Truth: Only in Christ do we find relief from the sin problem.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to describe what repentance and saving faith are.
Lesson Outline:

A Confession of Sin (Psalm 51:1-6)
The Cleansing From Sin (Psalm 51:7-13)
A Contrition of Spirit (Psalm 51:14-19)

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-17T09:00:00+00:00October 17th, 2016|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: sin|0 Comments

Prayer – Lesson 7, Studies in the Psalms

Heavenly Father, may this lesson on how to find encouragement in You reach those who are downcast, discouraged, and depressed. Help us to look to You in seasons of joy and distress.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-16T08:00:00+00:00October 16th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: prayer|0 Comments

"As the Deer" – YouTube

Enjoy this YouTube video with lyrics and images set to this beautiful song of worship.
https://youtu.be/a5pZkLWZv-E

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-15T09:00:01+00:00October 15th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: worship|0 Comments

How to Conquer Discouragement

In "Doctrinal Discussion" William Sillings writes the four following tips for conquering discouragement:

Whenever possible fill your mind and heart with praise and thanks to God for what He has already done for you.
Consciously dwell upon whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy — instead of things that are negative and which cause doubts and fears in your life.
Fill your mind with scriptures that contain the promises of God to you.
Practice believing God to answer prayer when you are not under the test of discouragement.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 44.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-14T09:00:00+00:00October 14th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Discouragement|0 Comments

Do You Hunger after God?
Do You Hunger after God?

Do You Hunger after God?

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Psalm 42:1)

In "God's Word for Today" David Woods writes:

Psalms 42 and 43 are all about a passion to worship God. This is seen powerfully in the word picture found in these verses. Yet the modern reader can easily mistake what the psalmist was saying. “Brooks” here does not refer to a bubbling stream perpetually flowing from some spring. Rather, this is “the translation of a Hebrew word used for channels which sometimes flow with water, but which are only ravines in the arid season. The deer, who has come to this wadi for a drink, has found only dust.”

Discussion: Have you ever experienced a "dry" season of life spiritually? How did you find satisfaction for your soul?
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 41.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-13T09:00:00+00:00October 13th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Hunger|0 Comments

The Persistence of Faith

Read Matthew 15:21-28
"But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us." (v. 23).
The story was told of a great Christian statesman of a previous generation. As a youth, he attended a Christian school, but his rebellious attitude kept him in trouble. Time and again he was brought to school authorities and was often on the verge of expulsion. A teacher in that Christian school had taken this young man to his heart. As often as the boy was in trouble, the teacher interceded to the administration on the boy’s behalf. Eventually, the boy was saved and went on to become a missionary statesman who served his generation well.
Many years later, the missionary statesman preached in a camp meeting I attended. At the close of the service, I responded to the invitation, telling God I would do whatever He wanted me to do. During those minutes at the altar, God called me to preach.
What if they had sent that young man away? My life and many others lives might have been very different. What if we send people away from Jesus? Instead, let us do everything we can to point people to Jesus. He can and will make a difference in their lives. Our faith and theirs will make a difference. (Mark Avery)

Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring them in from the fields of sin;
Bring them in, bring them in,
Bring the wand’ring ones to Jesus.
Alexcenah Thomas (Public Domain)

Don’t send people away from Jesus; bring them to Him.

This devotional is the Thursday, October 6, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-12T09:00:00+00:00October 12th, 2016|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: faith|0 Comments

The Barrier of Irrelevant Teaching

So what?
This question is both the most scary and important a teacher can be asked at the end of the lesson. If we don't have a good answer - why was what we taught so important to our lives - it is good cause for embarrassment. Yet this question is essential because it cuts through the veneer of style and personality and lays bare the substance of what has been taught. Has everything that has been said fluff - impressive quotes, interesting facts, intriguing statistics, etc. - but nothing that speaks to any real life change I must make as a result of this lesson?
It is not enough to understand the cultural and historical background of the scripture, even though this is important. It is not enough to understand the roots of various Hebrew or Greek words, although this could shed light on the text. Simply, without a bridge made from the ancient text to our contemporary situation, the teacher's work is incomplete.

Herald & Banner Press2016-10-11T09:00:00+00:00October 11th, 2016|Categories: Teacher Helps|Tags: Teaching|0 Comments

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