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How Should We Worship God?
How Should We Worship God?

How Should We Worship God?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:

A vibrant spirit makes a new song out of old lyrics. New can mean “fresh” as well as new in time. Because the mercies of the Lord are “new every morning” (Lam. 3:23), our response must also be new, even if we use the same words. Play skillfully. The worship of God has no place for mediocrity. The word skillfully combines the ideas of doing an action well, and/or in a way that is pleasing to the observer. However we express our wor-ship, it must be in a way that brings joy to the heart of God. With a loud noise. The initial word of the Psalm emphasized the exuberance of the praise. Here again the word picture is of an alarm sounded, or the blast of a trumpet. We are urged to involve all our energy in the praise of our God.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 29.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-29T13:00:00+00:00September 29th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: worship|0 Comments

What is your purpose in worship?
What is your purpose in worship?

What is your purpose in worship?

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

Too often we do conduct our worship services without purpose. Mindlessly singing songs we’ve sung for years, we blindly follow patterns established years before.
**Discussion: **Why do we sing praise to God? What is our purpose in worship? Is singing praise songs about me and my feelings?
David encouraged us to approach worship more thoughtfully and purposefully in the introductory verses of this Psalm.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 29.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-29T09:00:00+00:00September 29th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: worship|0 Comments

God's Greatness in Redemption
God's Greatness in Redemption

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (v. 14).
I remember well those early days of ministry in my first pastorate some 35-plus years ago, and I remember an elderly gentleman named Arnold who regularly attended the services. When the congregation was given the opportunity to select a hymn to be sung, Arnold would request No. 247 and then not sing a word. Arnold just sat quietly with tears coursing down his weather-worn, wrinkled, leatherlike cheeks as we sang, Redeemed, Redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Arnold had not been raised in the church but had a godly grandmother like mine in his childhood. He had lived a rough sinners life well into adulthood. But one day the Saviour knocked at his heart's door, and Arnold confessed his sin, sought and found forgiveness, and experienced the redemption of saving grace made possible by our Saviour Jesus Christ. Yes, Arnold knew the full price had been paid because our loving God was great in giving redemption through Jesus His Son. (John 3:16)
The greatness of God has been manifested for you in the blood of Jesus that has paid the full price for your redemption. Have you accepted that redemption? (Marshall Mosley)

Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.
- Fanny J. Crosby (Public Domain)

<
p style="text-align:center;font-style:italic;">The full price has been paid for your soul. Live a redeemed life.
This devotional is the Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-28T09:00:00+00:00September 28th, 2016|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Redemption|0 Comments

The Barrier of Reading

According to the Literacy Project Foundation, "50% of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth grade level" and "45 million are functionally illiterate and read below a 5th grade level."^Literacy Project Foundation Meanwhile, the King James Version is rated at a 12th grade reading level.^Christianbook.com
Therefore, as a Sunday school teacher you should be aware that a number of your students may have difficulty in reading. Some may have difficulty in reading the King James Version, especially uncommon biblical names.
How can you lower the reading barrier in your class?

Be sure to practice reading the scripture text yourself, so that you can read it fluently.
If there are difficult words/names to pronounce, lead the class in pronouncing these various words before reading the text.
Avoid asking those who struggle reading or those who are new to your class to read, especially the more difficult verses.
Do NOT correct (and thereby embarrass) students when they mispronounce or struggle with various words.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-27T09:00:00+00:00September 27th, 2016|Categories: Teacher Helps|Tags: Reading|0 Comments

The Greatness of God

Lesson 5 - October 2, 2016
Focus Text: Psalm 33:1-15
Central Truth: God deliveres all who trust in Him.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify three attributes of God and the specific effects each of these has on their lives.
Lesson Outline:

Great in His Righteousness (Psalm 33:1-5)
Great in His Power (Psalm 33:6-12)
Great in His Knowledge (Psalm 33:13-22)

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-26T09:00:00+00:00September 26th, 2016|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: God|0 Comments

Prayer – Lesson 4, Turning Fear into Courage

Heavenly Father, as our classes study this lesson today, help our students to learn how to respond to life's challenges with courage instead of paralyzing fear. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-25T08:00:00+00:00September 25th, 2016|Categories: Teacher Helps|Tags: prayer|0 Comments

What should we do after praying to God about our troubles?
What should we do after praying to God about our troubles?

What should we do after praying to God about our troubles?

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalm 27:14)

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:

This closing exhortation may have been self-talk, the psalmist’s instructions to others based upon what he had just experienced, or the words of a third party to the psalmist. It concludes a Psalm characterized by imperatives with three more. Wait on the LORD suggests the idea of “Don’t give up.” This is active waiting — with expectation and hope, not resignation and exasperation. Be of good courage could be paraphrased, “Be tough.” Christians are not soft-skinned weaklings. They are warriors who must expect the adversities of battle. But in the battle we must not forget our resources. He shall strengthen thine heart. There is an interesting parallel in these two lines. God is said to do for us what we are commanded to do for ourselves.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 25.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-24T09:00:00+00:00September 24th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: prayer|0 Comments

What is the greatest of fears?
What is the greatest of fears?

What is the greatest of fears?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" William Sillings writes:

The captain of fears, according to John’s first epistle, is fear of punishment by God. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (4:17, 18). So, the wall plaque is correct, “The fear of God is the fear that drives out all others.”
It should not be assumed by this passage, however, that all fear is sinful or the result of not loving God. Some fears are lodged deep within the subconscious and need to be treated psychologically. They do not have spiritual roots. Nevertheless, even here the fear and love of God are often the keys to freedom from deep-seated fear which does not have moral overtones.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 26.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-23T09:00:00+00:00September 23rd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: fear|0 Comments

How Can the Christian Be So Confident?
How Can the Christian Be So Confident?

How Can the Christian Be So Confident?

"Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." (Psalm 27:3)

In "Word Focus" Danny McCain writes:

The word confident in verse 3 sheds some insight into why the psalmist was not afraid. It is the word batach which “expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence” (Theological Wordbook of the O.T.). The word does not seem to have the basic connotation of “faith” in the evangelical sense. Rather it describes a feeling of security and safety. It is used in Judges 18:7: “Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt . . . quiet and secure.”

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 22.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-22T09:00:00+00:00September 22nd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Confidence|0 Comments

Courage Tested
Courage Tested

Courage Tested

Read Jeremiah 38:1-6

“Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon, there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire” (v. 6).
Bringing unfavorable news to the royal court has always had its risks. Kings of ancient times were notoriously bad losers. If they didn’t like the message, they took it out on the messenger. And people still do this today. Many have been the times that an attendee felt the sharp steel of God’s truth against his neck and decided that it was the preacher who was the problem and never came back. Today, sounding forth the Lord’s message might decrease the congregation; in Jeremiah’s day, it decreased one’s life!
Jeremiah offended the high ranking officials in the court of Zedekiah. They felt sure his words would weaken the morale of the military men. When they asked permission to do away with the prophet, the king did not stand in their way. And so Jeremiah found himself in the muddy, slimy bottom of a well – friendless, dirty, and awaiting death.
Have you ever been in that place? Has your courage for Christ been rewarded with a smelly, filthy situation? Don’t despair. Take it from Jeremiah, it’s best to obey the Lord, even if it means sitting in the mud for a while. (Valorie Quesenberry)

Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
(Isaac Watts: Public Domain)

<
p style="text-align:center;font-style:italic;">A test of courage can only be passed through, not gone around.
This devotional is the Thursday, September 22, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2016-09-21T09:00:00+00:00September 21st, 2016|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Courage|0 Comments

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