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What motivates God?
What motivates God?

What motivates God?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland asks the question, "What motivates God?" Why does God love us so much? He then writes:

Yet, for love to be real, there must always be the possibility of pain and rejection. God made Himself vulnerable in order to live in loving community with other beings, and He was rejected, first by many of the angels, and then by humanity. He continues to feel the pain of rejection up to this very moment. Most of us would run from that level of pain, but God embraced the pain through love and found a way to win many people back to Himself. That way, of course, is the cross.

Discussion: What motivates us? How does this compare to what motivates God?
Source: Jesus, The Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 7.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-04T09:00:00+00:00March 4th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: cross, love|0 Comments

Do you have a predisposition for forgiveness?
Do you have a predisposition for forgiveness?

Do you have a predisposition for forgiveness?

In "God's Word for Today", David Woods writes the following discussion question:

What does it say to you that Jesus was known for His forgiving spirit while the religious leaders were known for condemnation? Is our church known for its willingness to forgive or its tendency to condemn?

He follows this up by saying:

Our passion obviously is to live holy before God. But what does it say when our church is known for strict, even judgmental, attitudes, rather than a caring love for others? Did Jesus, while He was on earth, have a reputation for holiness or for loving the sinner?

Discussion: Are we more like Jesus or more like the religious leaders in regards to forgiveness? What is our predisposition?
Source: Jesus, the Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 5.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-03T09:00:00+00:00March 3rd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Forgiveness|0 Comments

The Forgiving Savior
The Forgiving Savior

Lesson 1 - March 6, 2016
Focus Text: Matthew 9:1-7; John 8:1-11
Central Truth: Christ’s character is marked by His forgiving love.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list at least two ways Christ’s forgiving love should change our lives.
Lesson Outline:

Jesus' Power for Forgiveness (Matthew 9:1-7)
Jesus' Predisposition for Forgiveness (John 8:1-5)
Jesus' Perspective on Forgiveness (John 8:6-9)
Jesus' Purpose in Forgiveness (John 8:10-11)

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-02T15:20:00+00:00March 2nd, 2016|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: Forgiveness, Jesus|0 Comments

Teaching is Not Reading
Teaching is Not Reading

Teaching is Not Reading

Have you ever attended a Sunday school that was just a reading session? You know what I mean, don't you? First one person reads a verse and its commentary. Then the next person reads the second verse and commentary. And so the class continues until time is up or the material in the Sunday school quarterly is exhausted.
Please don't misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with reading a verse and its comments. Our lessons have been prepared so that you can easily read both scripture and its commentary. And, a good lesson may include reviewing a good amount of this commentary. But a true lesson is not made up of just reading material that anyone could read any time. Rather, a lesson includes information, exploration, discussion, collaboration, and application.
A question we should always ask ourselves is: how will my students' lives be changed as a result of this lesson?

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-02T09:00:00+00:00March 2nd, 2016|Categories: Teacher Helps|Tags: Teaching|0 Comments

Forgiveness for All Sin
Forgiveness for All Sin

Forgiveness for All Sin

Read Isaiah 43:22-28
“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (v. 25).
My desk in grade school had an ink well that held a bottle of black ink. I learned to write with a quill pen. After dipping the tip of it in the ink, I then had to move it lightly across the paper to form neat letters. Lingering or pressing too hard caused the ink to flow and spread, blotting out any letters it contacted. The blot could not be removed, and anything covered by it could not be read. That blotting out was far more thorough and permanent than attempting to erase, for it covered and totally concealed what had been there.
The sins and iniquities of Israel were a record against them, as are ours! Neither they nor we can blot out or conceal our own record, as much as we might wish to do so. We don’t have the power to undo what we have done! However, the LORD says He can, and He will blot out our transgressions, and by choice not remember our sins! The blot on our record indicates past transgressions that no longer bear record against us because He blotted them out! (Rodney Stearns)
They are covered by the Blood; they are covered by the Blood.
My sins are all covered by the Blood.
Mine iniquities so vast have been blotted out at last.
My sins are all covered by the Blood.
— Nellie Edwards
While God never discounts our transgressions, He is willing to blot them out.
This devotional is the Monday, February 29, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2016-03-01T08:00:00+00:00March 1st, 2016|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Forgiveness, sin|0 Comments

Prayer: Lesson 13 – The Gift of Sight
Prayer: Lesson 13 – The Gift of Sight

Prayer: Lesson 13 – The Gift of Sight

Heavenly Father,
Bless our teachers and classes today as they conclude this quarter on the Miracles of Jesus. Help us to realize that while You do not always choose to perform miracles of healing in response to our prayers, You are still a miracle-working God. Increase our faith in You. In Jesus' name, we pray this. Amen.

Herald & Banner Press2016-02-28T08:00:00+00:00February 28th, 2016|Categories: Teacher Helps|Tags: miracles, prayer|0 Comments

How to Take Advantage of Your Opportunity to Gain God's Help
How to Take Advantage of Your Opportunity to Gain God's Help

How to Take Advantage of Your Opportunity to Gain God's Help

In "Word Focus" William Sillings writes:

Cry out (kradzein — v. 47) means “to cry out or to scream.” Bartimaeus recognized his time of opportunity and began to go to work to get the most he could out of it. He did not sit by the roadside mumbling in his beard about how hard life was and how unfair it was that Jesus would pass by that way and not stop to help him.
He was not concerned about what other people thought right then. In fact, some of them tried to get him not to be so loud. They charged him (v. 48) that he should hold his peace. Charged (epetimen — imperfect) is a strong word, and the imperfect tense suggests “they continually rebuked him.” They told him to hold his peace (siopasoi), that is, to keep silent. In other words, the crowds kept telling him to shut up and quit his loud yelling.
But Bartimaeus was not to be denied access to this one great opportunity. There are times for refined decorum, of course, but this was not one of them. If Bartimaeus did not get Jesus’ attention this time, who knows how long it would be before He came that way again — if ever?

Discussion: How serious are you in taking advantage of the opportunity to gain God's help in your life?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.

Herald & Banner Press2016-02-27T09:00:00+00:00February 27th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Opportunity|0 Comments

Blessings of Christ’s Kingdom
Blessings of Christ’s Kingdom

Blessings of Christ’s Kingdom

Read Isaiah 35:1-10
“No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there” (v. 9).
While John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress, he may have had this passage in mind. As Christian approached the Palace Beautiful, he spotted a lion on either side of the narrowing path. Believing death was at hand, he considered retreating. But Watchful, the porter of the palace, called, “Fear not the lions, for they are chained and are placed there for trial of faith. . . . Keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee.”
Citizens of God’s spiritual kingdom often encounter lions. Satan himself is described as a roaring lion. Daniel confronted literal lions in the den, but God tamed them. Many early Christians faced raging beasts and were torn into pieces by them. Their martyr spirits were, however, safely transported to the presence of God.
Whatever lions lurk near your pathway today, remember, the God of Daniel still lives. He will bring His children safely home — as long as they tread the midst of the path, the highway of holiness. (Joyce Cooper)
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim — We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure, For, lo, his doom is sure.
— Martin Luther
What a blessing to know the lions are chained and can come no closer to you than our Lord allows!
This devotional is the Tuesday, February 23, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.

Herald & Banner Press2016-02-26T09:00:00+00:00February 26th, 2016|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Blessings, trouble|0 Comments

What Influence Does the Sunday School Teacher Have?
What Influence Does the Sunday School Teacher Have?

What Influence Does the Sunday School Teacher Have?

"Henrietta Mears, an influential Christian educator and leader during the first half of the twentieth century, described her own personal pilgrimage, 'First I learned to love my teacher. Then I learned to love my teacher's God.'" (Haystead)
Have you seriously considered the important role you have in leading your students closer to Christ, due to the relationship they have with you in your class? While such a thought is understandably intimidating, it is worth reflection. If the teacher's relationship with his students is a key ingredient for their spiritual growth, how important is his study of God's Word in preparation for the lesson? At the same time, can the teacher fulfill her task of discipling her students by approaching the lesson only as an intellectual exercise?
How should you work at building relationships with your students this week in order to influence them for Christ?
Source: Haystead, Wes (2005). The 21st Century Sunday School: Strategies for Today and Tomorrow. Cincinnati, OH: The Standard Publishing Company. p.18.

Herald & Banner Press2016-02-25T09:00:00+00:00February 25th, 2016|Categories: Teacher Helps|Tags: teachers|0 Comments

The Gift of Sight
The Gift of Sight

The Gift of Sight

Lesson 13 - February 28, 2016
Focus Text: Mark 10:46-52; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Central Truth: The compassionate Christ ministers to the needs of men.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to state how those who are blinded by sin can receive sight.
Lesson Objective:

A Pitiful Cry (Mark 10:46-48)
A Gracious Response (Mark 10:49-52)
A Glorious Light (2 Cor. 4:3-6)

Source: The Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights.

Herald & Banner Press2016-02-24T09:00:00+00:00February 24th, 2016|Categories: Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: blindness, miracles|0 Comments

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