Lesson Highlights

Do we truly listen when Jesus speaks to us?

In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes:

Luke recorded various times when Jesus had told His disciples of His impending death and resurrection. The quotation of the angel is found in Luke 9:22 and in Luke 18:31-33. Jesus' words, however, had fallen on deaf ears, and the disciples, even including the women of this account, had not comprehended what Jesus was telling them (Luke 18:34).

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 42.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-15T09:00:00+00:00April 15th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Listening|0 Comments

What was the determining factor in Saul's (Paul) conversion?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

What was the determining factor in Saul's conversion? To the end of his days, this unlikely apostle testified that it was the fact that “last of all [Jesus] was seen of me also” (1 Cor. 15:8). The Galilean Carpenter, who had most certainly been executed on a Roman cross and buried and sealed in a tomb, appeared to Saul alive and well. In other words, Saul was convinced by the resurrection. Perhaps he did not immediately think of it in that way; he only knew that the encounter with Jesus had supernaturally changed him. But later, he added Jesus' appearance to him to the long list of Jesus' other post-resurrection appearances as proof of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15).

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 43.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-14T09:00:00+00:00April 14th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Conversion|0 Comments

What is most important about the Church's holy days?
What is most important about the Church's holy days?

What is most important about the Church's holy days?

In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:

Christianity is a historically based faith, which means that the events of the life of our Lord are important. In the Western Church, we pay particular attention to the birth and death of Jesus, but in the Eastern Church, the calendar has many more holy days that are especially remembered. There is a danger that the Church can become so focused on historical events that Christians lose sight of the contemporary relevance of her holy days. That is why today's lesson focuses upon the significance of the resurrection. Does the resurrection of Jesus Christ have a daily impact on your life? It should! If we have been resurrected with Christ, we will have a new way of living. Philippians 3:10 suggests that the resurrection was not only an event, it is also a present power that is working in our lives. Today Christians rejoice in the fact of the resurrection, but every day should be lived in the power of that same resurrection.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 40.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-13T09:00:00+00:00April 13th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Holy days|0 Comments

How do the blessings promised in the Old Testament relate to Christians today?

In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:

[Malachi 3:10-12] focus on blessings that will come to those who honor their financial commitments to God. These verses have been used by preachers of a “prosperity gospel” to prove that it is God's will for His people to be materially blessed. How do the blessings of these verses relate to New Testament Christians?

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 35.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-08T09:00:00+00:00April 8th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Blessings|0 Comments

Should we only give if we have much?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). Human nature being what it is, if people are led to believe that certain circumstances excuse them from tithing, they will tend always to find themselves in those circumstances! Instead of encouraging people to withhold more because they are poor, we should encourage them to step out in faith and trust a never-failing God to bless them for keeping His commands. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10).

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 38.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-07T09:00:00+00:00April 7th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Giving|0 Comments

The Practice of Tithing

In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes:

There are perhaps several important things to be said about this passage as well as the general issue of tithing, giving offerings, etc. Tithing was a practice long before the Old Testament Law was given (Gen. 14:20; 28:22). It was enlarged and required under the Sinai Covenant. Still in Jesus' day it was practiced by the adherents of the Law and was commended by Jesus (Matt. 23:23). After the inauguration of the New Covenant at Calvary, no more reference was made to tithing. The concept of tithing is found in only one place where Paul asked the Corinthians to lay aside money according to their financial profit during the week, to be given as an offering on the first day of the week when they gathered together for worship. Since tithing preceded the Law, was commanded as a worthy part of the Law, and was commended by Jesus, it has been generally considered by devout people as a proper way to honor God with our substance. Many have proven God's promise and found Him true to His word. As for offerings, Malachi was referring to special required offerings of animal sacrifices, etc., and to freewill offerings as mentioned in the Law.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 35.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-06T09:00:00+00:00April 6th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Tithing|0 Comments

Is your hope in wealth?
Is your hope in wealth?

Is your hope in wealth?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

One of these was Job, a respected leader in his ancient community. In Eastern poetical language, he said, “Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me . . . when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil” (29:2-6). Job confessed that he fully expected to die in this blessed state: “Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand” (29:18). However, his story illustrates that wealth, by itself, is a lousy source of security. In chapter 28, Job wrote about the wealth of precious stones and metals hidden in the earth and the means men use to mine them. Perhaps some of his own wealth was related to this mining. However, Job went on to explain that wisdom's value is much greater than all of this earthly wealth. He understood the principle that “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (v. 28). Job's hope was not in his wealth, but in God.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 32.

Herald & Banner Press2017-04-01T09:00:00+00:00April 1st, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: hope, Wealth|0 Comments

Is it wrong to want to be rich?
Is it wrong to want to be rich?

Is it wrong to want to be rich?

In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes:

The desire and purpose to be rich is neither spiritual nor legitimate. The desire to have money and possessions exposes men to unexpected temptations and traps them in unwanted trials and adversities. The lure of riches will tempt men to violate conscience and compromise ethics. Part of the problem of desiring to be wealthy is that it creates endless possibilities and therefore breeds many other desires for all kinds of worthless and harmful things. Things that we do not need and things that we should not want begin to overwhelm our lives, saturate our minds, absorb our time, and drain our money. Finally, all these things converge to overwhelm the soul and sink men down into ruin and eternal damnation.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 29.

Herald & Banner Press2017-03-31T09:00:00+00:00March 31st, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Desire|0 Comments

When there is a vacuum in our souls
When there is a vacuum in our souls

When there is a vacuum in our souls

In "God's Word for Today" Gordon Snider writes:

If there is a vacuum in our souls, however, covetousness will fill it! So having warned us against its danger, Paul urged the believer to fill the soul with higher qualities (v. 11)! To do so requires strenuous effort — active engagement (v. 12). People who live on with this world in view will succumb to the temptation of covetousness (vs. 7, 14-16). That is how Jesus avoided the materialism of His day (v. 13). He focused, not upon His standing before His peers, but upon His standing before His Father. Living in the presence of God lessens the attraction of earthly valuables! Paul wanted to make it clear, however, that possessions are not the danger, but our attitude toward them. He assumed that some people will be entrusted by God with greater wealth than others. Being so entrusted, however, can prove to be our damnation unless we develop and live by a godly theology of abundance. A key component of such a theology is a spirit of giving. If those who are blessed with this world's goods have truly learned the dignity of all humanity, they will find that they will want to enable the less fortunate.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 29.

Herald & Banner Press2017-03-30T09:00:00+00:00March 30th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Soul|0 Comments

The Work Ethic of Apostle Paul
The Work Ethic of Apostle Paul

The Work Ethic of Apostle Paul

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Jason Lindahl writes:

Paul himself set the example by working as a tent-maker and providing for his own needs whenever possible during his missionary journeys. As God's minister, he had the right to earn his living by preaching the gospel, but he wanted to practice the sermon he had preached to the Thessalonians: “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). Of course, Paul was willing to receive support and gifts from fellow believers when willingly offered, as he mentioned in Philippians 4:14, 15. (Notice that Paul received this help while laboring at the laziness-plagued Thessalonian church.) Paul went on to thank the Philippians for their most recent gift, which, of course, he was receiving while in prison and unable to work. It is not wrong to graciously accept a gift as a blessing from God when He chooses to send one our way. God has proven over and again that, while He expects us to be diligent in our work, His overflow of blessings to us will far exceed anything that could ever be earned.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 26.

Herald & Banner Press2017-03-25T09:00:00+00:00March 25th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Work|0 Comments