Lesson Highlights Archives - Page 23 of 41

Why can the Christian be confident in adversity?
Why can the Christian be confident in adversity?

Why can the Christian be confident in adversity?

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

In times of difficulty, Christians have access to the grace which will enable us to stand. Remember that Peter said that our God is the God of “all grace” – all kinds and as much as we need. Are you drawing from that grace today – moment by moment? What kind of grace do you need today? Would you want to share your need with your class? We rejoice even in tribulation because “we know” that God is purposefully working in our lives to build character and confidence in Him. Consider the testimony of Job – “He knoweth the way that I take . . . I shall come forth as gold.” The rejoicing is not in the pain, but the knowing. In contrast to our one-time alienation from God, we now are enjoying His love communicated to us by the Holy Spirit.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 17.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-16T09:00:00+00:00December 16th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Confidence|0 Comments

Why can the justified be confident?
Why can the justified be confident?

Why can the justified be confident?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes concerning Romans 5:10:

Paul presented additional reasons why the justified can have confidence. When we were enemies probably means not only that man was in rebellion against God, but that God also considered us to be deserving of punishment. We were reconciled . . . by the death of his Son. Reconciliation is a new term in Paul's argument. The cross did not change the fact that natural man is still a rebel against God, but it did make it possible for God to reach out to the sinner. Since the death of Christ has removed our alienation from God, we can have even greater confidence that we shall be saved by his life. The death of Christ changed our spiritual position. The life of Christ changes our daily performance and guarantees our future glorification.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 17.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-15T09:00:00+00:00December 15th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Justification|0 Comments

How does the Bible picture the sinner?
How does the Bible picture the sinner?

How does the Bible picture the sinner?

In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:

This is the picture Paul gave of fallen man: helpless (v. 6), hopeless (v. 8), and hostile (v. 10). He had no means of justification — yet God provided the means. He had no hope of getting on course — yet God provided the way. He had no method of being reconciled to his Creator — yet God provided a plan.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 16.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-14T09:00:00+00:00December 14th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Sinner|0 Comments

Romans 5:1
Romans 5:1

Romans 5:1

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1)

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-11T08:00:00+00:00December 11th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Justification|0 Comments

How bad is the problem of sin?
How bad is the problem of sin?

How bad is the problem of sin?

"Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips." (Romans 3:13)
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes concerning Romans 3:13:

The first two clauses here come from Psalm 5:9. Having shown that all men are affected by sin, Paul sought to show the extent of the damage. To do that, Paul listed six body parts that are affected. The three body parts mentioned in this verse — the throat, the tongue, and the lips — are each a part of the speech process. The speech of the ungodly corrupts those around him, defrauds those around him, and hurts and/or destroys. The last clause is from Psalm 140:3.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 11.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-10T09:00:00+00:00December 10th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: sin|0 Comments

What is the meaning of propitiation?
What is the meaning of propitiation?

What is the meaning of propitiation?

In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:

A good summary of the implications of propitiation is given by D. M. Lloyd-Jones: “Propitiation carries this notion that there is someone who has been offended, someone who has done the offending, that there is an offence, and that something is necessary on both sides. . . . This great and glorious doctrine teaches us that the very God whom we have offended has Himself provided the way whereby the offence has been dealt with.”

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 10.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-09T09:00:00+00:00December 9th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Propitiation|0 Comments

What are extremes concerning justification that we must avoid?
What are extremes concerning justification that we must avoid?

What are extremes concerning justification that we must avoid?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:

The doctrine of justification by faith is an important doctrine that may be pushed to extremes in many ways. One way is to insist that one must “do” certain things to have saving faith. If we insist upon the “doing,” we will be pushed into rules that one must follow before he is saved. It then becomes necessary for some specific person here on earth to set these rules and say when they are kept. You would then have salvation by works through a God-appointed (it is said) person who is the final authority. Such a salvation is solely by works and will culminate in ceremonies that give no assurance to the person, nor do they change his life. Paul spoke by inspiration when he insisted that it is not law that saves, but faith. In the conservative holiness movement, we can be as insistent on works as others when we say that to get saved there must be a certain amount of praying, weeping, vowing, or time spent seeking. Are not these requirements works? We weaken the meaning of being reconciled by the blood of Christ. In fact, we make repentance a work rather than a condition of justification. We must never forget that faith is what brings true peace with God. Justification, then, is by faith and not by works. We can be so concerned about the process that we lose this great doctrine.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 14.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-08T09:00:00+00:00December 8th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Justification|0 Comments

Does one's ethnicity make them more spiritual?
Does one's ethnicity make them more spiritual?

Does one's ethnicity make them more spiritual?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:

In 3:2 Paul indicated there certainly were benefits to being a Jew. Here the question is different. It could be stated, “Is there any inherent benefit in being born a Jew, so far as standing before God is concerned?” No, in no wise. It is not ethnic or religious background, but righteous living (1:17) that is the issue. Paul had already shown that both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin, and cannot claim to have met God's requirement by personal strength or ability

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 10.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-07T09:00:00+00:00December 7th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Ethnicity|0 Comments

Perfect Worship?
Perfect Worship?

Perfect Worship?

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

Psalm 145 is the last Psalm in the Psalter that cites David as its author. It is a praise Psalm, and is noted for being an acrostic. Each verse in this Psalm begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There is a problem with this, however. The Hebrew alphabet has twenty-two letters; this Psalm is comprised of only twenty-one verses. This Psalm is missing a verse beginning with the Hebrew letter nun. Interestingly, the Jewish transla-tors of the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament that Jesus and many of the New Testament writers quoted, added a verse to make up the missing nun. While well-intentioned, this probably should not have been done. (The KJV does not include this verse, but some newer translations do [verse 13b], with a marginal note. The English Standard Version renders this verse as: “[The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works],” but notes that these two lines are only in one Hebrew manuscript, the Septuagint, and the Syriac.) Commentators suggest the absence of one letter of the alphabet in this acrostic Psalm does not indicate a problem with God's Word, but rather was intentional. J. Vernon McGee writes: “From Psalm 145 to 150 we find that every one of them is a hallelujah Psalm. It is an increasing crescendo. Why would one verse be left out of Psalm 145? I think it speaks of the fact that our praise is imperfect.”

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 77.

Herald & Banner Press2016-11-26T08:00:00+00:00November 26th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: worship|0 Comments

What single word should you use to describe God's greatness?
What single word should you use to describe God's greatness?

What single word should you use to describe God's greatness?

"And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness." (Psalm 145:6)

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:

The psalmist could not find a single adjective to describe the greatness of God. So he added adjective to adjective: “mighty” (v. 4), “wondrous” (v. 5), and here, thy terrible acts. What God does and the way He acts inspires in the righteous reverence and awe. In the unrighteous these same actions inspire fear and dread. The theme of discussion of all generations is the source of His power to do these works. I will declare thy greatness again emphasizes man's public recounting of the mighty acts of God.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 77.

Herald & Banner Press2016-11-25T09:00:00+00:00November 25th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: God|0 Comments