Lesson Highlights

Can we be sure of God's answer to our prayer?
Can we be sure of God's answer to our prayer?

Can we be sure of God's answer to our prayer?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:

David called for God to exert His power against David's enemies not only because of the rightness of his case, but also in judgment of their evil deeds. (The Hebrew grammar here allows us to understand verses 5 and 6 either as a request for God's action or that David was so sure that God would answer his prayer that he put the verbs in past tense although the event was still future.) In effect, David was saying, “Act in defense of your great name, as well as for my benefit.” Put out their name for ever.

Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 5.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-31T09:00:00+00:00August 31st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: prayer|0 Comments

What does it mean for Christ to come like a thief in the night?
What does it mean for Christ to come like a thief in the night?

What does it mean for Christ to come like a thief in the night?

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

Paul wrote that “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2). John Gill writes, “Respect is had not to the character of the thief, nor to the end of his coming; but to the manner of it, in the dark, indiscernibly, suddenly, and when not thought of and looked for; and such will be the coming of Christ, it will be sudden, and unknown beforehand, and when least thought of and expected.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul used the analogy of a pregnant woman whose labor pains come upon her suddenly. It seems that he was indicating the coming of the Lord will be sudden and quite painful to those who are not ready to meet Him. A pregnant woman may have a general idea when she is due to give birth, but the exact time can be a surprise. Paul's message to the Thessalonians was the same as Christ's message to John in The Revelation. He will come back suddenly and without warning, especially to those who are not prepared and watching for Him.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-27T09:00:00+00:00August 27th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Second Coming|0 Comments

What can we look forward to in Heaven?
What can we look forward to in Heaven?

What can we look forward to in Heaven?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Englund answers this question with several points. In part, he writes:

Heaven will not be a long, exhausting church service nor a continuous vacation. There will be meaningful work opportunities and responsibilities. No one will be unemployed. There will be constant anticipation, continual discovery, overwhelming gratitude, and the joy of being a partner with God himself!

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 78.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-26T09:00:00+00:00August 26th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Heaven|0 Comments

Why should the Christian anticipate the end of history?
Why should the Christian anticipate the end of history?

Why should the Christian anticipate the end of history?

In "God's Word for Today" Steve Oliver writes

At last, we come to the end of history as we know it, and yet it is but the first instant of eternity. As the angel continued the “tour” of New Jerusalem, John beheld other wonders — a river of life pouring forth from the throne of God, and the trees of life lining the river on both sides. Human history began in a garden paradise, and here God has brought it full circle, back to the ultimate garden paradise of which Eden was but a dim reflection. Here, rather than living with the possibility of expulsion for disobedience, the saints will reign “for ever and ever.”

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-25T09:00:00+00:00August 25th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Eternity|0 Comments

Overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb
Overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb

Overcoming by the Blood of the Lamb

In "Biblical Perspective" R.E. Trotter writes:

Jesus made it clear to each of the seven churches that a life of victory was required of each of the saints regard-less of how impossible their situations seemed (Rev. 2 and 3). Even when Satan was cast out of heaven and came down to earth with great fury to attack the saints, “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11). Overcoming is the normal standard for all Christians and a requirement for keeping one's name in the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5).

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 71.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-20T09:00:00+00:00August 20th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Overcoming|0 Comments

The tabernacle of God is with men – Revelation 21:3
The tabernacle of God is with men – Revelation 21:3

The tabernacle of God is with men – Revelation 21:3

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

The Tabernacle has ever been the place of God's presence with His people.
The Tabernacle was first erected in the wilderness exactly one year after the Passover when the Israelites were freed from their Egyptian slavery. It was a mobile tent with portable furniture that the people traveled with and set up wherever they pitched camp. The instruction on how to build the Tabernacle was first given to Moses in the wilderness, who then gave the orders to the Israelites.
God knew that the Israelites needed visual evidence of His presence. When Moses went up to Mount Sinai for forty days and the people did not see or hear from him, they grew impatient and gathered their gold to form a golden calf that they worshiped in place of God. After ten generations of living in Egypt, it was not surprising that the Israelites mimicked the Egyptians in fashioning a visual idol of their own. This act of disobedience demon-strated their need to follow and worship a God who was visually tangible. God's provision of a Tabernacle — itself a splendor to behold — not only allowed the people to sense His presence, but also to see their leader go in to meet with God in a concrete place and not disappear up a mountain.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 69.
Image: CC BY-SA 3.0 {{PD-US}}

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-19T09:00:00+00:00August 19th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Tabernacle|0 Comments

How does our hope in God overcome sorrow?
How does our hope in God overcome sorrow?

How does our hope in God overcome sorrow?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Don Englund writes:

Our choice to trust in God and His purposes is a choice that defies the verdicts of the enemy of our souls who often suggests that our condition is personal, that it extends to all areas of our lives, and that it is permanent. Health professionals and psychological remedies may not have the answers we need, but Jesus, the Author of life, does! He is alive! He is in control! He is effectively managing the affairs of this sin-cursed world at the present moment! He gave us life on earth and is the Source of the greatest human dream on earth — eternal life! No, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13), for our sorrow is not personal, not pervasive, not purposeless, and not permanent. Because He lives, you and I can face tomorrow.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 61.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-06T09:00:00+00:00August 6th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: hope|0 Comments

What is a danger of great spiritual experiences?
What is a danger of great spiritual experiences?

What is a danger of great spiritual experiences?

In "Biblical Perspective" R.E. Trotter writes:

So awe-inspiring was the heavenly vision which John beheld that he fell at the feet of the angelic messenger entrusted with such a revelation, in an unwarranted attitude of worship. It is said that in the Early Church there was a tendency to worship angels, and that this and a similar incident earlier are recorded as warnings to the Church. As the angel deflects attention from himself, he reminds John that he is but a fellow servant with him and with all who have accepted Christ and hold His testimony. The angel then seems to say, in effect, “Keep your worship for God, for He is at the center of all true prophecy.”

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 59.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-05T09:00:00+00:00August 5th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: worship|0 Comments

What is the "fine linen" in Revelation 19:8?
What is the "fine linen" in Revelation 19:8?

What is the "fine linen" in Revelation 19:8?

In "Biblical Perspective" R.E. Trotter writes:

It is not unusual for the bride to make her own wedding dress, and in a very real sense the wedding garment we will wear will be the work of our own hands. The fine linen is the righteousness or the “righteous acts” of the saints. We are saved and sanctified by faith, but “faith without works [acts of righteousness] is dead.” At the Great White Throne Judgment they were judged “according to their works” (20:12). At the judgment seat of Christ “every man's work shall be made manifest” (1 Cor. 3:13). In passing judgment on the seven churches Jesus said to each of them, “I know thy works” (Rev. 2, 3).

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 58.

Herald & Banner Press2016-08-04T09:00:00+00:00August 4th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Works|0 Comments

How should we apply John's vision of the end times to our lives?
How should we apply John's vision of the end times to our lives?

How should we apply John's vision of the end times to our lives?

In Doctrinal Discussion, Don Englund answers this question, writing:

First, we should release ourselves from any hope that mere human government will bring lasting peace in this world. Second, we must be aware that the forces of Antichrist that deny Christ and seek to delude us are present and active in our world. As Satan in his anti-God ruse demands worship of himself, let's pray that our worship will be wholly focused on Christ, the Incarnation of the Father.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 55.

Herald & Banner Press2016-07-30T09:00:00+00:00July 30th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: worship|0 Comments