Lesson Highlights

How Does God See Our Situation?
How Does God See Our Situation?

How Does God See Our Situation?

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

God sees things differently, sometimes opposite, from the way we think. Smyrna was small, poor, and persecuted, yet God had nothing negative to say about her. The fact that God acknowledged that they were poor, yet told them that they were, in fact, far from poor, demonstrates that He rec-ognized both the reality in which we live and the reality which He alone sees. God is also realistic: He directly told them that they were going to suffer more. Why would He do this — might it not discourage them?

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 11.

Herald & Banner Press2016-06-10T09:00:00+00:00June 10th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: God|0 Comments

First Love
First Love

First Love

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

Lange gives the meaning of first love as “that glowing, all-absorbing love to Jesus, as a personal Savior, which at the first constrained them to devoted service.” It is more than that early ecstasy that new Christians feel. John Wesley stated that the initial ecstasy of our conversion “subsides into a calm and peaceful love.” This happens even as Christ remains our first love. However, for the Ephesians that love had cooled until they were left with orthodoxy without the Spirit. As happens many times, their loss of the Spirit was followed by an emphasis on works.

Discussion: What caused the Laodicean Church to leave its first love?
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 9.

Herald & Banner Press2016-06-09T09:00:00+00:00June 9th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: love|0 Comments

The Majesty of Christ
The Majesty of Christ

The Majesty of Christ

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

Christ's majesty is not simply a matter of a glorious appearance (though He certainly has that). Rather, it is a visual display of His genuine power and authority. In John's vision, each visual aspect of Christ displays an invisible attribute of Jesus' character, power, or authority. For exam-ple, the depiction of Christ's eyes “as a flame” indicates that He sees and understands everything, that nothing is hidden from Him. If we are in trouble, this is a comfort. If we are try-ing to excuse ourselves for wrongdoing, this is troubling.

Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 5.

Herald & Banner Press2016-06-03T09:00:00+00:00June 3rd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Christ|0 Comments

Why is Jesus called Alpha and Omega?
Why is Jesus called Alpha and Omega?

Why is Jesus called Alpha and Omega?

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

The use of the expression Alpha and Omega in verses 8 and 11 is significant. These being the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, the obvious reference is to Christ's eternity. No one else can claim this title, so He uses the emphatic expression “I AM.” Since the expression not only includes the first and the last but everything in between, it also connotes the omnipotence and omniscience of God. In verse 8 this concept is revealed in the word translated the Almighty. The Greek word pantokrator is used nine times in the Apocalypse and only once in the Epistles (2 Cor. 6:18). It is, however, used frequently in the Septuagint and is literally the “all ruler.” It represents the Hebrew word translated as “God of hosts.” He is pictured as the one who commands all and is able to overcome any foe.

Discussion: How does this help you to understand better who Christ is?
Source: Christ, the Triumphant Lord: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 4.

Herald & Banner Press2016-06-02T09:00:00+00:00June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Jesus|0 Comments

Will you follow Christ?
Will you follow Christ?

Will you follow Christ?

In "God's Word for Today" Jim Baker writes:

When we consider why Jesus went to the cross, it should cause each of us to want to follow Him. The question Pilate asked, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matt. 27:22), should elicit a response in each life. Will YOU accept Christ or crucify Him?
The lessons in this quarter have given many reasons to follow Christ, the Son of God. He is the suffering Savior who forgives. And because of His resurrection we have hope for today and eternity. He is the Good Shepherd and cares for us. Though He has supreme authority, yet He humbled Himself to reach us. To know that He intercedes for us gives us confidence to live daily for Him. With all these reasons to be a Christian, there is no excuse to reject Him. There is more to gain than to lose.

Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 81.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-27T09:00:00+00:00May 27th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Follow|0 Comments

Why did Jesus often not give straight answers?
Why did Jesus often not give straight answers?

Why did Jesus often not give straight answers?

In "Word Focus" Darrell Grim writes:

The Lord's reply to Pilate's question was deliberately ambiguous. Jesus spoke here as He spoke to the Jews — in parables. If they really wanted to find out the truth, they could, but their blinded eyes made His teaching seem as nonsense. Jesus gave Pilate enough to pique his curiosity. Had he continued to press with an earnest desire to know the truth, without doubt Christ would have revealed more to him.

Discussion: When God seems not to give us "straight" answers, do we continue to seek His word or are we content to be blind to Truth?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 78.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-26T09:00:00+00:00May 26th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Truth|0 Comments

How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today?
How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today?

How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Randy Bland writes:

Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to refute some heretical teachings that had seeped into the Church. One of these heresies was that Jesus was not divine; He was just a good man who taught valuable lessons to follow. The heretics were trying to convince the Church that they still needed rules and secret knowledge to ensure that they would be saved. This heresy can still be found in some churches today, so Paul's majestic hymn to the supremacy of Christ is as important now as it was then.

Discussion: How do you see Jesus' authority being questioned today, even, at times, in the church?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-21T09:00:00+00:00May 21st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Authority|0 Comments

What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple?
What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple?

What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple?

In "Biblical Perspective" Randall McElwain writes:

The moneychangers and them that sold doves operated in the Court of the Gentiles, a large court that was open to Gentile visitors. Because the annual half-shekel Temple tax had to be paid in a standard Temple coin, moneychangers were able to charge exorbitant rates for changing the Roman currency into Temple money. In addition, the priests controlled the sale of doves and sacrificial animals, which were greatly overpriced. These transactions were necessary; foreign money had to be changed to Temple coin, and it was more convenient to purchase animals for sacrifice at the Temple than bringing them long distances. However, Jesus objected to the unjust exchange rates and inflated prices, as well as to the spirit which turned a “house of prayer” into a bazaar.

Discussion: What exactly was the injustice Jesus found at the Temple? Was it that animals were being sold and that money was being exchanged? Or was it something else?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 72.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-20T09:00:00+00:00May 20th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Injustice|0 Comments

If Jesus Prays for Us…
If Jesus Prays for Us…

If Jesus Prays for Us…

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

We are aware that one of the primary ministries of the Holy Spirit is intercession with the Father on the Christians' behalf. Our scripture today highlights another wonderful truth: Christ intercedes with the Father for us. As we read in Romans 8:34: “Christ . . . also maketh intercession for us.” And if Christ's regular intercession is anything like His prayer in John 17, we ought to live every moment of every day with supreme confidence!

Discussion: How does Jesus' intercession give you courage?
Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 66.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-14T09:00:00+00:00May 14th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: prayer|0 Comments

The Trinity and Sanctification
The Trinity and Sanctification

The Trinity and Sanctification

"And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." (John 17:19)
In "Biblical Perspective" Randall McElwain writes:

It is God's Word, the truth, that provides the power by which the disciples would be transformed (Beacon Bible Comm.). It is God's Son and His self-consecration that makes sanctification possible. While we correctly associate the Holy Spirit with sanctification, it is a trinitarian doctrine; all members of the Trinity play a role in our sanctification. When Jesus prayed for their sakes I sanctify myself, He used the same language used in New Testament atonement passages. Examples include Mark 14:24 (“this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many”) and John 6:51 (“and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world”). Just as Jesus provided for our atonement, He provided for our sanctification.

Source: Jesus, Son of God: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 67.

Herald & Banner Press2016-05-13T09:00:00+00:00May 13th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Sanctification|0 Comments