Relationships Archives - HERALD AND BANNER PRESS

March 15, 2023: Proper Stewardship Rewarded
March 15, 2023: Proper Stewardship Rewarded

March 15, 2023: Proper Stewardship Rewarded

Read Matthew 10:40-42.

"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward" (v.41).

Accepting responsibility is usually serious business. Failure brings consequences; successful completion has its rewards. When God entrusts something into His people's hands, He always stands ready to reward them for being faithful administrators of His resources. He doesn't do this to incentivize nor bribe them, but rather to let them see that there is great reward in loving service and joyful compliance.

God's promised rewards are sure, but so are the consequences of failure. Those consequences are often magnified by the knowledge that we had an opportunity for something great, but we failed to grasp the opportunity. One of the greatest torments of hell will be knowing we could have gone to heaven with all the beauty and presence of God, but, through poor choices, we chose a different route. I do not know that this is an accurate depiction. But I do know that I do not want to exchange the presence of God in my life now for anything that is being offered by this world. (TJB)

God, may our actions and heart be in line with your will.

bookstoreadmin2023-03-15T14:13:15+00:00March 15th, 2023|Categories: Opening the Word|Tags: Relationships, Stewardship|0 Comments

March 19, 2023: Being Good Stewards
March 19, 2023: Being Good Stewards

March 19, 2023: Being Good Stewards

Understanding Our Personal Accountability to God

FOCUS TEXT: Matthew 25:14-29

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; 1 Corinthians 4:1, 2; 9:16-23; 1 Peter 4:10, 11

KEY VERSE: Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. -- Matthew 25:23

CENTRAL TRUTH: God holds us accountable for all He gives us.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list things of which they can be a better steward.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Personal Accountability (Matthew 25:14-19)

II. Faithfulness Commended (Matthew 25:20-23)

III. Slothfulness Condemned (Matthew 25:24-30)

bookstoreadmin2023-03-13T18:17:31+00:00March 13th, 2023|Categories: Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: Relationships, stewards|0 Comments

March 12, 2023: The Christian Way of Life
March 12, 2023: The Christian Way of Life

March 12, 2023: The Christian Way of Life

FOCUS TEXT: Colossians 3:5-17

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 5:1-4, 11-17; Colossians 3:5 – 4:6; 1 John 2:7-11

KEY VERSE: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. -- Colossians 3:17

CENTRAL TRUTH: Proper relationships begin with a proper relationship with God.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify several ways a proper relationship with God revolutionizes our relationships with people.

LESSON OUTLINE:

Put Off the Old (Colossians 3:5-9)

Put On the New (Colossians 3:10-14)

III. Live a Christian Life (Colossians 3:15-17)

bookstoreadmin2023-03-06T19:15:01+00:00March 6th, 2023|Categories: Front Page, Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: Relationships, way of life|0 Comments

Spring 2023: Building Christian Relationships
Spring 2023: Building Christian Relationships

Spring 2023: Building Christian Relationships

In a day of superficial friendships and a selfish understanding of love, it is important to have a biblical understanding of how to build lasting relationships. A wise person is always involved in the challenging business of building relationships. Everyone needs the relaxed enjoyment, acceptance, stability, and security of ongoing, long-lasting relationships that have been kept in good repair.
The soaring divorce rate is only one indication among many that we know a great deal more about technology than about the tough business of establishing quality relationships that not only endure the test of time but overcome it by becoming increasingly meaningful.
How can we build quality relationships which will forge unbreakable links that enable us to become what God intends us to be? In God's Word we have a treasury of truth about building Christian relationships as they affect our neighbor, home, society, work, money, government, public life, and the church.
In this quarter of lessons on "Building Christian Relationships" we examine God's Word to discover values and principles we can apply to our friendships and relationships, at whatever stage of life we find ourselves. Ultimately, all relationships in this world are based on loving others in the name of our Lord Jesus and with His love as our standard.

bookstoreadmin2023-02-27T16:49:08+00:00February 27th, 2023|Categories: Quarter Topic|Tags: Building, Christian, Relationships|0 Comments

November 22, 2020: Consideration
November 22, 2020: Consideration

November 22, 2020: Consideration

PRINTED TEXT: Romans 14:4 19

CENTRAL TRUTH: In all our dealings with others we should consider their welfare and benefit.

OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson we should be able to identify some ways to show concern and consideration for those around us.

LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Christian Differences (Romans 14:1 6)

II. Christian Relationships (Romans 14:7 16)

III. Christian Action (Romans 14:17 23)

IV. Christ's Example (Romans 15:1 7)

bookstoreadmin2020-11-18T20:38:52+00:00November 18th, 2020|Categories: Lesson Highlights, Weekly Lesson Summaries|Tags: Consideration, Relationships|0 Comments

What is the biblical perspective on division?
What is the biblical perspective on division?

What is the biblical perspective on division?

In "Biblical Perspective" Larry Grile writes concerning Colossians 3:11:

In the spiritual realm of redemptive grace, human distinctions and divisions are annulled. There are not Greek Christians and Jewish Christians; there are only Christians. In Christ, whether one is circumcised or not does not matter. Whether one is merely a foreigner or is a savage makes no difference. Whether one is a freeman or a slave makes no difference. But Christ is all, and in all. Human distinctions are not erased but are transcended in Jesus Christ. Man's efforts to erase distinctions through a socialist world order are doomed to confusion and failure. Socialism is carnal man's solution to the carnal frictions produced by the human differences in our world. On the other hand, Jesus Christ is everything! Before any of us came to Christ, we were nothing. No matter how low or high we thought we were, Christ exalted us. Now that we are in Christ, we are brethren. Now that Christ is in us, we have no need for social uniformity, for we share a kindred spirit that transcends our diversities (Gal. 3:28).

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 12.

Herald & Banner Press2017-03-11T09:00:00+00:00March 11th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Division, Relationships|0 Comments

Why do Christians struggle with troubled relationships?
Why do Christians struggle with troubled relationships?

Why do Christians struggle with troubled relationships?

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

Most people would agree that broken relationships are a huge problem in today's world. The divorce rate supports this statement, as does the increasing tendency to resort to violence against others. Divided churches and families are also stark reminders that Christians need to pay a lot more attention to relationships. As important as believing the correct truths is, the defining mark of the New Testament Christians, according to John 13:35, was their love for each other. So what is wrong? Why are Christians today even dealing with such troubled relationships? The central truth of today's lesson proposes an answer to that question. “Proper relationships with others begin with a proper relationship with God.”

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 10.

Herald & Banner Press2017-03-10T09:00:00+00:00March 10th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Relationships|0 Comments

The Prerequisite for Successful Relationships
The Prerequisite for Successful Relationships

The Prerequisite for Successful Relationships

In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:

Since life itself is built around relationships (both with others and with the Creator), the success of these relationships is determined by the set of the will: whether it is bent to the physical, twisted to the mental, or surrendered to the spiritual. Paul got right to the point of this matter. In Colossians 2 he showed what a true Christian ought not to follow. In chapter 3 he taught what the Christian ought to pursue. He enjoined various duties in the different relations of life, which should be performed in such a way as to show that true religion has a controlling influence over the heart. These relationships, both with God and with others, involve both action and attitude on the part of man.

Source: Building Christian Relationships: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 10.

Herald & Banner Press2017-03-09T09:00:00+00:00March 9th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Relationships|0 Comments

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