Languages, Text and Context

• Lesson 7 for the week of May 9 to May 16, 2020

Opening Question What are some of the challenges in translating the Greek and Hebrew texts of the Bible into English, and other modern languages around the world? Introduction Although Adventists do not hold to verbal...

Continue reading →

Why is Interpretation Needed?

• Lesson 6 for the week of May 2 to May 9, 2020

Opening Question How many different types of literature are contained in our Bibles, and should we read or interpret them all in the same way? Introduction This week’s lesson is on the need for interpretation,...

Continue reading →

By Scripture Alone—Sola Scriptura

• Lesson 5 for the week of April 25 to May 2, 2020

Opening Question Where in the Bible would you turn to show someone the principle of “sola scriptura?” Can such a belief be defended from the Bible alone? Introduction Reformers found in the Bible direct evidence...

Continue reading →

The Bible—The Authoritative Source of our Theology

• Lesson 4 for the week of April 18 to April 25, 2020

Opening Question What gives the Bible so much influence in people’s lives so many years after it was written? Isn’t it outdated, and obsolete due to the progression of science and human reason? Introduction This...

Continue reading →

Jesus and the Apostles’ View of the Bible

• Lesson 3 for the week of April 11 to April 18, 2020

Opening Question Did the New Testament authors quote from or use the Old Testament in irresponsible ways, or were they on to something? Introduction Some modern scholars have concluded that the New Testament apostles and...

Continue reading →

The Origin and Nature of the Bible

• Lesson 2 for the week of April 4 to April 11, 2020

Opening QuestionDid God tell the prophets and apostles exactly what to write in the Bible? IntroductionWhere did the Bible come from? What drove the writers to put their thoughts to paper? How did the documents...

Continue reading →

The Uniqueness of the Bible

• Lesson 1 for the week of March 28 to April 4, 2020

Opening QuestionWhy do many people say the Bible must be interpreted? Can’t it just be read and understood? IntroductionWe begin a new study this quarter on the uniqueness of the Bible and how to read...

Continue reading →

General Introduction

• Introduction

This study guide is meant to accompany the Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath School lesson for the 2nd Quarter of 2020. The format of this guide follows a similar pattern for each week’s lesson: an introduction to...

Continue reading →

Leaders in Israel

• Lesson 13 for the week of December 21 to December 28, 2019

Relevant Verses: Ezra, Nehemiah, Matthew 20:25-28 Leading question: After we put Jesus at the head of our list of good leaders described in the Bible, which ones would you rank as the three next best...

Continue reading →

Dealing with Bad Decisions

• Lesson 12 for the week of December 14 to December 21, 2019

Relevant Verses: Nehemiah 13 Leading question: Are some decisions so bad, that the way out requires the suspension of grace? The formal study guide has chosen to dedicate this whole lesson to the fifth problem...

Continue reading →

Backslidden People

• Lesson 11 for the week of December 7 to December 14, 2019

Relevant Verses: Nehemiah 13 Leading question: When dealing with backslidden people in his day, did Jesus support or modify the strong-arm methods of Ezra and Nehemiah? Nehemiah 13, the last chapter in the book, does...

Continue reading →

Worshiping the Lord

• Lesson 10 for the week of November 30 to December 7, 2019

Relevant Verses: Nehemiah 12 Leading question: In an age when music is a very divisive issue in the church, how can the worship music described in Scripture help us unify our church worship today? Since...

Continue reading →

Trials, Tribulations, and Lists

• Lesson 9 for the week of November 23 to November 30, 2019

Relevant Verses: Ezra 8, Nehemiah 11, 12 Leading question: Since several books in the Bible, including Ezra and Nehemiah, include long lists of names, how do we make sense of such lists in an age...

Continue reading →

God the the Covenant

• Lesson 8 for the week of November 16 to November 23, 2019

Relevant Verses: Nehemiah 10 Leading question: Does the biblical concept of covenant make any sense in our modern world? Where we live in College Place (“Highland Park Drive”) a “covenant” used to be taken very...

Continue reading →