Category: Lessons

Living as Children of God

• Lesson 7 for the week of August 8 to August 15

Observations for discussion and questions: The overall unity of 1 John 2:28-3:10 is supported by the recurrences of manifested, everyone, who does/does not do right, children of God, born of him/God. The subsections are demarcated...

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Walking in the Light: Rejecting Antichrists

• Lesson 6 for the week of August 1 to August 8

Observations for discussion and questions: The principle occasion for the writing of 1 John was most likely a serious schism of the Johannine community over teaching about Christ. There are two well defined passages that...

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Walking in the Light: Renouncing Worldliness

• Lesson 5 for the week of July 25 to August 1

Observations for discussion and questions: 1 John 2:12-14 is puzzling. The fact that the author says almost the same thing in each stanza with a shift of verb tense in “writing” and “wrote” may be...

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Walking in the Light: Turning Away From Sin

• Lesson 3 for the week of July 11 to July 18

Observations: 1 John 1:5-2:2 is carefully crafted in terms of structure where between an introductory proposition and a concluding application and exposition we have three false claims reflected in if-clauses, “if we say that we…,”...

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Experiencing the Word of Life

• Lesson 2 for the week of July 4 to July 11

Observations: If, as noted in the previous lesson, the primary purpose of 1 John was to give instructions and encouragement in the wake of a painful schism over views that questioned the incarnation of Jesus...

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Jesus and the Johannine Letters

• Lesson 1 for the week of June 27 to July 4

1 John Observations: The Author: Although traditionally the author was taken to be the Apostle John, none of the letters identify the author by name. In 2 and 3 John he is referred to as...

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Mission

• Lesson 13 for the week of June 20 to June 27

1.  (Gen 12:1-3) At first glance, it may seem that God”s calling of Abram is an example of favoritism.  However, vs. 3 clearly describes God”s ultimate desire.  Why does God bless Abram?  What are some...

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Community

• Lesson 12 for the week of June 13 to June 20

Few would disagree that humans are social creatures that need community in order to live life to the full.  Without someone to receive us and care for us at birth, none of us would survive. ...

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Stewardship

• Lesson 11 for the week of June 6 to June 13

When Christians hear the word stewardship, many think of the need to carefully manage the financial resources God has given.  Stewardship, however, involves the careful use and management of all the resources God has entrusted...

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Discipleship

• Lesson 10 for the week of May 30 to June 6

Often, a “disciple” is defined as a “student.”  We should be careful, however, because our notion of student does not adequately capture what it meant to be a disciple during the time of Jesus.  In...

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Heaven

• Lesson 9 for the week of May 23 to May 30

How long has it been since you daydreamed about heaven?  It is surprising how seldom adults talk about what heaven will be like.  On most Sabbaths, one would have to visit a children”s Sabbath School...

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Rest

• Lesson 8 for the week of May 16 to May 23

Recent studies suggest that Seventh-day Adventists in the United States live between 5 and 7 years longer than the average American.  Usually, the credit is given to Adventism”s stress on healthy dietary habits.  How much...

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Grace

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

1.  When Christians in the West speak of grace, they most frequently focus on the cross of Christ.  Are there other significant (and even symbolic) events during the life of Jesus that demonstrate grace?  What...

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Sin

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

Like many other theological words, “sin” is widely used, but it”s precise definition is somewhat mysterious. 1.  (Gen 4:6-7)  While the first sin took place in Eden, the first explicit mention of the word “sin”...

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