Tag: Alden Thompson

Making Sense of History: Zerubbabel and Ezra

• Lesson 1 for the week of September 28 to October 5

Relevant Verses: Ezra 4:1-7; 7:1-28 Leading Question: To what extent can we trust in Providence to make things happen when human beings have such powers to derail God’s plans? In this new series of lessons...

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A Community of Servants

• Lesson 13 for the week of September 21 to September 28

Relevant Verses: Heb. 10:23-25 Leading question: Can we accomplish more by ourselves or by working as a community? Comment: The final lesson this quarter is one that offers a host of intriguing possibilities for discussion....

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To Love Mercy

• Lesson 12 for the week of September 14 to September 21

Relevant Verses: Micah 6:6-8; Matt. 6:25-34; James 1:5-8 Leading question: Given all the distractions in our world, what practical steps can we take to help us keep a clear focus on Jesus’ mandate to care...

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Living the Advent Hope

• Lesson 11 for the week of September 7 to September 14

Relevant Verses: Rom. 8:18-24; 1 Cor. 15; Rev. 21-22 Leading question: Is it possible to live on hope rather than on the basis of proof? Comment: Our lesson for this week affirms that Second Coming...

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Living the Gospel

• Lesson 10 for the week of August 31 to September 7

Relevant Verses: 1 Cor. 4:6-7; Eph. 2:8-10; John 3:16-17; Gal. 3:28; Rev. 14:6-7 Leading question: Once we realize that we are God’s children, how do we protect ourselves (and the world around us!), from the...

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Ministry in the New Testament Church

• Lesson 9 for the week of August 24 to August 31

Relevant Verses: Acts, 2 Corinthians, James Leading Question: Jesus was always gentle with needy people, but is there evidence in the New Testament that he or his followers could or should use the heavy hand?...

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“The Least of These”

• Lesson 8 for the week of August 17 to August 24

Relevant Verses: Matthew 25:31-46 Leading Question: In Jesus’ judgment story of the sheep and the goats, the sheep are rewarded for doing good things. Why isn’t this salvation by works? Comment: Of the 13 lessons...

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Jesus and Those in Need

• Lesson 7 for the week of August 10 to August 17

Relevant Verses: Luke; Isaiah 53 Leading question: If someone just sat down with Luke and read it through, what would they likely discover about Jesus’ treatment of those in need? High points in the life...

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Worship the Creator

• Lesson 6 for the week of August 3 to August 10

Relevant Verses: Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 7; Luke 4:18-19, Matt. 23 Leading Question: Does religion – things done in God’s name – tend to liberate or oppress? Comment: If God is the Creator of all, then...

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The Cry of the Prophets

• Lesson 5 for the week of July 27 to August 3

Relevant Verses: 1 Sam. 8:10-18; Amos 8:4-6; Micah 7:18-20; Ezek. 34:2-4; Isaiah Leading Question: Given the fact that the harsh judgments of the prophets were rarely successful in reforming God’s people, is there any clue...

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Mercy and Justice in Psalms and Proverbs

• Lesson 4 for the week of July 20 to July 27

Relevant Verses: Ps. 82, 146; Prov. 30:7-9 Leading Question: How do those who know they are sinners, find hope in passages of Scripture that praise a king for promising to root sinners out of his...

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Sabbath a Day of Freedom

• Lesson 3 for the week of July 13 to July 20

Relevant Verses: Exod. 16:16-18; 20:8-11; Deut. 5:12-15 Leading Question: How can we transform the Sabbath from a day which tells us what we can’t do, to a day that liberates us? Comment: In some ways,...

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Blueprint for a Better World

• Lesson 2 for the week of July 6 to July 13

Relevant Verses: Exod. 20, Deut. 26:1-11 Leading Question: How does the divine example help move us toward caring for the needy? Comment: Israel had been slaves for some 400 years when God “finally” came to...

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God Created…

• Lesson 1 for the week of June 29 to July 6

Relevant Verses: Gen. 1-3; 4:1-9 Leading Question: If you were to look at our created world without any reference to Scripture, where would you place it on a spectrum extending from good to evil? Our...

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