Tag: Alden Thompson

The Great Controversy and the Early Church

• Lesson 9 for the week of February 20 to February 27

Relevant Passages: Acts 1, 2, 4, 7, 10 Leading Question: What evidence is there in the book of Acts that the disciples were still slow to accept the truths that Jesus had tried to teach...

Continue reading →

Comrades in Arms

• Lesson 8 for the week of February 13 to February 20

Relevant Passages: Luke 5:1-11 (fish); Mark 3:13-19 (call); 4:35-41 (wind); Matthew 20:20-28 (great) Leading Question: Why do the Gospels present the disciples as such flawed people? The official study guide selects several passages from the...

Continue reading →

Jesus’ Teachings and the Great Controversy

• Lesson 7 for the week of February 6 to February 13

Relevant Passages: Matthew 11:29 (rest); 7:1-5 (judging); 7:21-27 (rock); 13:3-23 (sower); 28:20 Leading Question: How does knowing that Satan is after us affect us in our daily living? The official study guide for this week’s...

Continue reading →

Victory in the Wilderness

• Lesson 6 for the week of January 30 to February 6

Relevant Passages: Matthew 1, 3-4; Luke 4 Leading Question: Why are the accounts of Jesus’ temptations not in the same order in Matthew and Luke? Our leading question is one that the official study guide...

Continue reading →

The Controversy Continues

• Lesson 5 for the week of January 23 to January 30

Relevant Passages: 1 Samuel 17, 2 Samuel 11 (David), 1 Kings 18 (Elijah), 2 Kings 18-19 (Hez.), Esther 3, Nehemiah 2 Leading Question: What kind of people does the Lord use to do his work...

Continue reading →

Conflict and Crisis: The Judges

• Lesson 4 for the week of January 16 to January 23

Relevant Passages: Judges 4, 6, 13-16; Ruth; 1 Sam. 1-19 Leading Question: In the era of the judges, God’s people were often far from him, but is it possible to detect good and evil in...

Continue reading →

Global Rebellion and the Patriarchs

• Lesson 3 for the week of January 9 to January 16

Relevant Passages: Gen 4:1-16; 6-9; 22; 27-33; 37-50 Leading Question: How do patriarchal narratives illustrate the opposing principles involved in the cosmic conflict? In a massive swoop through history, the official study guide takes us...

Continue reading →

Crisis in Eden

• Lesson 2 for the week of January 2 to January 9

Relevant Passages: Genesis 1-3 Leading Question: Who was responsible for the first sin in Eden? If one is looking for the ultimate culprit, the one responsible for introducing sin into our wretched world, there are...

Continue reading →

Crisis in Heaven

• Lesson 1 for the week of December 26 to January 2

Relevant Passages: Isa 14, Ezek 28, Rev 12, Luke 10:18 Leading Question: Is the idea of a battle in heaven crucial for our understanding of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan? A “cosmic conflict...

Continue reading →

Lessons from Jeremiah

• Lesson 13 for the week of December 19 to December 26

The official study guide has entitled the last lesson simply as “Lessons from Jeremiah.” A fruitful way of focusing on that theme would be to ask for personal testimonies – around the circle, perhaps –...

Continue reading →

Back to Egypt

• Lesson 12 for the week of December 12 to December 19

Key Texts: Jeremiah 40-44 Jeremiah 40-44 tells the tragic story of intrigue and broken promises. It tells how Jeremiah, against his own counsel and against his own will, was taken to Egypt by the rebels....

Continue reading →

The Covenant

• Lesson 11 for the week of December 5 to December 12

Key Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12 Questions for Discussion 1. Question: Given the somber news that dominates the book of Jeremiah, how does one explain the sudden appearance of the new covenant promise in 31:31-34?...

Continue reading →

Destruction of Jerusalem

• Lesson 10 for the week of November 28 to December 5

Key Texts: Jeremiah 29:1-14; 37:1-10; 38:1-6; Question: In the light of the horrible events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem, do you think Jeremiah would have preferred to die, or suffer through with his fellow countrymen?...

Continue reading →

Jeremiah’s Yoke

• Lesson 9 for the week of November 21 to November 28

Key Texts: Jeremiah 16:1-13; 27, 28 The official study guide for this week’s lesson uses “yoke” in two different senses: 1. A reference to the “yoke” of Jeremiah’s difficult life, thus laying the foundation for...

Continue reading →