Text: Luke 17:3-4 Jesus taught His disciples about the need to forgive those who sin against them. Yet it is not always easy to do this, especially when the sin is habitual – seven times a day (Luke 17:4) or seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). However, as the Lord’s disciples, we must be willing to […]
November 4, 2024
Sowing and Reaping
Text: Galatians 6:9 God created the world, and it operates according to the rules He established. This includes times of “seedtime and harvest” (Genesis 8:22). The outcome of the harvest depends (in part) on what was planted, when it was planted, and how it was done. This illustration of sowing and reaping is used throughout […]
September 23, 2024
Lessons from Gideon (Part 4): Pride Can Be Our Downfall
Text: Judges 8 This is the final lesson in our series on Gideon. He was a hero of faith (Hebrews 11:32) who helped deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Yet he certainly had his faults. In this lesson, we will see how he was an illustration of the wise man’s warning: “Pride goes before destruction” […]
September 2, 2024
Lessons from Gideon (Part 1): Why Do Hard Times Come?
Text: Judges 6:11-14 Gideon lived during a time when the Midianites oppressed the Israelites. The people cried out to God, and an angel called Gideon to deliver them. Gideon believed God had abandoned them, and that he was the last one who should be called upon to deliver the people. Yet he was persuaded to […]
August 12, 2024
What Cain Should Have Done
Text: Genesis 4:1-8 Genesis 4 tells us about Cain and Abel – two brothers, the sons of Adam and Eve, and one killed the other. Abel is an example of one who faithfully obeyed God (Hebrews 11:4). Cain is an example of one who chose to do what was evil instead (1 John 3:12). But […]
June 24, 2024
Convicting the World
Text: John 16:7-11 Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus spoke to His apostles and promised to send the Holy Spirit. He would “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” This would have a direct impact on the apostles’ teaching, and it should with ours as well. Role of the Holy Spirit Jesus promised the […]
January 22, 2024
The Example of Those Who Fell in the Wilderness
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 Paul began this section by reminding the brethren of parallels between them and the Israelites (v. 1-4). Yet “with most of them God was not well-pleased,” and they died in the wilderness (v. 5). “Now these things happened as examples for us…” (v. 6). Let us consider what their example teaches […]
