Finding Hope Through Discovery in Bible Study

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope December 27, 2008 Larry R Evans Introductory and Concluding Reflections This has been an amazing quarter of biblical lessons. The richness of the atonement has been obvious and while we have explored it, we have not plumbed its depths. It will no doubt be the primary study for all eternity. We have seen the gravity of man’s sin noting how he put himself in the center and God on the outside leaving him with the consequences of his rebellion towards God. We have seen how God saw our helplessness and came in person to rescue us even at tremendous risk and cost for Himself. Furthermore, we have seen, how despite the tragedies which sin has brought, God’s intervention brought a solution bigger than any sin problem. Lest there be any question about his plan and its conclusion He has set up 1,000 years of absolute full transparency when every action and motive impacting that conclusion can be seen in living color. No doubts about the final ...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope December 20, 2008 Larry R Evans Introductory Reflections {bilding me a fewchr} “Dear Teachr, Today, Mommy cryed. Mommy asked me, Jody, do you really kno why you are going to school. i said i don’t kno why? She said it is caus we are going to be bilding me a fewchr. i said what is a fewchr. Wats one look like? Mommy said i don’t kno Jody, no one can really see all your fewchr jest you. don’t wory caus you’l see. you’l see. Tats when she cryed and sed oh Jody i love you so. Mommy says every one need to work realy hard for us kids to make our fewchrz the nicest ones the world can ofer. Teacher can we start today to bild me a fewcher? Can you try espeshly hard to make it a nice prity one just for Mommy and for me? I love you teacher. Love Jody XXOOXX (Authored by FrankTrujillo in Chicken Soup for the Soul, p.123) This week’s Sabbath School lesson is all about the future Heaven has in store for us. The good news is that the building has alread...

Dear Sabbath School Class and Special Guests, Once again we have an amazing lesson. The introduction is a bit different this time but let it sink in as you try to see connections between it and our study for the week. I chose it because I didn’t want us to get buried in abstract theories. I found the introduction quite profound although it was not originally designed to introduce this topic. I hope you find it as stimulating as I did as you try to see how it might shed some light on our study for the week . We must bring the big concepts and terms down to where we can make sense of them for every-day-living. This is no easy task. We’ll share our study notes and concluding reflections with you sometime on Friday. Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope December 20, 2008 Larry R Evans Introductory Reflections "bilding me a fewchr" “Dear Teachr, Today, Mommy cryed. Mommy asked me, Jody, do you really kno why you are going to school. i said i don’t kno why? She s...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope December 13, 2008 Larry R Evans Introductory Reflections Heb 4:15-16 We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all--all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. (Message) Perhaps you’ve heard the story . . . “A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read ‘Puppies for Sale.’ Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign. ‘How much are you going to sell puppies for?’ he asked. The store owner replied, ‘Anywhere from $30 to $50.’ The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. ‘I have $2.37,’ he said. ‘Can I please look at them. The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One pu...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope December 6, 2008Larry R Evans Introductory Reflections What happened on the cross? This question has been answered by several in many different ways. In 2004 the epic film, The Passion of the Christ, directed by actor Mel Gibson graphically chronicled the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life on earth. When asked why he wanted to tackle Christ's story, Gibson's response was heartfelt. "I wanted to make one that was as realistic as possible; I wanted the audience to feel like they were really there, witnessing the events as they had actually happened," he said in a telephone interview. The film is rated “R” for its graphic violence. We are left with the question, “To understand the suffering of Christ should the emphasis be on the physical? If the violence were not shown would we better understand the agony of Jesus or would we understand it less? Did Jesus suffer and if so why and how? This will be part of our study t...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope December 6, 2008 Larry R Evans Introductory Reflections What happened on the cross? This question has been answered by several in many different ways. In 2004 the epic film, The Passion of the Christ, directed by actor Mel Gibson graphically chronicled the last twelve hours of Jesus’ life on earth. When asked why he wanted to tackle Christ's story, Gibson's response was heartfelt. "I wanted to make one that was as realistic as possible; I wanted the audience to feel like they were really there, witnessing the events as they had actually happened," he said in a telephone interview. The film is rated “R” for its graphic violence. We are left with the question, “Was the suffering of Christ physical? ...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope November 29, 2008 Larry R Evans Introductory Reflections Before we push aside this week’s study as being an exercise in theological vocabulary, think again? How much do we really understand about “righteousness by faith.” Has it become so familiar that we never look inside to see what is in the package? What is Heaven really trying to tell us? A special messenger of God’s once wrote, “There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.” Ellen White in Selected Messages, book 1, pl.161. But she didn’t stop there . “The enemy of God and man is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken.” Ellen White in Gospel Workers, p.161. So before we conclude that this is all theological jargon and that...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope November 29, 2008 Larry R Evans Introductory Reflections Before we push aside this week’s study as being an exercise in theological vocabulary, think again? How much do we really understand about “righteousness by faith.” Has it become so familiar that we never look inside to see what is in the package? What is Heaven really trying to tell us? A special messenger of God’s once wrote, “There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.” Ellen White in Selected Messages , book 1, pl.161. But she didn’t stop there. “The enemy of God and man is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken.” Ellen White in Gospel Workers , p.161. So before we conclude that this is all theological jargon and that ...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope November 22, 2008 Larry R Evans Questions for Reflection 1. Christ’s incarnated nature was 50% deity and 50% humanity. True or False? (Col 32:9, Phil 2:7) 2. It was helpful for our understanding but not necessary for the union of the human and the divine natures of Christ to take place for the atonement to be valid. True or False? (Heb 1:3; 4:14-16) 3. The words “You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22) apply to us. True or False? 4. To be genuinely human does not mean that one has to be a sinner. True or False? (Heb 4:15) 5. Christ’s own relationship with His “Father” was reflected in the way He treated and accepted others. True or False? (Mk 5:35-43; 1:41; Lk 17:11-17) 6. Christ’s incarnation serves as a model for a local church’s ministry of reconciliation with God and man. True or False? Reflective Review One of the bes...

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope November 15, 2008 Larry R Evans Questions for Reflection 1. The altar was a symbol of God’s presence, and by accepting the sacrifice, God was assuming responsibility for the sin of the person. True or False? 2. Today,the role of the priest of the Old Testament is carried out by the clergy. True or False? 3. Atonement in the Bible is symbolized as an event. True or False? 4. The Feast of Trumpets ritual illustrated the final resolution of the sin problem. True or False? 5. Because the sacrifice on the cross was complete we no longer need a mediator. True or False? Introductory Reflections The words sound so simple, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (Ex 25:8) With these words, however, we are introduced to a theme that occurs over and over again in Scripture. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, God went to them (Gen 3:8). Soon after Cai...