Reflections on walking with God

Clothed in Christ

JG — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:10:00 +0000

S T O R Y

“Today we studied the second law of thermodynamics,” Robert said at mealtime.

“You’re getting a lot of knowledge in your head. What is the second law of thermodynamics?” Dad said.

“Um, I’m not sure, Dad. It’s about something called time’s arrow, so we know how things change over time.”

“Can you tell me how an arrow tells us about change?”

“Sure, Dad. If you take a lot of pictures of the same person or mountain or rock and you live long enough, you would see it change. Let’s say it’s a dead rabbit. Take a picture every week and if nothing eats it, the rabbit eventually looks like garbage and then dirt. That’s the time arrow from a dead rabbit to dirt. You can always tell what is older by how much it has changed. The more rot and destruction, the more time has gone by.”

Dad smiled. “And does the law of thermodynamics apply everywhere?”

“Um, I don’t know, Dad. I don’t think it applies to me because I keep growing stronger and learning more.”

“That wasting away we’re talking about is called entropy. Do you think God created entropy?”

“I don’t think so. It’s just there.”

“You know what I think?”

“Nope.”

“I think God can turn entropy or decay into life and growth and that when we go to heaven we’ll see lots of evidence of His power to resurrect and revive and change us into beings who won’t get tired, won’t get sick and will be around animals and plants that have the same abilities.”

“And the Second Law of Thermodynamics will be repealed.”

“We’ll see, won’t we?”

1. Key thought. Does God have power over the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Are the results of decay and deterioration always harmful? What about the vultures that clear dead meat from the roads? Is that a good service? Do you think there will be vultures gobbling up the carcasses of animals and birds in the New Earth? If not, what will happen to them? What about our sinful hearts? Does spiritual entropy ever rule in our hearts? In our churches? In our relationship with Christ? How can that happen? Do you think there’s a cure for spiritual deterioration?

2. Christ as clothing. At the end of this thirteen-week study of the imagery of clothing in the Bible, do you have trouble-or is it a blessing-to think of Jesus as clothing that we put on? How many times in your life have you clothed yourself in Christ’s righteousness? Or does the clothing come directly from the presence of God to your spiritual being? What is the result of being clothed in Christ’s righteousness? Are you perfect then? Does sin seem abhorrent? Can you fall from grace while you’re wearing the garment of righteousness? Since Jesus has promised to forgive us, does it matter how often we sin or how far we stray? Can we put on that special robe any time we need to? Why or why not?

3. Clothing that works. Have you ever worn a brace or had a body part wrapped in cloth tape? Was it uncomfortable? Why did you keep wearing it? Or did you? How does the robe of righteousness straighten our spiritual snarls? Is it ever possible to be wrapped in God’s spirit of righteousness and not know it? Once you have the Sabbath and the other key doctrines of the church incorporated into your life, do you still need to rely on the clothing of Christianity to make the transition from world to Christ complete? Why? Is a sin-free life a requirement for salvation? Why or why not?

4. Regeneration. Does the seemingly inevitable presence of entropy conflict with the eternal presence of a Creative God? If so, does that conflict bother you? Or are you comforted by the ability of God to bypass the Second Law of Thermodynamics in your spiritual life? Do you remember your baptism? Did you feel something in your heart? If you were very young, were you convinced that God had made you new? Or did you even have a sense of your sinfulness? What about now? How are your human behaviors related to being a Christian?

5. The image of God. Does it thrill you to think of sinful, filthy human beings standing before their Creator changed into clean, happy, and holy Christians? Do you want to be like Jesus? Or is that a useless prayer, considering how far you’ll always be from His ultimate holiness? Or is a standard that is worth striving for? The lesson states that we’ll be physically changed at the resurrection. Do you look forward to that? Do you know a person with limited abilities and long for the day that person will be equipped with abundance strength and capabilities? How do you think Jesus feels about that day?

6. A dwelling. Can you think of the shoes and socks and other clothes you wear as a “house” you live in? As long as it’s yours, do you prefer your clothing to any alternative? What about your physical body? Are you a person who feels pain every day? Do you long for the absence of all pain and discomfort? Would you gladly trade your body in for a newly created one? How often do we think about death and dying? What are some more optimistic themes to bring to mind while enduring the troubling aspects of life? Do you think anyone is going to complain in the New Earth about the way they look or the clothing they have to wear? What should our thinking be now while we’re waiting for that day?

7. No more sin. Do you ever get sick through and through of sin? Whether it’s a huge financial scandal, a series of gruesome murders, or a case of horrific child abuse, does your heart cringe? What do you think when sin is glorified? How do you respond to smart remarks about how much fun sin is? Does your heart long for that day when there will be no more sin? None. Nobody will hurt anybody. When we’ll be wearing holy garments that won’t be destroyed? Do we have to wait until the resurrection to enjoy the pleasures of living without sin? Or can we learn to hate all aspects of sin in our hearts before then? How?

Note: The story and questions were prepared to help teachers leading class discussion of the Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath lesson study guides. This one was presented to SSNET by Joyce Griffith for the 12th Sabbath of the three-month quarter ending June 25. Go to SSNET for more.

The heavenly loom

JG — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:25:46 +0000

“Mama! A loom! Auntie Cherri gave me a loom. I’m going to make a scarf with it! She showed me how.”

The loom Penny held in her hand was a piece of smooth wood carved in a flat loop about eight inches long and half an inch thick. On one side were carved small wooden pegs, about twenty on each side. “This is my loom,” she said. “And this is my yarn for the scarf.”

Penny carefully tied a knot of yarn around a peg on one end of the loom and pulled it tight. Then she looped the yarn around the first peg, crossed over the loom diagonally and looped it round a peg on the other side. She skipped a peg and repeated the process, making sure each loop was pulled firm and tight. It looked like a pattern of Vs. Then she went back and looped pegs again, skipping a different peg this time. After she had three loops firmly on each peg, she used a metal pick to pull the bottom loop to cover the loops, Following a pattern of going across the loom and skipping pegs, she kept going until the loom was filled with yarn in the chosen pattern.

All the while she was doing this, her mother watched in amazement.

The finished piece of work would hardly qualify as a blanket or scarf, but the yarn held together as Penny lifted it from the loom.

“It’s beautiful,” Mom said. “Do you think that is something like the way God weaves our hearts for Him?”

“Well, He uses different colors and types of yarn. And He weaves them together so they make a finished piece.”

“And the loom? What does the loom do?”

“The loom keeps the yarn together. Makes it a whole piece even though it’s made of many strands of yarn.”

“Just like God! God holds us together and makes us in the pattern He has for us. If we let Him. God is like a heavenly loom!”

Lessons from articles of clothing. From April through June of this year we’re going to draw spiritual lessons from the imagery of the Bible related to clothing. How do you feel about clothing as a lesson topic? Think about the clothing you’re wearing as you read this. Can the belt you are wearing remind you of something that God does for you? What about the shoes on your feet? Does a winter coat remind you of God’s warm love for you? In the summer can a hat or scarf protect you from the hot sun something like the way God wants to keep you from harm? Does a pile of torn and dirty clothing remind you of your sinful state? What article of clothing did God choose to represent the most glorious gift of all that He offers freely to us?

Woven on the loom of heaven. Remember the multi-colored coat Joseph’s father gave him? In what ways is the coat that Jesus offers us superior to Joseph’s beautiful coat? Have you ever owned a white dress, trousers, or other article of white clothing and watched with dismay as it became faded and discolored—or was splashed with blood and dirt? Do we need to wait for heaven before we can wear the spotless, glowing robe of righteousness? Is this lovely white robe a reward for living a sinless life? Or can sinners also be clothed in this amazing garment? How? Or why not?
Filthy rags. Why does God allow church members, including leaders, to serve as role models even though their lives are spotted with sin? Do you like the image that stares at you from the mirror? Do you ever feel like saying to God, “You are so fortunate to have me in Your family”? Have you ever known someone who seemed to have the belief that he or she was a blessing to all? How does God see us as we take pleasure in ourselves? Modern methods neatly conceal the stains of menstruation, but in Bible times, what did women—and society—think of these monthly flows of blood? Why did God choose the rags that soaked up this blood as an example of our sinfulness? Is it right to be repulsed by sin?
Imputed, disputed. Why are the two words, imputed and imparted, so hard for us to understand and apply to the gospel story? When God sees our rotten lives and hears us cry for forgiveness, what does He do? Does anyone deserve the royal treatment God gives us when we cry out to be rescued from sin? When God offers us His righteousness and we accept, are we then perfect beings free from sin? If so, how long does that state continue? Does the robe of righteousness keep working for us even when we sin? Explain. Is imputed righteousness from God Himself? How can God cover our messy, sin-dominated lives with His holy righteousness and treat us as if we have never sinned? How should you and I feel about being offered the gift of pure righteousness?
A lawful believer. What do we mean by belief in the perpetuity of the law? What law? Is the robe of righteousness reserved for those who keep the law without sin? How many people since Adam and Eve qualify for such a standing before God? Does a command-keeping Christian’s belief in the law give him or her special standing in the courts of heaven? Why do some Christians have a reputation as legalists? What is harmful about such a reputation? Do you have any suggestions for changing this perspective by others of our attitude towards the law? Or should we welcome the attribution of “law-abiding?” Do you love the law? David got himself into more trouble than you and I ever thought of, but he says over and over that he loves the law. How can we love a law that condemns us?
The robe that works. The drunkard writhes on the concrete walkway in his own spit and vomit, but somehow in his drunken state he senses the call of Jesus to salvation, and he accepts. Is he a Christian at that point? If so, is he clothed in Christ’s robe of righteousness? How does God see that wretched human being lying in the gutter with the broken glass and garbage of a forlorn neighborhood? How do you and I see that same person? The robe is a symbol of something else. What? How does the act of wearing Christ’s free robe of righteousness change the person from within? Is the change sudden? Comprehensive? What about people who look like us but belong to other religious persuasions? Are they wearing the robe of righteousness? If so, how should we treat them? How does God regard them?
Cheap grace. Chances are you have never been accused of believing in cheap grace. Why not? Why is cheap grace almost never something that people blame us Adventists for having? What is it about the term “cheap grace” that offends us so much? If “cheap” grace is bad, what does “good” grace cost? If grace is free, why isn’t it also cheap? Have you ever heard a person bemoan the fact that he or she isn’t good enough for heaven? Or that he or she has a past that makes it impossible to fit in the church? Have you ever heard a Christian seriously doubt if he or she has done “enough” to be worthy of salvation? Does the thought ever occur to you that you need to get busy and get ready or you will come short in the good deeds department at the Second Coming? What does it take to accept God’s grace as God offers it to us?
The Holy Spirit. How does the Holy Spirit help us struggling Christians make our way through life? What does the Holy Spirit possess that He can share with us to help us discern God’s will for us? Is the Holy Spirit our Friend? Or our Judge? Is it proper to pray to the Holy Spirit? What role does the Holy Spirit play in making the robe of righteousness our most important possession? Do you really believe it is possible for you to become more like God? How much more? What does it take to start on that pathway?

How God’s children deal with guilt and shame

JG — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 02:59:16 +0000

A S T O R Y

“I feel so guilty,” Marie told her friend Jeannie when she saw her at church. “Here you’ve been sick in bed for three weeks, and I didn’t even call to see how you were doing.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Jeannie replied. “I feel terribly guilty for neglecting my family for more than a month now. I even spent two days in the hospital, and when I was home I was too weak to clean house or cook good meals. My poor family. I really let them down.”

There was a moment of silence, and then both women broke out in smiles and leaned forward for a big hug. “We’re so guilty,” Marie said. “I think we should turn ourselves in.”

Jeannie grinned. “You know,” she said, “in a way we are both guilty. How many times have I given in to temptation and said or done things I should never think about, much less say or do.”

“Me, too. I’m sure I’ve fallen down more times than you have.”

“That’s kind of you to say, but one thing I’ve learned.”

“What’s that?”

“There’s something worse than guilt.” Jeannie waited a few moments. “Shame.”

1. The shame of the first sin. Were Adam and Eve guilty of sin against God? What emotion do you think they felt more strongly after the truth about their sin began to sink in: guilt or shame? Under what circumstances is it possible to experience guilt without shame? How can the Eden story bring comfort to human beings who give birth to children who grow up disobedient and rebellious? How did their sense of guilt and shame lead them to back away from the consequences of their sin? How long did it take for Adam and Eve to learn to ”pass the buck”? Do we Christians ever play this game?

2. Joseph’s guilty brothers. How jealous were Joseph’s brothers of their little brother? How did they feel after they dumped him in a well and he vanished? How do you think they agonized over that terrible day during the years that followed? How do you think they dealt with their shame when they were around their father? Is it possible for us to forget terrible things we did many years ago? Would you agree that the revealing by Joseph of his identity to his brothers is one of the most dramatic scenes in all of Scripture? Didn’t the brothers deserve every stab of remorse they felt at that time? What emotions reign over the reunion that takes place? Was that a miracle? Explain.

3. Guilty David. Is it possible for a human being to function in society without having occasional feelings of guilt? King, musician, poet, and mighty warrior he was, but what serious problems did David have in dealing with his emotions? Should David have felt guilty for his murderous acts, his jealousy, his reckless ways? Does God have an antidote for the consequences of guilt? How did David respond when he absorbed the reality of God’s love for him “no matter what”? Is it God’s plan for us to live such sin-free lives that we will never have guilt feelings? What are some of the physical and mental dangers of carrying too much guilt in our lives? Do you ever use music or poetry as David did to tame your feelings of rage or shame? If not, what works for you?

4. Peter’s words. Have you ever pledged or promised something you had a hunch you could never deliver? Or are you careful never to make a promise you can’t fulfill? Is it a good idea to leave out the words “never” or “always” when making a promise? Why? In the excitement of a major event, is it possible to forget what you’re saying and go deeper and deeper into your sweeping promises or declarations? Does that ever happen to you? What did forgiveness have to do with Peter’s rescue from sliding down a hill built on the slope of his own ego? Are you and I ever in need of being “jerked around” a bit to awaken us to our own shortcomings?

5. Forgiving Power. Our lesson guide states that God’s forgiveness far exceeds man’s. Explain how that can be. Some say we are forgiven before we sin; we just have to claim the forgiveness we’ve been given. Is that how you feel about God’s forgiveness? God abhors sin in its every manifestation. How does his willingness to forgive correspond with his hatred of sin? Does He give us one chance per sin to overcome? How many shortcomings or sins can we tolerate in our family members? Do we sometimes set people so far above us that we lose hope when we find out that these people need forgiveness as much as anyone else?

6. Guilt’s effect. If you see a mental health provider, chances are you’ll be encouraged to talk about feelings of guilt that you harbor. Obviously, the therapist can’t forgive you. So why is it helpful to talk about how guilty you feel? Why does the therapist want to free you from your feelings of guilt? If you let guilt guide you, what kind of a life will you have? On the other hand, if you convince yourself that no matter what you choose to do, there can be no guilt, what could be the consequences? Is there a way to acknowledge your sin, accept forgiveness, and let God take care of your guilt?

When you read God’s Word, think about what it says about God. What kind of a God is He?

God bless you!

Stress: Counsel from Scripture

JG — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:43:53 +0000

S T O R Y

Eileen glanced at her watch. Today she was in charge of the cradle roll division, a group of about fifteen babies and toddlers up to about age two and many of their parents. “I hope Heather remembers it’s her day to help out,” Eileen said.

Serving as church organist was another one of her responsibilities. She gathered up all of the feathered and quilted characters for her stories with the kiddies, picked up a heavy file marked “organ music,” and headed out the door. Husband would follow later.

In a few minutes Eileen was at the church practicing with a group of three singers and a trumpet player that was presenting a special musical number just before the sermon. She barely had time to arrange her organ music for the church service when the children started arriving for cradle roll.

As she maneuvered her way down the stairs from the organ to the hallway, the heel of her shiny black shoes caught in the carpet, sending her flying. Elaine crumpled in a heap. Someone from the congregation ran to her and helped her get up and on her way down the hall to the cradle roll. There was no blood but a bruise was starting to form on one knee. Her stockings were torn, but her dress was long.

After Sabbath school it was time to settle on the organ. To her horror, Elaine saw that the number of the opening hymn as printed in the church bulletin was wrong. Or was the number right and the name of the hymn wrong? She decided to go with the hymn.

During the sermon Elaine thought about the three couples she’d invited to their place for Sabbath dinner. Oh, dear. She suddenly remembered that two of the six people were adamant vegan, and there was some skim milk in the mushroom sauce. She hoped they wouldn’t be offended.

The melody of the old hymn, “O day of rest and gladness,” rang through Elaine’s mind. “O day of joy and peace.” She shook her head. “Maybe I should rewrite that hymn. Sometimes it’s more like, ’O day of stress and sadness.”

1. Leading thought. Do we ever get into stressful situations in our service to the Lord? Is Sabbath for you a lazy time when you sleep more and eat more than on any other day of the week, or is it a frenzy of activity? Do you love being involved in your local church or do you cringe on the sidelines? What about day-to-day living? How much serious stress have you had to handle in the past year or two? Do you feel that you endure more stress than the average person? What does being a Christian have to do with dealing with life’s stresses? Is it a sin to experience stress? Are all of God’s faithful followers free from stress? Discuss.

2. Look at Elijah. Why do you think God was so eager to show His love and care for Elijah? Imagine being by Elijah’s side during the famine. Just when he’s experiencing the gnawing pain of starvation, God sends him lunch. Do you think Elijah’s attitude towards pesky ravens changed when they brought him food twice a day? Can you imagine a situation during the closing days when your supply of food is exhausted just as Elijah’s was? Would you pray for ravens to bring you food? Has God been so close to you and worked so many miracles for you that you will never doubt Him? Or does stress sometimes wear us down no matter what we believe?

3. Killing is stressful. Were you amused or upset by the statement in Monday’s lesson that Elijah no doubt experienced severe stress when he led out in the slaying of hundreds of adults and children? Does God ever order punishment by death today? Why or why not? Suppose you were asked to serve on an execution panel for criminals sentenced to death. Would that situation be stressful to you? If a person can’t handle stress, what happens? Why did God allow Elijah to plunge from a state of victorious triumph to total despair? Can we expect God to pull us out of a situation when the stress seems more than we can bear?

4. Recovering from stress. The authors of our lesson describe Elijah’s experience in the desert with the ravens and his long walk to Mount Horeb as a recipe for his physical recovery from severe stress. Do you think that physical exercise can play a role in coping with stress? When life turns into upheaval, does God care about the quality of our pleas with Him? Does He listen to us only when our prayers follow the examples by Jesus and others in Scripture? Have you ever walked your way out of depression? Are natural remedies (sleep, proper food, exercise) always sufficient to help us deal with extreme stress? Or does medical intervention sometimes play a vital role in helping some of us cope with stress? Discuss.

5. From the woods to the congregation. Have you ever found peace in a retreat to the woods or the seashore as you wrestled with life’s challenges? Does being alone for a while help you achieve a sense of peace when you’ve been battered about by harsh words or judgments? What about putting one foot in front of the other and coming into the congregation of God when you feel downhearted? Do you have friends whose presence helps calm you down or inspires you to become active again? How valuable are true friends in these stressful times?

6. Helping others. Would you agree that most of the stress we feel is caused by our self-centeredness? Have you ever met someone who obviously loves the Lord but is terrified by the idea of standing up and telling other believers about a special blessing he or she has received? What is wrong there? How do speakers and performers overcome stage fright or fear of the audience? If your church started a class for people who suffer from “stage fright,” would anybody come?

7. Sensing His presence. Have you ever asked for the presence of God in your heart when you were facing difficulty? What happened? Do you have a working relationship with the Holy Spirit, the divine Being who hears our prayers and speaks to our hearts? What does it take to have a close walk with God? Does God take away the sources of our stress? If not, how does He help us deal with them?

Rizpah, a diamond in the Old Testament

JG — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:51:10 +0000

The following comments and questions are based on a Bible study program available online at no cost to you.

1. A nation builder. References in Scripture to Rizpah are scant, but after studying this week’s lesson, do you believe there is sufficient evidence to give Rizpah credit for being a nation builder? If you were constructing a resume for Rizpah, what would you include? Do you agree with commentators who state that Rizpah suffered more than any other woman in the Old Testament?

2. Family life. Imagine growing up in a family with many wives and even more concubines. How would men fit into such a family? Do you think Rizpah would have chosen this lifestyle if she’d had a choice? Why didn’t she try to escape the suffocating atmosphere? Have you ever felt that you were bound by circumstances beyond your control? How does the devout Christian react to even the most restrictive conditions?

3. Sons of promise. Do you think that Rizpah’s mother love for her boys helped her enjoy glimmers of happiness as they grew up under her care? What happened to her joy as a mother when her two sons were sentenced to be executed for a crime they weren’t even accused of committing? She couldn’t change the actions, but what was one act she could carry out to show her love? Can you imagine the love this mother had for her sons? Picture her keeping their dead bodies clean and hoping for a decent burial for them.

4. What’s fair? Was it fair for the seven sons of Saul to be executed because King Saul didn’t treat the Gibeonites as promised? What right did the Gibeonites have to plead to David for justice because of their treatment by the former king of Israel? Why did David agree with them so quickly? What gruesome deed did the Gibeonites require to put the events of the past behind them?

5. Changing history. Be sure to read the notes for Thursday in the lesson guide to understand how this loving and unselfish act of Rizpah in caring for the bodies of her sons apparently changed the course of history. How do you think David learned about Rizpah’s brave stand? How did he feel? What did he do? What happened in nature immediately after an appropriate burial site was dedicated to the men’s bodies? Did the story of Rizpah influence the thoughts of David? How did this have an impact on the future of Israel? Does God long to be involved in your church, your life, your family? Are you ready to “do the right thing” no matter how lonely and helpless you may feel?

Joyce Griffith

(email me!)

Read it, study it, live by it

JG — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:38:25 +0000

P A R A B L E

“Don’t tell me what I can do or not do,” Phil stormed. “I don’t need the stupid government bossing me around.”

“There’s a red light ahead.”

“So? I’ll see if there’s any traffic coming before I decide to stop.”

Phil made it through that intersection but a block or so down the road the unmistakable roar of a police siren shattered the evening sky.

“Are you going to stop, Phil?”

“Of course I am.” Phil pushed his feet, hard, on the brakes and pulled over.

“But you said you didn’t like the government bossing you around.”

“I don’t. But I like sitting in jail a lot less.”

“So you obey the government if the penalty is bad enough—”

“—Just a minute. The officer wants to talk to me.”

After the conversation a humbler Phil took over the steering wheel and drove at a slower speed until the traffic officer disappeared down the highway. “You know what that officer said? He said the traffic lights are there to protect us. Can you believe it? Those lights are on our side. He also said my fine would be two hundred dollars and would show on my driving record.”

1. Over the limit. Have you ever been dismayed by slow traffic ahead, a light just turning from yellow to red, or a construction zone speed limit with no visible sign of construction? Paul didn’t have those specific problems, but how do you think he handled frustration as he tried to set the young Christian church on solid footing? Were there laws, rules, customs, or advice for him to follow? Compare Paul before conversion with Paul the apostle. How did he change from being haughty and arrogant to showing a character that was both humble and meek, seeking to follow the Lord in every detail?

2. Ordinary laws. Suppose the country where you live were to become pagan and anti-Christian. Would you still follow the laws of the country? What if those laws interfered with your freedom? How far should we go to obey the laws of the state where we live? Is there a limit to the respect we should show our government? What about the rules of our church? Would you like church to begin half an hour later or earlier? Do you approve of the church board and their actions? Do you resent having the church make rules in certain areas of church life? Is it possible to be humble when a pastor, an elder, a teacher, a children’s division leader or some other member seems to be on the overbearing or bossy side of things?

3. Lessgo. Does everyone in your church seem friendly to everyone else who comes to your church? What about those members with messy hair and worn clothes? And the ones that look like they just smoked a pack of cigarettes or smell like stale beer? If you never see people like that in your church, is that a good sign? How do you show your love to fellow members of your church? How can you tell when your friendship is welcome? Are there groups of people who obviously love each other but don’t pay attention to anyone else in church? Have you ever offended someone in your church? What did you do? What are the benefits of being friendly to everyone? Or almost everyone? How would God like us to treat people we just don’t like?

4. A religion of grace. Can you think of an example of the presence of grace in the Jewish religion of the Old Testament? Or is grace only a New Testament characteristic of God’s relationship to His people? How is grace related to love? As human beings, is it possible to render too much grace to our students, our children, or our fellow workers? When was the last time someone did something generous for you without your expecting it? Is that an example of grace? Are there ways you or your Bible study class have not explored for sharing Godlike grace with others?

5. Jesus is coming. What do you think the congregation felt when Paul told them to get their act together because Jesus is coming? Explain how “soon” can be translated into “thousands of years” in determining when the new kingdom takes over. Paul doesn’t say when, but he says now we are “much nearer” than we were before to the full realization of our salvation. When you think of the soon coming of Jesus, is your focus on the evil of this world or on the miracles that God is working?

6. The Bible only. With excellent sermons surrounding us, is it possible to be a good Christian based on God’s love for us without ever reading, much less studying, the Bible? When was the last time you followed a sermon with a Bible study with only yourself attending? What about people whose minimal reading or language skills are an obstacle to understanding the Bible? How would you open God’s Word to them? Would you recommend Romans to the just-born Christian in your Bible study class? Could you explain the book, verse by verse, and make it clear?

Let’s study God’s word seriously and earnestly!

Joyce Griffith

Yes, the law can bring freedom

JG — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:04:22 +0000

S T O R Y

Jerod was already late to the evening class he was taking at the local community college when he rounded a corner on the highway and was confronted by a construction crew and a sign announcing a mandated speed of 30 mph.

He slowed down as he steered clear of the work crew, and then his foot pressed on the accelerator pedal. The speedometer read 30, 35, then 45 and kept moving up.

Something spurred Jerod to tap the brake pedal and slow down to the posted limit of 30 miles an hour—plus a couple. “I hate this stupid law,” he said, “but I hate speeding tickets even more.”

Just then a silver sporty-looking car hovering the ground zoomed around him and sped off ahead at double the speed limit or more. Jerod recognized the car. It was a classmate on his way to the same class. In a few minutes Jerod caught up to it, settling on its roof off to the side of the highway, wheels still spinning. An ambulance siren screamed. A police car was close behind.

“Oh, no! Oh, no!” Jerod swung over to the side of the road and jumped out. He looked around. Apparently no other vehicles were involved. The police officer said to Jerod, “You’d best clear out of here, son,” he said. “The driver is getting a ride in the ambulance. We have his identity. A family member is on the way.”

Jerod walked back to his car, hands shaking. He started up the engine and drove down the highway. This time he was saying, “I love the law. If it hadn’t been for the law, or if I hadn’t obeyed it, what a mess things could be for me now.”

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1. How can the law make a Christian free? Have you ever visited a penitentiary or a county jail? As you looked at the imprisoned persons, did they seem happy? Were they rejoicing over their good luck? Isn’t the law the opposite of freedom? Does the law of God operate according to principles that are different from those of the laws of the land? How many times a day do you pray in gratitude to God for providing the law that keeps us in Him?

2. Can’t get better. Some people say Romans loses its fire after Chapter 6. I don’t think so. Look at Chapter 8 of Paul’s special message to the Romans. What two amazing verses of Scripture* rise above the rest of the book in hope and joy? Hint: one rejoices in freedom from sin, the other assures us that God is in control. Compare the driver in our story who has no fear of getting a speeding ticket as long as he obeys the speed restriction with the Christian who makes a decision to obey God’s law. Would you like to be free from fear forever? What are some of the immediate benefits of turning our lives over to Jesus and resolving to obey His every desire for us?

3. The law doesn’t save. Why can’t God’s law save us? We obey it, we follow it to the best of our ability. Can we still miss out on the eternal reward? What if you or I ever succeeded in obeying the law perfectly? Wouldn’t that be enough to find our way to eternal life with Jesus? If not, what is still missing? What is the role of Jesus in relation to the law? What does God give us that makes it possible for us to understand and obey the law? Should that be our goal as Christians? Why?

4. Flesh or spirit. What is a desire of the flesh? Is “spirit” good and “flesh” bad? Has your body ever hurt so badly you couldn’t muster energy to pray? At such times have you ever been tempted to blame God for your troubles? Are overeating or having illicit sexual relations the best examples of fleshly sin? If neither of these situations tempts you, should you be concerned about the “things of the flesh” interfering with your Christian life? Why or why not?

5. Self esteem. Has there ever been a time when you felt worthless in the eyes of God? How does the message of Romans 8 offer sympathy and help at such times? How can the mighty God live within a frail human being? Is that even possible? If God hates sin so much, why does He continue to give us the opportunity to sin throughout eternity? Or do you think that opportunity will be destroyed? Discuss.

6. Legalism. Have you ever had someone working for you who did what you asked in the smallest detail but seemed to be afraid of you? Do we sometimes comply with a rule even though we think it is silly or unnecessary? Why? Imagine working for a wealthy person, and then imagine being the son or daughter of a wealthy person. Assuming the wealthy person is good in every respect, which is the more fortunate person: the job holder who is full of respect and fear for the boss, or the grown adult who calls the wealthy person “Dad”? How does God want us to think of Him?

7. Slavery to sin. How does sin enslave us? Is it the sin itself or is it the inventor of all sins, Satan, that causes us problems when we sin? Do you believe that God can forgive any sin at all? Have you ever known someone who couldn’t seem to accept God’s forgiveness for his or her terrible sins? How is our release from our sins achieved? What encouragement can you offer the person who is burdened by his or her sins?

8. Free at last. You can probably think of a lot of things we won’t have to deal with any more in eternity. Would you put sin at the top of that list? What if the world were just as it is now, but gradually all sin wore away until it was totally gone? Is that God’s plan for getting rid of sin? What is His timetable? Do you find comfort in God’s eagerness to forgive you, to guide you, to comfort you, to be with you no matter what? How can you show your gratitude?

*The two amazing texts in Romans 8 are Romans 8:1 (Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus) and Romans 8:28 (And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.) A third gem: If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Let’s study God’s word with joy and gratitude! Share your thoughts.

Who is the man? Romans 7

JG — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:13:14 +0000

1. Leading Thought. Can you see why the language and terminology used in Romans 7 can either comfort or discourage a Christian? How should we respond when a non-sabbatarian quotes Romans 7 as proof that the law of God honored in the Old Testament has no more power over us? How can we keep from sounding glib or impatient? What truths about God overwhelm our sense of sinfulness and despair? Is there joy in obeying the law? What is the source of that joy?

2. Bound to the law. Do you think the Jewish people had trouble distinguishing between the moral and the ceremonial law? What reasons were they given for turning from the ceremonial laws that pointed forward to the Messiah? Was the moral law in any way affected, modified, or changed by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross? Why or why not? Imagine belonging to a group of people who had followed the same religious routine for two thousand years. How easy would it be for you to give up those hallowed routines? Do we ever get caught up in religious routines to the extent that they become barriers rather than pathways to a fuller Christian life?

3. Freedom at the cross. What, if anything, became “free” at the cross that was not available before? When Jesus gave up His life on the cross, did the rules and rituals of the Jewish people lose their validity? Why or why not? Did God’s plan for the future of His people include a new set of laws? Were God’s people of the Old Testament saved in a more works-oriented way than those of the New Testament? Do you want to be free from any of the Ten Commandments? Why do you think a weekly day of worship on Sunday is so convincing to so many? What can keep you and me from considering man-made customs or habits as if they were from God? Are Seventh-day Adventists immune from substituting truth for error? Are we always right?

4. Seeing Christ in routines. We’re often told that the sanctuary service was a “sandbox in the desert” to teach the people how God deals with sin. How hard was it to persuade people that the prophetic vision of the sanctuary had now been fulfilled? Imagine the evangelistic challenge of persuading thousands of Jewish people to walk away from long-established services and embrace the future from the spilled blood of Jesus onward. Are you sure you would have welcomed the changes? What would be lacking for those who did not, or refused to, see the light of the Resurrection? Wouldn’t slipping in a new day for worship help these people across the bridge from the Old Testament to the New? Is there any evidence that this was the goal of Paul and his fellow leaders? In what ways does the everlasting wisdom and reign of the Godhead give you assurance?

5. The law is holy. Paul’s lesson is clear on two points: What can the law always do? What can the law never do? Does God’s holy law in any way extend beyond the Ten Commandments? Is it easy to become annoyed by God’s law? Do you enjoy being different from other Christians by going to church on another day every week? David and Paul both spent a piece of their lives in sin. Both praise the beauty and power of the law that condemned them. Why? Do you ever thank God for His holy law when you kneel for prayer? Can you identify blessings in keeping each of the ten commandments? What about lifestyle and other issues that aren’t spelled out in the Ten Commandments? Do you consider them superfluous? Or necessary? Or optional?

6. Who is the man? Carefully read Romans 7 and ask the question that has echoed through the centuries: “Who is the man?” Paul cries out, “Wretched man that I am!” Is this Paul the lost or Paul the saved? How can a righteous person be so concerned about his lack of self-control and his association with sin? What is Paul the struggling sinner saying to us today in verses 8 to 20 of this chapter? What do our temptations have to do with our nature? What emotion erupts from the last verse of this chapter? Can you and I experience the same level of jubilation when we turn to God when we sin? Can God keep us in His perfect peace, free from sin? How? When?

Dialog: Romans 7

JG — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:09:14 +0000

D I A L O G

“Is it easier to be a sinner or a Christian?”

“That’s a crooked question because Christians are sinners.”

“How can a sinner qualify for eternal life?”

“By asking God for forgiveness and turning away from sin.”

“Is forgiveness a one-way ticket to the land of forever happiness?”

“It can be the beginning of an everlasting friendship with Jesus.”

“Is it easier to be a martyr or to promise to give up on Jesus to save your life?”

“In the long term there would be infinitely more joy in being a martyr.”

“Was Paul a great sinner or a great Christian?”

“He was a conscientious Christian.”

“Why do people argue so much about Romans 7?”

“Because so many read it as an abolishment of one of the Ten Commandments.”

“Does the moral law lead to sin or to righteousness?”

“It’s up to us. By the law we can be condemned to sin or led to righteousness..”

“Was Paul a Christian when he moaned about how sinful he was?”

“Of course he was. We should all moan when we sin. God forgives us anyway.”

James looks for a new life

JG — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:32:24 +0000

James was looking for work. The boss at the first company offered a very high salary but made it clear that the rules in the employee handbook and the job description had to be followed. “One mistake, and you’re fired,” he was told.

At the second company the salary was good, but the boss told James that his attitude was the most important factor in keeping the job and that one outburst or other indication of a negative attitude would send him on his way.

The third company was a whole new situation. There was no salary at all, just the promise of food and water and a simple house to live in until retirement, when James would receive a big, fully furnished house and all the things he and his family desired. What the boss said next shocked James. “In order to keep this job,” he said, “You must trust me, love me, and obey me. If you don’t,” the boss continued, “you won’t want to work here any more, and it will be your decision to leave, but leave you will.”

“I’ve never heard of such requirements to keep a job,” James said.

“Of course you haven’t,” the boss said. “I’ve wanted to be your friend, but you’ve never wanted to get acquainted with me. So you don’t know who I am.”

“Who are you?”

“I am God.”