La svolta nella storia – La missione nella Divisione Africa australe-Oceano Indiano. Missioni dal mondo 2° episodio – 2° trimestre 2022 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg5rSt43gro
Church [What Does the Bible Teach Us About It?] – Pastor Ted Wilson
In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, share what the Bible teaches about the church, specifically what it is, how it began, and what its purpose is today. In Genesis, God created Adam. But "it is not good for man to be alone," so he created Eve to be his companion. And together, they worshipped God as their Creator. "From the earliest times, God-fearing families in the lineage of Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, and Abraham were the guardians of His truth. These households, in which the father functioned as the priest, could be considered the church in miniature. To Abraham, God gave the rich promises through which this household of God gradually became a nation. Israel's mission was simply an extension of that given to Abraham: To be a blessing to all nations, showing God's love for the world" (Seventh-day Adventists Believe: An Exposition of the Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, p. 167). Through Israel, God desired to create the largest church on earth where representatives of all nations would gather to worship, learn of Him, and preach to their own people the message of salvation. Unfortunately, Israel fell into idolatry, nationalism, and pride, hence, failing in its mission. Then, Jesus came into the world and died on the cross, signifying the end of Israel's mission but inaugurating the Christian church and its mission to proclaim salvation through His redeeming blood. Everyone was invited to accept this gift of salvation and become a part of His church. Meanwhile, the Bible uses metaphors to describe the church. In Ephesians 2:16, the cross reconciles all believers "to God in one body." In 1 Corinthians 12:13, believers are "baptized into one body." In Colossians 1:18, Christ is the "head of the body," and in Ephesians 5:23, the "head of the church." These statements emphasize the unity of the church and the relationship among its members. In addition, 1 Corinthians 3:9 refers to the church as "God's building." Also, Ephesians 2:20, 21 explain that it has been "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." Still, the church is described as a bride with Jesus as the bridegroom. "I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy" (Hosea 2:19). "'Return, O backsliding children,' says the Lord; 'for I am married to you'" (Jeremiah 3:14). Also, Jesus "loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25). Finally, the church is a family that unites heaven and earth. "For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…" (Ephesians 3:14). In connection to this, the twelfth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists states: "The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called out from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for instruction in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord's Supper, for service to humanity, and for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. The church derives its authority from Christ, Who is the incarnate Word revealed in the Scriptures. The church is God's family; adopted by Him as children, its members live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself is the Head. The church is the bride for whom Christ died that He might sanctify and cleanse her. At His return in triumph, He will present her to Himself a glorious church, the faithful of all the ages, the purchase of His blood, not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish." To learn more about this fundamental belief, visit www.adventist.org/the-church/. Also read Ellen G. White's The Acts of the Apostles at www.egwwritings.org, particularly the first chapter entitled "God's Purpose for His Church." In closing, God has given us the wonderful privilege of being part of His church. He invites us to unite with Him in proclaiming the gospel into all the world. Let us also invite others to be part of this church and thank Him for this gift. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IYnQ8y198s
“Do Not Open Your Bible or You Will Die!”
For 20 years, Lily had followed her husband’s Roman Catholic religion, but he had never once allowed her to open and read the Bible. Then one day, an AWR representative visited their town in India, looking for someone to translate Bible lessons into the local dialect. Lily knew she could do it, and gladly accepted the challenge. For the first time in her life, she could now read the Bible. But to her surprise, it contradicted many of the church’s traditions! That’s when supernatural forces began attacking Lily, and she fell ill. In her distress, an unseen voice kept ordering her, “Do not open the Bible or you will die!” Watch Lily’s amazing story and see the miracle that took place not only in her heart, but in her husband’s heart—and I love that God used Adventist World Radio to do it. Yours in the Blessed Hope, Duane McKey
President Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Vwa9T9OFY
Inside Story: Forgiven in Prison ~ Part 1
Forgiven in Prison, Part 1
By Andrew McChesney
The volunteers chose slips of paper with the names of inmates who had signed up for Bible studies at a prison in Spain. But nobody took one slip of paper. “Doesn’t anyone want to meet with this man?” asked Dante Marvin Herrmann, a 36-year-old theology student at Sagunto Adventist College.
Image © Pacific Press
“He’s too difficult to work with,” said one volunteer.
“He always mocks God,” said another.
Dante prayed and sensed a still, small voice say, “Go visit Matías.”
A prison guard brought Matías, a young, clean-shaven man, to Dante in an empty dining hall of the prison’s maximum-security block. Unlike the serial killers and other hardened convicts locked up in the block, Matías didn’t have any visible tattoos or an angry scowl on his face.
“You don’t look like the other prisoners,” Dante said.
Matías laughed. “You don’t know who I am,” he said.
“I don’t really care who you are or what you did,” Dante said. “We all have made mistakes in our lives, and we can’t change the past.”
Matías took a close look at Dante. He saw blue tattoos covering his arms and stretched-out holes in his earlobes left by body piercing.
“Are you from the Seventh-day Adventist Church?” Matías asked. “You don’t look like the other Adventists.”
“God can change every one of us,” Dante replied. He told how he had sold his soul to the devil at 17, joined a street gang, and worked as a drug dealer before finding the love of God in the Bible and becoming an Adventist. When he finished, the hour allotted for Bible study was up.
“Can you visit me again, please?” the inmate said. “I want to learn about this unknown God whom you spoke about. I’ve never heard about a loving God. I’ve only heard about an angry, condemning God.”
Dante promised to return the next Sabbath.
Back at the college, Dante mentioned Matías to a teacher. “Do you know who he is?” the teacher asked. When Dante shook his head, the teacher suggested that he do an online news search. The online search prompted Dante to pray. “God, this is very serious,” he said. “Why did you send me to him?” He sensed a still, small voice reply, “Dante, I have grace for you. I have forgiven you. I can forgive him, too.”
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
Amen!
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-forgiven-in-prison-part-1/
Friday: Further Thought ~ The Fall
Further Thought:
Consider the connection between “the tree of life” and “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” This relation is already suggested through the fact that they are both located “in the midst of the Garden” (Genesis 2:9).
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
But there is more between the two trees than just a geographical relation. It is because humans have taken the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because they disobeyed God, that they lost access to the tree of life, and could not live forever, at least in this condition. This connection underlies a profound principle. Moral and spiritual choices have an impact on biological life, as Solomon instructed to his son: “do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you” (Proverbs 3:1-2, , NKJV). This connection reappears in the future heavenly Jerusalem, where only the tree of life is present “in the middle of its street” (Revelation 22:2, NKJV).
“When God created Eve, He designed that she should possess neither inferiority nor superiority to the man, but that in all things she should be his equal. The holy pair were to have no interest independent of each other; and yet each had an individuality in thinking and acting. But after Eve’s sin, as she was first in the transgression, the Lord told her that Adam should rule over her. She was to be in subjection to her husband, and this was a part of the curse. In many cases the curse has made the lot of woman very grievous and her life a burden. The superiority which God has given man he has abused in many respects by exercising arbitrary power. Infinite wisdom devised the plan of redemption, which places the race on a second probation by giving them another trial.” — Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 484.
Discussion Questions:
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Amen!(0)
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Ukraine Crisis Response by the BUC
On 18 March, 2022, Pastor Dan Serb, Irish Mission President, Michael Douglas (our photographer and videographer) and I boarded a plane to Romania. Our purpose was to observe the impact of organised humanitarian interventions, give moral support to people during this crisis, collect stories and experiences of people and members as they go through this heinous humanitarian crisis, and practically support the hurting. One of our objectives was to understand how Adventist Community Services at the…Source: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2022-04-07/1114/
News Briefs for April 7, 2022
News reports from Global Adventist Internet Network, North American Division, Palestine, Thailand, Trans Pacific Union Mission. Rad Dads Fathers, a documentary showing how different and yet similar fathers are worldwide, has been recently nominated in the “Best Documentary” category at the International Christian Film and Music Festival (ICFF), the most prominent Christian film festival in the […] Source: https://atoday.org/news-briefs-for-april-7-2022/
Death of Rachel Norma Surridge
Rachel Norma Phillips was born on 6 September 1928 in Kisumu, Kenya. She was the second surviving child of Ernest and Lilian Phillips, who served as missionaries at the time (see https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=6HY2). Lilian died of malaria two years later, and the Phillips family returned to England. Ernest began a career as a lecturer at Newbold College, and Rachel was brought up in an academic environment. She was musically gifted and trained as a teacher. Rachel met Ronald…Source: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2022-04-07/1113/
Belief #12: Church [What Does the Bible Teach Us About It?] – Pastor Ted Wilson
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IYnQ8y198s?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-GB&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=1280&h=720]
In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson and his wife, Nancy, share what the Bible teaches about the church, specifically what it is, how it began, and what its purpose is today.
In Genesis, God created Adam. But “it is not good for man to be alone,” so he created Eve to be his companion. And together, they worshipped God as their Creator.
“From the earliest times, God-fearing families in the lineage of Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, and Abraham were the guardians of His truth. These households, in which the father functioned as the priest, could be considered the church in miniature. To Abraham, God gave the rich promises through which this household of God gradually became a nation. Israel’s mission was simply an extension of that given to Abraham: To be a blessing to all nations, showing God’s love for the world” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe: An Exposition of the Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, p. 167).
Through Israel, God desired to create the largest church on earth where representatives of all nations would gather to worship, learn of Him, and preach to their own people the message of salvation. Unfortunately, Israel fell into idolatry, nationalism, and pride, hence, failing in its mission.
Then, Jesus came into the world and died on the cross, signifying the end of Israel’s mission but inaugurating the Christian church and its mission to proclaim salvation through His redeeming blood. Everyone was invited to accept this gift of salvation and become a part of His church.
Meanwhile, the Bible uses metaphors to describe the church. In Ephesians 2:16, the cross reconciles all believers “to God in one body.” In 1 Corinthians 12:13, believers are “baptized into one body.” In Colossians 1:18, Christ is the “head of the body,” and in Ephesians 5:23, the “head of the church.” These statements emphasize the unity of the church and the relationship among its members.
In addition, 1 Corinthians 3:9 refers to the church as “God’s building.” Also, Ephesians 2:20, 21 explain that it has been “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”
Still, the church is described as a bride with Jesus as the bridegroom. “I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy” (Hosea 2:19). “‘Return, O backsliding children,’ says the Lord; ‘for I am married to you’” (Jeremiah 3:14). Also, Jesus “loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25).
Finally, the church is a family that unites heaven and earth. “For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…” (Ephesians 3:14).
In connection to this, the twelfth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists states: “The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are called out from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for instruction in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, for service to humanity, and for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. The church derives its authority from Christ, Who is the incarnate Word revealed in the Scriptures. The church is God’s family; adopted by Him as children, its members live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself is the Head. The church is the bride for whom Christ died that He might sanctify and cleanse her. At His return in triumph, He will present her to Himself a glorious church, the faithful of all the ages, the purchase of His blood, not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish.”
To learn more about this fundamental belief, visit www.adventist.org/the-church/. Also read Ellen G. White’s The Acts of the Apostles at www.egwwritings.org, particularly the first chapter entitled “God’s Purpose for His Church.”
In closing, God has given us the wonderful privilege of being part of His church. He invites us to unite with Him in proclaiming the gospel into all the world. Let us also invite others to be part of this church and thank Him for this gift.
ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES RESPOND TO UKRAINIAN CRISIS
“…I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home…”
Matthew 25:35 (NLT)
In a swift response to the Ukrainian crisis, ADRA-UK launched its appeal for donations and convened a national committee to respond to this humanitarian plight.
Adventist Community Services is now leading this national committee, currently developing operational and strategic plans to assist the transition of refugees from Ukraine to the UK. The remit is to support churches and members in their outreach to the…Source: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2022-04-07/1112/
