How could Paul have peace without knowing the outcome of his imprisonment? Join the Hit the Mark panel as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 3 – Life and Death. It’s the fastest hour of the week!

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/life-and-death-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=life-and-death-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 14th of January 2026

Jesus’ last prayer for His disciples was dominated by one key theme: unity. Jesus looked beyond the cross to reunion with His Father and reunion with us: “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me” (John 17:24, NKJV). Jesus prayed that the Father would keep His children so “that they may be one as We are” (John 17:11, NKJV). He also underscored the dire consequences of disunity—it becomes a reason for many not to believe. Twice in this brief prayer, Jesus emphasizes our oneness with Him and the Father is so “that the world may believe” and so “that the world may know that You have sent Me” (John 17:21,23, NKJV).

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

The Greek word in Philippians 1:27 translated “let your conduct be worthy” is politeuomai, which means “live as a citizen”—not of any earthly kingdom but as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount paints a beautiful picture of what it means to be children of the heavenly Father and members of His kingdom: poor in spirit, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, turning the other cheek, loving one’s enemies, blessing those who curse us, doing good to those who hate us. In short, “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8).

It’s difficult to be upset or angry with someone like that, or is it? Sometimes we resent people who seem to be too good. We may even be tempted to cut them down to size or find a weak point to prove that they’re not as good as they seem, all so that we feel better about ourselves. Instead, why not see how much more loving we can be, how generous, how merciful, how humble?

Ellen G. White spoke of those who “love the world and its gain better than they love God or the truth.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 277.

So often disunity in the church ultimately stems from pride. “As pride and worldly ambition have been cherished, the spirit of Christ has departed, and emulation, dissension, and strife have come in to distract and weaken the church.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, Pages 240, 241.

How crucial that we each learn the humility and meekness that Jesus modeled for us! What a different church we would have, wouldn’t we?

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-03-stand-fast-in-unity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-03-stand-fast-in-unity

Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Clinton Wahlen, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson,

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/3-life-and-death-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=3-life-and-death-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author

View an in-depth discussion of Life and Death in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

Daily Lesson for Tuesday 13th of January 2026

This passage has been greatly misunderstood through the ages. In this week’s passage for study, Paul dealt with the contrast between living and dying. The Christian lives for Christ and may even die for Him. In that sense it is “gain” because our witness is that much more powerful and persuasive (Philippians 1:21). No doubt a person believes when willing to die for that belief.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

But we must also recognize that the dead are really dead. They “know nothing.” They rest in the grave till the resurrection (see Eccl. 9:5; John 5:28-29). That’s why Jesus said of Lazarus, who had died, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11).

If, when people die, they go immediately to heaven, imagine how that would be for Lazarus. After four days of Lazarus frolicking in Paradise, an angel comes with the “bad” news: “Sorry, Lazarus, but Jesus is calling you back to earth. You can’t stay here.”

When we follow error to its logical conclusion, we see how erroneous it is. Death is like a dreamless sleep from which Jesus will awaken His faithful followers at the Second Advent; then, together with the living saints, they will be caught up and taken to heaven to be with Jesus forever (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Paul’s “departing” from the present life to be with Christ means to be with Him in suffering and dying (2 Timothy 4:6) in order to “attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:11, NKJV). Also, he was no doubt aware that he would close his eyes in death and that the very next thing he would know, in the twinkling of an eye, would be seeing Jesus, who would take him, with all God’s people, to the place Jesus has prepared for all who love Him (John 14:3, 1 Corinthians 2:9).

Though willing to die for Christ, Paul knew it would be better for the Philippians if he would “remain in the flesh” (Philippians 1:24, NKJV). Interestingly, for the Christian, whether it is better to live for Christ or die for Him is not necessarily easy to answer. Paul was “hard-pressed between the two” (Philippians 1:23, NKJV), between staying alive or resting in the grave.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-03-being-confident/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-03-being-confident