Daily Lesson for Tuesday 17th of March 2026

People today sometimes bring up slavery as a way to relegate some of the Bible’s counsels to the past, if not to discredit Scripture entirely. But, ironically, this takes little to no account of the historical contexts within Old Testament Israel and the New Testament church. Human beings are made in God’s image and, like all of God’s intelligent beings, are designed for freedom. Mosaic laws prohibited Israelites from being perpetual slaves (Deuteronomy 15:12) and stipulated six years as the maximum term of service to pay off financial indebtedness (Exodus 21:2-6, Leviticus 25:39-43). The slavery in the Bible, however repugnant to our modern sense, was not normally like the abominable practices of slavery that have been seen in the Western world, which was a scourge and horrific crime against humanity.

Image © John Baker at Goodsalt.com

In New Testament times, the church had to operate within the framework of Roman law, which provided for owning slaves: “But, unlike modern forms of slavery, Roman law afforded slaves considerable rights and opportunities, and attempting to overturn the practice could have threatened the advancement of the gospel.”—Clinton Wahlen, “Culture, Hermeneutics, and Scripture: Discerning What Is Universal,” in Frank M. Hasel, ed., Biblical Hermeneutics: An Adventist Approach (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute/Review and Herald Academic, 2020), p. 166.

In fact, within the church, unlike more generally within the Roman Empire, the slave’s first obligation was to the Lord. And their masters were instructed to treat them fairly, “knowing that you also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1, NKJV). Moreover, Paul instructed Philemon not to treat Onesimus any longer as his slave but as his brother (Philemon 1:16). Actually, in both the Old and New Testaments, believers are called slaves (or servants) of God (see, for example, Psalms 34:22, Luke 17:10, 1 Peter 2:16).

Even if we don’t like the cultural circumstances in which some Bible texts were written, we still must accept the authority of the text itself. Otherwise, we have placed ourselves and our culture above Scripture. The better option is to look at everything the Bible says about a topic before reaching a conclusion about what the Bible is telling us about it.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-12-work-relations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-12-work-relations

The great lesson we learn from dear Paul this quarter is that we are to 
Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus! – Hymn 618. This is a beautiful theme hymn to give us a great reminder of what we need in our world that is falling apart these days.

We are encouraged this week in sharing and living together in wonderful harmony as families, and as a Church. Sunday starts off with how a family can gain the most happiness as we also find in 
Happy The Home – Hymn 655 and 
Happy The Home That Welcomes You – Hymn 651.

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/12-living-with-each-other-singing-with-inspiration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-living-with-each-other-singing-with-inspiration

Key Thought: Paul draws our attention to many practical, real life principles that are born of heaven and can be understood only by those who are spiritually minded.
March 21, 2026

1. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:1-4.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What condition does Paul indicate is necessary for us to be heavenly-minded? What do you think that means?
3. Personal Application: Where are your thoughts: usually above or below? If below, how can we change direction? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What does it mean to you to be heavenly-minded? How does it relate to being earthly good?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:5,6.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How do we experience what it means to be dead to self and to earthliness and alive to things that are above?
3. Personal Application: “What does it mean to mortify your members which are upon the earth? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “ I have accepted Christ and have been baptized, but my sinful nature is always fighting the spirit in me. I don’t think it is easy to put to death a nature I was born with and is aprt of me. How can I gain victory over my sinful nature and kill it?” How would you respond to your relative?

3. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:12-14.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How are believers described and how does it relate to the qualities they are to put on
3. Personal Application: How well are you representing Jesus in the way you treat others, even those who may be unkind to you? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What kind of influence have you been on others and what kind of influence does the church have on your local community?” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:16,17.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What enables Christ to be in control in our lives and what role does music play in all this
3. Personal Application: Whatever we do, do all in the name of the Lord. Can we say that we are doing that? What must you stop doing if you are doing all in the name of the Lord? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/12-living-with-each-other-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-living-with-each-other-teaching-plan

Key Thought: Paul draws our attention to many practical, real life principles that are born of heaven and can be understood only by those who are spiritually minded.
March 21, 2026

1. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:1-4.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What condition does Paul indicate is necessary for us to be heavenly-minded? What do you think that means?
3. Personal Application: Where are your thoughts: usually above or below? If below, how can we change direction? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What does it mean to you to be heavenly-minded? How does it relate to being earthly good?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:5,6.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How do we experience what it means to be dead to self and to earthliness and alive to things that are above?
3. Personal Application: “What does it mean to mortify your members which are upon the earth? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “ I have accepted Christ and have been baptized, but my sinful nature is always fighting the spirit in me. I don’t think it is easy to put to death a nature I was born with and is aprt of me. How can I gain victory over my sinful nature and kill it?” How would you respond to your relative?

3. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:12-14.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How are believers described and how does it relate to the qualities they are to put on
3. Personal Application: How well are you representing Jesus in the way you treat others, even those who may be unkind to you? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What kind of influence have you been on others and what kind of influence does the church have on your local community?” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Colossians 3:16,17.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What enables Christ to be in control in our lives and what role does music play in all this
3. Personal Application: Whatever we do, do all in the name of the Lord. Can we say that we are doing that? What must you stop doing if you are doing all in the name of the Lord? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/12-living-with-each-other-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-living-with-each-other-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Monday 16th of March 2026

Children have a vital role as part of the family firm. They need to know they are loved and valued as members of the family and citizens of the heavenly kingdom. Family worship is crucial, simple but regular, morning and evening. At an early age, children can start helping with cleaning and other responsibilities. Most important, they should heed Paul’s command: “Obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord” (Colossians 3:20, NKJV).

1. Proverbs 22:6,15

2. Matthew 19:14

3. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

4. Proverbs 1:8-9

Rightly trained for the Lord, by precept and example, children will be a blessing to the family, the church, and beyond. And Paul’s instruction for parents, like his instruction for husbands and wives, is balanced and reciprocal: “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21, NKJV). How parents, particularly the father, interact with and discipline children profoundly impacts their spiritual upbringing.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Studies show, too, that when both parents go to church, a higher percentage of children remain churchgoers, as opposed to if only one parent goes. Even more surprising, consistent church attendance by the father, even more than by the mother, means a greater number of children remain in church as adults. The role of the father, then, in the spiritual formation of his children, cannot be underestimated. How crucial that fathers take their roles seriously.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-12-parents-and-children/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-12-parents-and-children