Metaphors motivate. Metaphors are memorable. Metaphors helps us talk and live (George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, Metaphors We Live By). The Bible is full of metaphors, and many metaphors are used to describe God’s people. Years ago Paul Minear traced the many images of the church in the New Testament (Images of the Church in […]
Who are you, really? It’s an important question. Your self-image is a lump of clay molded by many factors. When you’re a child, your parents shape how you view yourself. In school, other students brand you popular or unpopular, cool or uncool, a nerd or a jock. In the workplace, it’s tempting to measure your […]
It was a day of mixed emotions. Tears stained some cheeks, while others’ hands met together in applause. Among some there was a sobering silence which was broken by joyful shouts of others. The announcement had just been made that formal approval had been given for the congregation to build a new church building. Torrents […]
Use one or both of these questions to introduce the lesson. 1. What does it mean to be mature? 2. Describe the phases of life from infant to adult. How do they differ? Read 1 Peter 2:1-3 1. First Peter was written for Jewish and Gentile believers early in the life of the church. In […]
Truth is the beginning of every good thing, both in heaven and on earth; and he who would be blessed and happy should be from the first a partaker of truth for then he can be trusted (Plato). Trust comes from lovingly speaking truth, whether as an individual believer or as the collective community of […]
