According to Dr. James McHenry (Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787), a lady asked Benjamin Franklin as he left Independence Hall on the last day of the Convention, “Well Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Following two lessons on sin and […]

Kenneth McFarland was the “Zig Zigler” of the 1950s and 1960s. He was America’s salesman. He told the story of Uncle Ben, who was a former alcoholic. But upon the death of his sister, he got his life straightened out and adopted his sister’s two sons and one daughter. When the judge asked why the […]

Here is the bad news: we really need a savior. Here is the good news: Jesus is a wonderful Savior. The only solution to sin (the last two weeks’ lessons) is a Savior (the next three lessons). Christ our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30) has entered the human dilemma (the fallen world) and has liberated us […]

Sin is many things. It is missing the mark (original meaning of the New Testament term). It is rebellion against the father’s love (Luke 15:11-32). It is alienation and separation from God (Ephesians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is ignorance of the things of God (Acts 17:30). It is failing to trust the goodness of […]

Sin is a “knotty” problem. The word “not” appears three times in our lesson text (Genesis 3:1, 3, and 4). The devil used the word twice, and Eve, quoting God, used it once. The devil told Adam and Eve that they would not die if they ate the forbidden fruit. But that was a lie. […]