By Sam E. Stone The Holy Spirit’s role was noted on several occasions during Jesus’ earthly ministry. When John the Baptist immersed Jesus in the Jordan River, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove (John 1:32). When Jesus was teaching Nicodemus, he emphasized the need for all sinners to be born of […]
By Sam E. Stone In his Gospel, the apostle John often focused on a central theme for an entire chapter (John 14, 15, 16, 17). The predominant note in John 14 is comfort. The setting is the night on which Jesus was betrayed. After instituting the Lord’s Supper in the upper room, Jesus and his […]
By Sam E. Stone This month’s lessons highlight “The Pledge of God’s Presence,” as seen in the Gospels of John and Mark. The quarter’s overall theme is, “The Spirit Comes.” The preparatory ministry of John the Baptist is recounted early in John’s Gospel. It had been almost 400 years since the last Old Testament prophet […]
By Sam E. Stone Today we complete this quarter’s survey of practical help for Christian living. Having considered such themes as worship, prayer, and stewardship, we now focus on the reality of the believer’s battle with the devil. William Hendriksen pointed out Paul’s emphasis on the source of power for believers: “Apart from Christ, Christians can […]
By Sam E. Stone The four lessons this month show the importance of a believer’s stewardship of life. How we live demonstrates the reality of our faith. Love for others is essential for all who follow Jesus (1 John 3:16-18). No one can go to Heaven simply by meeting human needs, of course. Salvation comes […]
