As Jesus began His ministry He became more popular among the people in the region. The Jewish leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, started to notice. The Sadducees were a group of Jews who had more liberal interpretation of the law and did not believe in angels or the resurrection. On the other hand, the Pharisees were very strict; they thought that following all their extra rules made them righteous. Jesus taught God’s law as it was in the Holy Scriptures which made the Jewish leaders angry. However, one leader came to Jesus seeking the truth.
Discuss:
Who was Nicodemus? Why do you think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night?
What did Jesus tell Nicodemus he must do to be in the Kingdom of God? What was Nicodemus’ response?
What example did Jesus use to explain being a spirit being?
What did Jesus tell Nicodemus about going to heaven?
What did Jesus tell Nicodemus was the reward for believing in Him? What does it mean to believe in Jesus as the Son of God?
What did Jesus mean when He said that “God so loved the world”? Who does God want us to love?
Memory Challenge:
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-2-11.png6111651lcgadminhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pnglcgadmin2020-11-19 10:35:212020-11-30 15:06:12Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 3 “Born Again”
God picked Mary and Joseph to be the parents of His Son on earth. They were both from the family of King David, and they both obeyed God’s laws. They took care of Jesus as a child, and taught Him as best they could. God guided and directed the family, and as Jesus grew, He started to learn about who He was and what He was on earth to do.
Discuss:
Why was Jesus and His family in Jerusalem?
Where did Joseph and Mary find Jesus after looking for Him for three days? What was he doing?
How old do you need to be to start learning about God?
Why do you think the teachers in the temple were surprised when Jesus was talking to them and asking them questions?
When Jesus called the temple “My Father’s house” who was He talking about?
What does the scripture mean that says that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men”? What things could you do now to follow the example Jesus set when He was young?
Memory Challenge:
Luke 2:52 (NIV)
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-1-11.png6111651lcgadminhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pnglcgadmin2020-11-19 10:35:152020-12-14 13:55:01Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 3 “Jesus at His Father’s House”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/robert-bye-HuGhOh38aCA-unsplash.jpg10001500Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2020-11-18 13:30:002021-02-17 15:12:39Course Spotlight: Religion in Jesus’ Day
Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2020
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 37 seconds.
Seven years ago, Mr. Jake Hall came to Charlotte to attend Living University. Mr. Hall now works in the TV and Media department as Camera and Video Editor. In his assembly, he asked us, “What is the most important assignment for you to complete here at Living Education?” The answer is: building our personal relationship with God.
Mr. Hall used the story of Jacob as a parallel for the stage of life we students are in. In Genesis 28, Jacob leaves home and begins the adventure of a lifetime. Before this, he had known God, as the “God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac” (v. 13). Now, he begins his journey to come to know God for himself. Living Ed students are at that point right now. Mr. Hall gave us two points to know God personally.
First, know that there are blessings and curses for obeying and disobeying.“Observe these consequences in your life.” Mr. Hall encouraged us to learn from these consequences and come to know God in our lives.
Second, know that God is your helper. “I remember how challenging LU was… I was challenged in ways I hadn’t been before in life.” He advised us to go to God for help, because, when we ask God for help, we build our relationship with Him.
Just like Jacob, we are embarking on our quest to know God as our God, not the God of our parents or anyone else. Mr. Hall concluded with Genesis 33:18-20. Jacob—or Israel by now—bought some land and built an altar, calling it, “El Elohe Israel.” This means, literally, God, the God of Israel.
“God was no longer the God he knew of, but the God he knew personally.”
Living Ed students are at the same stage in life as Jacob was when he left home on his quest. Over the next few months, Mr. Hall exhorted us to allow our Creator to become God, the God of _____ (insert your name).
This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Assembly-Summary-Jake-Hall.png600900Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2020-11-17 13:30:222021-02-16 17:23:12Assembly Summary: God, the God of ______ (Your Name)
Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2020
This week, Living Ed students took a trip 800 years into the past. At 9:00 a.m., on Monday morning, twelve students stood in the dorm driveway waiting for Ms. Rebekah Ross and Mr. Jonathan McNair, their taxi-drivers for the trip.
A couple hours later, they pulled into the Cottian Alps in the border-region of France and Italy—actually, they arrived at Waldensian Trail of Faith located in Valdese, NC. But, for just half a day, they journeyed into the Era of Thyatira.
At this outdoor museum, they stepped into an exact imitation of the old ‘Barbi’ college where young Waldensians memorized large tracts of Scripture in secret. Several intrepid Living Ed students crawled on hands and knees into the cave where dozens of Waldensians congregated in secret, studying and singing hymns. Only a sliver of light illuminated the back of the cave. The guide explained that, one terrible day, French-Catholic soldiers used that tiny crack in the rock to smoke the gatherers out. As they crawled out, they were killed one by one.
Mr. McNair explained to the group that much of the history exhibited here was not the history of true Christians. Early on, the majority of the Waldenses were absorbed into Protestantism and the true Church faded into Eastern Europe. Driving this point home, the students passed a replica of the Monument of Chanforan, dedicated to the Waldensians official entry into the Reformation in 1532.
Mr. McNair encouraged the students to appreciate the sacrifices of these people, even while recognizing their false beliefs. He challenged them, “Would you be willing to die for what you believe in as they did?”
After driving back to Charlotte, the students jumped out of the cars and back into their modern lives at Living Education 2020. For just a day, they visited the Era of Thyatira and stepped into the shoes of the Waldensians—but just as the Church has carried on in time, so do they.
Juliette McNair is a student at Living Education Charlotte. She works in the Editorial Department transcribing sermons and proofreading transcripts. She also assists Living Education by writing Second Thoughts essays and Forum/Assembly Summaries for the website. Juliette recently graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in Upstate New York with an A.A.S in Horticulture, a B.T in Plant Science, and a minor in English with a writing focus. She loves playing soccer on the beach, getting up early to watch the sunrise, and playing piano with the lights out.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bruno-van-der-kraan-v2HgNzRDfII-unsplash.jpg9961500Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2020-11-17 13:30:002021-09-03 12:36:47Student Life: A Trip in Time
Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2020
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 11 seconds.
This year, total Living Church of God Feast attendance increased 1% over last year: 11,183 members were able to worship God online or in-person. Those who couldn’t attend in person (30% of the total) were able to connect to online, streamed services. Some governments, like Quebec, Canada, Victoria, Australia, and Trinidad and Tobago shut down gatherings, making it impossible for brethren to meet in person. 91% of members in Latin-America kept the Feast online, and, in the Philippines, members could only meet locally. Yet, according to surveys, Festival 2020 was unforgettable and meaningful to many brethren—even in some surprising ways.
Mr. Rod McNair, Assistant Director of Church Administration, gave a behind-the scenes look at the Festival Office and the Feast of 2020.
Over 10 years ago, the main Feast registration webpage was custom-built by a Church member. The registration website encompasses “an incredibly complex process,” according to Mr. McNair. The site incorporates members’ login information, accommodates the transfer process, and grants separate festival coordinator access. Sites are chosen and contracts are signed sometimes years in advance. The transfer approval process ensures attendance is in accordance with the contract.
Planning for each year’s Feast of Tabernacles is a constant, year-long project, only made more challenging by COVID-19. But what made this Feast stand out for members?
First, many werejust glad to be there. This simple appreciation was a common theme in the festival surveys.
Second, there were unexpected blessings. Assigned seating brought ease of access, local speakers were given opportunities, and several new members attended the Feast. Anointings and common illnesses were even down. Some few brethren did contract the COVID virus during the Feast, but most had mild symptoms. Thankfully, those with more severe symptoms are recovering.
A third reason is a shift in the focus of the activities. To limit large groups, Feast schedules were more relaxed and most activities were planned individually. Many enjoyed this change and took advantage of the free time to be more well-rested and focused during services
Finally, the role of technologywas significant. Streaming technology benefited thousands of members in an unprecedented way. Mr. McNair says, “As a Church, we are better placed now than a year ago to be able to connect online.”
“This was by far the best Feast that we can remember.”
Florence, OR.
Every year, we seek to have “the best Feast ever.” But the feeling from the quote above was representative of many who responded to the Feast survey. Mr. McNair gave us a glimpse of how the Festival Office operates every year and how the Feast of 2020 was “a feast like no other.”
This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/patrick-tomasso-5hvn-2WW6rY-unsplash.jpg10011500Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2020-11-12 17:30:362021-02-16 17:21:04Forum Summary: Festival 2020 — Like No Other
Joseph and Mary, who lived in a town called Nazareth, went on a trip to Bethlehem. Mary was going to have a baby, and as the angel had told her, she was to name Him Jesus. When they arrived in Bethlehem there was no room for them to stay at the inn, so they stayed in a stable instead, which is where Jesus was born. As the news spread announcing this special miracle, a few people began to realize that He was no ordinary boy.
Discuss:
Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?
Who were some of the first people to hear about Jesus’ birth? How did they find out? What did they do after they found out?
When Jesus’ parents took Him to the temple, who did they meet? What did Simeon do when he saw Jesus?
Who was Anna?
Where did Jesus grow up?
Memory Challenge:
Luke 2:11
“For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-1-11.png6111651Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2020-11-12 12:00:002020-11-23 13:35:50Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 2 “Jesus is Born”
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had a personal relationship with God. Moses saw God and talked with Him (Exodus 33:18-23, Deuteronomy 34:10). How can this be true when the scriptures state that no one has seen God at any time (John 1:18)? We can understand the answer to this question when we understand that there are two God beings in the God family. God, who was later known as the Father, has never interacted directly with mankind, and no man has ever seen or spoken with Him. The Word who became Jesus Christ was the God of Israel.
Discuss:
The Word had to empty himself of his divinity in order to be born as a human (Philippians 2:5-11). What does this tell us about what He is like?
Who is listed at the beginning of the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew? Do you recognize any other people mentioned in the list?
Have a Luke at the genealogy in Luke 3 and compare it to the one in Matthew. How far back does the one in Luke go? What are some reasons the lists are different?
God carefully selected Jesus’ parents. What are some of the character traits Mary and Joseph must have had to be chosen for this honor?
Christ lived without committing a single sin for His entire life (2 Corinthians 5:21). Could we have access to eternal life if Christ had sinned?
Memory Challenge:
1 Corinthians 10:4
“…and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-3-11.png6111651Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2020-11-12 12:00:002020-11-11 13:34:23Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 2 “The God of Israel”
Con el paso del tiempo, Adán y Eva comenzaron su familia. Su hijo primogénito se llamaba Caín, y su segundo hijo se llamaba Abel. Los dos hermanos tenían ocupaciones diferentes: Caín era agricultor y Abel era pastor. También tenían personalidades muy diferentes. Dios ha diseñado a los seres humanos con diferentes personalidades, talentos y habilidades. En ese sentido, Dios no quiere que todos sean iguales; ¡Él ama la variedad! Tanto la agricultura como el pastoreo son ocupaciones necesarias y nobles. Dios quería que Caín y Abel usaran sus talentos para servirle a Él y a su familia, y Él quiere que nosotros hagamos lo mismo. En esta lección, veremos a los dos primeros hermanos sobre la Tierra: Caín y Abel.
Discusión:
Pregunte a sus hijos los nombres del primer y segundo hijo de Adán y Eva.
Hable sobre el estilo de vida agrario con hermosos pastos, animales pastando y campos de trigo. Pinte una imagen con palabras que sus hijos puedan visualizar.
Pregunte a sus hijos cómo creen que sería ser un granjero o un pastor.
Analicen el hecho de que Caín y Abel eran hermanos que crecieron juntos.
Recuérdeles a sus hijos que Dios le ha dado a la gente diferentes talentos y habilidades y que todos son necesarios. Dios nos ama a todos.
Memorizar y revisar:
Lucas 10:27
“Aquél, respondiendo, dijo: Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma, y con todas tus fuerzas, y con toda tu mente; y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/02_Cain_Abel_1024.jpg7681024lcgadminhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pnglcgadmin2020-11-12 12:00:002020-11-11 14:37:53Programa Bíblico para Niños – Nivel 1: Lección 9 “Caín el agricultor y Abel el pastor”
Adán eligió el camino del conocimiento del bien y del mal, y toda su progenie siguió el mismo camino. El mundo se volvió totalmente corrupto; la vida estaba llena de violencia y maldad continuamente. Las cosas estaban tan mal que Dios lamentó haber hecho a la humanidad. Debido a toda esta maldad, Dios decidió enviar un diluvio sobre la Tierra para destruir a toda la humanidad junto con todos los animales. Sin embargo, en medio de toda esta oscuridad, hubo un solo hombre que continuó sirviendo al Eterno Dios. Se llamaba Noé. Noé caminó con Dios tal como lo había hecho su antepasado Enoc, y Dios dio gracia a Noé. Dios le contó a Noé Su plan y le ordenó que construyera un arca para que él y su familia pudieran salvarse. Noé inmediatamente comenzó a hacer lo que Dios había dicho, y Dios lo salvó porque Noé puso primero a Dios en su vida. Dios siempre recompensa a quienes lo buscan diligentemente.
Discusión:
Ayude a sus hijos a imaginar cómo sería vivir durante la generación de Noé. Él era la única persona en todo el mundo que trataba de vivir obedeciendo a Dios.
Pregunte a sus hijos si han estado en una situación en la que eran las únicas personas en el grupo que practicaban el estilo de vida de Dios. ¿Cómo se sintieron?
Explique a sus hijos lo que significa la frase “perfecto en sus generaciones”. Ningún ser humano ha vivido una vida perfecta excepto Jesucristo. La palabra hebrea para “perfecto” también puede ser traducida como “irreprensible”, así es como esta palabra es traducida en muchas versiones de la Biblia. Hable sobre lo que significa ser irreprensible (agradar a Dios y guardar sus leyes como una forma de vida, pero también estar dispuestos a arrepentirnos en humildad cuando pecamos).
Discuta lo que significa caminar con Dios. Utilice Amós 3:3 como punto de partida para la discusión.
Pida a sus hijos que busquen la palabra “gracia” en el diccionario. ¿Cómo se aplica la definición a Dios y a Noé? ¿Por qué Dios seleccionó a Noé para recibir Su gracia? Si Dios da gracia a los humildes ¿Qué dice eso sobre Noé? Pregunte qué significa ser humilde. ¿Pueden ellos dar un ejemplo de actos de humildad dentro de sus interacciones familiares?
Memorizar y revisar:
Génesis 6:9
“Estas son las generaciones de Noé: Noé, varón justo, era perfecto en sus generaciones; con Dios caminó Noé”.
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/lucie-dawson-672961-unsplash.jpg11251500lcgadminhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pnglcgadmin2020-11-12 12:00:002020-11-11 14:38:11Programa Bíblico para Niños – Nivel 2: Lección 9 “Noé encuentra gracia”
