Alors que Jésus commence Son ministère, Il devient de plus en plus populaire parmi les gens de la région. Les chefs religieux juifs, les pharisiens et les sadducéens, commencent à s’en apercevoir. Les sadducéens sont un groupe de Juifs qui ont une interprétation plus libérale de la loi ; ils ne croient ni aux anges ni à la résurrection. Quant aux pharisiens, ils sont très stricts ; ils ont ajouté leurs propres règles, et ils pensent qu’en les respectant, ils seront plus justes. Mais Jésus enseigne la loi de Dieu telle qu’elle est écrite dans les Saintes Écritures, ce qui met ces dirigeants juifs en colère. Pourtant, l’un des chefs religieux vient voir Jésus pour chercher la vérité.
Discussion :
Qui est Nicodème? À ton avis, pourquoi Nicodème est-il allé voir Jésus de nuit ?
Que dit Jésus à Nicodème ? Quelle est la condition pour être dans le Royaume de Dieu ? Quelle est la réponse de Nicodème ?
Quel exemple Jésus utilise-t-Il pour expliquer à Nicodème ce qu’est un être spirituel ?
Que dit Jésus à Nicodème sur le fait “d’aller au ciel” ?
Que dit Jésus au sujet de la récompense de ceux qui croient en Lui ? Que signifie croire en Jésus, et croire qu’Il est le Fils de Dieu ?
Que voulait dire Jésus lorsqu’Il dit que “Dieu a tant aimé le monde” ? Qui Dieu veut-Il que nous aimions ?
Mémorisation :
Jean 3:16
“Car Dieu a tant aimé le monde qu’il a donné son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit en lui ne périsse point, mais qu’il ait la vie éternelle.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-2-11.png6111651Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-01-18 11:51:302021-03-17 09:30:25Programme biblique pour enfants : niveau 2 – NT leçon 3 “Naître de nouveau”
Dieu a choisi Marie et Joseph pour être les parents de Son Fils, sur la terre. Ils sont tous les deux issus de la famille du roi David, et ils obéissent aux lois divines. Ils prennent soin de Jésus quand Il est enfant, et ils L’enseignent du mieux qu’ils peuvent. Dieu guide et dirige cette famille. Et à mesure que Jésus grandit, Il commence à apprendre qui Il est, et ce qu’Il doit faire sur la terre.
Discussion :
Pourquoi Jésus et Sa famille étaient-ils à Jérusalem ?
Où Joseph et Marie ont-ils retrouvé Jésus, après L’avoir cherché pendant 3 jours ? Que faisait-Il ?
Quel âge faut-il avoir pour commencer à apprendre à connaître Dieu ?
À ton avis, pourquoi les docteurs (ou les enseignants) du temple ont-ils été surpris lorsque Jésus leur parlait et leur posait des questions ?
Lorsque Jésus a dit qu’Il devait S’occuper “des affaires de [Son] Père”, de qui parlait-Il ?
Que signifie le verset : “Jésus croissait en sagesse, en stature, et en grâce, devant Dieu et devant les hommes” ? Quelles sont les choses que tu peux faire, dès maintenant, pour suivre l’exemple que Jésus a donné quand Il était jeune ?
Mémorisation :
Luc 2:52
“Et Jésus croissait en sagesse, en stature, et en grâce, devant Dieu et devant les hommes.”
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 McNair2021-01-18 11:51:252021-03-17 09:30:34Programme biblique pour enfants : niveau 1 – NT leçon 3 “Jésus et les affaires de Son Père”
Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2021
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 42 seconds.
Mr. Rick Stafford is the Regional Director of the Caribbean and Area Pastor of South Texas. After studying geology for two years at the University of Oregon, in 1965, Mr. Stafford enrolled at Ambassador College. At Ambassador, Mr. Armstrong encouraged the students to not only prove God’s existence and His Way of life but also to learn skills. Mr. Stafford discussed the importance of skills in the Living Ed Forum.
“God created us to work.”
God commanded man to work from Creation (Genesis 2:16-17). Parents ought to instill the value of work into their children at a young age. Mr. Stafford quoted an old Jewish proverb, “He who does not teach his son a trade teaches him to steal.” Traditionally, Jewish boys were taught some skill very early in their lives—often by the age of twelve. When pogroms and social persecution uprooted and relocated them, “they could take their skills with them.” This is especially important if you are Sabbath keeper.
Don’t be a square peg in a round hole.
When he attended Ambassador, Mr. Stafford had no idea what career he wanted. Yet, he explained this is normal. As young people mature, they discover their abilities and begin to harness them in their lives. “Find out what that ability is and get your interests behind it.” Align your interests and abilities, for “much of your happiness in life will depend on whether you’re a square peg in a round hole.”
“Whatever you’re doing, if you have a mindset that your work is a paid education, you will become skilled.”
Mr. Stafford advised the students to wholeheartedly catch their organization’s vision. Work must be one’s study and passion. “People are not just overnight successes. They’ve probably worked on that one thing for years.” Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”Treat work like your ongoing education.
Career or job?
Mr. Stafford defined a career as “a pursuit of a lifelong ambition.” On the other hand, “a job is an activity in which an individual can earn money.” While a job is short-term and competitive and doesn’t require one to grow and adapt their skills, a career is long-term, secure, and requires one to hone their skills and talents and be flexible. A young person needs to build skills that apply to their life-long aims and not just earn money. “I’ve seen this too many times—young people who have wasted their youth. It is a time when you need to build your foundation.” Mr. Stafford said, “You’ll find your education wasn’t lost time.”
“You’ll never get to perfection,” Mr. Stafford wrapped up, “you’ll always be improving—so do it with all of your might. You are working for God using the talents He has given you to serve. Getting skilled and being diligent leads to a blessed, full and abundant life.”
Over the years, Mr. Stafford worked over thirty different jobs—from career counselor, sales engineer, and carpenter to cowboy in Colorado, roping, branding, and herding livestock. Yet, he said, he’s already submitted his request to God for his future work in the Kingdom. He said, “I want to be a tour guide, taking people to where no man has been and colonizing the universe!”
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/2021/01/training-2874597_1920.jpg5941500Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-01-14 15:45:552021-01-14 15:46:20Forum Summary: Skilled People Have Choices
Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem did not sit well with the chief priests and elders. Besides, not many days before that, Jesus had resurrected Lazarus from the dead in front of a host of witnesses. Many of the people started to believe that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, and the religious rulers were determined that He must be stopped. They looked for an opportunity to take Him without the people knowing it, and the opportunity presented itself.
Discuss:
What happened when Jesus and His disciples were at the house of Simon the leper? Why were the disciples upset by this?
What was Judas promised for his betrayal? Where in the Bible is there a prophecy that this would happen?
Where did Jesus and the disciples eat the Passover meal?
How did Jesus tell the disciples to prepare for what was about to happen to Him? How did they respond? What did Jesus say Peter would do?
What did Christ do to prepare for what was about to happen?
Who came to arrest Jesus? How did the Jews know who Jesus was to arrest Him? What did the disciples do?
What crime did the high priest and elders say Jesus had committed? Was Christ guilty of that crime? Why or why not?
Memory Challenge:
Matthew 26:39
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”
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 McNair2021-01-14 10:11:002021-02-10 14:18:21Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 10 “Passover and Plotting”
Like wildfire, the news spread that Jesus was doing miracles and healing many people of all kinds of sicknesses. Crowds of people followed Him nearly everywhere He went. One day, when Jesus returned to one of the towns by the Sea of Galilee, a man came to Jesus and desperately begged him to come to his house. The man’s young daughter was very sick and was dying. Jesus began to follow the man, but as he went, the crowd of people tried to keep following Him, bumping and pushing to get close. Suddenly Jesus felt someone touch him. He stopped to find that a woman had reached out to touch His garments, believing she would be healed—and she was! While Jesus was still talking to the woman someone came to tell Him that the little girl had already died. It was too late, or was it?
Discuss:
How old was the girl who was sick?
How do you imagine the man, Jarius, felt while the crowd was making it take longer for Jesus to get to his house to heal his daughter?
What did Jesus say when they found out the little girl was dead? Why do you think He told them that?
Who did Jesus allow to be with Him in the house when He went to the little girl? Why do you think He didn’t want anyone else to come in?
What did Jesus mean when He said the little girl was “sleeping”? Can you think of any other places in the Bible where God says being dead is like sleeping?
How do you think the girl’s parents felt when Jesus caused her to wake up from being dead? Is there anyone you know who has died who you are looking forward to seeing again when God brings them back to life in the resurrection?
Memory Challenge:
Luke 8:50
But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”
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 McNair2021-01-14 10:09:002021-01-18 10:12:15Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 10 “A Little Girl Resurrected”
After Lazarus had been resurrected, Jesus went up to Jerusalem with His disciples. It was almost time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread to start. Jesus spent lots of time teaching the people at the temple, but the Jewish leaders were very jealous. They didn’t want the people to follow Jesus instead of them, so they began plotting about how they could kill Jesus, and Lazarus. The only problem was, they didn’t know how to catch Him without making themselves look bad in front of the people. One day, a man secretly came to them and told them he would be willing to help them catch Jesus, as long as they would pay him. The Jews were happy they now had a way to carry out their evil plot, for one of Jesus’ own disciples agreed to look for the right moment to betray Him.
Discuss:
What festival was Jesus and His disciples observing when they sat down together to have a meal?
Why did Jesus wash the disciples’ feet? What lessons can we learn from His example?
Who was the disciple that betrayed Jesus? How do you think Jesus knew which one would betray Him?
When Judas left the supper after Jesus gave him bread, why do you think Jesus said “What you do, do quickly”? What did the other disciples think He meant?
After Judas left, what did Jesus tell His disciples? Why do you think He encouraged them to remember to love one another?
How do you think Jesus felt to be betrayed by His friend? What can this story teach us about being a good and loyal friend?
Memory Challenge:
John 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
https://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CL-feature-image-2-11.png6111651Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-01-14 10:09:002021-01-18 10:12:27Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 10 “A Disciple’s Betrayal”
Author: Mr. Kenneth Frank | Faculty in Theology, Living Education
Estimated Reading time:6 min.
Did you know that God showers us with blessings daily?
The year 2020 has been a year unlike any other in the memory of many people and one that most wish to leave behind rapidly. As a new civil year begins, their hopes are for a better year to come. The world has focused on the coronavirus, economic downturn, natural disasters, ethnic conflict, wars, terrorism, political chaos, and many other horrors. Because of this many have been absorbed with life’s travails. For a change of pace, we will learn in this Digging Deeper that, despite all this, God supplies His people daily blessings. An old hymn admonishes us to “name them [blessings] one by one.” Let us remind ourselves of God’s many daily blessings that will help us concentrate on a broad perspective of the Christian life itself.
Our focus verse is: “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah” (Psalm 68:19 KJV). This verse challenges us to stop and take a big picture view of life to discover the many ways God is good to us because of His grace – whether it be “common grace” for all humankind (Matthew 5:45) or “particular grace” for His called ones (John 1:16). Yes, we certainly have many more challenges than we did a year ago. Nonetheless, it will benefit us to stop and consider this verse in light of the present alarming and dangerous experience.
Blessings or burdens?
There is a textual matter about this verse to consider first. Henry Morris in his article “Loaded with Blessing” for December 31, 2020 in the Days of Praise daily newsletter explains: “In our text verse, the words ‘with benefits’ have been supplied by the translators. Some might, therefore, conclude that the verse could mean that God is daily loading us with burdens instead of benefits. The context, however, assures us that the emphasis is really on His blessings. For that matter, even a burden can become a blessing if we take it as a gift from God for our spiritual benefit.” In many ways, God bears our burdens – many times without our even realizing it. Let us now consider our focus verse incrementally.
The annotation for our verse in Joseph S. Exell’s The Biblical Illustrator provides material for careful consideration:
“II. What God does for us: He ‘daily loadeth us with benefits.’
1. The nature of God’s gift. ‘Benefits,’ not deserts.
2. Their number. ‘Loadeth.’
3. The frequency of their communication. ‘Daily.’ And these benefits flow to us freely, unsolicited, unimplored, unsought. Seasonably, exactly as we need them. Critics state that it should be read ‘who bears our burdens, or supports us, every day.’ In the wilderness God bare Israel as a man doth bear his son (Deuteronomy 1:31). Or as an eagle bears her young on her wings (Deuteronomy 32:11). The promise is (Isaiah 46:4). We have our cares, and burdens, and anxieties, but God invites us to cast them upon Him (Psalm 55:22) (e-Sword 12.2).”
Don’t Forget His Daily Gifts
We may confidently roll our troubles into His strong arms. We need not bear them alone. Concurrently, our challenge is to not forget His daily benefits: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2 KJV). We live busy lives, thinking often of our current and coming experiences. Our danger is forgetting the many benefits He has already afforded us and those He is providing presently. For one thing, we should daily praise Him for His salvation. Notice this compelling verse: “Itisof the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Theyare new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV).
Our focus verse instructs us to bless the LORD for these benefits. How do we bless God? We usually think of His blessing us. Exell’s The Biblical Illustrator again provides food for thought on how to accomplish this:
“III. What we should do in return. ‘Blessed be the Lord.’ To bless signifies to extol, exalt, or speak well of a person; and to bless the Lord is to speak good of His name.
1. We should bless the Lord sincerely. Hypocrisy is hateful to God.
2. We should bless the Lord affectionately. Our gratitude should be the effusion of love.
3. We should bless the Lord constantly. ‘I will bless the Lord at all times.’
4. We should bless the Lord practically. To say, ‘We praise Thee, O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord,’ while we practically violate His laws, must be abominable in His sight. Let us ‘praise Him not only with our lips but by our lives,’ etc. (e-Sword 12.2).”
How could we ever repay the Almighty for these benefits? Notice: “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me” (Psalm 116:12 KJV)? We can never fully recompense our Father sufficiently for all He does for us. Without a doubt, He intervenes to spare us from accidents and other calamities without our realizing it. We may have suffered defeats, losses, disappointments, and injuries of all sorts this past year. Yet, if we were to count His benefits they would still outnumber these difficulties.
Remembering His Purpose
As we continue to face the global problems brought on by the coronavirus, here is a verse that directs us to never forget to thank the Great God for his daily benefits: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). Even burdens we are enduring now have a purpose in God’s grand scheme of salvation. God’s people are especially assured of His continuing grace in this well-known verse: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 KJV). God allows even these serious problems to strengthen our faith in His overall superintendence of our salvation. Henry Morris provides a fitting conclusion to help us keep our perspective: “Each day we have the indwelling presence of His Spirit, the illuminating guidance of His Word, the daily provision of all real needs, and the assurance of His love. He has surely loaded us with benefits!” (Days of Praise, December 31, 2020).
Kenneth Frank was born and raised in New Jersey, USA, and attended Ambassador College, graduating in 1973. He served in the Canadian ministry from 1973-1999, after which he returned to the USA to pastor churches in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for 15 years. Having earned a BA degree from Ambassador College he later earned a MA degree from Grand Canyon University before being assigned to the Charlotte office to teach at Living University, now Living Education. Currently, he teaches the Survey of the Bible course to the on-campus students and writes the Digging Deeper column for our online Bible study program. He is married, has four children, and seven grandchildren.
Prayer is a vital part of maintaining our personal relationship with God. What are some steps we can take to make sure that we are praying effectively?
Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education Charlotte 2021
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 51 seconds.
Mr. Gene Hilgenberg, the area pastor for Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas, Western Arkansas, and Oklahoma, spoke via WebEx for the Living Education students on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Mr. Hilgenberg reminded the students in his assembly that they are preparing to be teachers. “That is our role in the Kingdom, if not now—to help others.” Yet teaching is more than just instruction. Mr. Hilgenberg said, “Our attitude is very important to God. How we think, what motivates and drives us comes from the heart.” God wants His servants to have a heart for teaching.
Great teachers love what they teach and who they teach.
Love what you’re teaching. Developing a deep, loving reverence for God’s way of life is essential to being a great teacher. To develop that love, Mr. Hilgenberg advised the students to study, pray, and devote themselves to learning God’s laws. “You cannot teach what you don’t know” was a lesson he learned after years of teaching at Crowder College as an Agriculture instructor. Also, a good example is powerful evidence that a teacher truly loves what they’re teaching—not to mention a compelling tool for teaching.
Great teachers control their hearts.
Love who you’re teaching. While great teachers should love their students, Mr. Hilgenberg said teachers should control their hearts. A teacher of God’s way cannot let their passions and feelings have free reign but are to refine their hearts to “love the sinner and not the sin,” as the proverbial saying goes. Mr. Hilgenberg explained, “Christ treats us like lambs. He cares for us, and He loves us.” Just as Christ treats His servants like a shepherd tending his lambs, great teachers show compassion and caring to their students.
Prepare Your Heart.
Mr. Hilgenberg encouraged the students to take advantage of Living Ed to prepare to teach in their families, communities, and church areas. “You’re able to develop those leadership traits to go back and serve in your local congregations.” Yet, God’s servant’s future teaching role is that of a teacher’s in the Kingdom of God. Just as Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach,” (Ezra 7:10) Mr. Hilgenberg encouraged the students to develop the heart of a teacher.
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/2021/01/pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3769981.jpg10101500Jonathan McNairhttps://www.lcgeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/logo_basic-website-300x94.pngJonathan McNair2021-01-12 08:30:082021-01-13 11:14:30Assembly Summary: Having the Heart of a Teacher
It was nearing the time for the Passover, and Jerusalem was beginning to fill with pilgrims traveling from many different places near and far. The streets were abuzz with talk about a man from Nazareth called Jesus. Many had witnessed His miracles of healing the sick and heard about His unique teachings. Some said they knew for a fact that He had raised a man, Lazarus, from the dead (John 12:1, 9-11). Many wondered, could this Jesus be the Messiah, the Savior of Israel who would come from the line of David? Imagine their excitement when they saw Jesus entering the city in a way which fulfilled a special prophecy about the Messiah.
Discuss:
How did Jesus enter Jerusalem? How did the multitudes respond as Jesus entered the city? What do you think it would have been like to be there? (This fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9)
What happened when Jesus arrived at the temple? What did the religious authorities think about all this?
What lesson did Jesus intend the disciples to learn from the death of the fig tree?
When the chief priests and elders questioned His authority, Jesus asked them a question in return. Why do you think they would not answer Christ’s question?
In the parable about the landowner who leased his vineyard, who represented the landowner, vinedressers, and the son? What punishment did the elders say should be administered to the vinedressers?
What was the point Jesus was making when He quoted Psalm 118:22? Do you think the chief priests and Pharisees knew what Jesus was talking about?
Memory Challenge:
Matthew 21:9
“Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’”
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 McNair2021-01-07 13:00:542021-01-07 13:43:08Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 9 “The Messiah Enters Jerusalem”
