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Sabbath School From Home
Sabbath School is perhaps the most communal and participatory element of a regular Seventh-day Adventist church event (after foot-washing), but social distancing has us all isolated at home. This is a weekly Sabbath School styled conversation on Biblical themes and passages. Join in the conversation by writing comments/questions to sabbathschoolfromhome@gmail.com .
Episodes
- Sabbath School From Home
Genesis 1 - It was very good!
We explore the importance of stories as we start a quarter on Genesis. Stories are essential to the way we communicate, and most human societies have found…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 13 - Sacrifices that please God
Powerful ideas continue right up to this last chapter. We notice a few passages here that seem almost to be ideas the author forgot to include when outlining…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 12 - You have come to God himself
A comparison with parental discipline is troubling at first, and we find what might be the pinnacle of Hebrews. The idea of "the Lord disciplining those he…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 11 - It was by faith
The "Heros of Faith" chapter at last! Lachlan takes issue with some of the inclusions in the list of Faith Heros, and we explore what aspects of their faith…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 10 - Acts of love and good works
After many metaphors for Jesus, Hebrews returns to what it means for us here and now: perseverance. Hebrews 10 starts with a nice recap of the previous…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 9 - Once for all
The sanctuary is invoked to further expand the revolutionary theme of Hebrews. This topic has been important in various ways throughout the history of the…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 8 - The place of honour
In the NLT: "Here is the main point..." The theme of Jesus as priest in a tabernacle has been pre-empted and teased a bit already in Hebrews, but in Chapter 8…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 7 - His priesthood lasts forever
Here's the substantial engagement with Melchizedek that we've been waiting for! The slightly enigmatic character of Melchizedek from the Genesis story of…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 6 - Condemn that field
Maturity of understanding Jesus seems to be connected with implementing our faith as love. This chapter seems to take a temporary diversion from the building…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 5 - He learned obedience
The theme of Jesus as high priest is presented with some intriguing details. We are particularly surprised by descriptions of Jesus "learning obedience" and…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 4 - Enter his rest
We rarely pause to recognise that we ourselves might be like those who "failed to enter God's rest". Sabbath inescapably enters this chapter's discussion of…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 3 - More glory than Moses
The developing argument moves on to Moses, and we benefit from the previous season's focus on Deuteronomy. One of the key ideas in this chapter is the…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 2 - The power of death
We grapple with how the incarnation might have changed God. Hebrews 2 seems to present almost an opposite argument to the first chapter: namely that Jesus was…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 1 - Long ago God spoke
We begin a study of Hebrews by wondering how similar we are to the first audience. The SDA Sabbath School lesson is starting a quarter on the book of Hebrews…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 34 - The Lord burried him
The death (and resurrection) of Moses brings us to the end of Deuteronomy. Jude mentions a slightly curious conflict between the Archangel Michael and the…
- Sabbath School From Home
Acts 7 - You stiff-necked people
We turn to Stephen's defense in Acts 7 to explore the topic of Deuteronomy in the New Testament. Deuteronomy tells history in order to establish identity, and…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 31 - A witness against you
The topic of "Deuteronomy in the later writings" realigns us with the SDA lesson for this week. Deuteronomy features in a number of subsequent Old Testament…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 27 - Proclaim a curse
It's time to focus on the curses in Deuteronomy. Some of them seem to make more sense than others, but it still feels a bit strange to read the sets of curses…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 23 - Family of the Unsandaled
How permanent or immovable are some of the laws in Deuteronomy? Inspired with a changed view of the world after Jesus, the New Testament apostles didn't always…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 19 - Show no pity for the guilty
The cultural inaccessibility gets deep in parts of Deuteronomy 19-21, but we still find value in their contemplation. We're still "wandering in the wilderness"…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 17 - You must never return to Egypt
In some specific advice for future kings of Israel we find some useful and relevant ideas. We're still deviating somewhat from the SDA Lesson because it seems…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 15 - Never lack for needy persons
This phrase is familiar, but it's true call is often overlooked. We continue our slightly uncharted journey through Deuteronomy (mostly untethered from the SDA…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 12 - The place the Lord will choose
An emphasis on "one place of worship" in Deuteronomy 12 becomes the cause of conflict within a generation. The SDA lesson guide dwells on Deuteronomy chapter…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 6 - The Lord is one
We each have a different discussion point from Deut 6-10. There are some great parts of these chapters, interspersed with "light genocide" that we still find…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 4 - I have taught you statutes
It is remarkable that God describes his Law as having evangelistic effect. This conversation starts with some exploration of current issues arising from…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deuteronomy 2 - A race of giants
We start our journey through Deuteronomy by examining some interesting details in chapters 1 and 2. The lesson this week covers the first 3 chapters of…
- Sabbath School From Home
Exodus 3 - Compelled by a mighty hand
We explore hardened hearts in the Exodus story to set the context for a season in Deuteronomy. The story of the Exodus is the direct context for the book of…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 11 - Delivers from death
Proverbs often speaks of large scale consequences, so how does death relate to rest? The Sabbath School lesson this week is about "The Ultimate Rest", and it…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 14 - Insult their maker
We redress, and then reconsider, the claim that Proverbs doesn't mention Sabbath. This episode begins with a somewhat spontaneous conversation about…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 26 - A scalpel in the hands of a drunk
We try our hand at creating a "modern proverb", but keep finding ones in the bible that are just as relevant! This one is even more tangential to the lesson…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 29 - The rights of the poor
Sabbath rest has a very particular focus on the poor and disadvantaged. Another lesson exploring the Sabbath presents an excellent opportunity to explore the…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 8 - Before he created anything else
Is rhythmic rest the same as metered rest? The topic of "rhythms of rest" naturally takes us back to the Sabbath, which is something we've explored before…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 18 - who can bear a crushed spirit?
Rest from sickness and suffering is a powerful idea. This week we bounce around Proverbs a bit looking at verses that speak to the idea of healing. We can't…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 20 - False weights and unequal measures
Is vengeance the inverse of forgiveness? This week's lesson "Rest, Relationships, and Healing" is focussed on forgiveness, and remarkably that keyword doesn't…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 19 - A foolish child
Family can be a refuge of rest, or a tremendous burden. Proverbs has quite a bit of comment on family interactions, and we explore how this relates to rest (or…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 30 - I am weary and worn out
"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Proverbs 30 is an oracle of Agur, who seems to be coming from…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 6 - A little more slumber
Stern warnings about the cost of rest? Proverbs 6:6-11 has been used for centuries to admonish slackers, in-sleepers, bludgers, and lazybones of all varieties…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 4 - Restless unless they’re making trouble
The roots of restlessness can be entwined with a desire to do evil. Proverbs 4 paints a picture of "the wicked" with particular reference to a kind of…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 26 - Wise in their own estimation
It's easy to get caught out when mocking the foolishness of others. Proverbs 26 is amusing in its description of fools, but verse 12 catches us out. Mocking…
- Sabbath School From Home
Proverbs 1 - At rest from fear of evil
The wisdom of Proverbs leads to an unconventional discussion of rest. We're starting a new season, and the Sabbath School theme is "Rest in Christ". It will…
- Sabbath School From Home
2 Samuel 9 - I intend to show kindness
What are our covenant-making obligations as part of living the new-covenant life? The remarkable story of King David and Mephibosheth is a great way to ponder…
- Sabbath School From Home
Galatians 3 - Christ has rescued us
Many elements of the new and better covenant seem actually already present in the older covenants. The author of Galatians (and there's similar sentiment in…
- Sabbath School From Home
Hebrews 8 - A far better covenant
Not only does Jesus establish a new covenant, but there seems to be something deficient about the old one which is now "obsolete". Hebrews 8 quotes a chunk…
- Sabbath School From Home
Jeremiah 31 - Forget they ever sinned
A new covenant is declared in the Old Testament - one that is "not like the old covenant". As we approach the obvious destination of this season it is…
- Sabbath School From Home
Psalm 86 - A sign of your goodness
What does it mean for Sabbath to be a Sign of the Covenant? The lesson topic turns us back to a contentious comment from earlier this season - the Sabbath is…
- Sabbath School From Home
Deut 4 - He commanded you to perform
Finally we encounter "Covenant" intertwined with "Commandment", but what does it mean to perform? The lesson topic "Covenant Law" covers some themes we've…
- Sabbath School From Home
Exodus 19 - My kingdom of priests
After living in Egypt for generations, God remembers his covenant with Abraham's family. The topic of this week's lesson is Covenant at Sinai, and we meander…
- Sabbath School From Home
Genesis 32 - Unless you bless me
How does the covenant inheritance work for "Abraham's seed"? "Israel" is a name given to Abraham's grandson before it becomes the name of a nation, and the…
- Sabbath School From Home
Genesis 23 - A foreigner and stranger
Why was Abraham blessed in the first place? After looking at the Abrahamic covenants in Genesis 15 and 17 last week, we backtrack slightly in the story to…
- Sabbath School From Home
Genesis 17 - The covenant family
Abraham's story features covenants especially prominently. This week's lesson is titled "An Everlasting Covenant", and although this wording is used in Genesis…
- Sabbath School From Home
Genesis 9 - All future generations
The flood story has one of the most universal covenants of the Old Testament. It really should be known as "God and the Flood" rather than "Noah and the Flood"…
- Sabbath School From Home
Genesis 3 - Knowing good and evil
We reluctantly wrap up our exploration of "the fall", and learn a bit about covenants. The lesson this week is a "Covenant Primer" to get us ready to explore…
- Sabbath School From Home
Genesis 2 - It is not good
This new quarter explores God's Everlasting Covenant, and we start by pondering what happened to require His promise. Obviously "The Fall" doesn't happen until…
- Sabbath School From Home
Isaiah 61 - Like a garden in early spring
Jesus invoke this passage as a defining description of his earthly ministry, and it is a superb summary of our study of Isaiah. We've slipped slightly behind…
- Sabbath School From Home
Isaiah 59 - Fingers are filthy with sin
This chapter has a strong challenge - God can intervene to save the oppressed, but he's displeased to find his people not striving for justice! The lesson…
- Sabbath School From Home
Isaiah 58 - Doing as you please
The theme of Sabbath comes to the fore as we consider the lesson on "Waging Love". In Isaiah 58 (and the surrounding chapters in fact), the theme of Sabbath is…
- Sabbath School From Home
Isaiah 53 - He seemed hardly human
We reach an unambiguously messianic portion of Isaiah, and discuss seeing and hearing from yet another angle. This week's lesson "Doing the Unthinkable"…
- Sabbath School From Home
Isaiah 42 - Snuff a flickering candle
Why is the "servant of God" so gentle, while God seems almost violent? The lesson touches Chapters 41-49, but we focus mostly on Isaiah 42. As well as the…
- Sabbath School From Home
Isaiah 40 - Dust on the scales
Some of the best known bible verses are here, alongside some trickier passages about idolatry and being like grass. The lesson this week is called "Comfort My…
- Sabbath School From Home
Isaiah 37 - Sundial of Ahaz
The "Defeat of the Assyrians" has us grappling with how "God will come with vengeance; he will come to save you" We cover a lot of ground in Isaiah this week…