1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2009 Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2009

2. Dear User … This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, adjust font size, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. PLEASE USE AS IS. The Christian Life An Appeal

3. Reinder Bruinsma Contributor Principal Contributor Reinder Bruinsma Contributor Principal Contributor

4. The Christian Life Contents 1. Love 2. Faith 3. Hope 4. Life 5. Revelation 6. Sin 7. Grace 8. Rest 9. Heaven 10. Discipleship 11. Stewardship 12. Community 13. Mission

5. The Christian Life Our Goal {181} We want to look at both aspects of our faith: doctrine and experience. Not only to understand these themes better but also to have been enriched as far as Christian experience is concerned. One focus: the One in whom “we live, and move, and have our being.”

6. The Christian Life Lesson 5, May 2 The Christian Life Lesson 5, May 2

7. REVELATION Key Text Hebrews 1:1, 2 NIV “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”

8. REVELATION Initial Words {235} For some people, God is a distant power who at a remote moment in the past set the world in motion but no longer interferes with what happens here. That is not the God portrayed in the Bible, who instead is consistently shown to be a loving Father, the Creator who continues to take an intimate interest in His creatures.

9. REVELATION Quick Look 1. God Speaks Through Nature (Psalm 19:1-4) 2. God Speaks Through Prophets (Hebrews 1:1, 2) 3. God Speaks Through His Son (Hebrews 1:1, 2)

10. REVELATION 1. God Speaks Through Nature Romans 1:18-20 NIV “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men…. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

11. 1.God Speaks Through Nature Reveals His Character {236} “God has surrounded us with nature’s beautiful scenery in order to attract and interest the mind. It is His design that we should associate the glories of nature with His character. If we faithfully study the book of nature, we shall find it a fruitful source for contemplating the infinite love and power of God.” The Adventist Home 144

12. 1.God Speaks Through Nature Reveals His Character {236} The nonbeliever, by looking at nature, will somehow catch a glimpse of a divine Power that designed and made all that is. In today’s world many close their eyes to this aspect. But, increasingly, scholars are admitting that there is so much evidence of intelligent design that this can be ignored only by those who stubbornly close their eyes to it.

13. 1.God Speaks Through Nature Conscience {238} “Conscience” is sometimes defined as the faculty, or inward principle, that helps us decide between right and wrong. Even those who do not believe in God usually possess some insight into what is morally acceptable and what must be rejected (Rom 2:14, 15). Important though our conscience is, it is not always totally trustworthy.

14. REVELATION 2. God Speaks Through Prophets Hebrews 1:1, 2 NIV “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by the Son….”

15. 2. God Speaks Through Prophets The Gift of Prophecy {240} A prophet is a man or a woman who speaks on behalf of God. Those words have authority because the message comes from God. God used this manner of communicating with His people quite extensively, as Amos underlined when he stated, “The Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7 NIV).

16. 2. God Speaks Through Prophets In His Word {242} Some of those revelations from God were written down. The compilations of these writings is our Bible. More Bibles are sold today than ever before. But that does not necessarily mean that the Bible also is more widely read. There are indications that Bible reading among Christians, including Adventists, is on the wane.

17. Hebrews 1:1, 2 NKJV “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.” REVELATION 3. God Speaks Through His Son

18. In Person {244} Because of sin, God could no longer commune with us as He had done with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Though He has communicated with us very effectively in various ways, He wanted to give us a fuller picture of Himself. And this He has done through Jesus.

19. 3. God Speaks Through His Son In Person {244} Jesus Christ is the focus of the Scriptures. The Bible is about him, about what He has revealed to us regarding the nature and character of God. The Bible doesn’t save us, but it is the authoritative source of truth about the only One who can, Jesus of Nazareth.

20. REVELATION Final Words {235} God is a great communicator. Human words cannot adequately explain who and what God is, but the fact that He constantly is referred to as speaking to His people is utterly significant. The God who spoke the world into existence speaks to all who are willing to listen.