When should I confront a person who has offended me?

When should I ignore offenses against me and when I confront the offender?

Three passages answer the first part of the question. "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression." (Proverbs 19:11)." TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 19:11). In Matthew 18:22," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18:22, when the Lord taught Peter to forgive "until seventy times seven," He discouraged keeping count of others' wrongs. It is not right to remember with resentment or with a view to paying back. "Taketh not account of evil" (1 Corinthians 13:5," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:5, RV) is in keeping with this teaching.

Luke 17:3," TARGET="_blank">Luke 17:3,4 touches the second part of the question: "If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him." Here are the alternatives: rebuke him or forget it. If I must rebuke him, the Lord Jesus teaches, "tell him his fault between thee and him alone" (Matthew 18:15)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18:15). If there is a good possibility of restoring him from wrongdoing, Galatians 6:1" TARGET="_blank">Galatians 6:1 teaches me to confront him "in the spirit of meekness." When there is professed repentance, the Lord instructs me to forgive, since only God can measure its genuineness.

W. Gustafson

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How will the weather be affected during the Millennium?

How will the weather be affected during the Millennium?

David longed for a just King to reign in the fear of God. That would be as "a morning without clouds" (2Sa 23:4)." TARGET="_blank">2Sa 23:4). The word "as" introduces figurative language, but this does describe the weather patterns of the Millennium, which may be more pleasant than any weather since creation.

The weather during that reign will contribute to a fruitful ecological system. In Psalm 72" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 72 (as both the KJV and JND translate it), places that rarely produce a harvest will wave with abundance of grain (v 16). While the results of sin will be rolled back from creation, they will not be eliminated. The curse of sin will not touch the heavenly city, but the nations will still need "healing" during the Millennium (Rev 22:2, 3)." TARGET="_blank">Rev 22:2, 3). The complete removal of every trace of sin awaits the Day of God (2Pe 3:11-13)," TARGET="_blank">2Pe 3:11-13), the new heavens and the new earth (Rev 21:1-5)." TARGET="_blank">Rev 21:1-5). We know that some regions of the earth will lack needed rain (Zech 14:16-19)." TARGET="_blank">Zech 14:16-19). This will be the direct result of disobedience to the King.

This leads to the conclusion that the weather during the Millennium will be controlled by the Lord in such a way that fruitfulness will abound and, where appropriate, sin will be directly and immediately punished by means of the weather. Justice will not only control the governmental systems, but the ecological system as well. Except where human depravity will express itself, conditions in that day will be "right."

D. Oliver

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My christian friend had an abortion. What should I do?

What responsibility does a believer have toward the assembly if he knows of another assembly believer who has had an abortion?

This question requires a delicate answer. The callous thinking of the unregenerate has colored the views of many believers. Our final court of appeal is the Word of God. What saith the Scriptures?

First, it would advisable to know the background. Did the abortion occur before the believer was saved or in the assembly? If so, it would not be an assembly issue.

Luke 1:41" TARGET="_blank">Luke 1:41 says "the babe leaped in her (Elizabeth's) womb." The word for "babe" also describes a child old enough to be acquainted with Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15)." TARGET="_blank">2 Timothy 3:15). John was a child in his mother's womb as much as he was after being born. Intervention in the process that would result in birth terminates the life of a child.

A believer, knowing of this evasive moral procedure, should encourage the other believer to make this known to responsible brethren in the assembly. That failing, he must act, not on the basis of hearsay, but conclusive, undeniable evidence (Matthew 18:15-17)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18:15-17). The elders are then responsible for any action taken. The sanctity of God's assembly must be maintained. It is the dwelling place of God, a holy temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

E. McCullough

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Is it a sin to ask God "why"?

In the disappointments of life, is asking "Why?" appropriate?

Yes. If we want to benefit from our experiences, we need to learn God's ways. Often, the cost of trials is very high. Squandering such costly opportunities is a mistake. Trials are fruitful to "them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 12:11). If the question expresses our desire to learn more of what God is doing, it's appropriate. Even then, we must recognize that God is greater than our mind and we may not be able to understand His purpose (Job 11:7)." TARGET="_blank">Job 11:7). On the other hand, He may withhold the answer in order to teach us to trust Him.

It is not appropriate, however, to question if God's dealings are right or best or necessary. This expresses unbelief in our Father. The appropriateness of the question depends on it's motivation.

D. Oliver
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Printable Nativity Scenes

A printable manger scene for your Sunday school craft. This Christmas, create a creche with the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the wise men and the shepherds at the stable in Bethlehem the first Christmas night.

This printable nativity scene can be printed, cut and taped in less than one hour.

Click here or the picture to download the printable PDF file.

Other Printable Resources

If you are a Bible class teacher, you may also be interested in the items in the Sunday School section of this site.

- Word puzzle creators to create your own crossword puzzles and word games.

- Sunday school worksheets ready made for almost every story in the Bible.

- Other printable activities such as a printable 3D model of the Tabernacle or a 3D printable model of Noah's ark .

- Subscribe to The Encourager, a monthly newsletter for Sunday school teachers.

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What does the baptism of Israel in the Red Sea mean?

HOUSEHOLD BAPTISM
Are those who teach what is known as “household baptism” justified in using the crossing of the Red Sea, referred to in 1 Corinthians 10" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10: as a type of Christian baptism, and in asserting that, as undoubtedly infants were carried across the Red Sea by their mothers, they therefore were baptised unto Moses, and so infants now should be baptised?

Certainly these friends must be hard put to it to find authority for their practice of baptising households to-day, if they have to go back to this far off Old Testament event to justify it. We are asked, moreover, to believe that had Moses and the elders held Believer’s Baptism, they would have been obliged cruelly to leave all the infants on the west bank of the Red Sea to the mercy of the pursuing Egyptians, on the plea that such were not fit subjects for baptism. I remember one well-known clergyman in Brighton (the “Reverend” H. B.), who wrote a tract to justify the sprinkling of infants, and he built his argument on the probability of the wind sprinkling the Israelitish infants, as they were carried through the Red Sea. It seems hard to believe that fancy could go further. We may be sure that no-one from Moses to the youngest Israelitish mother had the slightest idea that a figure of Christian baptism was being carried out during the crossing of the Red Sea.

But if for the sake of argument, all who shared in the crossing were baptised, then this was true of “the mixed multitude” and of the flocks and the herds. Perhaps those who christen bells and ships rely on this passage. We see, however, from Numbers 4" TARGET="_blank">Numbers 4 that the children did not count, but only those of Israel who were numbered “from twenty years old and upward,” for in verses 29 and 33 a difference is made between those who were numbered (v. 29) and their children (v. 33). Whereas the former (except Caleb and Joshua) would be excluded for good, all the children would be brought in when their fathers’ carcases were wasted in the wilderness. We may be sure that the infants no more shared in the baptism of the Red Sea, than in the daily eating of the manna and drinking from the rock that followed them. No doubt it is legitimate to see in the crossing of the Red Sea a figure of the death and resurrection of Christ and of believers’ association with Him, but it is not, properly speaking, a figure of Christian baptism, for that would be a case of a figure representing a figure. Rather what is set forth is what has already taken place for all believers, namely, their baptism in the Spirit. Christi n baptism is in no way in view in 1 Cor 10" TARGET="_blank">1 Cor 10 and it is a great mistake to think that wherever the slightly different word, “baptismos” that occurs in our Authorised (e.g., Mark 7:4, 8;" TARGET="_blank">Mark 7:4, 8; Hebrews 6: 2;" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 6: 2; Hebrews 9:10)," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 9:10), The reference clearly is to the ceremonial purifications of the Levitical service.

William Hoste

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Does the assembly have a say in the decision of commending a full-time evangelist?

Does the assembly have a say in the decision of commending a full-time evangelist?

An assembly is not a democracy. Elders guide the assembly in its decisions; they are guides (Hebrews 13:7," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:7, mg.) they "stand before" (1Ti 5:17," TARGET="_blank">1Ti 5:17, "rule") the flock as examples and leaders. Not having omniscience, either individually or collectively, they will benefit by input from the flock. For that reason, those in the assembly ought to respectfully and honestly communicate to the elders any concerns they may have about a person whom the assembly plans to commend. Having communicated that concern, the matter must be left with the Lord and with the overseers, who are responsible to fairly assess what has been said.

D. Oliver
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Did Lazarus die again after being resurrected by Jesus?

Does Hebrews 9:27" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 9:27 ("once to die") mean that those the Lord raised, like Lazarus, did not die again but went to heaven at Christ's ascension?

At the Fall, God appointed death as the one-time penalty for sin (Romans 5:12;" TARGET="_blank">Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:21, 22). That compares to the one-time offering of Christ for sins (verse 28).

This verse states that in the natural course of events, death is a one-time occurrence. At the Rapture, supernatural power will alter this. Living saints will never die (John 11:26)." TARGET="_blank">John 11:26). In the case of those raised from the dead before the Lord's incarnation, during his ministry, and in the apostles' ministry, supernatural power contravened this order. Only a divine intervention can reverse death.

Scripture gives no reason to believe that any raised from death before Christ's incarnation or after His ascension had a miraculous exit from earth. They returned to life in a world ruined by sin; along with Lazarus, they died again.

The Lord is the only One thus far raised "out from death" ("out resurrection," Philippians 3:11)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 3:11). He is alive forevermore (Revelation 1:18)" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 1:18) and is the Firstfruit (1 Corinthians 15:23)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:23) of a new and distinct harvest. Others before Him were raised from the dead. He was raised out from death - a resurrection. At His coming, the sleeping saints will not merely be raised from the dead, they will be resurrected never to die again, having changed bodies like the Lord's body of glory (1 Corinthians 15:51-56;" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:51-56; Philippians 3:21)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 3:21).

D. Oliver
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Free Bible Games

Some of the free Bible games here include:

1. The Bible board game Lost Bible Searchers Game . This free Bible game requires each player to travel the map of the Bible world collecting lost pages from books of the Bible.

2. Books of the Bible Game . This collection of six free Bible games uses the names of the books of the Bible to help students learn their order and some facts about each book.

3. Criminal Suspects of the Bible . This free Bible game requires students to identify the bad guy based on a police record of his/her crime.

4. Tribulation Survivor Game . This is one of the many free Bible games in the downloads section. Students are put into the Great Tribulation with the goal of surviving great disasters, persecution of the Antichrist and famine.

For more traditional free Bible games, browse the350 Sunday school worksheets that contain a coloring page, crossword puzzle and other activities to review a Bible story.

Use one of the puzzle makers below to create your own free Bible game.

Word Find

Word Scramble

Crossword Puzzle Creator

Cryptogram Puzzle Creator

Fallen Quotes

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Why was the Revelation given by God to Christ, Who gave it to John?

Why was the Revelation given by God to Christ, Who gave it to John?

The heart of the Revelation is the vision John saw of the glorified Son of Man (1:13-18). That this revelation did not originate with Himself is in keeping with the Lord’s words during "the days of His flesh" (Hebrews 5:7)" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 5:7): "I seek not Mine own glory" (John 8:50)." TARGET="_blank">John 8:50). His lowliness is unchanged as He sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:2)." TARGET="_blank">Heb 12:2).

In addition, the Father’s purpose is "that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" (John 5:23)." TARGET="_blank">John 5:23). The Revelation then is an expansion of the Lord’s words that the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (v 22). Thus He honors His Son. But the same passage points out that He has authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man (5:27). Therefore, this is a vision of the Son of Man (Revelation 1:13)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 1:13).

While on earth, the Son said, "I have not spoken from Myself" (John 12:49" TARGET="_blank">John 12:49 JND). He was not the originator of His words. He said what His Father commanded Him to say. Highly exalted in the Revelation, He still is communicating what His Father wishes to reveal. His subjection to His Father will never end (1 Corinthians 15:28)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:28).

There are likely many other reasons for this order in revealing the Son of Man, but these are sufficient to bow our hearts in worship.

D. Oliver
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