Month / June 2025

by In Light Of The Cross

Let’s Explore the Book of Exodus

Dear Sabbath School and Bible Study Friends,

I have presented these challenges before, encouraging everyone to read through the entire book we are studying in the Sabbath School quarterly. With this quarter’s lesson on Exodus, I encourage everyone to read the whole book of Exodus. Many of us have read it before, but there are different ways to approach it that may help you gain fresh insights and new perspectives. For example, you may want to read a different translation than the one you are accustomed to using. After all, every translation has its strengths and weaknesses, including the KJV.

Another idea is to look for different themes in Exodus. For example, the most obvious is the Gospel and plan of salvation that we find throughout the book of Exodus. In Exodus 12, we see the shadow of the cross. Now, I am not going to tell you where else we find the Gospel in the book of Exodus; I am going to let you read it for yourself. Okay, I will give you one more example. In Exodus 15 the children of Israel find an oasis of water, but it tastes bitter. Moses is instructed to place a tree in the water, and suddenly it becomes sweet. Could the tree possibly represent the cross that takes the bitterness out of our lives, and makes our lives sweet? 

Another theme I would like to suggest watching for as you study Exodus is the theme of discipleship. Moses was a disciple of the Lord. In Exodus 18, Moses learns from his father-in-law about how to make more disciples instead of trying to do everything himself. In Matthew 28 Jesus taught His disciples to make more disciples. In Exodus 32 Aaron gives us a good example of how not to disciple. Aaron and the golden calf give us an example of how the most popular leader is not necessarily the best leader. Oh! Speaking of Exodus 32 I just thought of another glimpse of the Gospel that Moses gives us in Exodus chapter 32. But I have given away too much already. I will let you discover that one for yourself. 

Enjoy reading and studying, my friends! Be sure and share what you discover. 

by In Light Of The Cross

1: Oppression: The Background and the Birth of Moses-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, Sabbath, July 5, 2025.

Main Theme: In the midst of the turmoil and darkness, if our eyes are fixed on God, we can recognize His presence, care, and help as He guides us to the eternal “Promised Land.”

Read in Class: Exodus 1:1-11. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What crucial truth is found here? What was the situation of the Israelites at the time of the Exodus?

Apply: A new king arose who knew not Joseph. What does this account tell us about how we should never take circumstances, especially good ones, for granted?

Share: Your friend asks you why the Egyptians thought the Hebrews would rise up and be their enemies instead of their allies. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 1:9-21. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What key role did the faithful midwives play, and why are they remembered in history?

Apply: The midwives not only knew what the right action was to take, they took it. What’s the obvious message here for us?

Share: Your friend says that the midwives were not exactly being honest with Pharaoh about why they were not destroying the baby boys. How could God bless them while they were not being totally honest? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 2:1-10. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What role did God’s providence and protection play in Moses’ birth story?

Apply: How much are you learning that is ultimately useless for what really matters?

Share: Your friend asks, Why did God allow Moses to become the princess’s child? Did that help prepare him to lead Israel, or was it just a detour and distraction? What do you tell your friend? Hint: See Acts 7:22.

Read in Class: Exodus 2:11-25. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What events quickly transpired to change the entire direction of Moses’ life? What lessons can we learn from this story?

Apply: Was it God’s plan that Moses kill the Egyptian? If not, what does this story teach us about how God can overrule in any situation and use it for His own purposes? How does Romans 8:28 help us understand this important truth?

Share: Your friend asks how God was able to use Moses’ hotheaded act of killing the Egyptian. Suppose he hadn’t done it? Would that have meant the Hebrews would not have eventually escaped from Egypt? What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

13: Images of the End-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, June 28, 2025.

Main Theme: This week will be our final examination of accounts that help clarify our understanding of last-day events. This time, we will look at the mission of Jonah to Nineveh, the fall of Babylon, and the rise of Cyrus, the Persian king who liberated God’s people and enabled them to return to the land of promise.

Read in Class: Matthew 12:38-42. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: Which parts of the story of Jonah does Jesus refer to as He addresses the scribes and Pharisees? What lessons about the judgment are found in His statement?

Apply: How much of Jonah do you find in yourself? How can you move beyond this wrong attitude?

Share: Your friend says the sign of Jonah is confusing because Jesus was not in the grave for three full days. What do you tell your friend? For a hint, see: Is the Sign of Jonah Fuzzy Math? The answer may not be what you think it is.

Read in Class: Jonah 3:5-10. Ask the class what the main idea of this passage is.

Study: Why was this prophecy, then, not fulfilled?

Apply: What choices are you making now that could help determine what choices you will make when the issue of worshiping God or the image breaks upon the world?

Share: Your friend asks you if all prophecies are conditional. If they are not all conditional, how do we know which ones are conditional and which ones are not? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Daniel 5:1-31. Ask the class what the main idea of this passage is.

Study: What important spiritual messages can we take from this account? What ultimately tripped up Belshazzar?

Apply: The king had sufficient head knowledge to recognize Daniel’s God as the true God, but the problem lay in his heart. How can we ensure that, as Adventists, with all the knowledge we possess, we don’t let it go to waste? How can we ensure that our hearts are changed and we are not merely puffed up with knowledge?

Share: Your friend says that the king was really belittling even God when he used the sacred utensils, and then also turned around and insulted the prophet Daniel by merely referring to him as a captive slave, instead of the distinguished statesman he had become. Your friend asks you how you handle it whenever you are belittled or insulted. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. Ask the class what the main idea of this passage is.

Study:  In what ways does the story of Cyrus parallel that of Nebuchadnezzar? In what ways does it differ? What is the significance of the decree? After all, how did it impact the whole first coming of Jesus centuries later?

Apply: How fascinating that God would use a pagan king in such a marked manner to do His will. That is, even despite how things appear to us on the outside, how can we learn the truth that, long term, the Lord is going to bring about end-time events as prophesied?

Share: As we finish this quarter’s lesson, what are some new things you have found in this quarter’s lessons that you would like to share with others?

by In Light Of The Cross

Does the Bible Teach Us to Disregard Man-Made Laws At Times?

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It is important to note that while the three Hebrews never even hinted at bowing to the image, they still attended the demonstration. They did not refuse to show up just because they knew where this was going. They obeyed the king as far as they could, until the king gave a command that directly violated God’s law. The example the three Hebrews gave us aligns with biblical counsel.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities….Romans 13:1 NKJV

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 NKJV

Paul instructs us to obey civil laws as far as possible without violating God’s law. Peter says that, of course, the law of God trumps civil law when civil law directly violates God’s law, but Peter did not teach us to violate civil law just for the sake of demanding our rights. After all, as a Christian, the only right I have is to pick up my cross and die with Christ. See Luke 9:23.

The same Peter who was thrown into prison by the civil servants, the same Peter who said we ought to obey God rather than men, also told us,

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:13-17 NKJV

Peter gave no validation for those who refuse to obey simply to defy the civil laws.

For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 1 Peter 2:20 NKJV

During the COVID shutdown, I was saddened by Christians who were making fun of people wearing masks and refusing to wear masks where they were required simply because they felt their rights were being taken away. Again, Luke 9:23 tells me the only right I have is to die with Christ. Wearing a mask in no way interferes with any of God’s laws. Some Christians were defiant, claiming that even more rights may be taken away that would interfere with God’s law. Still, remember the three Hebrews did not demand their rights. They obeyed just as far as they could without violating God’s law. They did not refuse to attend the ceremony just because they knew where this was going to go.

Jesus tells us,

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 NKJV

Jesus gave no validation for those who are persecuted for any other reason than for righteousness’ sake.

Even though Jesus, Paul, and Peter had some serious run-ins with the civil authorities, they never taught us to defy civil laws just for our rights. Even when Paul mentioned in Acts 22:25 that it was unlawful for him to be scourged as a Roman citizen, he was going by civil law and not opposing it.

Many of the things people were asked to give up or do during the COVID shutdown did not violate civil law or God’s law. We recognize that these circumstances are likely to recur, and it is essential to recall that Scripture offers no justification for disobeying civil law unless it directly conflicts with God’s law. The Three Hebrews, Paul, Peter, and even Jesus, set an example for us to follow civil law as far as possible, until it directly contradicts God’s law.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

12: Precursors- Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, June 21, 2025.

Main Theme: Over and over, Jesus said things like “Do not fear,” and “Why do your thoughts trouble you?” It is important to remember that the focus of prophecy is Christ, and, as such, we must be able to find the same counsel throughout the scenes portrayed in earth’s closing moments. “ ‘Let not your heart be troubled,’ ” He taught His disciples, “ ‘you believe in God, believe also in Me’ ” (John 14:1, NKJV).

In other words, yes, last-day events will be difficult and trying for those who seek to stay faithful to God. But ultimately, we should view these events with hope, not fear.

Read in Class: Daniel 2:31-45. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What was Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and how did Daniel interpret it?

Apply: How does Daniel 2 prove to us that not only does God know the future but that He is, ultimately, in charge of it?

Share: Your friend asks if God still speaks to us through dreams. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Daniel 3:-12, 17-18. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What significance can be found in the fact that the statue was all gold and that the king demanded that it be worshiped? What does this teach us about faith and what, at times, it could demand of us?

Apply: How can we avoid the easy rationalizations that present us with opportunities to compromise on our faith? What does this text say that addresses a similar temptation: “ ‘He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much’ ” (Luke 16:10, NKJV)?

Share: Your friend says that if you live in a country that has freedom of religion, you don’t have to ever worry about that freedom being taken away. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 13:11-17, Revelation 14:9-12, and Matthew 12:9-14. Ask the class to find the common thread in these passages.

Study: What contrast is present here that pits the commandments of God against the commandments of men?

Apply: Even though we have yet to face the mark of the beast, in what ways has your faith already been tested, and how do those tests increase your faith for the greater tests to come?

Share: Your friend tells you that God would never test our loyalty over something as trivial as a day of worship, saying it doesn’t matter which day we keep holy, as long as we keep at least one day holy. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Acts 12:1-17. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What elements of this story might foreshadow last-day events?

Apply: Some believers were spared, others were killed. As we approach the end time, the same thing will happen. Even Peter, though spared then, eventually died for his faith. Jesus Himself even told him how: “ ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’ ” (John 21:18-19, NKJV).

Notice that Jesus, after telling Peter how he would die, nevertheless still says to him, “ ‘Follow me.’ ” What should this tell us about why even the threat of death should not keep us from following the Lord?

Share: Can you think of someone whose faith needs to be strengthened? Can you share something from this week’s lesson to encourage them to stand firm in their faith for Christ?

by In Light Of The Cross

11: Ruth and Esther-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, June 14, 2025.

Main Theme: In prophecy, of course, a woman is a powerful symbol for God’s church, shedding much light on how God regards His people. Let’s look at the biblical accounts of these two women, whose life circumstances have been immortalized in the Word of God, and seek to draw whatever lessons we can from their experiences.

Read in Class: Ruth 2:5-20. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: Why is this such a pivotal moment in the story? Why do you think Naomi’s discovery of the benefactor’s identity was such good news?

Apply: Try to wrap your mind around not only the Creator’s becoming part of His own creation but then dying for it. How should this astonishing truth impact how we view our own existence?

Share: Your friend says things worked out great for Ruth, but what about people who go through famines and hardships, who don’t have anyone to help them? What about them? What do you tell your friend? For ideas, see Isaiah 59:16.

Read in Class: Esther 3:1-14, Revelation 12:14-17, and Revelation 13:15. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How is John’s description of God’s remnant church like Haman’s description of God’s people?

Apply: Think about the “small” things that test your faith now. If you compromise on them, the “small things,” how will you do when the big test comes?

Share: Your friend says that the only job she has is mopping the floors at a school. She says she will never hold an essential position like Esther’s, so how does that story apply to her? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Esther 4:13-14, 5:1-3, and 9:20-28. Ask the class to identify the main idea in this story.

Study: What lessons can we draw from these passages regarding our plight in the closing moments of Earth’s history?

Apply: Things worked out well, at least in this story, for God’s people. It doesn’t always happen that way, though, does it? Why, then, must we always take a long-term view of things to maintain the hope that we have in Christ?

Share: Your friend says that while God’s people were saved in this story, it does not happen every time. James and John the Baptist were beheaded. Stephen was stoned to death. What good did this Bible story do them? What do you tell your friend? See Revelation 2:10.

Read in Class: Ruth 1:1-5. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: What hardships fell on Naomi and Ruth, and what caused them? How does this reflect the situation that the entire human race now faces?

Apply: Even after six thousand years of sin and death, how does the earth still reveal the wonders of God’s love and creative power? 

Share: Can you think of someone who may be encouraged by something in this week’s lesson? Tell the class how you plan to share it with them this week.

“If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we shall have something to tell.” –Ellen White, Steps to Christ, Page 78.

by In Light Of The Cross

10: Upon Whom the Ends Have Come-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, June 7, 2025.

Main Theme: We will examine several key stories to determine what insights they may offer regarding events such as the Second Coming, the investigative judgment, the final crisis, and more. And, through it all, we find Christ as the center, for He must be the foundation as well as the end goal of all our prophetic endeavors.

Read in Class: Revelation 6:12-17. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: Consider the details of these people’s response to seeing last-day events suddenly play out. What do you notice about their response?

Apply: Read Matthew 24:36-44. How may we apply the story of Noah so we will be ready when Jesus comes?

Share: Your friend says it’s hard to stay ready for Jesus’ second coming when it seems like it’s taking Him forever to come. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Genesis 6:1-8 and Matthew 24:37-39. Ask the class to share the common thread in these passages.

Study: What were the moral conditions that led to the flood? What parallels do we see between the two time periods?

Apply: How can we learn not to be discouraged if our efforts don’t seem to be bearing much fruit for the moment? 

Share: Your friend says the world is as evil now as it was right before the flood. So why hasn’t Jesus come yet to destroy the world? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: 2 Peter 2:4-11, Jude 1:5-8, and Ezekiel 16:46-50. Ask the class to define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What were the moral conditions that led to the destruction of these cities, and what parallels exist today, as well?

Apply: As the church, do we need to apply these warnings to ourselves as well as the world? How can we ensure that we are not complicit in the same sins the world is committing?

Share: Your friend asks, if we as Christians have more light than the wicked, does that mean we will be judged more sternly? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Read in Class: Genesis 18:20-32, Daniel 7:13-14, 27. Ask the class to define the main idea of these passages.

Study: What does this reveal about the character of God and the way He plans to deal with evil on our planet? What is the primary focus of the judgment? What is the verdict rendered at the end of the process? What does this tell us about the plan of salvation?

Apply: Imagine standing before our holy God with all your secrets exposed. What’s your only hope at that time of judgment?

Share: Your friend says it’s so obvious why the wicked are lost, why do we need to judge the evil during the thousand years? What do you tell your friend?