Month / September 2025

by In Light Of The Cross

Perception and Reality

God never affirms a proud and arrogant attitude, but, as in the case of Joshua, He does tell meek and humble people to be strong and courageous. See Joshua 1:7-9. 

In His message to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus tells the church of Smyrna that, although they may appear poor, they were actually rich. See Revelation 2:9. Later, He tells the church of Laodicea that, although they appear rich, they are actually destitute. See Revelation 3:17. It was because of Laodicea’s pride that Jesus could not call them rich, while He could call the humble people of Smyrna rich. The question is, who do we believe when Jesus contradicts our perception of reality? Do we believe in Jesus or do we believe what we see, hear, and feel? Let’s be cautious, as pride and arrogance can blur our perception of reality. On the other hand, so can our lack of faith in God ‘s love. 

Satan well knows how perception affects our picture of reality. So he likes to play little mind games. A while back, during a Bible study, I mentioned that I sometimes feel tempted to think that I care more about people than they care about me. My Bible student quickly responded, “Me too!” Then he paused, scratched his head, and added, “I bet Satan tries to make everyone feel that way.” I agreed with my Bible student.

Let’s look at how Satan played mind games with the Israelites. Look at how they perceived themselves after spying out the Promised Land, which had already been … well, promised to them!

“All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” Numbers 13:32-33 NLT.

Wait a minute? First of all, historians suggest that the Canaanites may have been a few inches taller than the Israelites, but not significantly taller so as to be considered giants. The grasshopper comparison was a drastic exaggeration. Furthermore, how did they know the Canaanites thought they were like grasshoppers? How would they know what they were thinking at all? They didn’t! They projected their perception on the Canaanites and thought their perception was reality. But it was all in their minds. Satan was playing mind games with them.

Later, in Joshua 2:9, Rahab, an actual Canaanite who could speak for the residents of Canaan, told the Hebrew spies exactly how they felt towards them, and they definitely did not see them as grasshoppers.

“I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.” Hebrews 2:9 NKJV

So the grasshopper comparison was just a little mind game of Satan that the first spies bought into. It was not reality. Sure, God wants us to be humble, but that does not mean he wants us to think we are grasshoppers while everyone else is a giant. Those who walk humbly with God are a terror to those who stand in their own pride and arrogance. If you walk humbly with God, you do not need to be intimidated by anyone, regardless of their title or the letters behind their name.

Humble men, armed with the word of truth alone, withstood the attacks of men of learning, who, with surprise and anger, found their eloquent sophistry powerless against the simple, straightforward reasoning of men who were versed in the Scriptures rather than in the subtleties of the schools. –Ellen White, Great Controversy, Page 455.

So it is today, as in every age. The same can be said for you today, which was said of John the Baptist.

He could stand erect and fearless in the presence of earthly monarchs, because he had bowed low before the King of kings. –Ellen White, Desire of Ages, page 103.

Wisdom and humility go beautifully together, while the typical combination of arrogance and ignorance seems to lack comeliness. While we do not want to be arrogant and ignorant, it is possible to be humble and confident. Our confidence should be in God and not in ourselves.

Are you facing a giant today? First, humble yourself before God. Put your confidence in His love and power. Walk forward in humble faith and obedience, and your giants will turn into grasshoppers. The humble of the land can also be the confident of the land, not cowards. 

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

by In Light Of The Cross

1: Recipe for Success-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for the Sabbath School Class, 4 October 2025.

Main Theme: Let’s study the way God opened up a new chapter in Israel’s life and how He can do the same in ours, as well.

Read in Class: Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and Joshua 1:1-9. Ask the class to find the common thread in these passages.

Study: Why is it significant that the book of Joshua starts by echoing a promise related to what would happen after the death of Moses?

Apply: Throughout the ages, God has called men and women to lead His people. Why is it crucial to remember who the true, invisible leader of the church is?

Share: Your friend asks you if you have ever had to fill someone else’s shoes like Joshua did in replacing Moses. If so, when, and how did God help you?

Read in Class: Joshua 1:4-6 and Hebrews 6:17-18. Ask the class to identify the common thread of these passages.

Study: At that moment, the Promised Land was exactly that, a promise. Yet, God calls it an inheritance. What does it mean to be the heirs of God’s promises?

Apply: Read Matthew 28:19-20. As the Lord promised to be with Joshua on his mission, Jesus promises to be with us on our mission. Why is this reassurance so crucial to the success of our mission?

Share: Your friend asks if there are any stories in the Bible where God was not with His people, and if so, why was He not with them. What was the outcome in those stories? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Joshua 1:7-9 and Ephesians 6:10-18. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: Why did the Lord need to emphasize twice to Joshua that he had to be strong and courageous?

Apply: How can we apply the words of encouragement given to Joshua and to the Ephesians in our daily spiritual struggles?

Share: Your friend asks, How can we stay true to what the Word of God says even when it is unpopular or inconvenient to do so? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Joshua 1:7-9, Genesis 24:40, Isaiah 53:10, and Psalm 1:1-3. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: Based on these texts, what does it mean to be prosperous and successful?

Apply: According to Romans 3:31, what crucial ingredient do we need to apply to our lives to keep from departing from the law?

Share: Your friend asks you how you meditate on the book of the law day and night, and how it has contributed to your success. What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

13: The Tabernacle-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, 27 September 2025.

Main Theme: The sanctuary demonstrated God’s closeness to humanity and revealed the greatest truths to them, which is how He saves those who come to Him in faith.

Read in Class: Exodus 31:13 and Exodus 35:1-3. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What truth was reiterated to the people here in the context of the building of the sanctuary?

Apply: The Jews have a saying: More than Israel kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath kept Israel. Though we as Adventists probably wouldn’t express it like that, what important role does the Sabbath have in the life of our church family?

Share: Your friend asks you if warming up food on an electric stove, or even turning a light switch on, counts as starting a fire on the Sabbath. What is the principle behind the law not to build a fire on the Sabbath? Are we still keeping the principle of the law when we turn on a stove or a light?

Read in Class: Exodus 35:4-9 and Exodus 36:1-7. Ask the class to identify the main idea of these passages.

Study: What important lessons are here for us today?

Apply: What spiritual gifts have you received when you were filled with the Holy Spirit? Remember that the spiritual gifts can flourish only when you cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in your life (Gal. 5:22-23).

Share: Your friend asks how she can know what her spiritual gifts are. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 40:34-38. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did the Israelites discern God’s presence?

Apply: What are ways that, even now, you can experience the presence of God? Why is it important that you do so?

Share: Your friend says that sometimes she feels God is with her, but other times she does not. She asks how to know if God is with her or not. Is it safe to just go by our feelings? How would you answer your friend from the Bible?

Read in Class: John 1:14. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: How is Christ’s incarnation compared to the tabernacle?

Apply: Read in Revelation 21:1-3. Looking at what we have been promised in Jesus, how can we learn to endure to the end?

Share: What new truths and insights did you gain as you studied this quarter’s lesson?

by In Light Of The Cross

12: Please Show Me Your Glory-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class on 20 September 2025.

Main Theme: This week, we study how Moses, through knowing and following God’s instructions, was growing in his walk with the Lord.

Read in Class: Exodus 33:12-17. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: What did Moses ask the Lord to teach him? Why did he demand God’s presence to guide them?

Apply: Do you know God, or do you just know about Him? What is the crucial difference between the two?

Share: Your friend says that Romans 2:4 tells us the goodness of God leads us to repentance. Your friend asks how God revealed His goodness in the book of Exodus. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 33:18-23. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did God answer Moses’ request to see His glory?

Apply: How much time do you spend focusing on the Cross and what it tells you about the character of God?

Share: Your friend asks, How does your church reflect the glory of God to others. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 34:6-9. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did God reveal His glory to Moses?

Apply: How can we preach a merciful and forgiving God without it being confused with what is referred to as “cheap grace?”

Share: Your friend says that to reflect the proper balance of God’s holiness and compassion, we should be conservative towards ourselves and liberal towards others. Do you agree with your friend? Was Jesus conservative towards Himself while being liberal towards others? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 34:29-35. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: What was the cause of Moses’ radiant face?

Apply: What areas of your character need to reflect the character of God better? Probably every area, right? However, how can focusing on the Cross, and what it means, give you encouragement and assurance of salvation?

Share: Tell about someone who reflected God’s glory to you like Moses did to Israel.

by In Light Of The Cross

Accountability Works Both Ways

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 NKJV

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 NKJV

As we study this week’s Sabbath School lesson, about the apostasy of Israel, including Aaron, their priest, I am reminded of a vital lesson. We cannot assume a pastor or any church leader is doing a good job just because they are making everyone happy. After all, the greater majority of the people were delighted with Aaron while he was leading them into apostasy. The point was made that Aaron should not have allowed the people to worship an idol, much less help them make one. With the majority being in the wrong, Aaron should have stood for the right, even if all alone. 

The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. –Ellen White, Education, Page 57. 

Being a pastor, I also see the problem from another angle. While the pastor may chair the church board, the pastor answers to the church board, and the church board answers ultimately to the church at large. In other words, while the pastor holds the church accountable, the church also holds the pastor accountable. Accountability works both ways. 

So, as we study the apostasy of Israel when they made and worshiped the golden calf, we see a total breakdown of accountability. Not only was Aaron not holding the people accountable, but the people were not holding Aaron accountable. The problem was that no one was holding anyone accountable. Here is where we see how crucial accountability is to both laity and leaders. 

The other day, I was having a conversation with a young couple, when the husband said something so profound that I had never heard a husband say before. He said one of the reasons he wanted to find someone to marry was that he needed someone to be accountable to. In a world where everyone is told to mind their own business, not to judge or criticize, and to let others do as they please, this young man realized he could not be all that God expects him to be without offering accountability. Having someone to be accountable to helps to keep us out of trouble and focused on our lofty goals. 

In order for a church to stay out of trouble and focused on their lofty goals they need leaders who will hold them accountable. At the same time in order for church leaders to stay out of  trouble and focused on their lofty goals they need a church body that will hold them accountable. While the pastor may advise the board, the pastor should also consider the board members as his advisors as well. The pastor should not consider it a weakness or be embarrassed to seek counsel from his church family. On the contrary the wisdom in Proverbs tells us we are all here to sharpen each other, and there is wisdom in having many counselors. 

There was a time when I was embarrassed to ask the church for guidance, not because of my ego, but because I felt like I was being paid to know what was right, and if I was not right or did not know what was right then I was not earning my paycheck. Later I realized my job is not so much to always be right or know on my own what is right, as much as it is to find what is right. We actually gain the confidence of our church family when we quickly discern our mistakes and make corrections. Meanwhile I have watched other pastors shipwreck their own ministry by pretending to be infalible instead of accepting the counsel, mercy and forgiveness their congregations so willingly offered. It broke my heart recently, when some friends told me about a pastor in their church who made a mistake, and instead of accepting their forgiveness and invitation for reconciliation, he resigned claiming to be above reproach. 

For marriage to work, both the wife and the husband need to offer accountability to each other. In the church, not only does the congregation need to provide accountability to the pastor, but the pastor also needs to offer accountability to his congregation. Aaron and Israel’s apostasy with the golden calf is an unfortunate example of what happens when neither congregation nor pastor holds the other accountable. While Aaron should have stopped the people from committing apostasy, the people should have stopped Aaron from committing apostasy. Accountability works both ways. 

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

by In Light Of The Cross

11: Apostasy and Intercession-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared for Sabbath School Class, Sabbath, 13 September 2025.

Main Theme: Whatever the reasons for this terrible apostasy, we can learn lessons about the sinfulness of humanity and the mercy of God.

Read in Class: Exodus 32:1-6. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: How was it possible for Aaron’s leadership to fail so spectacularly?

Apply: How could Aaron, a leader, have been so weak? In what ways might Aaron have sought to justify in his own heart his terrible actions?

Share: Your friend says that her church has an excellent pastor because he always does whatever makes the whole church happy. Is whether ot not a pastor makes everyone happy a good way to determine if the pastor is doing a good job or not? How does the story of the golden calf help you answer your friend? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 32:7-14. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: Why did God send Moses back to the camp of Israel?

Apply: What are some things, or even people and ideas, that could become idols to us today? How do we guard against idolatry in today’s world?

Share: Your friend asks why Moses was interceding for these people when all they did was cause him trouble? Why go to such great lengths to save such a troublesome group? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 32:15-29. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What was Moses’ reaction to God’s threat to destroy Israel?

Apply: What should this story teach us about the power of intercessory prayer? Whom should you be praying for right now?

Share: Your friend asks if the apostasy was Aaron’s fault for making the golden calf, or the people’s fault for encouraging Aaron instead of stopping him? Who should have been holding whom accountable? Aaron, the People, or both? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 32:30-32. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study:  How far did Moses go in his intercessory prayer for sinners?

Apply: Moses was willing to lose out on heaven to save others and honor God’s name? How far should we be willing to go to save others and honor God? See also Romans 9:1-3.

Share: How do you share the truth with others, so as to save them from apostasy without coming across as self-righteous or “holier-than-thou?” See Galatians 6:1-5.