by In Light Of The Cross

Carmen, Juliet, and Carla’s Baptism Pictures and Stories

Sabbath, February 10, 2024 was a very special day at the Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist Church, as three precious souls gave all themselves to Jesus because Jesus gave all of Himself for them.

After Rich and Farah had Bible studies and were baptized here at the Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist Church last spring, both their daughters, Carmen and Juliet expressed an interest in studying the Bible together and being baptized. Many times the family came over to study in my home, but since it was a little bit of a drive for them we also often met at this park Sunday mornings in Brooksville, and enjoyed studying together with nature all around us. Also when we met to study in Brooksville we would meet for breakfast first at a nice breakfast diner. We enjoyed getting to know each other better eating and fellowshipping together as well as studying the Bible together. The family is now planning on getting together with a small group Bible study so they can continue fellowshipping and studying together with church family.

While following in her mother’s footsteps Juliet was proud to be making her own decision to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.  Romans 6:3-6 NLT

Carmen is very happy with her decision to follow in her father’s footsteps but even more importantly in Jesus’ footsteps. Carmen is already inviting and bringing friends to church!

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. Galatians 3:26-27 NLT

Several months ago I shared in my sermon how to give Bible studies and asked the congregation if any of them would like to give Bible studies. Kathy (who chose not to be photographed) accepted that invitation! At that time Carla, (who also chose not to be photographed) started attending the Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist church and asked for Bible studies. Kathy and Carla studied together for several months and Carla was baptized Sabbath with Juliet and Carmen. Carla shares her testimony below.

All those baptized were welcomed into the church family with flowers, a devotional book and their baptism certificates with the Bible teachings. Carmen and Juliet were given a devotional book written by students from Fountain View Adventist Academy. Carla was given a nice devotional book put together by one of her favorite authors, Doug Bachelor from Amazing Facts.

Don’t let the sun set on you before you give your life to Jesus, because He gave His life for you! I would love to help you make this decision. If you have any questions about being baptized or the Bible I would love to hear from you. You can reach me at william.earnhardt@Floridaconference.com

by In Light Of The Cross

7: Your Mercy Reaches Unto the Heavens-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, February 17, 2024.

Main Theme: Experiencing God’s mercy encourages us to serve Him alone.

Read in Class: Psalm 136:1-3 and Psalm 51:1-5. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What thought predominates in these Psalms? Why does the Psalmist appeal to God’s mercy?

Apply: Read Psalm 51:6-19. How does this help you understand how forgiveness is applied to you? How does this help you understand the goal of forgiveness?

Share: Your friend asks, if God can forgive David for adultery, deception and even murder then could God still forgive those who have committed adultery and even murder today? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 130:1-8. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How are the gravity of sin and hope for sinners portrayed?

Apply: Think about the question, “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). What does that mean to you personally? Where would you be if the Lord marked your iniquities?

Share: Your friend asks if “He Shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:8) means that God will give his people victory over every form of sin, no matter how powerful that form of sin is? What do you tell your friend? How might Titus 2:11-14 NLT help you answer that question?

Read in Class: Psalm 113:1-9 and Psalm 123:1-4. How do these two Psalms contrast?

Study: What do we learn from the contrast in these two Psalms?

Apply: Dwell on the Cross and what happened there for you personally. What has Jesus saved you from? Why is it so important to keep the Cross foremost in your mind?

Share: Your friend says, sometimes we are not prisoners of circumstances but rather prisoners of our own thought patterns? In light of Psalm 113 and Psalm 123 what do you think your friend means? Do you agree with the statement?

Read in Class: Psalm 103:1-22. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How is God’s mercy portrayed here?

Apply: How does God’s love and mercy encourage you to worship and trust God and God alone?

Share: Can you think of someone who may be discouraged and could benefit from hearing about God’s mercy this week? Can you share something from the Psalms with them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

A Mercy That Truly Reaches Heaven and Earth

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1 NKJV

Psalm 136 goes on to describe all the many ways that God’s mercy has endured forever, but my favorite illustration of God’s incredible mercy comes from Joshua chapters 9 and 10.

The Gibeonites used deceit to trick Israel into letting them in on the covenant God had made with them. Even though Israel was not supposed to make a covenant with anyone living as close as the Gibeonites, they did. Later when the Gibeonites were under attack, they called upon Israel to save them, and even though the Gibeonites had used deceit to secure this covenant, God was so relentless in keeping His promise of love, that He caused the sun to stand still until the Gibeonites were all rescued! God fought for Israel as Israel fought for the mischievous Gibeonites. Let that soak in. The Gibeonites were in no way worthy of any of God’s blessings, but God was still so loving and faithful to His promise that He made the sun stand still until they were all rescued! Talk about a love that moves heaven and earth! And this powerful love was given to the most undeserving people! So, scientifically speaking, the greatest power in the universe is not gravity or the suctioning power of the black hole. God’s love overruled all those powers and made the earth stand still. Imagine what this love can do in your heart!

God’s powerful promises and love are also for you and me. In Hebrews 13:5 God promises to never leave us or forsake us, but the Amplified Bible is the only English version that even begins to grasp what God is actually promising.

for He has said, “I will never under any circumstances desert you nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you- assuredly not!” Hebrews 13:5 Amp version.

Friends, God does not love the Gibeonites any more than He loves you. He mercy did not stop with the Gibeonites.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.  Psalm 100:4 NKJV

God’s mercy and truth endures throughout all generations. If God loved naughty Gibeonites enough to make the earth stand still for them, you know God’s love and mercy will do everything supernaturally possible to save you as well.

Friends, let’s not spurn or take God’s great mercy for granted.

how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?  Hebrews 2:3-4 NKJV

Let’s talk of God’s enduring mercy, Exercise our faith in His enduring mercy, and contemplate His enduring mercy until we are changed into His image or mercy and truth.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

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

by In Light Of The Cross

6: I Will Arise-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, February 10, 2024.

Main Theme: Only God can truly deliver us from wickedness and oppression, which He does in His own time.

Read in Class: Psalm 9:18, Psalm 12:5 and Psalm 146:6-10. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the message here to us, even today?

Apply: How much do we think of the “poor and needy” among us, and how much do we do for them?

Share: Your friend says people are poor because they are lazy and therefore we should not help them. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 82:1-8. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What happens when the leaders pervert justice and oppress the people they are tasked to protect?

Apply: What kind of authority do you hold over others? How justly and fairly are you exercising that authority?

Share: Your friend asks, in our society who is ultimately responsible for social justice? The state or the church? Or God alone? What role do we play as individuals? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Palm 69:22-28 and Psalm 94:1-12. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What sentiments do these psalms convey? Who is the agent of judgment in these psalms?

Apply: Who doesn’t, at times, have thoughts or fantasies about vengeance on those who have done them or their loved ones terrible wrong? How might these psalms help you put such feelings in proper perspective?

Share: Your friend says that the language in some of these Psalms seems pretty harsh? How could God inspire such harsh language? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 96:6-10 and Psalm 132:7-9. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study:  Where does God’s judgment take place, and what are the implications of the answer for us? How does the sanctuary help us understand how God will deal with evil?

Apply: Read Romans 8:34. How does this verse show us that what Christ is doing in the heavenly sanctuary is good news for His people?

Share: Can you think of someone who is suffering from oppression or injustice? How could you help encourage them this week? How could you even help relieve their suffering at least to some extent?

by In Light Of The Cross

The Difference Between Cynicism and Lamentations

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For my days are consumed like smoke,
And my bones are burned like a hearth. My heart is stricken and withered like grass,
So that I forget to eat my bread.
Because of the sound of my groaning
My bones cling to my skin. Psalm 102:3-5 NKJV

Do all our prayers have to be upbeat, cheerful, and positive? No! Do we show a lack of faith when we lament? No! Cynicism doubts God’s existence and love. Lamenting is when we grieve knowing God exists and loves us. There is an entire book in the Bible about lamenting, its called Lamentations. A great portion of the Psalms and other portions of Scripture include prayers of lamentations. As a matter of fact, in the end of the book of Job, God rebukes Job’s friends for not allowing Job to lament.

To me, lamenting is clinging to God like Jacob did to the angel until He blesses us, or until things get better. God wants us to be real with him and pray real prayers. This includes praying prayers of lamentations when our hearts are grieving. Talk to God when you are joyful. Talk to God when you have complaints about the pain and grief He is allowing in your life. Bottom line is talk to God!

“Remember my affliction and roaming,

The wormwood and the gall.

My soul still remembers

And sinks within me.

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:19-23 NKJV

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

by In Light Of The Cross

5: Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, Sabbath, February 3, 2024.

Main Theme: The psalmists respond to God’s perceived absence, as well as to God’s presence.

Read in Class: Psalm 102:3-5, 11, 23-24. Define the main idea of these passages.

Study: What experiences do these texts describe? In what can you relate to what is said here?

Apply: Think about Jesus on the cross and what He suffered because of sin. How should that reality, that God in Christ suffered even worse than any of us, help us keep faith even amid times of suffering and trial?

Share: Your friend says it is wrong to express grief or doubt in our prayers, as it shows a lack of faith in God and His love. What do you tell your friend? See The Difference Between Cynicism and Lamentations.

Read in Class: Psalm 42:1-3. Psalm 63:1, and Psalm 69:1-3. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What causes great pain to the psalmist?

Apply: Read Psalm 10:12, Psalm 22:1 and Psalm 27:9. What can we learn from the psalmists’ responses to God’s apparent absence? How do you respond to times when God does seem silent? What sustains your faith?

Share: Your friend asks you how you know God is with you when you can’t see, hear or feel His presence? What do you tell your friend? See How I Know God is With me.

Read in Class: Psalm 77:1-20. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What experience is the author going through?

Apply: Think about past times when the Lord worked in your life. How can that truth help you deal with whatever you are facing now?

Share: Your friend tells you that while her teenage son was expressing how terribly depressed he was he used some foul language. She ignored the foul language and just tuned into his feelings. Her husband on the other hand scolded him for using foul language. Your friend asks you which one of them handled the situation properly? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 73:12-20. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What brings the psalmist through the crisis? What is the end of those who trust in futile things? See also 1 Peter 1:17.

Apply: How does the promise of God’s judgment upon the world, and upon all its evil, give you comfort when so much evil now goes unpunished?

Share: Do you know someone who feels like life has been unfair to them? How can you encourage them this week from the Word of God and your own experiences?

by In Light Of The Cross

4: The Lord Hears and Delivers-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, January 27, 2024.

Main Theme: We should remember that the proper response to the Lord’s nearness consists in a life of faith in Him and of obedience to His commandments. Nothing short of this faith and obedience will be acceptable to Him, as the history of Israel often revealed.

Read in Class: Psalm 40:1-3, Psalm 121:1-8. Define the main idea of these passages.

Study:  How is God involved in our daily affairs?

Apply: What are some practical ways that you can better experience the reality of God’s care? How can you better cooperate with God in order to enable Him to work within you and for you?

Share: Tell about a time when God came through for you when all human help failed?

Read in Class: Psalm 17:7-9, Psalm 31:1-3, Psalm 91:2-7. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What does the psalmist do in times of trouble?

Apply: How, though, do we deal with the times when calamity strikes, and we can’t seem to see the Lord’s protection? Why do these traumas not mean that the Lord is not there with us?

Share: Your friend asks, if God always hearing our prayers means we always get what we ask for? How do you answer your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 114:1-8. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How is the divine deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt poetically described here?

Apply: What are some of the spiritual dangers we face as believers, and how can we learn to lean on the Lord’s power to protect us from succumbing to these dangers that are as real for us now as they were for the psalmist?

Share: Your friend says that God literally delivered Israel from slavery, but does God literally deliver us from oppression or is it just symbolic of God delivering us from sin and spiritual oppression? How do you reply to your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 3:4, Psalm 14:7, Psalm 20:1-3. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study:  Where does help come from in these texts?

Apply: Read Hebrews 4:15-16. In what ways does this passage parallel what the psalmist says about the sanctuary?

Share: Can you think of someone who needs to be encouraged by something in this week’s lesson? How can you encourage them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

Why Lucifer Needed to Destroy God’s Perfect Law to Set up his own Government

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; Psalm 19:7 NKJV
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97 NKJV

It’s amazing to me how people claim God’s law was done away with when it was absolutely perfect. David loved God’s law. Wouldn’t he be heartbroken to see it done away with?

I have a hard time understanding why some say the law was done away with at the cross. They say Jesus did away with the law when He died for our sins. This does not make sense to me, because since when has a law ever been done away with when someone paid the penalty for breaking that law? Paying for speeding tickets does not do away with speed limits. Serving time in prison for a felony does not do away with the laws of the nation. Never in all eternity has anyone ever paid the penalty for breaking a law and done away with the law at the same time, so why would anyone think Jesus did away with God’s law by paying the penalty for breaking His law? Fact is, if God’s law could be done away with, Jesus would not have needed to die. It was because God’s law could not be done away with that there needed to be a sacrifice to keep us from paying the penalty ourselves.

Also, why do people claim promises in the Old Testament while claiming the Old Testament law was done away with? If the Old Testament is no longer valid, wouldn’t that also mean the promises in the Old Testament are no longer valid either? Including the promises about the Messiah? If the promises in the Old Testament that we love to claim are still valid, then so is the law in the Old Testament.

Many preachers who preach the law was done away with preach themselves out of a job. 1 John 3:4 says sin is breaking God’s law. If there is no law, then I can’t break a law that no longer exists. If I am not breaking any laws (because they no longer exist) then I can’t sin. If I can’t sin why do I need grace ? If I don’t need grace, then I don’t need a Savior. If I don’t need a Savior, then I don’t need a preacher to tell me about the Savior. The fact that I still need a Savior to give me grace demonstrates that the law is still in effect.

After all, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7 warns us that the man of sin creates the mystery of lawlessness. Lawlessness is not the work of Christ. It is the work of Lucifer and those working under his control. Isaiah 14:13-14 tells us Lucifer wants to overthrow God’s government and set up his own government. In order to remove God from the throne you have to do away with His law. God is no longer reigning over us if we are no longer keeping His laws.

Lucifer thinks to strip God of His authority by rendering His laws invalid. Then Lucifer thinks to set up his own government with his own set of laws. Naturally when a new government takes over, they destroy the seal of the previous government and make their own seal. The Sabbath commandment is like a seal to God’s government. It has His name “The Lord.” It has God’s title, “Created” (Creator), and it states His jurisdiction, “the heavens and the earth. the sea and all that is within them.”

Lucifer seeks to replace God’s seal with a man-made Sabbath. By destroying God’s law and God’s seal or authority, Lucifer thinks to destroy God’s government and thinks to set up his own government. Thus he thinks to achieve his goal stated in Isaiah 14:13-14 of being above God and even taking His throne. Through the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7, Lucifer thinks to accomplish on earth what he wanted to accomplish in heaven, and that is to get rid of God and take His place.

Revelation 19:16 tells us that Jesus is still Lord of lords and King of Kings. Our God still reigns. Lucifer’s attempt to take over has failed. God is still God. The Sabbath, God’s seal is still in tact. God’s government has not been over thrown. God still has authority. God still reigns, and His law has never been abolished. And His law is perfect. God’s law is still loved by His loyal subjects just as much as it was loved by David in Psalm 119:97.

Do you love God’s law?

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

by In Light Of The Cross

3: The Lord Reigns-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, January 20, 2024.

Main Theme: The Lord’s sovereign rule thus renders the world firmly established and secure. The psalmists want the reader to understand this foundational truth. With this worldview as their lighthouse, the psalmists seek to thrive and to serve God with undivided devotion.

Read in Class: Psalm 97:1-12. Define the main point of this Psalm.

Study: What characterizes the Lord’s reign? What is the domain of His reign?

Apply: “You who love the Lord, hate evil!” (Psalms 97:10). Why should our love for God cause us to hate evil? How are these two concepts related?

Share: Your friend says Psalm 97:10 says the Lord delivers his saints out of the hands of the wicked. Yet so many innocent people have died in concentration camps and human trafficking. What good does that promise do them? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 75:1-10. Define the main idea of this Psalm.

Study:  Why is the boasting of the wicked in vain?

Apply: The Psalms call us to rejoice in anticipation of God’s judgments. (See Psalm 67:4, Psalm, 96:10-14, Psalm 98:4-9) How is God’s judgment good news for those covered by the blood of Christ?

Share: Your friend claims he never gets promoted at work because of all the corruption where he works. Company politics has everything rigged. How might Psalm 75:6-7 help you respond to your friend? What illustrations in the Bible can you find of godly people being promoted even in the most corrupt environments?

Read in Class: Psalm 94:14, Psalm 105:7-10, Daniel 7:22. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: The theme of God’s judgment prompts a significant question: How can God’s people have peace with God and assurance of salvation at the time of judgment?

Apply: What do we have in Jesus, which shows why these promises made to ancient Israel can now apply to us? See Galatians 3:26-29.

Share: Your friend says that the promises in the Old Testament were only given to the Jews. How do you answer your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 19:7 and Psalm 119:165. What do these passages have in common?

Study: How is Satan’s attack on the law of God actually an attack on the kingdom of God? Why does Satan have to attack God’s law in order to reach his goal in in Isaiah 14:13-14? How do we know Satan will never reach his goal of reigning over the universe?

Apply: What are practical ways that keeping God’s laws and rules and testimonies have helped you in your life? On the other hand, what have you suffered from violating them?

Share: Your friend tells you the law of God was nailed to the cross and done away with. What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

2: Teach us to Pray-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, January 13, 2024.

Main Theme: Praying the Psalms has helped many believers establish and maintain regular and fulfilling prayer lives.

Read in Class: Psalm 105:5, Colossians 3:16, James 5:13. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the place of the Psalms in the believer’s worship experience?

Apply: What does it mean to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16)? Why is reading the Bible the first and most crucial step for that experience?

Share: Your friend complains about their lack of faith. He says that God always provides for him but when new trials come he loses faith all over again and becomes anxious. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 44:1-12, 23-26, and Psalm 22:1-11, 21-24. Define the main idea of these Psalms.

Study: What two main moods do we see in these Psalms? Why the change in moods? What does this teach us about trusting God even in times of trouble?

Apply: How can drawing on past times, when God’s presence felt very real, help you deal with the times in which troubles make you think that God is far away?

Share: Your friend suggests that David is way too negative in some of his prayers. Shouldn’t we always praise and thank God in our prayers instead of complaining or being so negative? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 13:1-6. Define the main idea of this Psalm.

Study: What two main moods can you distinguish in this psalm? What decision do you think brought the radical change in the psalmist’s general outlook?

Apply: How can your trials draw you closer to God? Why, if you’re not careful, can they push you away from Him?

Share: Your friend asks you if you feel like God has always dealt bountifully you even amid your trials? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 60:1-5. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: For what occasions do you think this psalm would be a suitable prayer? How can we benefit from the psalms of lament even in joyous seasons of life?

Apply: Whom do you know, right now, who needs not only your prayers but your ministering touch, as well?

Share: Have you ever written a poem or “Psalm” about how God has heard your prayers? Can you share your poem with someone this week who may be encouraged by it?