Deacon's and Deaconess's Bible

DEACON’S AND DEACONESS’S Bible

OLD

TESTAMENT

EXODUS ORIGINAL TITLE: Shemoth (Hebrew). “And these are the names,” which corresponds to the first two words of the original text and keeps on the ancient tradition of naming a literary work after its first words.

CURRENT TITLE: Exodus comes from the Greek Septuagint translation of the Bible and it means “departure.”

OUTLINE:

1. The history of the origins (1:1-11:32) 2. The history of the patriarchs (12:1-50:26) a. Abraham (12:1-25:34) b. Isaac (26:1-35) c. Jacob (27:1-36:43) d. Joseph (37:1-50:26)

AUTHOR AND DATE: Written by Moses

sometime in the fifteenth century B.C. (around 1450).

LANGUAGE: Written in Hebrew.

CONTENT Exodus is the narration of the fulfillment of God’s promises to the patriarchs that He would make their descendants a great nation. It describes the self-revelation of God, who invites Israel to believe in Him and follow Him toward liberty. With His mighty power He destroys through ten plagues the principal gods of the great superpower of the time, Egypt. Then the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt begins, a journey full of miracles that shows the Hebrews that nothing can stop the advance of God’s people: neither Pharaoh’s army nor the Red Sea nor any kind of obstacle. The giving of the law on Mount Sinai is an important moment when God reveals His holiness, but Israel fails to understand its role as chosen people by worshiping a golden calf, complaining against Moses and asking to return to Egypt. The book of Exodus also contains the building instructions for the tabernacle.

How God Is Portrayed and Jesus Is Typified in the Book of Exodus The God of your Fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (3:6, 15, 16; 4:5); Lord God of the Hebrews (3:18; 7:16; 9:1, 13; 10:3); the Lord our/your God (3:18; 8:10, 27, 28; 10:16, 17); I am the Lord/your God (6:2, 6-8, 29; 7:5; 8:22; 10:2; 16:12; 20:2, 4); God Almighty (6:3); my strength and song (15:2); my salvation (15:2); my God (15:2); my father´s God (15:2); glorious in holiness, fearful in praises (15:11); The Lord Is My Banner (17:15); greater than all the gods (18:11).

Jesus is portrayed as the Angel of the Lord/of God (3:2; 14:19; see Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16; John 1:18; 1 Tim. 6:16); the I AM WHO I AM (3:14; see John 8:58); also typified in the life of Moses— as the deliverer (5:22, 23; 6:1-13; see Heb. 3:5, 6); in the pillar of cloud (13:21, 22; 14:19, 24; 33:9, 10; see 1 Cor. 10:1-4); in the Passover lamb (12:3-5; 13:13; 29:39-41; see John 1:29, 36; Rev. 5:6, 9; 13:8); in the bread and manna from heaven (16:4, 15, 31-35; see John 6); in the rock struck at Horeb (17:6; see 1 Cor. 10:4).

Ex

49

NEW

TESTAMENT

MATTHEW 23

866

The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.

26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.

27 Last of all the woman died also.

28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of Goda in heaven.

31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ ?b God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’c 38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’d 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

34

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: 44

‘ The LORD said to my Lord, “ Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’ ?e

45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and 23 to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit 2

in Moses’ seat. f 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.

4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.

6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’

8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ,g and you are all brethren.

9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.

11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.h 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’

17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifiesi the gold?

18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’

19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it.

21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwellsj in it.

22:30 aNU-Text omits of God. 22:32 bExodus 3:6, 15 22:37 cDeuteronomy 6:5 22:39 dLeviticus 19:18 22:44 ePsalm 110:1 23:3 fNU-Text omits to observe. 23:8 gNU-Text omits the Christ. 23:14 hNU-Text omits this verse. 23:17 iNU-Text reads sanctified. 23:21 jM-Text reads dwelt.

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TOPIC INDEX

A. CHRISTIAN GROWTH ............................................................................................................1117 1. How Can I Become a Christian? .................................................................................... 1119 2. What Is Salvation? ........................................................................................................ 1119 3. Can God Forgive All My Sins?....................................................................................... 1119 4. How Is Faith Developed? .............................................................................................. 1119 5. What Is Prayer? ............................................................................................................ 1120 6. Why Should I Attend Church? ...................................................................................... 1120 7. Why Should I Be Baptized? ........................................................................................... 1120 B. COUNSELING .........................................................................................................................1121 1. Why Does It Seem That Sex Addiction Has Increased? .................................................. 1123 2. Is It Possible to Overcome Addictions? ......................................................................... 1123 3. Can Someone Overcome the Pain of Being Sexually Abused?........................................ 1123 4. How Can I Cope with Anxiety? ..................................................................................... 1124 5. How Should I React When Coping with the Loss of a Loved One? ................................ 1124 6. How Can I Cope with Divorce? ..................................................................................... 1124 7. Is It Possible to Overcome Marital Infidelity? ................................................................ 1124 8. Can God Help Me Give up Alcohol? ............................................................................. 1125 9. How Can I Help a Rebellious Child?.............................................................................. 1125 10. Can God Help Me Find a Good Job? ............................................................................. 1125 C. SECRETS TO SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS ...........................................................1127 1. Do Not Be in a Hurry ................................................................................................... 1129 2. Devote Time to Prayer .................................................................................................. 1129 3. Love People .................................................................................................................. 1129 4. Preach the Gospel ........................................................................................................ 1129 5. Be Friendly ................................................................................................................... 1129 6. People Do Not Follow Strangers; They Follow Friends .................................................. 1129 7. Building Friendships Takes Time ................................................................................... 1129 8. Show Friendliness ........................................................................................................ 1130 9. Pay Attention to People’s Needs ................................................................................... 1130 10. Earn Their Trust ........................................................................................................... 1130 11. Invite Them to Your Home ............................................................................................ 1130 12. Transform Your Church into an Appealing Place............................................................ 1130

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D. A CALL TO EVANGELISM ........................................................................................................1131 1. Why Is Evangelism Important? ...................................................................................... 1133 2. What Impact Does Evangelism Have on Christian Growth? ........................................... 1133 3. What Happens If I Do Not Share My Faith? .................................................................. 1133 4. What Was Christ’s Method to Share the Gospel? .......................................................... 1134 5. What Are the Main Obstacles for Evangelism? .............................................................. 1134 E. THERE IS AN ANSWER! BIBLE STUDIES ...............................................................................1135 1. Does God Exist? ........................................................................................................... 1137 2. Can the Bible Be Trusted?............................................................................................. 1139 3. How Did Sin originate? ................................................................................................. 1142 4. Why Did Jesus Come to This World? ............................................................................. 1144 5. How Is Salvation Received?........................................................................................... 1147 6. How to Grow in Spiritual Life? ..................................................................................... 1149 7. Why Testify about God’s Love? ..................................................................................... 1152 8. Are the Ten Commandments Still Valid? ....................................................................... 1154 9. Which Is the Biblical Day of Rest? ................................................................................. 1157 10. Why Do Christians Observe Sunday? ............................................................................ 1160 11. Is It Possible to Speak to the Dead? .............................................................................. 1162 12. Will the World Come to an End? ................................................................................... 1165 13. Will Jesus Return to This World?................................................................................... 1167 14. Where Will the Redeemed Live? ................................................................................... 1170 15. Does God Care about the Health of His Children? ........................................................ 1173 16. Who Is the True Owner of Everything? ......................................................................... 1175 17. Is There a Sanctuary in Heaven? ................................................................................... 1177 18. Of What Does God’s Judgment Consist? ....................................................................... 1180 19. Does God Have a Church in This World?....................................................................... 1183 20. Why Is It Important to Be Baptized? ............................................................................. 1186 F. BIBLICAL TOOLS FOR DEACONS AND DEACONESSES .........................................................1189 1. Coregencies and Rival Reigns in Israel and Judah .......................................................... 1191 2. Periods of the Kings of Judah and Israel ........................................................................ 1192 3. Contrasts Between the Beginning and the End of the Bible........................................... 1194 4. Parables of Jesus ........................................................................................................... 1196 5. Miracles of Jesus .......................................................................................................... 1198 6. Revelation Chain .......................................................................................................... 1200 7. Trinity Is a Unity ........................................................................................................... 1201 8. 24 Attributes of the Holy Spirit .................................................................................... 1202 9. Trinity Attacked in Revelation ....................................................................................... 1203 10. Read the following Psalms when you want . . . ............................................................. 1205 11. Read the following Psalms when you feel . . . ............................................................... 1206 12. Read the following Psalms when you face . . . .............................................................. 1207 13. Eliezer: A God’s Servant Profile .................................................................................... 1208 14. The Consolation Ministry: The Work of Barnabas ......................................................... 1211 15. Festivals Calendar......................................................................................................... 1213 16. Jesus in the Bible .......................................................................................................... 1214 17. The Holy Spirit in the Bible .......................................................................................... 1216 18. Measurements and Weights .......................................................................................... 1218

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G. ADVENTIST ISSUES ................................................................................................................1219 1. A Unique Prophetic Movement .................................................................................... 1221 2. Seventh-day Adventist Church History ......................................................................... 1226 3. How Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church Organized? .................................................. 1229 4. Relation of the Spirit of Prophecy to the Bible .............................................................. 1231 5. How Can We Know If Ellen G. White Is a Prophet? ....................................................... 1232 H. DEACON’S AND DEACONESS’S HANDBOOK ........................................................................1235 Preface ....................................................................................................................... 1236 1. The Ministry of Deacons and Deaconesses: Biblical Foundation ................................... 1241 2. The Church We Serve................................................................................................... 1245 3. The Ministry of a Deacon/Deaconess: Ellen G. White’s Perspective ............................. 1249 4. The Importance of the Office ...................................................................................... 1254 5. Qualification for the Office .......................................................................................... 1258 6. The Spiritual Dimensions and Growth ......................................................................... 1263 7. Partners in Ministry .................................................................................................... 1269 8. Keeping the House of the Lord: A Place for Worship .................................................... 1275 9. The Baptismal Service ................................................................................................. 1282 10. The Communion Service ............................................................................................. 1286 11. Personal Ministries ...................................................................................................... 1291 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 1301 Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 1302 CONCORDANCE ..........................................................................................................................1303 MAPS ............................................................................................................................................1337

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SECRETS TO SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS Alejandro Bull贸n

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1. DO NOT BE IN A HURRY

I

t takes at least nine months for a baby to develop in its mother’s womb. In the spiritual life, time is also required for a person to become a true disciple of Jesus. Therefore, do not rush those to whom you desire to preach the gospel. Instead, invest time in strengthening your friendship with them, without giving the impression that you want them to change their religion.

2. DEVOTE TIME TO PRAYER

SECRETS TO SHARING...

friend, do not talk to me about sports, politics, or religion; for in these three arenas, everyone has their own team.” Give people time to know you and appreciate your God. 5. BE FRIENDLY People have to be drawn to you, whom they can see, before they can be drawn to Jesus, whom they cannot see. Many times we fail in our attempts to lead people to Christ because we believe that to do so only involves indoctrination.

Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, devote much time to prayer. Do not become tired of doing so. Even if it seems that you are not making progress, God’s Spirit is working in your friends’ hearts. When you least expect, you will notice great surprises. Intercessory prayer, aside from serving others, does you good as well. Job’s terrible situation changed when he started praying for his friends: “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).

6. PEOPLE DO NOT FOLLOW STRANGERS; THEY FOLLOW FRIENDS

3. LOVE PEOPLE

7. BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS TAKES TIME

God is love. And His church should reflect this divine attribute. People suffer when they are outside the circle of love. Our mission is not only to preach the gospel, but to envelop them in an affectionate environment. When you love people, you have greater success leading them to Jesus. Prayer helps you love your brothers and sisters.

4. PREACH THE GOSPEL Do not start by discussing religious topics with your friends. Popular wisdom has an interesting expression: “If you want to be my

Who leads teenagers to do drugs? Friends do. Many young people who begin using drugs are aware that they can fall into an abyss from which they may not be able to escape. However, the power of friendship is so great that they follow their friends in spite of the risk. When people are won over by friendship, why would they reject an invitation to attend church?

Genuine friendships are not cultivated in a week or a month. Friendship is like a plant that requires time to grow and develop. And it is one of the most efficient methods God gave us to carry out our mission. As Ellen White wrote, “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men [and women] as one who desired their good. He showed his sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then he bade them, ‘Follow me’” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143).

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THERE IS AN ANSWER!

BIBLE STUDIES

Alejandro Bull贸n

1189

BIBLICAL TOOLS FOR

DEACONS AND DEACONESSES

1196

PARABLES OF JESUS

PARABLE 1. A lamp put under a basket 2. The wise man who built on the Rock

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

5:14-16

4:21, 22

8:16, 17 11:33-36 6:47-49

7:24-27

3. Unshrunk cloth on an old garment

9:16

2:21

5:36

4. New wine in old wineskins

9:17

2:22

5:37-38

13:3-23

4:2-20

8:4-15

4:30-32

13:18-19

5. The Sower 6. Wheat and Tares

13:24-30, 37-43

7. Mustard Seed

13:31-32

8. Leaven

13:33

9. Hidden Treasure

13:44

10. Pearl of Great Price

13:45, 46

11. Dragnet

13:47-50

12. The Lost Sheep

18:12-14

13. The Unforgiving Servant

18:23-35

14. Laborers of the Vineyard

20:1-16

15. Two Sons

21:28-32

16. The Wicked Vinedressers

21:33-45

17. The Wedding Feast

22:2-14

18. The Fig Tree

24:32-44

19. Ten Virgins

25:1-13

20. The Talents

25:14-30

13:20, 21

15:3-7

12:1-12

20:9-19

13:28-32

21:29-33

21. The Growing Seed

4:26-29

22. The Doorkeeper

13:33-37

23. The Two Debtors

7:41-43

24. The Good Samaritan

10:30-37

25. A Friend Comes at Midnight

11:5-13

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SE V ENTH-DAY ADV ENTIST ®

DE ACON’S AND DE ACONESS’S HANDBOOK

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ................................................................................................................. 1236 Chapter 1 - The Ministry of Deacons and Deaconesses: Biblical Foundation ............. 1241 Chapter 2 - The Church We Serve ......................................................................... 1245 Chapter 3 - The Ministry of a Deacon/Deaconess: Ellen G. White’s Perspective ...... 1249 Chapter 4 - The Importance of the Office ............................................................... 1254 Chapter 5 - Qualification for the Office ................................................................... 1258 Chapter 6 - The Spiritual Dimensions and Growth .................................................. 1263 Chapter 7 - Partners in Ministry ............................................................................. 1269 Chapter 8 - Keeping the House of the Lord: A Place for Worship ............................. 1275 Chapter 9 - The Baptismal Service .......................................................................... 1282 Chapter 10 - The Communion Service ................................................................... 1286 Chapter 11 - Ministering to the Community .......................................................... 1291 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 1301 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................ 1302