Choice Stories For Children

by Ernest Lloyd

This book contains nearly 40 short stories written during the late 1800s. Every story has an important lesson to build good character. The stories were selected from four out of print books; Scrap Book Stories; Golden Grains vol. 1 and vol. 3 and Lost Jewels.

Stories will convey character traits such as how to avoid temptation and respecting property rights. They are great reads to children and grandchildren!

You can use these stories as a template to come up with more to teach your children.

 

To order this book, just click the link below:

https://biblesabbath.org/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=46&=SID

The Real Father’s Day

By Barbara de Parada

 

“In June, in different parts of the world, people are celebrating Father’s Day. They give their dads cards, gifts, parties, and cakes, and make them feel special and loved, and glad that they are fathers. This is an annual occasion in which dads are honored. Certainly, dads should be honored and respected every day of the year, but it’s nice to set aside one day per year to give dad special treatment.

Our biological, adopted, and in-law fathers are very important to us here on earth. But what about our heavenly Father? He is the creator of us all, and He is the being that loves us most. He is the Father of all mankind. Maybe you’ve never thought about it this way before, but isn’t there a day that we pay honor and respect to God the Father, not annually, but weekly? Of course I’m talking about the weekly Sabbath. Every week, from sunset Friday night to sunset Saturday night, we have a 24-hour period called the Sabbath. This seventh day is a sign between God and His people because only His true believers understand its meaning and purpose. The weekly Sabbath is really a “Father’s Day” when we give honor, respect, and thanks to God, and when we spend quality time with Him, talking to Him and studying His word.

To many believers, the Sabbath is simply…”

(This article is an excerpt from the May-June 2003 edition of The Sabbath Sentinel)

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 18, click the link below:

http://biblesabbath.org/tss/501/tss_501.pdf

I Have A Dream

by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

Just last week, we remembered Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. He risked his life to march for people to be recognized for the content of their character (not the color of their skin). In other words, some traits have greater value than others. Character has greater value than a characteristic such as skin color. This is something we should all adopt.

What if the Sabbath community would consider a similar line of reasoning? Dr. King had a dream for America. I have a dream for the Sabbath community.

“I have a dream that Sabbath keepers will not be known merely by the content of their arguments, but the content of their character. I have a dream that we will be known around the world as people who honor our word, work hard, and are loyal friends no matter the church background (or lack thereof) of those we befriend. I have a dream that our “yea” will be “yea” and our “nay” will be “nay”.  I have a dream that the content of our character and integrity of our lives will win others to Jesus Christ and obedience to the Ten Commandments.

I have a dream that all Sabbath keepers will treat each other with dignity and respect; I have a dream that Sabbath believers will walk hand in hand with each other as sisters and brothers. I have a dream that we will fellowship with each other – where we can share our similarities and differences without disputing. We will “pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:8).

I have a dream that the Son of God, Jesus the Christ (Yeshua the Messiah), will return and find independent Sabbath groups, Seventh Day Adventists, Seventh-Day Baptists, World-Wide affiliated groups, the Church of God Seventh Day, Sacred Name Groups, Messianic and Hebrew Roots groups all in fellowship with each other without discrimination.”

Will you join me in pursuing this dream?

Kelly McDonald, Jr.
BSA President
You can follow the BSA: biblesabbath.org
You can follow Kelly: kellymcdonaldjr.com

 

Would God Give Us an Impossible Test to Pass?
By Seth Osborn

How many times have we cried out to God, asking why something has happened? I know I’ve done it plenty. “Why me? What did I do?” Reflecting on it, I always remember that we’re all far from perfect, and that we deserve much worse than whatever comes our way in life. But it’s still puzzling. If our wrongdoings are forgiven through faith and acceptance of Jesus as our savior, then why would we still face punishment for them? Does God just flip a coin every time we sin? Or could it be something more?

If we flip open our Bibles to James 1:2-4, we find this passage: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” That seems to be…”

This is an article from our 2017 Sabbath Sentinel Magazine.

If you would like to read the rest of this article, which begins on page 21, just click the link below:

http://biblesabbath.org/media/May-June_2017.pdf

 

 

Children’s Bible Resources

There are many Bible-based resources on this site to share with your little ones!

An example of some items on this site:

• Bible Question and Answer on important subjects like Angels and Baptism
• Bible Games
• Bible Stories
• Prayer Requests

http://www.kidsbibleinfo.com/

A Forgotten Tool of Spiritual Warfare (Part 2 of 2)

By Kelly McDonald, JR.

In the last article, we discussed the importance of fellowship as a tool of spiritual warfare. We described how the Roman Soldiers linked their shields side by side to protect each other. This required that they worked together. In Ephesians 6:12-18, Paul talks about the shield of faith. The Greek word for shield is thuros. The root word for thuros means a door. It is a direct reference to the scutum shield from Roman times.

In order for God’s army to be effective, we must learn to link our faith with the faith of others. As Solomon said: “11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:11-13).

Each of us has strengths and weaknesses. Where we may struggle, others have victory, and vice versa. Working together helps us to sharpen one another. When we read the Bible, God’s people worked together. Moses worked with Joshua and the elders under them. Jesus sent the 70 out two at a time. The Apostles worked together to resolve issues and transact Kingdom business. Paul worked with Timothy and the elders under them.

We were made to work together. It is good to have another perspective. When we fellowship, we impart counsel to one another, often without knowing it. My early days of spiritual growth were spent soaking in what others had to say so I could live God’s way. Many times people didn’t know what I was going through, but someone would usually say something that I needed to hear right when I needed to hear it!

Godly counsel from those with wisdom is imperative (Proverbs 25:22, 11:14, 26:4). Someone else has the Word for us when we are weary (Isaiah 50:4). We need encouragement and even correction. People are going through trials and they need clues to help them persevere. We need to pray, study, and even eat together. Jesus did all these things with others.

Will we have differences? Of course we will. The Bible tells us: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). When iron and iron hit each other, there are sparks. When we fellowship, there will be differences of personality, but we mature by working through these differences.

I encourage you all to go to church early. Stay late. Spend some time getting to know people you don’t know right now. We need each other. Let’s be the Body of Christ to each other and to the world.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Kelly is president of the BSA. You can follow him at www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

 

Tiger And Tom And Other Stories For Boys

By J.E. White

This book is available to order through the Bible Sabbath Association. In it, you will find character-building stories for boys.

Read one of the recommendations of this book:

“I have spent literally $1,000.00’s on educational and character building materials for our son… and none have been as encouraging, nor as influential as your old time stories.”

These stories were compiled from orphanage stories used in the United States many years ago. Fortunately, Godly character does not have a time period attached to it. These timeless stories will encourage boys to choose right from wrong. Read them to your children and even grandchildren!

 

To order this book, just click the link below:

https://biblesabbath.org/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=48&=SID

Christianity vs. Islam

by Dr. Samuel L. Blumenfeld

“Because we live in such a highly secularized society, we cannot believe that America could ever become involved in a religious war in this day and age. Yet ferocious religious wars have been going on all over the place: in Northern Ireland, Israel, the Balkans, the Sudan and Russia. But history is a very harsh taskmaster and refuses to let us Americans escape into our secular fantasies and hot houses for long.

Thus, it is vitally important for us to reconnect with the human race’s never-ending history of religious struggle. That a group of Islamic terrorists, living in a remote, war-torn, famine-ridden, hell-hole in Asia could organize the kind of mind-boggling attack against America that took place on Sept. 11, means that America is not only not exempt from history, but has been dragged kicking and screaming back into the middle of it.

Back in 1588, Christopher Marlowe, master of historical drama, wrote his famous Tamburlaine 2. In it, there is a fascinating scene in which the Christian King Sigismund of Hungary and Orcanes, the Muslim King of Natolia, both former enemies, decide to establish peace between them in order to join forces to defeat Tamberlaine the Great, the cruel, pagan conqueror of Asia….”

(This is an excerpt from the Jan-Feb 2002 edition of The Sabbath Sentinel)

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 5, click this link: http://biblesabbath.org/tss/493/tss_493.pdf

A Forgotten Tool of Spiritual Warfare (Part 1 of 2)

by Kelly McDonald JR.

American society is very fast paced. We try to get everywhere as fast as we can so we can pursue our heart-felt desires. In many ways, our culture has had an impact on how we view church. The forgotten weapon in spiritual warfare in church today is fellowship.

We come to church and leave so fast that we can easily neglect each other. There is great power in working together. Let’s take a moment and consider the example set by the early church.

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:46-47).

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2b).

These few examples help us see that the early church understood the power of fellowship. They prayed together, ate together, and visited one another with heart-felt affection. One way to restore the community feeling to our churches is through fellowship. Our focus has to change from showing up to church for service and then leaving when it is over. This can lead to making church impersonal. This is something God had to address in my life many years ago.

Our perspective must change. Envision attending church as an opportunity to grow with other believers as we worship together. It is an opportunity to bless other people in the Body of Christ and also to receive help in our time of need. We each have a unique relationship with God and a unique life experience. Other people need to hear what you and I have learned. At the same time, there are areas where we need to improve and learn from others.

I would like to share with you a fact from history that will help you understand the part that fellowship plays in spiritual warfare. The Romans used to fight with a shield called a scutum. This shield was four feet tall and two feet wide. It was designed to cover the majority of a soldier’s body. A group of Roman soldiers with these shields fought in a single unit. Those in the front linked their shields side by side. Those in the second row would lift their shields over the heads of the soldiers in front of them. The third row would to the same. This formed a “turtle” formation of protection as they marched forward.

This type of formation required teamwork; it also teaches us a great spiritual lesson.

We will learn more in the second part of this two-part series.

Kelly is president of the BSA. You can follow him at www.kellymcdonaldjr.com