Ellen White penned the above words over a hundred years ago (in 1902), but how much truer they ring today! While the home was originally intended to be a safe haven, a quiet oasis from the chaos of the world, for many it is not. Instead of being a place where families can come together … Continued
When Sabbath morning arrives after a long, hard week, have you ever been tempted to sleep a little longer, barely making it to church on time? Have you rationalized the necessity of showing up at Sabbath School – or even justified your kids missing out on their Sabbath School class? Instead of viewing Sabbath School … Continued
Our last blog examined a recent (2018) study commissioned by the General Conference of SDA, which asked church members to respond to statements on the consciousness of the dead, as well the concept of a soul living on after death (click here to see our previous blog with some data on these issues). As you … Continued
When compared to other Christian denominations, Adventists have a unique perspective on death. Most other denominations believe that a person—or at least their soul—goes to heaven when they die. However, according to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs, Adventist believe that: The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life … Continued
Have you ever sung the lyrics of the hymn quoted on the right, standing alongside of your fellow church members? It is a powerful experience! The seventh-day Sabbath is one of the key pillars of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and is one of the beliefs that sets it apart from other Protestant denominations. In 2013, … Continued
For many, the Christmas season is a time of year centered on Santa Claus, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicholas; on beautifully decorated Christmas trees and festive display of lights; and most of all—on gifts! Amidst the commercialism and chaos of the season, it becomes easy for the greatest gift of all—our Savior, Jesus Christ—to be … Continued
From 2017 to 2018, several research teams composed of Adventist researchers from around the world conducted a survey of Seventh-day Adventist church members around the world, commissioned by the General Conference. This study, known as the Global Church Member Survey (GCMS) is conducted every five years, and is designed to examine and analyze church members’ … Continued
When Ellen G. White wrote down her visions and spiritual inspirations from God many years ago, it is unlikely that she could have fathomed the broad reach that her writings would have today. However, her writings have helped to form much of the foundation upon which the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been built. As of … Continued
In a previous blog, we examined a phenomenon within the Adventist Church known as “the leaky bucket syndrome.” Church members – particularly young people – are leaving the Adventist church in concerning numbers. A 2014 report Leaving the Church by the Office of Achieves, Statistics, and Research examined different elements of former Adventists’ relationship with … Continued
Since Old Testament times, God’s people have been commanded to give tithe – one tenth of their annual produce or earnings – to the Lord. There are many stories in the Bible that tell of the blessings received by those who faithfully gave their tithe, as well as the punishment received by those who did … Continued
Several blogs ago, we examined the special potential that Adventists have when sharing the Good News of Jesus with Muslims. In that blog, we pointed out cultural similarities that give Adventists a strong connection with followers of Islam. Whenever we seek to reach those who are part of another culture or faith, it is vital … Continued
As Seventh-day Adventists, we have placed all of our bets on Jesus’s second coming. In preparation, we’ve been charged with preaching the gospel to all nations around the world and, year after year—congregations and church leadership alike—sit down to strategize for ways in which we may fulfill that mission. Given how much attention, talk, and … Continued