Lesson For The Week (Dec. 1)

Jesus Is the Truth
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31~32)
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Steve's Story
It’s not uncommon today to read news stories about careless young people who surf the Internet for long periods of time. I remember one report about a young Japanese man who locked himself in his bedroom to play on the computer. Days later, when he finally came out of his room, he dropped dead right in front of his horrified mother.

As a young boy, I too lived a careless life. I was unconcerned about people, including my friends and family. Being alone was what I liked. One reason was because it was easy – I didn’t have to worry about other people’s feelings. I felt no duty to help others and felt no accountability as to how I behaved. People didn’t really mean that much to me and, in a twisted sort of way, I was proud of that. When I needed something, I simply looked inside myself. The problem was, every time I looked inward, all I found was emptiness.

As time went on, this habit of depending only on myself caused increased depression and apathy. Like the young Japanese man who locked himself in his room and neglected himself, I continued to separate myself from others, not realizing I too was slowly dying on the inside.

It was during high school, thankfully, that the Lord Jesus interrupted my life. After confessing my need for Jesus, he began to change my thoughts, and he lifted me out of my depression. The Bible says Jesus is the Truth. Included in that statement is the fact that Jesus is also the revealer of truth, including the truth about ourselves. One important truth Jesus has shown me is that I was designed to live in community with others and in relationship with God, my Creator.

Friends, we need people and we need God. I denied these truths for many years, only to realize I wasn’t truly living. And my separation didn’t just affect myself; it hurt others, which was something I couldn’t see at the time. I’m still in the process of putting this truth into practice but am forever thankful to know that fullness of life – true love, joy and peace – is found in relationship with God and others, not in my lonely world.

Jesus reveals many truths about ourselves. Why not trust him? After all, if he created us, doesn’t it make sense that he knows us and knows what we need?
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God's Word
Mark 12:28b, 30-31:
Of all the commandments, which is the most important? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
Hebrew 4:13:
There is nothing that can be hidden from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves.
Psalms 42:5:
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
John 14:6:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 8:31-32:
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
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Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061201_L3_JesusIstheTruth.doc
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Download the lesson (English) - pdf file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061201_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061201_c.pdf

Past Lessons:
http://www.ortv.com/english/ebs_c/ebs_e.htm

Lesson For The Week (Nov. 24)

God Is the Way
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6)
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Winston's Story
Owning a big company and being a “big boss” had been my dream since childhood. In order to make that dream come true, I worked so hard that I sacrificed everything, even my sweet family life and my health. I did this until one day I lost everything in my business. I realized then that my dreams of becoming a “big boss” would never come true. I felt as if I were standing at the edge of a high cliff. There was no way for me to continue living like this any longer. I was terrified of facing the consequences of the collapse of my entire business.

Just a few days after this tragic event, my wife invited me to attend a Bible study class held at Studio Classroom. The topic of the lesson was “There Is Only One God.” Even though I did not accept Jesus that evening, I began to think about the supreme power of the Creator. The next week when I attended the Bible study class, I was so attracted to the verse where Jesus says: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” I suddenly realized that I had wasted so many years wandering without knowing the truth, and that I had lost my life to a childhood dream. I had a strong desire to find the answer to how a human being could live a meaningful life in this world. That night I accepted Jesus as my Savior and started to learn how to trust and lean on Him. Little by little, I began to understand that my life was a gift from the Creator and that He had a wonderful plan for me.

After I made the decision to follow Christ and the teachings found in the Bible, I began to see real changes in my life. My failing marriage was made strong again. God worked miracles in my company. He not only intervened to take care of the existing problems but also paved a brand new way that brought quick growth and expansion to my business. It was as if my company had been raised from death to life, just like my spirit!
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Over the years, I have learned that only when I seek God and follow His plans can I find real peace and satisfaction in my life. He is the Almighty God and bigger than any problem I could ever face! I lost almost everything in my pursuit of a dream, but Jesus came into my broken life and gave me a new one. He can do the same for you. No matter what problem you face, He is bigger! If you invite Him into your heart, you will experience His power and love. He will give you a fresh start and life that is abundant, just as He has for me.
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God's Word
Matthew 16:26:
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
John 14:6:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
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Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061124_L2_GodIstheWay.doc
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Download the lesson (English) - pdf file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061124_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061124_c.pdf

Past Lessons:
http://www.ortv.com/english/ebs_c/ebs_e.htm

Kevin's Riddle Time (Nov.18)

I wrote down your name on the sky,

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and the _ _ _ _ blew it away.

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I wrote down your name in the sand,

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and the sea b _ _ _ _ ed it away.

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I wrote down your name on every corner,

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and the _ _ _ took me away.

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s*The answers are in the comment section.*

Lesson For The Week (Nov. 17)

God Is Life
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”(John 10:10)
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Vickie's Story
I had many questions about life while I was growing up. While it seemed my sisters and many of my friends knew exactly what they wanted to do with their lives, I had no idea. I didn’t understand what my purpose in life was. I often wondered why I was even born. I didn’t feel that my life was very meaningful. And, I wasn’t able to enjoy life like so many others. I began to search for things that would make my life happier but nothing I tried brought satisfaction – sports, school, relationships, parties – nothing! I felt like an empty shell. I existed but there was no life in me.

At 17, I moved into an apartment with two friends. We all planned to go to school half days and work part time. Instead, we slept until noon, and partied all night. My life was headed down a very slippery road. I began to grow desperate wondering about my future.

Then, I don’t know why, but I asked my parents to give me a Bible for Christmas. As I began reading it, my heart was stirred. I began to wonder if maybe God did have a plan and purpose for my life. And, if he did, what I should do about it. While I was searching for answers to these questions, my parents became Christians. They began to pray for me. Then, they started to share with excitement the things God was doing in their lives. I was so shocked to see the change in their lives and the enthusiasm with which they spoke. I had never experienced that kind of excitement or enthusiasm about anything! I quickly discovered that this was what was missing in my life – a relationship with the God who created me and knew everything about me.

I decided I wanted to follow God. I prayed for his forgiveness and asked him to come into my life. I asked him to give my life meaning and purpose. The moment I prayed that prayer, I felt different. The weeks and months that followed were amazing! I began to see in the Bible God’s plan for my life. I had a feeling of joy and peace I had never felt before. And, my confidence began to grow. I began to see that this was what God had desired for me all along. In fact, this is what he desires for all of us. He wants all of us to have relationship with him and to live according to his plans and purposes for our lives. It is only then that we can truly experience the abundant life he offers us.
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God's Word
v 1 John 5:12: He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
v John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
v John 17:3: Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
v John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
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Download the lesson (English) - word file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/doc/2006/20061117_L1_GodIsLife.doc
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Download the lesson (English) - pdf file
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061117_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061117_c.pdf

Past Lessons:
http://www.ortv.com/english/ebs_c/ebs_e.htm

Kevin's Riddle Time (Nov.11)

What is long and slim,

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Works in the light,

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Has only one eye,

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And an awful bite.

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N _ _ _ _ _

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s*The answer is in the comment section.*

Lesson For The Week (Nov. 10)

Jesus Appears to His Disciples Again
Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:19b)
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Bible Reading (John 21)
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1 After this, Jesus appeared once more to his disciples at Lake Tiberias. This is how it happened. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together. 3 Simon Peter said to the others, “I am going fishing.”

“We will come with you,” they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing. 4 As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water’s edge, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he asked them, “Young men, haven’t you caught anything?”

“Not a thing,” they answered. 6 He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish. 7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken his clothes off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples came to shore in the boat, pulling the net full of fish. They were not very far from land, about a hundred yards away. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it and some bread. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore full of big fish, a hundred and fifty-three in all; even though there were so many, still the net did not tear. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 So Jesus went over, took the bread, and gave it to them; he did the same with the fish. 14 This, then, was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from death.

15 After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” 16 A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” and so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep. 18 I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you up and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 (In saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God.) Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned around and saw behind him that other disciple, whom Jesus loved—the one who had leaned close to Jesus at the meal and had asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus answered him, “If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 23 So a report spread among the followers of Jesus that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die; he said, “If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you?” 24 He is the disciple who spoke of these things, the one who also wrote them down; and we know that what he said is true. 25 Now, there are many other things that Jesus did. If they were all written down one by one, I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written.
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Download the lesson (English):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061110_e.pdf

Download the lesson (Chinese):
http://www.ortv.com/chinese/ebs_c/pdf/2006/20061110_c.pdf

Past Lessons:
http://www.ortv.com/english/ebs_c/ebs_e.htm

Kevin's Riddle Time (Nov.3)

By the river bank there's a green house,

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And in the green house there's a white house,

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And in the white house there's a red house,

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And in the red house,

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There are a lot of little black and white babies.
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W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ n

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s*The answer is in the comment section.*