The Cloud of Witnesses

Former title Lessons From the People of the Bible

Set 1

Available for NZ$25 + shipping. Enquire at the email address at the bottom of the page.

PDF These lessons are also available as PDFs (with the number of lessons in brackets).

Abraham (5) — David (5) — Esther (4) — Gideon (5) — Isaac (6) — Jacob (7) — Job (6) — John the Baptist (6) — Jonah (4) — Jonathan (6) — Joseph (10) — Joseph of Nazareth (6) — Mary (4) — Mary Magdalene (4) — Mary of Bethany (3) — Moses (5) — Nehemiah (8) — Nicodemus (4) — Noah (6) — Paul the Apostle (5) — Peter (5) — Philip (4) — Ruth (7) — King Saul (6) — Stephen (6) — Thomas (4)

Download the complete set 1 as PDFs (2.46 MB).

The lessons of set 1 are also available as individual online lessons below.

Set 2

Available for NZ$25 + shipping. Enquire at the email address at the bottom of the page.

PDF These lessons are available as PDFs (with the number of lessons in brackets). These PDFs have not yet been updated to the new name.

Andrew (7) — Caleb (7) — Daniel (7) — Elijah (6) — Elisha (5) — Isaiah (21) — John (22) — Joshua (16) — Leah (2) — Luke (22) — Mary Magdalene (3) — Matthew (9) — Miriam (4) — Nahum (2) — Rachel (6) — Rebekah (5) — Samson (5)

Download the complete set 2 as PDFs (1.85 MB).

Thomas

Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Back to The Cloud of Witnesses menu

Lesson 2: Thomas – How Can We Know The Way?

Reading

John 14:1-14.

Only the real Truth will set you free

I love Thomas, don’t you? He is not one of those ‘super-spiritual’ Christians, is he? Rather he’s very down to earth and honest. “Jesus, we have no idea where You are going so how on earth are we supposed to know the way to get there?” Praise God for Thomas! Why? Because on hearing Thomas’ outburst – Jesus replies with one of the most profound and wonderful statements He has ever made! Thank you Thomas – If you had kept quiet, we may never have heard that most awesome of all truths.

What was Jesus’ reply? “I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life, NO ONE comes to the Father except through ME.” Wow! The very stumbling block for all false religions. The fundamental exclusivism of Christianity! The proclamation of exclusive Truth and Divine Spiritual Reality. The ‘in-your-face’ and ‘up-your-nose’ radicalism, which has challenged and irritated all opposition. It's the watershed of faith.

God hates compromise! All through the Old Testament, there is one example after another of the disastrous results that flow from ignoring God or compromising His demands. It began in the Garden of Eden and continued throughout the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Yes, Jesus claimed exclusive rights to God. He claimed to be God and that no one else could get us access to our Creator, as Our Heavenly Father. Oh yes, you can know God without Jesus! Every living human being has a spiritual dimension, which seeks a connection with God, his or her Creator. The only problem for most is that they want to initiate it their way – so instead of knowing God as Father, they end up ‘knowing’ Him as some aloof, far off Being of Judgement and fear. James tells us that even the demons believe in God and tremble!

So we are right to be exclusive. If we want to know God as our Father, then there is only one way and that is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Thomas would say to us today...

If you want to know the Truth, if you really want to know the Way to God and to know Him intimately, as your Heavenly Father – know this – you will only ever experience that wonderful and fulfilling relationship through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God incarnate, the Saviour of the World.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You so much that You initiated the Way for us to relate to You. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sin and selfishness so we could come back into a vibrant, close and open, eternal relationship with You. And Thank You, Jesus for making it possible. Amen.

Additional readings

2 Kings 17:27-41; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:13-21.

Questions

Why is it important to know the Truth?

What are the hallmarks of the Life Jesus offers us?

How can we best tell others that there is only One Way?