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Sacraments of the Church: Essentials or Adiaphora, a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective
Introduction The title of this paper gives a false impression of certainty regarding what the sacraments of the Church are, presumably, leaving the issue remaining to be decided as the one concerning the need or otherwise of the sacraments. Unfortunately, what the true sacraments of the Church ar...
The Pastor And Theology
Introduction Although the terms theology and theologian were used in non-Christian Greek literature, they apparently were intentionally avoided by the biblical writers. In Greek usage, a theologian was a person who spoke of the gods or about divine things, using mythological discourse. Durin...
Sabbath As a Stressor for Church Leaders
An article in the June 2004 issue of BRI Reflections introducing May-Ellen Colón’s world survey on Adventist Sabbath observance stated: “Since the data indicate that the Sabbath brings stress to many in church leadership, a way needs to be found to reduce it for church leaders on Sabbath. The i...
Current Trends in Adventism
Starting with this issue we will try to describe current trends in Adventism and focus on challenges that the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church faces. The subsequent article is a general introduction to this topic. Current trends in Adventism: An introduction Challenges to established church...
The Faith and Science Debate in the Adventist Church
During the last two years groups of scientists, theologians and church administrators in different parts of the world have been discussing the interrelationship between faith and science. Elder Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference, took the initiative to call for such meetings. The fi...
Adventists and Ecumenical Conversation
The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not exist in isolation from other Christian communities. Social and religious trends in the Christian world impact us; they force us to decide how we should relate to those trends and changes. The Christian concern about the unity of the church, voiced partic...
Jan Paulsen. Let Your Life so Shine: The Uncommon Rewards of Living Like Jesus
This book is a collection of sermons prepared by Elder Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference, in which he opens his heart to the church. The criterion he used in the selection of the sermons is provided in an interview included at the end of the book. To the question, “What are the mai...
Patzer, Jere D. The Road Ahead: A Vision for Spiritual Leadership in the 21st Century
Jere Patzer writes as the president of the North Pacific Union. His book is addressed to the leaders of the Adventist Church, particularly–as it seems—to leaders at the administrative levels. Nevertheless, it also speaks to pastors and church members in any leadership position within their local ...
The Church: Authority and Unity (part 1)
As long as the Seventh-day Adventist Church exists in the world, it has work to do and tasks to fulfill. It must live to give glory to God (see Eph. 1:3, 4, 11-14), share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all humanity (see Matt. 28:19, 20), serve those who are in need of comfort and help, and to bu...
The Church: Authority and Unity (part 2)
We shall begin with the prayer of Jesus: "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. ...
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View allThe Oxford Handbook of Seventh-day Adventism
The publication of the 605-page Oxford Handbook of Seventh-day Adventism (2024) is, in itself, a noteworthy accomplishment that deserves special recognition and attention among Adventists. This is especially the case as this volume is among the Oxford Handbook series. Although written primari...
Theology of Flesh and Bones
Editor: Elias Brasil de Souza (Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute, 2025). Theology of Flesh and Bones traces the journey of the human body from the dust of Eden to its ultimate transformation in glory. It is not theology reserved for scholars. This book speaks thoughtfully to anyone w...
Do the Wicked Burn Forever in Hell?*
“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”— Matthew 25:46 ESV This text uses the word “eternal” twice. The first time it is applied to the punishment of the wicked, and the second time it refers to the eternal life of the righteous. If “eternal life” means ...