Forum Summary: We’ve Got to Own It

Author: Juliette McNair | Student, Living Education 2021


Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 23 seconds.

Dr. Scott Winnail, the pastor of several congregations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, spoke to the Living-Ed students over WebEx. Dr. Winnail was the Dean of Faculty and Executive Vice President of Living University. He assisted in the transition of LU into Living Education and taught the Living-Ed Christian Living course for the first few semesters. He said, “It’s a treat to talk to you. I chose to talk about a subject I hope I can make relatable to you at this stage in your life.” He asked the students how they had been leaders in the past and what leadership roles they aspire to have. Leadership is a fundamental component of life—even for young people. Dr. Winnail explained, “God is looking to us to be leaders so He can use us.”

“Leaders must own everything in their world.”

Dr. Winnail referenced the book Extreme Ownership How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The book shows leaders and aspiring leaders how to have a positive influence on everyone around them. Willink wrote, “Leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.” Dr. Winnail asked the students, “Does that sound extreme? We can’t control everything and everyone else, but we have way more sway than we might think.” In his forum, Dr. Winnail pulled two principles from Extreme Ownership about how Christians can take ownership in their lives.

“There are no bad teams, only bad leaders.”

The first point was illustrated in a story from Willink and Babin’s book. In a SEAL training exercise during Hell Week, groups of men were assigned to inflatable boats and went through a series of races. A crew-leader directed each group. After a few rounds of these races, one team continued to place first while another team regularly placed last. The head instructors then switched the leaders of these teams. The originally winning team maintained relative success—the team had learned how to work together, even under the poor leader. The former losing team with the good leader placed first consistently. Dr. Winnail used the account of David’s census of Israel as an example of ownership in leadership. David admitted he had sinned, took responsibility for his mistake, and didn’t blame Joab or his team for his failure (1 Chronicles 21:8). Dr Winnail said, “Effective Godly leaders own up to their mistakes.” Good leaders don’t blame their team but lead their team to be better.

“Good leaders check their ego.”

The authors of the book wrote, “Implementing Extreme Ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility.” Good leaders don’t feel threatened by those under them and are willing to listen to advice. According to Josephus, Moses was a general and powerful political figure in Egypt. Yet Moses listened and took Jethro’s advice on governing Israel (Exodus 18:24). He was “very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Dr. Winnail said, “He was meek, teachable, and approachable. He was willing to check his ego and not pull rank.” Romans 12:3 reads, “For I say… to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think… as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Dr. Winnail pointed out that God gives gifts to each person differently—we are not God’s gift to mankind.

We’ve Got to Own It

“We don’t know all the future leadership roles we might have, and, frankly, we don’t even know all the roles we are in now.” Dr. Winnail said, “We have to own the truth. We have to own the Work.” God is watching for young leaders who will step up and take ownership of everything within their world. Christian leaders now are part of something far greater—in the millennium, Dr. Winnail reminded, they will teach leadership and ownership to those who will be leaders later during the Great White Throne Judgement. “In a world in which so many people want to blame others,” Dr. Winnail concluded, “we’ve got to own it.”


This post is part of our new series of student-written content for LivingEd-Charlotte. These summaries cover topics originally presented by our faculty and guest speakers in our weekly Forum and Assembly. For more Assembly-related content check out our Second Thoughts posts.

God’s Spring Festivals – Part 2: Feast of Unleavened Bread

Artist: James Mitchell – Kingston, Jamaica

The second festival on God’s Holy Day calendar

that immediately follows the Passover is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This festival is also often called the Days of Unleavened Bread as it goes for seven days. Just like Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread remind us of events that happened in the past. This festival reminds us of the events in Exodus, when God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, yet these special days are meant to teach us some important spiritual lessons as well. What does God want us to learn from this Feast of Unleavened Bread that will help prepare us to be in His family? Wait and see!


How it works:

This Study Guide is written for the purpose of helping parents teach their children vital Biblical topics in a focused, easy-to-follow format. Each section is not meant to be taught in one lesson, rather the topics are organized so parents can choose specific areas of focus and gear lessons toward the learning styles and ages of their children. Each topic is presented in a straightforward manner with accompanying verses for study. The main study should always come from the Scripture itself, while these lessons can act as a guide for reading passages from the Bible. Each lesson packet includes memory verses, questions for meaningful discussion, and activities (added at the end of the packet). Also, though some things may be labeled as Level 1, 2, or 3, the activities, questions, and scriptures for memorizing can be used to fit the needs and learning levels for children of all ages. Enjoy!


God’s Spring Festivals – Part 1: Passover

Artist: James Mitchell – Kingston, Jamaica

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.”’” (Leviticus 23:1-2). In that incredible moment, God announced that He wanted His people to keep His feasts and to keep them every single year! Through these special feasts, or holy days, He wanted to teach His people the wonderful and exciting plan He has for every human being that has ever lived! Each year, God’s feasts give us time to reflect on God’s plans while also giving us a reason to celebrate! God set up the feast calendar so the first feasts in His plan happen in the springtime. Like the season of spring where the flowers and trees begin to grow again after a long, cold winter, God knew it would be the perfect time to begin a perfect plan. 


How it works:

This Study Guide is written for the purpose of helping parents teach their children vital Biblical topics in a focused, easy-to-follow format. Each section is not meant to be taught in one lesson, rather the topics are organized so parents can choose specific areas of focus and gear lessons toward the learning styles and ages of their children. Each topic is presented in a straightforward manner with accompanying verses for study. The main study should always come from the Scripture itself, while these lessons can act as a guide for reading passages from the Bible. Each lesson packet includes memory verses, questions for meaningful discussion, and activities (added at the end of the packet). Also, though some things may be labeled as Level 1, 2, or 3, the activities, questions, and scriptures for memorizing can be used to fit the needs and learning levels for children of all ages. Enjoy!


Programa Bíblico para Niños – Nivel 3: Lección 15 “Dios declara los Diez Mandamientos”

Pasajes Destacados: Éxodo 19:12–25; 20:1–26


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Los hijos de Israel se prepararon por tres días para venir ante Dios. Cuando Dios se acercó a la montaña, hubo truenos y rayos; la montaña tembló y el suelo donde ellos estaban parados se sacudió. ¡Hubo un despliegue impresionante del poder de Dios conforme Él descendía a la montaña! Y el pueblo observaba el estruendo y los relámpagos y temblaron. La cima de la montaña parecía estar en llamas mientras Dios declaraba los Diez Mandamientos con voz de trueno. El despliegue era para mostrar a los israelitas cuán poderoso era Dios, y para que lo recordaran y lo obedecieran. Los israelitas estaban tan abrumados por el poder de Dios que suplicaron a Moisés que pidiera a Dios que ya no les hablara directamente, porque temían por sus vidas. Dios pidió a los israelitas que guardaran los Diez Mandamientos, y ellos estuvieron de acuerdo.

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Discusión:

  1. Explique a sus hijos que los Diez Mandamientos continúan vigentes (Mateo 5:17-18).
  2. ¿Por qué es importante el mandamiento de guardar el día de reposo o sábado?
  3. Explique que los Diez Mandamientos fueron dados por Dios para nuestro bien y no son una carga (1 Juan 5:3).
  4. Discuta las repercusiones positivas de guardar los Diez Mandamientos. ¿Cómo sería el mundo si nadie mintiera o si nadie tomara lo que no le pertenece? ¿Cómo se transformaría el mundo si todos pusieran a Dios primero y lo amaran?
  5. Discuta la relación entre la obediencia a los Diez Mandamientos y la paz que la humanidad desea. Ayude a sus hijos a comprender que el quebrantar las leyes de Dios es lo que conduce a la infelicidad que experimenta la humanidad. Use un ejemplo como robar o mentir para demostrar esto.
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Para Memorizar:

Éxodo 20: 1–17

Los Diez Mandamientos (El texto completo y sin resumir).


Programa Bíblico para Niños – Nivel 1: Lección 15 “Noé, el arca y el Diluvio”

Pasajes Destacados: Génesis 6:13–22; 7:1–20; 2 Pedro 2:5


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Siguiendo las instrucciones de Dios, Noé inmediatamente comenzó a construir un arca para salvar de la destrucción a su familia y a los animales terrestres. Noé debió haber trabajado en la construcción del arca por muchos años y es posible que la gente se burlara de él por construir un barco en tierra firme mientras les decía a las personas que se arrepintieran de sus pecados. Al final, solo ocho personas entraron en el arca: Noé y sus hijos Sem, Cam y Jafet y las esposas de todos ellos. Dios envió siete parejas de cada animal limpio al arca, machos y hembras, para que pudieran preservar sus vidas. También envió dos de cada animal inmundo, un macho y una hembra, así como siete parejas de aves, machos y hembras. Después de que Noé, su familia y todos los animales estuvieron adentro, Dios selló la puerta del arca. A los siete días comenzó a llover. Las aguas de debajo de la tierra brotaron y la lluvia del cielo fue derramada ¡durante cuarenta días y cuarenta noches! El agua subió tanto ¡que cubrió las montañas! Solo los del arca sobrevivieron.

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Discusión:

  1. Pregunte a sus hijos por qué Dios destruyó todos los animales terrestres, aves y seres humanos. Pregunte por qué Dios salvó a Noé y a su familia.
  2. Pregunte a sus hijos cuántas personas estaban a bordo del arca y quiénes eran.
  3. Explique a sus hijos que durante el tiempo en que estaba construyendo el arca, Noé estaba advirtiendo la gente sobre el Diluvio que vendría. Dios les estaba dando la oportunidad de arrepentirse y salvarse. Enfatice la misericordia de Dios al querer que las personas sean salvas.
  4. Explique a sus hijos qué hace a los animales “limpios” o “inmundos”. ¿Por qué Dios le dijo a Noé que metiera al arca más animales limpios que inmundos? Quizá usted desee utilizar esto como una oportunidad para hablar sobre las leyes de los alimentos escritas en Levítico.
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Para Memorizar:

2 Pedro 2:5

“[Dios] no perdonó al mundo antiguo, sino que guardó a Noé, pregonero de justicia, con otras siete personas, trayendo el diluvio sobre el mundo de los impíos“.


Programa Bíblico para Niños – Nivel 2: Lección 15 “La Torre de Babel”

Pasajes Destacados: Génesis 11:1–9


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La ciudad de Babel fue el comienzo del imperio de Nimrod y el comienzo del intento postdiluviano de la humanidad de gobernarse a sí misma olvidándose del verdadero Dios. En su rebeldía, Nimrod lideró a la gente en la construcción de una torre muy alta, por lo que Dios decidió confundir el lenguaje de las personas, quienes al no poderse comunicar claramente, tuvieron que dejar de construir la torre. La palabra “Babel” en sí misma significa confusión, y te puedes imaginar el caos que ocurrió cuando Dios confundió los idiomas. Solo podían entenderse aquellos que hablaban el mismo idioma, ya que Dios dividió los idiomas conforme a las líneas familiares. Así fue como se agruparon por familias y comenzaron a establecerse en sus propios territorios como Dios había querido que lo hicieran desde el principio. La Torre de Babel nunca se completó, pero la actitud de rebelión de la humanidad contra Dios continúa hasta nuestros días.

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Discusión:

  1. Pregunte qué hizo la gente de Babel para mostrar su desafío a Dios.
  2. Pida a sus hijos que imaginen estar trabajando en una tarea en grupo cuando de repente no pudieran entender nada de lo que decían otros miembros del equipo. ¿Serían capaces de trabajar juntos en equipo? Esta es la misma situación que ocurrió en Babel cuando Dios confundió los idiomas.
  3. Señale a sus hijos que Dios quiere que las personas se comuniquen y se entiendan unas a otras. Es por eso que restaurará un lenguaje puro para toda la humanidad en el Milenio (Sofonías 3:9).
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Para Memorizar:

Génesis 11:9

“Por esto fue llamado el nombre de ella Babel, porque allí confundió el Eterno el lenguaje de toda la Tierra, y desde allí los esparció sobre la faz de toda la Tierra”.


Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 14 “Peter’s Message”

Featured Passage: Acts 2


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Jerusalem was bursting at the seams with Jews from throughout the world. They had come for one of the pilgrimage festivals, the Feast of Pentecost. Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive power from on high. They were to receive the Holy Spirit. When the day of Pentecost came, through an amazing miracle, Christ’s followers received the Holy Spirit. With this gift they immediately began to fulfill the commission Jesus Christ had given them – to preach the Gospel to all nations.

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Discuss:

  1. What happened as soon as the disciples received the Holy Spirit?
  2. Can you name some of the nationalities of the people who were in Jerusalem? What language did each person hear spoken?
  3. What prophecy did Peter say was being fulfilled when the disciples received God’s spirit? 
  4. What did Peter talk about in his sermon? How did the people respond when they realized that they had murdered the Christ? What did Peter tell them they needed to do? 
  5. What type of attitude did the brethren have toward one another at that time? How did they express this?
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Memory Challenge:

Acts 4:29-30

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 14 “The Church Begins”

Featured Passage: Acts 2-7


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Before Jesus ascended into heaven He had told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. The Feast of Pentecost had come and many people were in Jerusalem to keep it. The disciples were gathered together in a house to keep this Holy Day. As they were meeting suddenly they heard sounds like a mighty wind and something extraordinary happened!

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Discuss:

  1. What happened when the disciples heard the mighty wind? 
  2. What does it mean to speak in tongues?
  3. At the end of his message, what did Peter tell the people to do? How many people were baptized that day?
  4. What miracle happened when Peter and John went up to the temple? 
  5. Why do you think the Jewish leaders didn’t want Peter and John to preach in Jesus’ name? What happened after they told them not to?
  6. Why do you think Ananias and Sapphira lied about the money they were giving? What happened to them?
  7. Why was the office of deacon created? Who were the first deacons?
  8. What was Stephen accused of when he was arrested? Why do you think the Jews were so angry with Stephen after he spoke?
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Memory Challenge:

Acts 2:38 

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: NT Lesson 14 “The Lost Sheep”

Featured Passage: Luke 15


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Wherever Jesus went, people of all kinds followed Him to hear Him speak and to see His miracles. Many of them were poor or sick, but there were others who were rich and important – they all wanted to hear what Jesus had to say. One day, a group of tax collectors and sinners came to hear Him. The Jewish leaders were upset. They didn’t want Jesus to spend time teaching those kinds of people. They thought it was a waste of time. Then Jesus told them a story – it was a parable. He was explaining why He chose to teach and help the people who mostly everyone else didn’t seem to like.

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Discuss:

  1. What is a parable? (If you have a dictionary, look up the word, or you can go to dictionary.com online to find the meaning)
  2. Who does the shepherd in Jesus’ story about the lost sheep represent?
  3. What happens to the sheep in the parable? 
  4. Why do you think Jesus told this parable to the Jewish leaders? 
  5. How does God feel about all the people in the world? How does God feel when someone repents?
  6. What are some ways we can show love to other people? What about people who don’t understand God’s way?
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Memory Challenge:

Mark 16:15-18

Luke 15:7 

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”


Digging Deeper: Daughter of Abraham

Author: Mr. Kenneth Frank | Faculty in Theology, Living Education


Estimated Reading time: 7 min., 48 sec.

Did you know that Jesus illustrated acceptable Sabbath behavior by healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath?

When referring to her, He used a term that appears only once in our entire Bible: “daughter of Abraham.” This was a striking term for its focus on women. “Son of Abraham” appears twice in our New Testament. The Gospel According to Luke alone described this incident. Luke paid special attention to stories involving women as they related to Jesus’ ministry, even more so than the other Gospels. This Digging Deeper will examine this account of the daughter of Abraham, providing a vital lesson concerning acceptable Sabbath behavior.

Our focus verse is: “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16 KJV). So special was this story to Luke that he focused attention on how women were often treated, or mistreated, in first-century Judaism. This anecdote is often referred to as “The Healing of the Crippled Woman” or “A Woman with a Disabling Spirit.” Its context is Luke 13:10-17.

Jesus performs a miracle

This is the only recorded case of Christ’s preaching in a synagogue during the latter part of his ministry. It was customary to invite visiting rabbis, like Jesus, to deliver the sermon after the reading of the Law and the Prophets from the biblical scrolls. Please refer to my recent Digging Deeper article, “What Was Moses’ Seat?” While Jesus was preaching, He noticed a woman bowed over who could not lift up herself. The word in v. 11 for “bowed” in Greek is a medical term (Luke was a physician – Colossians 4:14) indicating curvature of the spine as if she were doubled over from carrying a heavy burden. Upon seeing her, Jesus immediately set her free from her infirmity by laying hands on her to straighten her (vv. 12-13). He would not heal her from a distance, as He did in other cases. The touch of the Master’s hand gave her the encouragement needed to stand up straight. Once she did, she broke out into praise to God (v. 13).

Surprisingly, the ruler of the synagogue, who also should have rejoiced, criticized Jesus’ action because He had healed her on the Sabbath (v. 14). According to rabbinical tradition, emergency cases might be given a minimum of attention on the Sabbath, but not chronic cases such as hers. Perhaps this daughter of Abraham had been attending this particular synagogue for the entire 18 years of her infirmity. As a result, her case would not be classified as urgent. Either no one was able to help her, or perhaps, even tried. Nonetheless, she continued faithfully attending Sabbath services. This crippled woman had hobbled to synagogue every Sabbath for these 18 years! If she had not attended that day, she may never have been healed. Her example is an encouragement to all women that, despite pain and suffering, they go where there will be reassurance, fellowship, and even blessing among other worshipers on God’s day.

An unwelcome response

Notice that in v. 14, this ruler angrily turned to the audience to complain that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath. Perhaps this was his pious attempt to discredit Jesus so he could retain control over this congregation. He considered healing a type of work forbidden on the Sabbath (v. 14). Jesus retorted that the Law permitted properly feeding and watering one’s animals on the Sabbath (v. 15). Then Jesus asked a pointed question in v. 16: should not this poor woman be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath if farmers and ranchers commonly served their livestock on the Sabbath? A.T. Robertson in his Word Pictures in the New Testament explains Jesus’ reason for healing her as a “Triple argument, human being and not an ox or ass, woman, daughter of Abraham (Jewess), besides being old and ill” (e-Sword 12.2).

Verse 17 displays contrasting responses to her healing: the audience rejoiced while Jesus’ adversaries were ashamed. This was a culture of honor and shame. The synagogue ruler had tried to shame Jesus in public but Jesus turned the tables on him by working a breathtaking miracle in front of them all. These critics of her healing were shamed before their congregation, displaying their unreasonable standards of Sabbath observance.

A woman of the covenant

At the beginning of v. 16, Jesus referred to her as a “daughter of Abraham.” This was deliberate because the term “son of Abraham” was used commonly to stress the worth of men as members of the covenant community. However, the title “daughter of Abraham” was virtually unknown because women were not seen as citizens of the nation but rather as members of their family. Jesus used this exalted title to stress that she was a woman in the covenant community – God’s highly favored elect people – since she was a descendent of the great patriarch, Abraham. Attending synagogue, despite her 18 years of suffering, indicates she was not just a Jewess but a believer in the God of Abraham who had made a covenant with her people. She was entitled to the Messiah’s blessing.

Many Jews regarded women as less important than men. Notice Jesus’ contrasting treatment of women, as explained by The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary, edited by Joseph S. Exell: “There is great beauty in the behaviour of Christ to women, whether it be the woman of Samaria, whose deep wound He probes so faithfully, yet with so light a touch; or the child of Jairus, to whom He speaks in her own dialect, holding her hand; or the widow of Nain, whom He bids not to weep; or she whose many sins were forgiven her, loving much; or Mary, for whose lavish gift He found so pathetic [touching] an apology—’She hath done it unto My burial’” (e-Sword 12.2).   

A lesson in loosing burdens

The word “loosed” in v. 16 is used for disease only here in our New Testament, evidently because it referred to being bound by the Devil. Jesus argued from the lesser to the greater. How much more important was a human condition of suffering compared to an animal’s. Both should be considered acts of mercy permitted on God’s holy day. Jesus was “Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28) and therefore knew how the day should be observed.  Jesus’ critics did not accept Him as the God of the Hebrew Scriptures who created the Sabbath.

A common belief in Jewish culture was that calamity or suffering was the result of some great sin. No sin is connected to her suffering. Instead, Jesus said that Satan had bound this woman. No reason is given why Satan had done so. She was not possessed by the Devil; however, God permitted it as He had permitted Satan’s afflicting the patriarch Job. David Guzik in his Enduring Word Commentary explains this case had a spiritual dynamic: “We are foolish to think that spiritual issues cause all physical problems, but we [are] just as foolish to think spiritual issues can never cause physical problems” (e-Sword 12.2). For Jesus, handicaps were opportunities for God to display his power. Jesus displayed complete mastery during His ministry over demons, sickness, and disease.

What better day could there have been for this miracle than God’s Sabbath? Sabbath observance is not intended as a ritualistic burden, but as a blessing, as Jesus explained: “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Some Sabbath-keepers become so legalistic in their observance of the day that they forget the original intent was to provide rest, rejoicing, refreshment, and renewal for humans and animals during this holy time. It should be enjoyed for its created purpose, not as an excuse for gaining more profit or participating in trivial worldly pleasures.

Bob Utley’s You Can Understand the Bible teaches us a valuable lesson from this singular story: “Jesus exposed this man and all who think like him (plural, hypocrites). The rabbis had great compassion in their oral traditions for the human treatment of animals on the Sabbath (cf. Luke 14:5), but were restrictive in their treatment of humans. Jesus illustrates the fallacy of the rabbinical system’s legalism without compassion for people. We must be careful of our rules. They often become more important than people. People are priority with God. Only people are eternal. God made creation for fellowship with people! Our rules often say more about us than about God” (e-Sword 12.2)!


Kenneth Frank headshot

Kenneth Frank was born and raised in New Jersey, USA, and attended Ambassador College, graduating in 1973. He served in the Canadian ministry from 1973-1999, after which he returned to the USA to pastor churches in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for 15 years. Having earned a BA degree from Ambassador College he later earned a MA degree from Grand Canyon University before being assigned to the Charlotte office to teach at Living University, now Living Education. Currently, he teaches the Survey of the Bible course to the on-campus students and writes the Digging Deeper column for our online Bible study program. He is married, has four children, and seven grandchildren.