Lesson 1 Review: Rebellion in a Perfect Universe

Introduction

Memory Text: " 'How you have fallen from heaven, you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who defeated the nations!' " (Isa. 14:12, NASB).

God made this world perfect but then there is evil, the evil though believed to have begun after Adam and Eve had fallen, actually existed before then. This Week's lesson will teach us the story behind the origin of sin.

What does the fact that God is Love convey according to the lesson?

First, love is expressed and God expresses His love both internally among the Godhead and externally in His relationship with all His creation. 'Second, all that God does is an expression of His unconditional and unchanging love'. Thirdly, since God is love, He cannot be the 'originator of sin, which is in direct opposition to His own character'.

Why did God create the Universe?

From the perspective of His loving nature, He wanted a Universe as a means of expressing His love.

Why is freewill the basis for love?

Without freewill the ground for love would be absent, we can only show love when we have life and freewill, love is not forced. It is in this freewill that Lucifer decided to rebel.

Why was Lucifer ungrateful to God for making Him as perfect as He was?

Lucifer was ungrateful, he wished to be more than he actually deserved. Why Lucifer made this choice however is a mystery.

How can we try to overcome any feelings of ingratitude and self-pity?

According to 1 Thessalonian's 5:18 Paul says that in everything we should give thanks.

What does the city of Babylon represent in the Bible?

The City of Babylon represents the power that stands in direct opposition to God and His Kingdom, and the King of Babylon becomes a symbol of pride and arrogance.

What is the price of pride?

As seen in many stories especially the One currently in view, falling is the price that comes with pride. Satan wanted to exalt himself and he was thrown down from heaven, Nebuchadnezzar too, was made humble.

Who is really Angel Michael?

Christ is referred to as Michael. He is not just an Angelic Being but He is God.

What does Revelation 12 explain about the Great Controversy?

In Verse 1, The Great Controversy begun in heaven with the rebellion of Lucifer and one-third of the heavenly angels.

Verse 2, culminated with Christ's decisive victory at the cross

Verse 3, Still continues against God's end-time remnant people.

In Conclusion,

The origin of sin is a mystery to us yet but we can learn a valuable lesson from the war that took place in Heaven. We are made in total dependence to God our Creator, breaking our relationship with God would mean breaking our our means of survival, Satan's pride destroyed his relationship with God we shouldn't let pride come in between us and God. I pray that God give us the grace to keep our relationship with Him and renew where necessary in Jesus' name.

4th Quarter of 2022 Sabbath School Study Guide Introduction

The Sabbath School Study Guide for the fourth quarter of 2022 is "On Death, Dying and the Future Hope". Without hope there would be no reason for our existence, though sin brought death we have the hope that even if we die we will resurrect into eternity. There is no reason for us to be afraid knowing that Jesus Himself died and resurrected having the key of death and hell. This quarter's lesson will be about this future hope.

Here is an outline of the weekly topics for this quarter:

WEEK LESSON’S TOPIC PERIOD

1 Rebellion in a Perfect Universe September 24-30

2 Death in a Sinful World October 1-7

3 Understanding Human Nature October 8-14

4 The Old Testament Hope October 15-21

5 Resurrections Before the Cross Octiber 22-28

6 He Died for Us October 29-November 4

7 Christ's Victory Over Death November 5-11

8 The New Testament Hope November 12-18

9 Contrary Passages? November 19-25

10 The Fires of Hell November 26-December 2

11 End-Time Deceptions December 3-9

12 The Biblical Worldview December 10-16

13 The Judging Process December 17-23

14 All Things New December 24-30

Lesson 13 Review: Christ in the Crucible

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?’ “ (Matthew 27:46, NKJV).

‘God chose to bear in Himself the brunt of the suffering caused by our abuse of that freedom’. Christ’s suffering and death on the cross created the bonds between heaven and earth that will last throughout eternity.

What was the nature of Jesus’ early days on earth?

Jesus though sinless was so much in contact with sin, He lived in poverty and His life was threatened. More so the fact that His character was a sharp contrast to the environment must have been so painful for Him.

How was Jesus treated in His days on earth?

Jesus was despised and rejected by men, although He revealed Himself in many ways to the people they sought for even a way to kill Him. The people rejected Jesus He did not feel bad that He was rejected, He felt bad about consequences of our sins.

What must it have felt like in Gethsemane for Jesus?

Jesus was to go through what no sinful man had even gone through before, it was an agonizing moment for Jesus, He prayed that the cup be taken away from Him however at God’s will. This was the climax of Jesus’ suffering and the moment He was going to pay for the sins of the whole world.

What events surrounding the death of Jesus showed there was more than just the killing of an innocent person?

1.       There was darkness for three hours over all the land. (Matthew 27: 45).

2.       The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, the rocks were split, the earth quaked, and the graves were opened and may bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised from the dead. (Matthew 27: 51, 52).

3.       The book of Mark also testifies that the veil of the temple was torn in tow from top to bottom. (Mark 15: 38).

What two things should we keep in mind in the midst of our sufferings?

First, Christ, our Lord, has suffered more than any of us ever could. Second, ‘we have been promised through what Christ has done for us.’

What have we been promised through Christ’s suffering?

Whatever our sufferings are, thanks to Jesus and His suffering on the cross we have the promise of eternal life. Whatever we face now is only for a very brief period and it cannot be compared to the eternal life that we will have as reward.

In Conclusion,

In the midst of our suffering we should remember that Jesus went through a much greater suffering for us. Christ also went through the crucible in order to secure a reward for us, in the same way if we overcome the crucible there is the promise of eternal life waiting us, I pray that this promise of eternal life be ours in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 12 Review: Dying Like a Seed

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; … but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24, NKJV).

The dying of a wheat follows three significant processes based on this lesson, First the falling, the waiting and the dying. The Kernel falls from the wheat Stalk; it waits on the floor till it finally dies. Only after the seed gives up its status as a seed, it can not be transformed into a fruit-bearing plant.

What important message is there for us in Philippians 2:5-9?

Jesus denied Himself what was rightfully His and came in the form of man to save us, not as a glorified man either but as a servant, he did not live long and he did not even die a normal death but a death even on the cross. Paul tells us then that we should have the same mind that was in Jesus. Jesus submitted to the will of the Father and He was glorified after it all, if we submit too as Jesus did, we can be sure of being exalted.

When can we be able to test and approve what God’s will for our lives is?

When

1.       ‘We have a true understanding of “God’s mercy” for us (Rom. 12: 1, NIV).’

2.       ‘We offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1).’

3.       ‘Our minds are renewed (Rom. 12:2).’

What does our own experience of crucifixion teach us?

It teaches us what it means to fellowship in Jesus’ sufferings, though our agony is much less than what our Savior went through.

What essential thing should we do in order to cultivate openness to God’s voice?

Preacher Charles Stanley describes that we shift to the neutral if we are willing to be open to God’s voice. When our agendas take a greater slice of or attention it becomes a waste of time to suggest something contrary.

What happens when we rely on our own understanding rather on God?

We open ourselves up to all sorts of problems when we do not rely on God to direct us.

What sequence did Saul follow to act in disobedience to God’s will?

He saw, He said and He felt. From seeing the scattering of his troops and Samuel’s absence, He said that the Philistines will conquer them, and He felt He should offer a sacrifice, this feeling led to his actions that God hated.

What three substitutes does the lesson highlights that we may use for God?

1.       ‘We use human logic or past experience when we need fresh divine revelation’

2.       ‘We block problems from our minds when we need divine solutions.’

3.       ‘We escape reality and avoid God when we need communions with Him for divine power.’

How should we deal with problems rather than settling for substitutes?

Focusing on God is the best way to deal with our problems, God may not always protect us from opposition, God may instead use it as a crucible to teach us to depend on Him. God did not prevent the opposition to build the temple in Zechariah 4 neither did He spare Zerubbabel from the stress of dealing with it, however it was not by might nor power (substitutes) that the temple was built but by the Spirit of God.

In Conclusion,

To grow into the person that God wants us to be we have to die to sin, we have to be open to God’s voice, we have to shift to neutral. All these say one thing, without submitting to God, we cannot obtain favor from Him. Jesus humbled Himself even to the point of death to save us from sin, even though it was His right to be equal with God, Jesus should be our model. I pray that the Spirit that was in Jesus be in us in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 11 Review: Waiting in the Crucible

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “But the fruit of the Spirit is… longsuffering” (Galatians 5:22, NKJV).

Patience undoubtedly brings good results, the patient Ones are the ones that turn out to have better character, better lives and so on. The Lord wants us to cultivate patience.

What does it mean to really be patient?

Patience by the Hebrew definition has to do with pain and it is what the crucible is all about. Patience is not about how long we have to wait, it is more of our attitude while we wait. Our focus while we wait should be on God rather than what we are patiently waiting for, even if it does not come at the right, we can be sure that God’s timing is the best and it will still come.

What are the spiritual reasons why we will experience waiting times?

First, waiting can refocus our attention on God rather than what we are waiting for. ‘Second, waiting allows us to develop a clearer picture of our own motives and desires. Third, waiting builds perseverance – spiritual stamina. Fourth, waiting opens the door to develop many spiritual strengths. Fifth, waiting allows God to put down other pieces in the puzzle of the bigger picture. Sixth, we may never know the reason we have to wait; hence we learn to live by faith. Seven, waiting helps us to understand God’s ways better as we realize that His ways and timings are perfect.

What does the story of the conflict between David and Saul teach us about why it is good to wait for God?

It teaches us a valuable lesson about why it is very important to wait for God. ‘God’s gifts are best received from God’s hand and in His time.

What happens when we rush?

When we rush we can easily find ourselves in the wrong place, outside God’s plan. It pays to be patient.

What does it mean to “take delight in the LORD”?

It involves trusting God perfectly, Psalm 37 expresses it thus. Rather than trying to sort things out just trust God completely to solve the issue for you.

In Conclusion,

It pays to wait patiently on the Lord knowing that God can be trusted and at the right time it will all come to pass what He has promised. I pray that God gives us the patience to wait for Him in Jesus’ name.