Oneness in Christ Standard Edition

Contents
1 Creation and Fall—September 29–October 5 5
2 Causes of Disunity—October 6–12 18

3 “That They All May Be One”—October 13–19 31
4 The Key to Unity—October 20–26 44
5 The Experience of Unity in the Early Church—October 27–November 2 57
6 Images of Unity—November 3–9 72
7 When Conflicts Arise—November 10–16 85
8 Unity in Faith—November 17–23 98
9 The Most Convincing Proof—November 24–30 111
10 Unity and Broken Relationships—December 1–7 124
11 Unity in Worship—December 8–14 137
12 Church Organization and Unity—December 15–21 150
13 Final Restoration of Unity—December 22–28 163
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The teachers edition components were written by the following:
The Lesson in Brief and the Learning Cycle, Lessons 1—13: Wendy Jackson, PhD, lecturer in
Theology and Christian History, Avondale College, NSW, Australia.
© 2018 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. All rights reserved. No part of the Adult Sabbath
School Bible Study Guide (Teachers Edition) may be edited, altered, modified, adapted, translated,
reproduced, or published by any person or entity without prior written authorization from the General
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Our Unity in Christ
T he church is God’s family on earth: serving, studying, and worshiping

together. Looking to Jesus as its Leader and Redeemer, the church is
called to take the good news of salvation to all people.
Number 12 of the Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church states,
in part: “The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord
and Saviour. In continuity with the people of God in Old Testament times, we are
called out from the world; and we join together for worship, for fellowship, for instruc-
tion in the Word, for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, for service to humanity, and
for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel.”
But what do we mean by church? Who belongs to the church? The answers to
these questions depends in part on our definition of the church.
A church is certainly the local community of believers in Jesus who obey the
Lord and who assemble themselves for worship and service. They can meet in house
churches or in larger congregations (Rom. 16:10, 11). By church we also mean the
building in which Christians assemble. But this is hardly the best definition of the
church. The church is about people, not about buildings.
In the New Testament, the church sometimes is referred to as a group of believers
in a particular geographical area. So, when Paul addressed the church in Galatia, he
referred to many local congregations in towns and villages in that region (Gal. 1:2; see
also 1 Pet. 1:1). Additionally, by church we sometimes mean a group of people who
2
belong to a particular denomination or who call themselves by a particular name
given for their beliefs and heritage.
Yet, all of these definitions are incomplete. The church is the people of God all
over the earth. And although Christ has faithful followers in various denomina-
tions (many of whom will join God’s remnant in the final crisis [Rev. 18:1–4]), this
quarter we are going to focus on our church, the
Seventh-day Adventist Church, and what unity in “Through the revelation
Christ means to us.
of Jesus Christ in the
Fundamental Belief 14, called Unity in the Body
of Christ, states: “The church is one body with Scriptures we share the
many members, called from every nation, kindred, same faith and hope and
tongue, and people. In Christ we are a new cre- reach out in one witness
ation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and to all. This unity has
nationality, and differences between high and low,
rich and poor, male and female, must not be divi-
its source in the oneness
sive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by of the triune God, who
one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with has adopted us as His
Him and with one another; we are to serve and be children.”
served without partiality or reservation. Through
the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we
share the same faith and hope and reach out in one witness to all. This unity has its
source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as His children.”
The purpose of this series of Bible study lessons is to provide biblical instruc-
tion on the topic of Christian unity for us as Seventh-day Adventists, who, now, as
always, face challenges to that unity, and will until the end of time.
However, in the Scriptures we find numerous insights and instructions on how to
live God’s gift of oneness in Christ. Those insights, those instructions about living out
and expressing in our church the unity we have been given, are the focus of this quarter.
Denis Fortin is a professor of theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Semi-

nary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. Since joining the Theological
Seminary faculty in 1994, Fortin also has served as director of the Master of Divinity
program (1999–2001), associate dean (2000–2004), chair of the Department of Theol-
ogy and Christian Philosophy (2006), and, until recently, dean (2006–2013).
3
How to Use
This Teachers Edition
Get Motivated to Explore, Apply, and Create
We hope that this format of the teachers edition will encourage adult Sabbath School
class members to do just that—explore, apply, and create. Each weekly teachers lesson takes
your class through the following learning process, based on the Natural Learning Cycle:
1. Why is this lesson important to me? (Motivate);
2. What do I need to know from God’s Word? (Explore);
3. How can I practice what I’ve learned from God’s Word? (Apply); and
4. What can I do with what I’ve learned from God’s Word? (Create).
And for teachers who haven’t had time to prepare during the week for class, there is a
one-page outline of easy-to-digest material in “The Lesson in Brief ” section.
Here’s a closer look at the four steps of the Natural Learning Cycle and suggestions for
how you, the teacher, can approach each one:
Step 1—Motivate: Link the learners’ experiences to the central concept of the
lesson to show why the lesson is relevant to their lives. Help them answer the question,
Why is this week’s lesson important to me?
Step 2—Explore: Present learners with the biblical information they need to
understand the central concept of the lesson. (Such information could include facts
about the people; the setting; cultural, historical, and/or geographical details; the plot
or what’s happening; and conflicts or tension of the texts you are studying.) Help learn-
ers answer the question, What do I need to know from God’s Word?
Step 3—Apply: Provide learners with opportunities to practice the information
given in Step 2. This is a crucial step; information alone is not enough to help a person
grow in Christ. Assist the learners in answering the question, How can I apply to my
life what I’ve learned?
Step 4—Create: Finally, encourage learners to be “doers of the word, and not
hearers only” (James 1:22). Invite them to make a life response to the lesson. This step
provides individuals and groups with opportunities for creative self-expression and
exploration. All such activities should help learners answer the question, With God’s
help, what can I do with what I’ve learned from this week’s lesson?
When teachers use material from each of these four steps, they will appeal to most
every student in their class: those who enjoy talking about what’s happening in their lives,
those who want more information about the texts being studied, those who want to know
how it all fits in with real life, and those who want to get out and apply what they’ve
learned.
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L esson 1 *September 29 –October 5
(page 6 of Standard Edition)
Creation and Fall
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 1:26, 27; 1 John 4:7, 8,
16; Gen. 3:16–19; Gen. 11:1–9; Gal. 3:29; Deut. 7:6–11.
Memory Text: “Then [God] brought [Abraham] outside and said,

‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to
number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants
be.’ And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for
righteousness” (Genesis 15:5, 6, NKJV).
T
he story of God’s people starts with the creation of humans and
their tragic fall into sin. Any attempt at understanding the nature
of unity in the church must begin with God’s original plan at the
Creation and then the need for restoration after the Fall.
The first chapters of the Bible reveal that God intended for humanity
to remain one family. Unfortunately, this unity was severed after the
tragedy of sin. In sin alone the roots of disunity and division arose,
more of disobedience’s foul consequences. We get a hint of this division
in the immediate interaction between Adam and Eve when God first
approached them after they ate of the forbidden tree (see Gen. 3:11).
Hence, among all else that the plan of salvation will accomplish, the
restoration of this original unity is one crucial goal, as well.
Abraham, the father of God’s people, became a key player in God’s
plan of salvation. Abraham is depicted in Scripture as the great exam-
ple of “righteousness by faith” (see Rom. 4:1–5), the kind of faith that
unites God’s people with each other and with the Lord Himself. God
works through people to restore unity and to make His will known to
lost humankind.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 6.

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S unday September 30
Love as a Foundation of Unity

A clear message flowing out of the Creation story in Genesis 1 and 2
is the overall harmony that existed at the end of the week of Creation.
God’s final words that all was “very good” (Gen. 1:31) refer not only
to aesthetic beauty but also to the absence of any element of evil or
discord when God finished making this world and the humans who
were to populate it. God’s original purpose in Creation included the
harmonious coexistence and interdependent relationship of all life
forms. It was a beautiful world created for the human family. All was
perfect and worthy of its Creator. God’s ideal and original purpose for
the world was one of harmony, unity, and love.
Read Genesis 1:26, 27. What do these verses teach about human
uniqueness in contrast to the rest of the earthly creation as depicted
in Genesis 1 and 2?
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Genesis says that God created humankind in His image, something not
said about anything else in the Genesis Creation account. “Then God said,
‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;’ . . . So God
created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male
and female He created them” (Gen. 1:26, 27, NKJV). Although theologians
have debated for centuries the exact nature of this image, and the nature
of God Himself, many passages of Scripture present God’s nature as love.
Read 1 John 4:7, 8, 16. How can these verses help us to understand
how we were originally created and how this could have impacted
the original unity found at the Creation?
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God is love, and because humans also can love (and in ways that the
rest of the earthly creation certainly can’t), to be created in His image
must include the ability to love. Yet, love can exist only in relation-
ship with others. Thus, whatever else being made in the image of God
entails, it must entail the capacity to love, and to love deeply.
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M onday October 1
The Consequences of the Fall

The consequences of the Fall were enormous. The disobedience
of Adam and Eve started the rupture of a harmonious interdepen-
dence between all life forms. Even worse, it started the disunity,
discord, and divisions among human beings that exist even today.
The disharmony is seen immediately in how Adam and Eve sought
to put the blame for the Fall on others (Gen. 3:12, 13). Things have
become only worse since.
Read Genesis 3:16–19 and Genesis 4:1–15. What in these verses reveal
the results of sin and its impact on the harmonious world God had
created?
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Adam’s disobedience became the source of many events and con-
sequences that over time affected all of God’s creation. The natural
world itself began to suffer from the consequences of sin. Human
relationships also were affected. Cain and Abel, two brothers who
should have loved and cared for each other, were estranged because
one wished to follow his own selfish inclinations instead of follow-
ing God’s prescribed mode of worship. This estrangement resulted
in violence and death. Cain’s reaction, however, was more directed
at God than at Abel. He felt angry toward God (Gen. 4:5), and this
anger led to resentment toward Abel. Disobedience further ruptured
human relationships.
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually” (Gen. 6:5, NKJV). This evil ultimately led to the Flood
and to the incredible devastation of God’s original creation left in the
Flood’s wake. But even then God did not give up on the human race,
but left a remnant, Noah and his family, to start again.
After the Flood, God gave a promise to Noah and his family. The
rainbow in the sky always would remind them of His care and promises,
of His kindness and mercy (Gen. 9:12–17, Isa. 54:7–10). God insti-
tuted a covenant with Noah and reinstated His original plan to have a
united human family faithful to Him and His Word.
What are the ways that sin brings disharmony? What choices can
you make right now to help restore harmony among those whom
your choices can impact in a powerful way?
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T uesday October 2
Further Disunity and Separation

Read Genesis 11:1–9. What happened here that makes the problem of
separation and disunity worse?
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The next events chronicled by the Bible after the Flood are the con-
struction of the Tower of Babel, the confusion of languages, and then
the dispersion of people, who so far had spoken one language. Perhaps
attracted by the beauty of the land between the rivers Euphrates and
Tigris, and the fertility of the soil, some of the descendants of Noah
decided to build themselves a city and a high-towered structure in the
land of Shinar, today’s southern Iraq (Gen. 11:2).
Archaeology has shown that Mesopotamia was a densely populated
region from earliest historical times. Among these people were the
Sumerians, who are credited with inventing the art of writing on clay
tablets. They built well-constructed houses and were masters in the
production of jewelry, tools, and household utensils. Excavations also
have uncovered many tower-like temples dedicated to the worship of
various deities.
The descendants of Noah who settled in the land of Shinar soon
forgot the God of Noah and the promises He had made to never again
destroy the world by a flood. Building the Tower of Babel was a monu-
ment to their superior wisdom and skills. Their desire for renown and
reputation, to “make a name for ourselves” (Gen. 11:4, NKJV), was one
motive for this building project. “According to the divine purpose, men
were to have preserved unity through the bond of true religion. When
idolatry and polytheism broke this inner spiritual bond, they lost not
only unity of religion but also the spirit of brotherhood. A project such
as the tower, to preserve by outward means the inward unity which had
been lost, could never succeed.”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1,
pp. 284, 285.
The fall of Adam and Eve shattered the unity of the human race and
God’s original plan. It resulted in confusion regarding worship; the
widespread dissemination of evil and immorality over the earth; and
ultimately the separation of humanity into many different cultures,
languages, and races that often have been at odds with one another
since.
What are practical steps we can take to help heal the divisions
of race, culture, and language that hurt us even in the church?
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W ednesday October 3
Abraham, Father of God’s People

The three great monotheistic world religions, Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam, look to Abraham as their father. For Christians, this asso-
ciation is a spiritual relationship. When called to leave his country
in Mesopotamia, Abraham was told that in him “ ‘all the families of
the earth shall be blessed’ ” (Gen. 12:3, NKJV; see also Gen. 18:18,
22:18). The blessing came through Jesus.
Read Hebrews 11:8–19, Romans 4:1–3, and Galatians 3:29. What ele-
ments of Abraham’s faith do these texts mention, and how do they
relate to the idea of Christian unity? That is, what can be found
in these texts that can help us today to understand what a crucial
component of Christian unity should be?
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As father of all believers, Abraham gives us some of the basic ele-
ments central to Christian unity. First, he practiced obedience. “By
faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not know-
ing where he was going” (Heb. 11:8, NKJV). Second, he had hope
in the promises of God. “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise
as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the
heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which
has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:9, 10,
NKJV). Third, he believed that God would give him a son and that one
day his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. On the basis
of this response, God justified him by faith (Rom. 4:1–3). Fourth, he
trusted in God’s plan of salvation. The greatest test to Abraham’s faith
came when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah (Gen.
22:1–19, Heb. 11:17–19).
The Old Testament describes Abraham as a friend of God (2 Chron.
20:7, Isa. 41:8). His life of faith, his unwavering obedience, and his
confidence in God’s promises make him an example of what our
Christian lives should be now.
Think about your actions and words over the next few days. In
what ways can you seek to make sure that whatever you say or do
reflects the reality of your faith?
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T hursday October 4
God’s Chosen People

In calling Abraham to be His servant, God chose for Himself a people
to represent Him to the world. This calling and election was an act of
God’s love and grace. God’s call to Israel was central to His plan for the
restoration of all humanity after the devastation and disunity caused by
the Fall. Sacred history is the study of God’s work toward this restoration,
and a major component of that plan was the covenant nation of Israel.
According to Deuteronomy 7:6–11, why did God call Israel His peo-
ple? Why did He choose the descendants of Abraham as His people?
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God’s love for humankind is at the center of the election of Israel as His
people. God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants in order
to preserve the knowledge of God through His people and to bring about
the Redemption of humanity (Ps. 67:2). Yet, it is a supreme act of love
that made God choose Israel. The descendants of Abraham had nothing to
boast about to claim God’s unmerited love. “ ‘The Lord did not set His
love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any
other people, for you were the least of all peoples’ ” (Deut. 7:7, NKJV).
It is a strange reversal of values that God uses to select His people.
While humans look at power, wisdom, and self-confidence to select
leaders, God does not choose the strong and mighty to serve Him, but
those who sense or acknowledge their weakness, folly, and nothingness,
that no one might glory before Him (1 Cor. 1:26–31).
Yet, look at the privilege that was theirs: “God desired to make of His
people Israel a praise and a glory. Every spiritual advantage was given
them. God withheld from them nothing favorable to the formation of
character that would make them representatives of Himself.
“Their obedience to the law of God would make them marvels of
prosperity before the nations of the world. He who could give them
wisdom and skill in all cunning work would continue to be their
teacher, and would ennoble and elevate them through obedience to
His laws. If obedient, they would be preserved from the diseases that
afflicted other nations, and would be blessed with vigor of intellect.
The glory of God, His majesty and power, were to be revealed in all
their prosperity. They were to be a kingdom of priests and princes. God
furnished them with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on
the earth.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 288.
What parallels can we find between what God did for ancient
Israel and the calling He had for them, and what He has done for
us and the calling He has for us as Seventh-day Adventists? Bring
your answers to class on Sabbath.
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F riday October 5
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Creation,” pp. 44–51; “The Call

of Abraham,” pp. 125–131, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
God’s original purpose in the creation of humanity also is reflected

in the institutions of the family (Gen. 2:21–24) and the Sabbath. The
Sabbath was intended for all humanity, as Jesus clearly indicated in
Mark 2:27, 28. In fact, its universal nature is seen in the Genesis account
itself, when God set aside the seventh day, not only before the calling
out of Israel as His covenant people but even before the introduction
of sin. What a powerfully unifying force the Sabbath could have been
if all people had kept it. It was the day of rest God intended to remind
the descendants of Adam and Eve of their common bond to Him and
to one another. “The Sabbath and the family were alike instituted in
Eden, and in God’s purpose they are indissolubly linked together. On
this day more than on any other, it is possible for us to live the life of
Eden. It was God’s plan for the members of the family to be associated
in work and study, in worship and recreation, the father as priest of his
household, and both father and mother as teachers and companions of
their children.”—Ellen G. White, Child Guidance, p. 535.
Discussion Questions:
 How does the Genesis account of the creation of the woman from
the side of Adam reveal the close and intimate bond that should exist
between a husband and wife? What does that tell us about why, all
through the Bible, God uses the imagery of a husband and wife as an
example of the kind of closeness He seeks with His people?
 Although the story of the Tower of Babel tells us that human

ethnic and linguistic diversity were not part of God’s original plan
for humanity, how can we transcend such natural divisions today?
How can the church still experience unity and harmony even if it is
made up of people of many nations and languages?
 What are some of the parallels you found between the calling
of ancient Israel and our calling as Seventh-day Adventists? More
important, what lessons can we learn from them that should help
us to be faithful to our divine calling in Christ?
Summary: God’s original plan at Creation intended for humanity to live harmo-
niously and in unity as one family. The disobedience of our first parents
caused an interruption in God’s plan. Yet, God called Abraham to estab-
lish a people through whom He can keep alive the promise of restoration
that is found only in Christ.
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i n s i d e
Story
No More Sabbath Classes
By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission
Seventh-day Adventist students who wish to become nurses no longer face
a Sabbath conflict with the opening of the church’s first nursing school in
Bangladesh.
The three-story facility that houses the Bangladesh Adventist Nursing
Institute was funded in part by a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering and stands on the
campus of the Bangladesh Adventist Seminary and College in Gowalbathan
Kaliakoir, a town located a two-hour drive from the country’s capital, Dhaka.
“This place will send hundreds of missionaries all over this vast and mighty
country, and it will be a blessing from heaven,” Adventist Church president
Ted N. C. Wilson said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the nursing school in
late 2016. “May God bless this nursing college.”
The school, which has room for 100 students, opened for classes in 2017.
The new building—with 10 classrooms, four laboratories, a conference
room, and other facilities—received US$150,000 of its $400,000 price tag
from a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering given by church members worldwide in
third quarter 2015, said Myrun Ju Lee, president of the Bangladesh Adventist
Seminary and College. Another $100,000 came from the Adventist Church’s
Southern Asia-Pacific Division, whose territory of 14 countries includes
Bangladesh, and the rest came from individual donors in South Korea.
Saw Samuel, president of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, described
the establishment of the nursing school as a remarkable accomplishment that
would not have been possible without the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering.
“This is a milestone,” Samuel said. “This is the first Adventist health train-
ing institute in Bangladesh.”
The school also offers local Adventist students the opportunity to study
nursing in their own country.
“It is really important for our school here in Bangladesh to be able to have a
school of nursing because there is no place where an Adventist young person
can go to school to take nursing without having to go to school on Sabbath,”
said Kevin Costello, associate executive secretary at the division. “Now we
will finally have a facility that will be open and available for them so they can
get a nursing degree and honor God on the
Sabbath as well.”
Thank you for your mission offerings
that helped make it possible to open the
Bangladesh Adventist Nursing Institute.
Adventist Church president Ted N. C. Wilson,
second from left, visiting the Bangladesh
Adventist Nursing Institute, background
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
12 mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at AdventistMission.org.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Galatians 3:29
The Student Will:

Know: Express God’s desire to restore the unity of His creation after sin
disrupted the harmony that existed in the Garden of Eden.
Feel: Long for the day when relationships will be healed and God’s plan
of restoration is complete.
Do: Respond to God’s call to be a representative of His love and recon-
ciliation.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Sin and Unity
A What evidence of God’s desire for unity is apparent in the Creation
story?
B Why can sin be described as the root cause of disunity?
C What is the significance of Abraham in God’s plan to restore unity?
II. Feel: Longing for Harmony

A How has sin impacted your relationships?
B How is our longing for harmonious relationships met by God’s plan of
restoration?
III. Do: Becoming an Ambassador

A Why is it important to understand that love was the basis of God’s
choice for the descendants of Abraham to represent Him on earth?
B What are the practical consequences of being chosen by God?
C How can you be a faithful representative of God and His plan of rec-
onciliation?
Summary: The entrance of sin into the world disrupted the unity and harmony
that God intended for humanity. However, God expressed His love for
humanity by planning a way to restore the unity that had been lost. While
the ultimate restoration would come through the work of Christ, God also
chose humans to be representatives of His love and grace.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: 1 John 4:16
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: God’s plan for humanity is one
of unity and harmony. While waiting for the final restoration of unity
made possible through Christ, God’s people are called to be represen-
tatives of His love and grace.
Just for Teachers: The opening discussion is based on a true story. It

invites the consideration of the impact of one action. As you discuss the
story with your class, emphasize the impact of this action on both rela-
tionships and emotions.
Opening Discussion: A bride had spent months planning the perfect

wedding. She had painstakingly chosen everything to provide the atmo-
sphere and impression she intended. On the day of the wedding, the sun
was shining and the ceremony went like clockwork. Before she knew it,
she had said her vows and enjoyed her first married kiss. But then things
started to go wrong. One guest punched another over a minor dispute.
Several people tried to calm things down, but others joined the fight.
The festive mood was replaced by increasing anger and violence. When
the police arrived, they found the wedding in chaos. Sixteen people were
arrested, including the groom, who spent his wedding night in jail. The
perfect plan was ruined by one thoughtless action.
Discussion Questions: What was the impact of one act upon the rela-
tionships of those involved in the wedding? How might things have been
different if some guests had tried to be peacemakers? Think about some-
thing that you have planned carefully, only to have your plans ruined by
the actions of another person. How did you feel? What impact was there
on your relationship with that person after the incident? How do you think
God felt when His perfect plan for humanity was destroyed by the actions
of Adam and Eve?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: God’s nature and character are foundational

to any understanding of unity. As you review the following sec-
tions, look for clues that reveal how God’s nature and character
impacted (1) His original plan, (2) His treatment of the guilty pair,
and (3) His plan to restore what was lost as a result of sin.
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teachers comments
Bible Commentary
I. Foundations of Love and Unity (Review 1 John 4:7, 8, 16 with your class.)
The book of Genesis starts with the God who creates and brings order out
of chaos. This God, although existing in three Persons, is One and demon-
strates perfect unity in His very nature. God also is the embodiment of love.
Therefore, we can anticipate that both love and unity will exist where God’s
rule is acknowledged and experienced.
We can find the fingerprints of God’s love and unity throughout the
biblical account of Creation, from the elimination of chaos to the declara-
tion that everything created was “very good.” God’s fingerprints of love
and unity continue through the creation of humans in God’s image and in
the setting apart of the Sabbath day. Over six days God formed and filled
the various parts of the heavens and the earth, as He prepared a home
for humankind. Then He lovingly created Adam and Eve and breathed
life into them. He created humans specifically to be in relationship with
Him, for God desired to share the love that already existed between the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “He created us not only so that we could
love Him, but so that He could love us, too. His love led Him to share,
in Creation, one of the greatest gifts that He can confer—existence.”
—Seventh-day Adventists Believe, second edition, (Boise, Idaho: Pacific
Press® Publishing Association, 2005), p. 83. God’s creation of humans in
His image was not only a loving act of a Creator who desired a relation-
ship with His creation, but also a call to humans to reflect His character
and to declare His praises.
Consequently, we find that harmony was present from the time God
spoke His creation into existence until sin entered the world.
Consider This: How are love and unity related? What other aspects of
God’s character are important in achieving harmony and unity?
II. Disruption of Harmony (Review Genesis 3:16–19 with your class.)
One deliberate act of disobedience by the parents of the human race had
disastrous consequences. Sin invaded this world and disrupted the harmony
God had designed. Adam and Eve’s relationship with God and each other
would never be the same. They had talked with God face-to-face before sin,
but now they hid, plagued by guilt and fear (Gen. 3:8). Blame destroyed
their harmonious relationship with each other, as they tried selfishly to
maintain their own innocence. Envy, anger, and resentment would follow.
15
teachers comments
God warned in Genesis 3:16 that the equality Adam and Eve had shared
would now be at risk. Before sin, the two had ruled together, as both had
been given the same mandate (Gen. 1:26–28). After sin, God cautioned that
the harmony would change, as one would attempt to rule the other.
Consider This: Make a list of the consequences of sin and consider

how each consequence impacts human relationships. We commonly con-
sider the impact of sin on our relationship with God and other humans,
but rarely do we think about its effect on our relationship with the rest
of God’s creation. How has sin impacted the human relationship with the
rest of creation?
III. Restoring What Was Lost (Review Deuteronomy 7:6–11 with your class.)
The plan of salvation demonstrates God’s desire to restore the unity that
has been lost through sin. As part of this plan, God chose Abraham to be
the father of a people who would represent His character to the surround-
ing nations, and through his descendants, God promised a blessing to all the
nations of the earth (Gen. 12:3). This promised blessing pointed forward to
Jesus, the “son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1), whose death and resurrection would
provide reconciliation between God and humankind.
Abraham demonstrated his faith and trust in the promises of God. His
actions exemplify what God requires of us. Yet, it is not for these reasons
that Abraham’s descendants are called to represent God. God had chosen
Abraham before he demonstrated his faith, and before he obediently prepared
to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham and his descendants were chosen because God
is a God of love who is faithful to His promises. This truth is particularly
significant, for it implies that the foundation of the relationship between God
and His people is the character of God, and not who they are or what they
have done.
Consider This: God made four specific promises to Abraham: land, a multitude
of descendants, a great name, and being a blessing to all nations. How do each
of the promises relate to God’s plan to restore unity among His creation? Why
is it important to understand that the relationship between humans and God is
founded in God’s character?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: The application questions invite the class to consider

what representing God looks like in practice, and how this faithful representa-
tion might impact the mission of the church.
16
teachers comments
Application Questions:
 What does it mean to be created in the image of God? How should this
impact your actions?
 God called the church to represent His character. How well is the church
representing God’s love and unity to the world today? How might it do better
in this regard?
 In what ways can you personally be a better witness to God’s love and
His desire for harmony?
 What does the story of the Tower of Babel reveal about the forms of
unity that are acceptable to God?
 Discuss the following statement written by Ellen G. White in February
1906: “The most convincing argument we can give to the world of Christ’s
mission is to be found in perfect unity. . . . In proportion to our unity with
Christ will be our power to save souls.”—Our High Calling, p. 170.
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: Just as God called Abraham and his descendants
to represent His name and character, so God called the church to be
His representatives on earth. The activities suggested below call stu-
dents to embrace their calling to be God’s representatives of love and
harmony in their church and neighborhoods.
Group Activities:
 Spend time in prayer asking God to help your class members determine
the best ways they can represent God in their neighborhoods.
 Choose a street in your neighborhood and plan a service evangelism
project where members of your Sabbath School class demonstrate God’s
love by doing odd jobs that the residents need doing.
Personal Activities:
 Use a theology textbook to explore the different understandings of the
image of God that theologians have discussed. Then create a poster that
depicts the variety of implications for your life.
 Consider each of your relationships. Choose one relationship that you
would like to improve. Pray about this relationship. Then write a list of
things you can do in this relationship to be a better witness of God’s love.
Identify one of these actions as a first step to undertake in your relationship
during the coming week.
17
L esson 2 *October 6–12
Causes of Disunity
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Deut. 28:1–14, Jer. 3:14–18,
Judg. 17:6, 1 Kings 12:1–16, 1 Cor. 1:10–17, Acts 20:25–31.
Memory Text: “ ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding’ ” (Proverbs
9:10, NKJV).
O
ld Testament prophets repeatedly called upon the people of Israel to
obey God’s instructions. Disobedience and carelessness would lead
to apostasy and disunity. Obedience to God’s laws was intended as
a means to preserve the people from the natural consequences of sin and to
sanctify them in the midst of many foreign nations. Following God’s will
would create harmony among the people and strengthen their community
resolve to withstand the inroads of the pagan and evil worship practices
that surrounded them from almost every direction. God’s intention was
for His people to be holy and to be a witness to the nations around them.
As the Lord said to them after delivering the Hebrews from Egypt:
“ ‘Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my
God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land
which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this
is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who
will hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people” ’ ” (Deut. 4:5, 6, NKJV).
No question: were they to remain faithful, His people would be greatly
blessed and would have been a blessing to others. Unfaithfulness, though,
would lead to a host of problems, disunity being just one of many.
18
S unday October 7
“Return, O Backsliding Children”

The history of the people of Israel is filled with stories of disobe-
dience and anarchy, followed by a return to God and obedience, and
then followed again with more disobedience and conflicts. This pattern
repeats itself again and again. Each time God’s people consciously fol-
lowed His will, they were blessed with peace and life. Each time they
disobeyed and followed their own ways, their lives became miserable,
filled with wars and conflicts. Even before Israel entered the Promised
Land, God had predicted this pattern and offered the solution to avoid
such dire consequences to their existence.
Read Deuteronomy 28:1–14. What blessings would come to Israel if

the people were obedient to God’s will?
_____________________________________________________
Read Jeremiah 3:14–18. What do we learn from God’s call to Israel

to repent and return to Him? What does it tell us about God’s love
and patience for His people?
_____________________________________________________
What is amazing in the book of Jeremiah is how God is seen as
loving, merciful, and generous toward His people in spite of their
rebellion, division, and idolatry. God constantly is inviting His people
to return to Him and to repent from their wayward actions. Again and
again God promised restoration and hope for the future.
“ ‘ “Return, backsliding Israel,” says the Lord; “I will not cause
My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,” says the Lord; “I will
not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you
have transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your
charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed
My voice,” says the Lord’ ” (Jer. 3:12, 13, NKJV).
Jeremiah’s words were spoken at a time of general neglect of God’s
Word. Although some reforms were started in the time of King Josiah,
most people felt no spiritual urge to continue in faithful obedience to
God. Their sins, idolatry, and self-centered lives were causing spiritual
and political ruin. The more they regressed from doing God’s will, the
more dreadful would be their future prospects. Yet, through Jeremiah,
God pleaded with them. God had a better future in mind for them, and
He longed to bring them back to prosperity, unity, and health. But this
could come only if they would live by faith and all that true faith entails.
What has the difference between obedience and disobedience

meant in your own life?
19
M onday October 8
“Right in His Own Eyes”

Stories from the book of Judges show the numerous negative conse-
quences of Israel not following the Lord’s will. Soon after Israel entered into
Canaan, people began to pattern their spiritual lives on the false religions of
the Canaanites surrounding them—exactly what they were told not to do!
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only problem they were facing either.
Read Judges 17:6 and Judges 21:25. What do these verses teach about
more problems that arose among God’s people?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Talk about a recipe for division and disunity among God’s people.
The unity of the nation was to be found in their loyal obedience to
the Lord of the covenant, the covenant that they had entered into with
God. By doing, however, what was right in their own eyes—especially
as they were being influenced by the surrounding nations—they were
on the sure road to disaster. We are all fallen beings, and if left to our
own devices, if left to follow the inclinations of our hearts, we’ll surely
wander from the path that God calls us to walk on.
What do the following passages tell us about the spiritual and social
conditions of Israel during the time of the judges?
Judg. 2:11–13
Judg. 3:5–7
“The Lord had through Moses set before His people the result of unfaith-
fulness. By refusing to keep His covenant, they would cut themselves off
from the life of God, and His blessing could not come upon them. At times
these warnings were heeded, and rich blessings were bestowed upon the
Jewish nation and through them upon surrounding peoples. But more often
in their history they forgot God and lost sight of their high privilege as His
representatives. They robbed Him of the service He required of them, and
they robbed their fellow men of religious guidance and a holy example.
They desired to appropriate to themselves the fruits of the vineyard over
which they had been made stewards. Their covetousness and greed caused
them to be despised even by the heathen. Thus the Gentile world was given
occasion to misinterpret the character of God and the laws of His king-
dom.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, pp. 20, 21.
How do our own actions as a church impact those around us?
What do they see in Seventh-day Adventists that would impress
them in a positive manner?
20
T uesday October 9
The Division of the Hebrew Nation

The path of apostasy, and its dire consequences, didn’t happen over-
night. But the wrong choices and decisions that accumulated over the
long centuries finally led to some terrible consequences for God’s people.
Read the story of King Rehoboam in 1 Kings 12:1–16. What caused

this terrible division among God’s people?
_____________________________________________________
“Had Rehoboam and his inexperienced counselors understood the
divine will concerning Israel, they would have listened to the request of
the people for decided reforms in the administration of the government.
But in the hour of opportunity that came to them during the meeting in
Shechem, they failed to reason from cause to effect, and thus forever
weakened their influence over a large number of the people. Their
expressed determination to perpetuate and add to the oppression intro-
duced during Solomon’s reign was in direct conflict with God’s plan
for Israel, and gave the people ample occasion to doubt the sincerity of
their motives. In this unwise and unfeeling attempt to exercise power,
the king and his chosen counselors revealed the pride of position and
authority.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 90.
What do the following statements say about the need for wisdom in
making the right decisions? Where is the source of true wisdom?
Prov. 4:1–9
Prov. 9:10
James 1:5
The story of Rehoboam and his rash and unwise decision to impose
more conscripted labor on his people is a sad event in the life of the king-
dom of Israel. The king sought counsel from two groups of advisors, but
his final decision to follow the counsel of less experienced young men his
own age brought a catastrophe on the kingdom that his father Solomon
and grandfather David had built during the preceding 80 years. The advice
that the king should intimidate the crowd by declaring that he is tougher
than his father was foolish counsel. The young advisors believed that to
be sympathetic of the people’s demands for less rigorous labor was not
the leadership style the king should adopt. He should, they said, present
himself as ruthless and cruel instead. In the end, he showed himself to be
a bully and undeserving of his people’s allegiance and faithfulness. Hence,
a division occurred among God’s people that never should have been there
and that was never God’s plan for His people.
21
Schism in Corinth
Unfortunately, the issue of disunity among God’s people didn’t end
even in New Testament times.
For example, the first four chapters of Paul’s First Epistle to the
Corinthians are an appeal for unity. While in Ephesus Paul heard that
various divisions had erupted in the church at Corinth. Thus, he begins
his letter with a lengthy address on church unity and the need to avoid
schism. Paul is concerned about this development, and he seeks to pro-
vide inspired counsel to remedy this unfortunate situation.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:10–17, what seems to have been the

cause of disunity, of their divisions and quarrels?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Paul became concerned for his brothers and sisters in Corinth when
someone from Chloe’s people told him about the divisions and quarrels
among them. His opening words show the depth of his concern: “Now I
plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.” His
solution was to remind them that, as Christians, they were to be joined
together “in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10,
NKJV). Whatever exactly was causing this contention and division, Paul
wanted it stopped.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that Christians are called to follow
Christ, not a human being—however talented or gifted or called that
person may be. While they seemed to have divided themselves along
“party” lines, the apostle stated unequivocally that such divisiveness
was not according to Christ’s will. He asserted that Christian unity is
centered on Christ and His sacrifice on the cross (1 Cor. 1:13).
Christian unity finds its source in the truth as it is found in Jesus
Christ and Him crucified, and in no one else, no matter how “worthy”
a mentor or preacher or leader that person might be. At the foot of the
cross we are all on the same level ground. Our baptism is into Jesus,
who alone can cleanse us from sin. However, we must work toward this
unity in Christ in practical ways.
What this should say to us is that as Seventh-day Adventists, we
cannot take for granted our unity of faith and mission. Divisions and
quarrels can undermine the unity of our church today unless the love
and lordship of Christ unites us to Him.
How can we learn to avoid the kind of dangers that Paul was deal-
ing with here? Why must we always be careful about how much
loyalty we give to any person other than Christ?
22
T hursday October 11
“Wolves Will Come”

Read Acts 20:25–31. What did Paul warn the Ephesian elders about?
What were they to do to prevent this from happening?
During his ministry Paul often faced opposition, and he knew that it would
be difficult to preserve the purity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In his fare-
well to the Ephesian elders he drew from the watchman analogy in Ezekiel
33:1–6 to tell fellow leaders that they also were responsible for safeguarding
the gospel. They were to be faithful shepherds of their congregations.
Paul’s use of the expression “savage wolves” to describe false teach-
ers (Acts 20:29, NKJV) is reminiscent of Jesus’ similar warning that
false teachers would disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing (Matt.
7:15). These false teachers did arise soon after Paul spoke this warn-
ing, and they preyed upon believers in the Asian churches that he had
established. In Ephesians 5:6–14 and Colossians 2:8, we see some of
Paul’s warnings to churches in Asia Minor.
In his Second Epistle to Timothy, Paul also warns Timothy, who is
responsible for the church at Ephesus, against errors in the church and
godlessness in the last days.
Read 2 Timothy 2:14–19 and 3:12–17. What does Paul say to Timothy
about how to counter false teachers and to preserve the unity of
the church?
First, Timothy should know his Bible, “rightly dividing the word of
truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, NKJV). The antidote to these useless disputes and
speculations is to correctly understand and teach the Word given by God.
The truths of the Bible must be rightly interpreted so that no part of the
Scriptures will be set in opposition to the entire picture presented in the
Bible, and also to prevent misinterpretations that may cause one to lose
faith in Jesus. Irrelevancies and secondary issues are to be subordinated
to the principles of God’s Word that actually will prepare believers to live
a victorious life in Christ. Paul’s second recommendation is for Timothy
himself to “shun profane and idle babblings” (2 Tim. 2:16, NKJV). Trivial
and speculative topics are not to be part of Timothy’s teaching ministry
if he is to be considered a worthy and faithful minister. These types of
conversations lead only to more ungodliness and do not edify the faith
of believers (2 Tim. 2:16). Truth alone leads to godliness and harmony
among believers. The reason Timothy must avoid and urge his people
to avoid such errors is that they sweep through the church like a disease
(2 Tim. 2:17). In the end, obedience to the Word of God is the antidote to
false teaching (2 Tim. 3:14–17) that could threaten the unity of the church.
How can we, as a church, protect ourselves from similar kinds of

people who, through false teachings, could bring divisions among us?
23
F riday October 12
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Rending of the Kingdom,”

pp. 87–98, in Prophets and Kings; “A Message of Warning and Entreaty,”
pp. 298–308, in The Acts of the Apostles.
“The Lord desires His chosen servants to learn how to unite in har-
monious effort. It may seem to some that the contrast between their
gifts and the gifts of a fellow laborer is too great to allow them to unite
in harmonious effort; but when they remember that there are varied
minds to be reached, and that some will reject the truth as it is presented
by one laborer, only to open their hearts to God’s truth as it is presented
in a different manner by another laborer, they will hopefully endeavor
to labor together in unity. Their talents, however diverse, may all be
under the control of the same Spirit. In every word and act, kindness
and love will be revealed; and as each worker fills his appointed place
faithfully, the prayer of Christ for the unity of His followers will be
answered, and the world will know that these are His disciples.”—Ellen
G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 483.
 The question of doing what is right in one’s “own eyes” is
nothing new. Postmodernism, which challenges the idea of any
one central or overarching intellectual or moral authority, could
potentially pave the way for the kind of moral anarchy that the
Bible warns about. How do we as Christians, and as a church as a
whole, confront this kind of challenge?
 Reflect on the story of King Rehoboam and the division of

Israel (1 Kings 12). What lessons are there for us today?
 What can church leaders and members do to help prevent

strife and cliques in a local church? How important is it to stop
these issues before they grow and fester? How can we as church
members be careful not to fall into the trap that some did in
Corinth?
 Study the context of the passage on discord in Proverbs 6:16–

19. What do you learn from this to prevent discord in your local
church?
Summary: In the Bible we find situations that led to disunity. When God’s
people lived in faithful obedience, the dangers of disunity were greatly
diminished. Bad decisions made in the time of the judges as well as
from the reign of Rehoboam opened the door for division. Even in New
Testament times, the potential for disunity remained. A proper under-
standing of God’s Word and the sanctified effort to obey it are the best
protection against disunity and schism among us.
24
i n s i d e
Story
Adventists Sang, Priest Cursed
By Elvis Dumitru
I am a pastor because my grandfather, a lifelong Orthodox believer,
endorsed the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
As my grandfather was growing old, he spoke to my father in their home in
Răteşti , a small village in Romania. “If you ever want to belong to the only
true Christian church, you have to go to the Seventh-day Adventist Church,”
said my grandfather, Gherase Dumitru.
Those words planted a seed that led my father, Aurelian, to seek out the
Adventist Church and be baptized in Communist-era Romania. As a result,
I grew up in an Adventist home, and my brother and I are both Adventist
pastors.
But how did my grandfather know about Adventists?
The story goes back to the early 1960s in Răteşti , located about 85 miles
(135 kilometers) north of Romania’s capital, Bucharest. Only eight or so
Adventists lived in the village, and the authorities ordered their arrest amid a
crackdown on religion. A driver was called to transport the Adventists to jail
by horse and cart.
As the cart shook and swayed on a bumpy dirt road, the prisoners began to
sing hymns in the back. The driver listened, surprised at the beautiful words
about Jesus and His love. He thought, How can these Adventists sing with such
joy when they are going to jail?
About a week later, the driver was called to take the village’s Orthodox
priest to his church. The cart struck a pothole en route to the church, and the
priest angrily unleashed a torrent of blasphemies.
The driver listened in shock. He thought, Why is the priest cursing his God
for a pothole as he goes to church? And why did those Adventists sing such
beautiful songs of praise to Jesus as they went to jail?
The two incidents left a deep impression on the driver, and he determined
to learn more about the Adventists. After a while, he was baptized into the
Adventist Church. The driver was a good friend of my grandfather’s.
Răteşti remains a small village today but has a strong Adventist presence,
with about 40 church members.
We often think that people are not interested in
what we are doing, but people are always watching. A
cart of Adventist prisoners didn’t know that a driver
was listening in awe to their songs of praise—and
that their faithfulness would shape two generations of
Adventists in my family.
Elvis Dumitru, 26, is the associate pastor of the Cuza Voda
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bucharest.
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at AdventistMission.org. 25
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Proverbs 9:10
The Student Will:

Know: Comprehend that God’s Word provides wisdom that, when fol-
lowed, promotes harmony among God’s people.
Feel: Sense the need for a personal understanding of God’s will as out-
lined in His Word.
Do: Resolve to follow God’s Word rather than follow personal inclina-
tions of what is right.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Obedience Promotes Unity.
A How does the book of Proverbs define wisdom in chapters 4 and 9?
B The list of blessings in Deuteronomy 28:1–14 does not specifically
include unity. What aspects of this passage imply that obedience to God’s
Word promotes unity?
C How does following God’s Word result in harmony? How might Paul’s
advice to the Corinthians help you to answer this question?
II. Feel: The Need for Understanding God’s Will

A Why did the advice of Rehoboam’s young friends seem right to him?
B Have you ever been so attached to an idea that you have decided it was
God’s will for you? What was the outcome of your decision?
C What factors in the church today make a personal understanding of
God’s will necessary?
III. Do: Follow God’s Will.

A How can we tell the difference between our own inclinations and
God’s will?
B What steps might you take if you are unsure of God’s will?
Summary: The examples of Scripture reveal that faithful obedience to God’s will
promotes unity and harmony among God’s people. However, disobedience
and the tendency to follow personal inclinations create conditions that foster
disunity.
26
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Proverbs 9:10
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The human tendency to do
what seems right based on personal judgment frequently leads to prob-
lems that create disharmony and disunity. Christians can avoid this pit-
fall by seeking the wisdom found in God’s Word, particularly focusing
on Christ, the center of the gospel.
Just for Teachers: Personal judgment can easily get in the way of
doing what is right. As you open the class, help students see how easy it is
to create problems by following personal inclinations rather than sound
advice.
Opening Discussion: In May 2015, torrential rain led to significant
flooding north of Brisbane, Australia. Although emergency services
warned drivers not to attempt to drive through flooded waters, many
people ignored the warnings. Some individuals based their decisions to
drive through high water on the memory that floodwaters had never been
too deep on the roads they used regularly. Others argued that they knew
the area well enough to cross the flooded road. But perception of risk
tends to be poor during emergencies. As a direct result of following their
own flawed judgment, five people died when floodwaters swept their cars
away. Many other people found themselves needing rescue from the swift
currents of the floodwaters.
Discussion Questions: The story we just read provided two reasons

for ignoring sound advice. What other reasons might lead someone to
ignore sound advice in this kind of situation? How would you categorize
reasons that people generally use to ignore what is true?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: The Bible provides a number of examples of people

who made wrong choices, but also it provides the basis for better choices.
Help your class to recognize the importance of seeking God’s wisdom in
their decision-making and the consequences that arise from making the
wrong choices.
27
teachers comments
Bible Commentary
I. Human Judgment of Right and Wrong (Review Judges 17:6 and 1 Kings
12:1–16.)
The book of Joshua is filled with celebration and hope as the descendants
of Abraham, who had wandered in the desert for 40 years, finally settled
in the Promised Land. Filled with the wonder of God’s mighty acts, the
Israelites vowed to serve God forever, and they renewed their covenant
vows. But the mood changes abruptly in the opening pages of the book
of Judges. Judges portrays Israel as a nation simply trying to survive as
it experienced repeated invasions and even civil war. The spiritual high
experienced on arrival in the Promised Land had long since vanished,
replaced by spiritual apathy and outright apostasy. While Israel served
God under the leadership of Joshua and while those who had observed
God’s mighty acts had survived, the new generation did not know God
or understand what He had done for Israel (Josh. 24:31, Judg. 2:7–10).
In the absence of this knowledge, they refused to be governed by God’s
laws, choosing instead to base their choices on what was right in their
own judgment. As a consequence, the discipline and cohesion of God’s
people broke down, and lawlessness and rebellion resulted. The sad story
of Judges is a repeated cycle of apostasy, resulting in oppression by the
surrounding nations, cries for God’s intervention, deliverance by God, and
then apostasy once more. It seemed that after God delivered Israel, His
role was promptly forgotten, and Israel once again lost sight of His role.
Some one hundred or so years later, King Rehoboam, the son of
Solomon, took the throne of the nation. Even though David and Solomon
had followed God, the people were still prone to want things their own
way. Rehoboam immediately was faced with a decision about whether to
continue his father’s policies or create his own. During the three days of
deliberation that he allocated for making this decision, Rehoboam con-
sulted with his father’s counselors and his peers; but he did not consult
God at all. His final decision to make life harder for the nation was the
final catalyst for a division among God’s people.
Consider This: What led Israel to do what was right in their own judg-
ment? How could they have avoided this error? As you reflect on Judges
21:25, do you think that the author of Judges believed that a human king was
the solution to Israel’s problem? What is the basis of your answer? How does
the reign of Rehoboam demonstrate that a human king was not the answer to
Israel’s problem?
II. The True Source of Wisdom (Review Psalm 9:10 and James 1:5 with your class.)
28
teachers comments
In contrast to the self-centered actions described in Judges and 1 Kings,

Scripture suggests that true wisdom comes from another source. Both the
book of Proverbs and the book of James clearly identify wisdom with God.
Proverbs emphasizes the relational aspect of wisdom, urging its hearers to
recognize that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov.
1:7, NASB, NKJV). Likewise, Proverbs 9 claims that “the fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is under-
standing” (Prov. 9:10, NASB, NKJV). Wisdom is here understood as lived
and found in one’s encounter with the mighty God. The relationship itself is
identified as an indispensable part of wisdom. James, however, emphasizes
God as the Giver of wisdom (James 1:5). James highlights the generosity
and graciousness of God, who willingly gives wisdom to all those who seek
it. Here God is the Provider of wisdom to make the decisions required of a
lived experience.
Consider This: Do you think there is any conflict between the understanding
of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, compared to that outlined in James? Why, or
why not? How are both ideas related? Why are both important?
III. Ensuring a Correct Focus (Review 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 and 2 Timothy

2:14–19.)
Corinth was a prominent center of commerce, situated on the Isthmus of

Greece. Corinth’s proximity to Athens meant that Greco-Roman culture
flourished, while its geographical position as a seaport encouraged all sorts
of vice. Surprisingly, a church existed here, but letters from Paul and, later,
Clement indicate that the church had a great many problems. One of those
problems was internal division (1 Cor. 1:10–17). Although we find, through-
out 1 Corinthians, a number of reasons for division, chapter 1 describes divi-
sions that had arisen due to members focusing on the personalities and teach-
ings of different leaders. The Corinthians had not abandoned their faith, but
they were proudly announcing their allegiance to specific Christian leaders.
Paul called for a major refocus. The Corinthians should not have been focus-
ing on human leaders but on Jesus Christ, the center of their faith. Christians
are not called to follow human leaders, but rather, they are called to follow
Jesus, who, Paul points out, is neither proud nor divided. Unity could occur
only when Christians focused on the One who had brought them together
and torn down the barriers that divided them. It is His death on the cross that
is both the power (1 Cor. 1:18) and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24), even
though the choice of this symbol of shame might have seemed foolish to a
Greco-Roman audience.
Consider This: What kind of unity does Paul expect of the Corinthians? Does
29
teachers comments
he expect them to agree about everything? (Compare 1 Cor. 1:10 with 1 Cor.
8:7–13.) How does focusing on Christ bring about the unity Paul describes?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: It is easy to simply agree that God’s wisdom is best,
but not allow this knowledge to change the way we approach life. Help
your class think carefully about why this resistance to change happens, and
then help them focus on the role of a relationship with God in determining
God’s will.
 Why do human beings find that doing what they want is so appealing?
How can seeking God’s will become more appealing?
 Why do we frequently lose sight of what God has done for us soon
after a crisis has passed? How might we prevent this forgetfulness in the
future?
 Does obedience to God’s will always lead to unity? Why not?
 What can we learn about wisdom by simply being in relationship with
God? How does this help us when we are seeking for wisdom in regard to
specific issues?
 How can we continue to focus our attention on Christ in our busy
world?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: Paul connects Christ with wisdom and calls the

Corinthians to focus on what the world sees as folly—Jesus’ death on the
cross. Help your class to connect with the practical application of Paul’s
solution to the disunity in the church.
Activities:
 Spend time studying the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians. Then cre-
ate a Bible study or PowerPoint presentation that outlines Paul’s solution
to the problem of disunity.
 Write a short skit that helps observers to think about what it means to
focus on Jesus and His death instead of on the wisdom of the world.
30
“That They All May Be

One”
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 17:1–26, 1 John 5:19,
John 13:18–30, John 5:20–23, Mark 9:38–41, Rev. 18:4, 1 John 2:3–6.
Memory Text: “ ‘I do not pray for these alone, but also for those
who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as
You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me’ ” (John 17:20, 21, NKJV).
T
he Gospel of John provides us with a window into Jesus’ immedi-
ate concerns as His betrayal and death loomed on the horizon. In
five crucial chapters (John 13–17) we receive Jesus’ last words of
instruction, culminating with what has sometimes been called His “high-
priestly prayer” (John 17).
“It is a fitting designation, for our Lord in this prayer consecrates himself
for the sacrifice in which he is simultaneously both priest and victim. At
the same time it is a prayer of consecration on behalf of those for whom
the sacrifice is offered—the disciples who were present in the upper room
and those who would subsequently come to faith through their testimony.”
—F. F. Bruce, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983), p.
328.
At the core of this prayer is Jesus’ concern for unity among His dis-
ciples and those who would later believe in Him. This was a key theme
in His prayer: “ ‘I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those
whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours,
and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them’ ” (John 17:9, 10, NKJV).
No meaningful discussion of church unity, of our oneness in Christ, can
be complete without careful attention given to this prayer. What did Jesus
pray for, whom did He pray for, and what does His prayer mean for us today?

31
S unday October 14
Jesus Prays for Himself

The high-priestly prayer is divided into three parts. First, Jesus prays
for Himself (John 17:1–5), then for His disciples (John 17:6–19), and
finally for those who would later believe in Him (John 17:20–26).
Read John 17:1–5. What is the essence of His prayer, and what does
it mean for us?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Jesus intercedes first for Himself. In preceding events in the Gospel
of John, Jesus had indicated that His hour had not yet come (John 2:4,
7:30, 8:20). But now He knows the hour of His sacrifice is here. The
moment for the dramatic conclusion of His earthly life has arrived, and
He is in need of strength to complete His mission. It is a time for prayer.
Jesus will glorify His Father by doing His will, even if it means He
must endure the Cross. His acceptance of the Cross is not some kind of
fatalism; rather, it is in fact how He exercises the authority the Father
has given Him. He did not die a martyr’s death, but willingly glorified
His Father by fulfilling the reason for His incarnation: His sacrificial
death on the cross for the sins of the world.
What is eternal life according to John 17:3? What does it mean to

know God?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
First and foremost, Jesus tells us eternal life consists in our personal
knowledge of God. This is not salvation by works or by knowledge, but
rather it is the experience of knowing the Lord because of what Jesus
has done for us at the Cross. This knowledge is mediated through a
personal relationship with the Father. Our human tendency is to limit
knowledge to facts and details, but here Jesus aims at something deeper
and more fulfilling: a personal relationship with God. Jesus’ first
advent also was for the purpose of guiding humanity in its search for a
more meaningful and saving knowledge of God and the unity with each
other that such knowledge will lead to.
What is the difference between knowing about God and know-

ing God personally? What experiences have you had that have
helped you come to know God?
32
M onday October 15
Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Read John 17:9–19. What is Jesus praying specifically about in regard
to His disciples?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Jesus prays next for His disciples, who are in grave danger of losing
their faith in Him in the days ahead, when He, Jesus, will no longer
be with them in the flesh. Thus, He commits them to the care of His
Father.
The prayer of Jesus is for their protection in the world. As such,
Jesus does not pray for the world, because He knows it intrinsically is
opposed to the will of the Father (1 John 5:19). But because the world
is the place where the disciples will do their service, Jesus prays that
they may be preserved from the evil in the world. Jesus is concerned for
the world; indeed, He is the Savior of it. But the spread of the gospel
is tied to the witness of those who will go and preach the good news.
That is why Jesus needs to intercede for them that the evil one will not
defeat them (Matt. 6:13).
One disciple, however, has been defeated. Earlier that evening Jesus
had mentioned that one of them had decided to betray Him (John
13:18–30). Even though Jesus refers to the fact that Scripture had
predicted Judas’s betrayal (Ps. 41:9), Judas was not the victim of fate.
During the Last Supper, Jesus appealed to him in a gesture of love
and friendship (John 13:26–30). “At the Passover supper Jesus proved
His divinity by revealing the traitor’s purpose. He tenderly included
Judas in the ministry to the disciples. But the last appeal of love was
unheeded.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 720.
Knowing that envy and jealousies could divide the disciples, as it had
done on occasion before, Jesus prays for their unity. “ ‘Holy Father,
keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may
be one as We are’ ” (John 17:11, NKJV). Such unity is beyond human
accomplishment. It can be the result and gift of divine grace only. Their
unity is grounded in the unity of the Father and Son, and this unity is an
indispensable prerequisite for effective service in the future.
Their sanctification, or consecration, in the truth also is indispens-
able for service. The work of God’s grace on the disciples’ hearts will
transform them. But if they are to witness to God’s truth, they them-
selves must be transformed by that truth.
What does it mean to be “not of the world”? What is it about us,

our lives, and how we live that make us “not of this world”?
33
T uesday October 16
“For Those Who Will Believe in Me”

After Jesus prayed for His disciples, He broadened His prayer to
include “ ‘those who will believe in Me through their word’ ” (John
17:20, NKJV).
Read John 17:20–26. What was Jesus’ greatest wish for those who
would later believe in the gospel message? Why is it so important
that this prayer be fulfilled?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
As the Father and Son are one, Jesus prayed that future believers also
would be one. In a few places in the Gospel of John, Jesus referred to
the unity of the Father and Son. They never act independently of each
other, but are always united in everything They do (John 5:20–23).
They share a common love for fallen humanity to the extent that the
Father was willing to give His Son for the world, and the Son was will-
ing to give His life for it too (John 3:16, 10:15).
The unity Jesus refers to in this prayer is a unity of love and purpose as
it is between Father and Son. “ ‘By this all will know that you are My dis-
ciples, if you have love for one another’ ” (John 13:35, NKJV). Manifesting
this unity in love will give public confirmation, both of their relationship
with Jesus and with the Father. “The display of their genuine unity ought
to provide a compelling witness to the truth of the gospel.”—Andreas J.
Köstenberger, John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), p. 498. This is how the world will
know that Jesus is the Savior. In other words, this unity Jesus prayed for
cannot be invisible. How can the world be convinced of the truthfulness of
the gospel if it cannot see love and unity among God’s people?
“God is leading out a people to stand in perfect unity upon the plat-
form of eternal truth. . . . God designs that His people should all come
into the unity of the faith. The prayer of Christ just prior to His cruci-
fixion was that His disciples might be one, even as He was one with
the Father, that the world might believe that the Father had sent Him.
This most touching and wonderful prayer reaches down the ages, even
to our day; for His words were: ‘Neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also which shall believe on Me through their word.’
“How earnestly should the professed followers of Christ seek to
answer this prayer in their lives.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 4, p. 17.
What are we doing in our lives and churches to help reach the kind of
unity presented here? Why is a certain amount of death to self crucial
for each of us if we want our church to be united as it should be?
34
Unity Among Christians

Read Mark 9:38–41 and John 10:16. What does Jesus’ response to
the apostle John teach us about exclusivism and quick judgments
about who is a true follower of Jesus?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Seventh-day Adventists have tended to understand Jesus’ prayer in John
17 as directly applying to the unity of their church denomination. We must
be united as a church to fulfill our mission to share the three angels’ mes-
sages to the world. On this point, there is little contention.
But what about unity with other Christians? How are we to relate to them
in light of what Jesus prayed?
No question, we believe that God has faithful people in other churches
besides our own. Besides, the Bible makes it clear that God has His faithful
ones, even in Babylon: “ ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her
sins, and lest you receive of her plagues’ ” (Rev. 18:4, NKJV).
At the same time we know that according to the book of Revelation,
there is great apostasy among those who profess the name of Christ, and
that in the last days many false Christians will unite with each other and
with the state in order to bring about the persecution graphically depicted in
Revelation 13:1–17. Hence, Adventists always have been very careful about
getting involved in calls for unity with other churches, such as seen in the
ecumenical movement.
How, then, should we relate to other denominations? Ellen G. White
wrote the following in regard to the Seventh-day Adventist Church work-
ing together with other Christians, at least on this specific issue: “As the
human agent submits his will to the will of God, the Holy Spirit will make
the impression upon the hearts of those to whom he ministers. I have been
shown that we are not to shun the W.C.T.U. [Woman’s Christian Temperance
Union] workers. By uniting with them in behalf of total abstinence we do
not change our position regarding the observance of the seventh day, and
we can show our appreciation of their position regarding the subject of
temperance. By opening the door and inviting them to unite with us on the
temperance question we secure their help along temperance lines; and they,
by uniting with us, will hear new truths which the Holy Spirit is waiting to
impress upon hearts.”—Welfare Ministry, p. 163.
Though she was dealing with a specific issue at a specific time, she
does give principles that we can follow regarding how we relate to other
Christians, especially on the question of uniting around a cause.
First, we can work with them on common social interests. Second, if we
do unite with them, we must do so in a way that will not compromise our
beliefs or practices. Third, we can and should use this “unity” to share with
others the precious truths with which we have been blessed.
35
One Faith Shared in Love

In John 17:3, Jesus said that eternal life is to know God. Read 1 John
2:3–6. What does it mean to know God? How do we demonstrate
our knowledge of God in our daily lives?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Generally, while people in society today wish to call themselves law-
abiding citizens, these same people often will downplay the biblical obli-
gation to keep the commandments of God. Some even argue that God’s
grace does away with God’s commandments. But that is not the biblical
teaching: “Keeping the commandments is not a condition for know-
ing God but a sign that we know God/Jesus and love Him. Therefore,
knowledge of God is not just theoretical knowledge but leads to action.”
—Ekkehardt Mueller, The Letters of John (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press,
2009), p. 39. Jesus Himself emphasized: “ ‘If you love Me, keep My
commandments.’ ” “ ‘He who has My commandments and keeps them,
it is he who loves Me’ ” (John 14:15, 21, NKJV). “By this we know that
we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His command-
ments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And
His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2, 3, NKJV).
Read John 13:34, 35. What new commandment did Jesus give His dis-
ciples, and how does this relate to the idea of unity among Jesus’ fol-
lowers?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The command to love one’s neighbor was not new in itself; it can be found
in the instructions God gave Moses (Lev. 19:18). What is new is Jesus’ com-
mand for His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. Jesus’
example of self-sacrificial love is the new ethic for the Christian community.
What a wonderful standard has been set before us! Jesus’ life had been
a practical demonstration of love in action. The whole work of grace is
one continual service of love, of self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. We
can imagine that Christ’s life was an unceasing manifestation of love and
self-sacrifice for the good of others. The principle that actuated Christ
should actuate His people in all their dealing with one another. What a
powerful witness such love would be to the world. And what a powerful
force for unity among us such love would provide, as well.
How can we learn to reveal the kind of self-sacrificing love for

others that Jesus revealed?
36
F riday October 19
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “God’s Law Immutable,” pp. 443–

446, in The Great Controversy. Read the articles “Denominations, Relations
to Other,” pp. 763, 764, and “Roman Catholic Church,” p. 1110, in The Ellen
G. White Encyclopedia.
“Although the Seventh-day Adventist church is a worldwide church

with many local churches, Adventists do not claim to be Christ’s uni-
versal church. The universal church is broader than any denomination.
It is visible and invisible insofar as it consists of those who believe in
Jesus and follow him. This particular theological issue is heightened
if we take into consideration apostasy among Christians, addressed
poignantly in the Book of Revelation. The pure church of Revelation
12 is contrasted with the ‘harlot’ of Revelation 17, Babylon the great
city, which in turn is contrasted with the bride of the Lamb, the holy
city or the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21 and 22. In the first century,
the universal church may have been quite visible[;] it is much more
difficult and complex to see it, for instance, during the Medieval Ages.
“Therefore, Adventists do not limit the concept of God’s true church
to their own denomination, nor do they automatically extend it to other
Christian churches. God’s true church consists of those individuals who truly
believe in [H]im. God knows them. Adventists, on the other hand, claim that
they are God’s special visible end-time remnant of Revelation 12:17 and
chapters 12–14. This remnant has a local as well as a universal character
(Rev. 2:24 and 12:17).”—Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, ed., Message, Mission,
and Unity of the Church (Silver Spring, Md.: Biblical Research Institute,
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 2013), p. 37.
 Has your local church worked with other Christians on certain
issues? How can we work with them, when appropriate, without
compromising truth?
 What are the implications of the statement below found in The

Great Controversy? How can we make this real among us? “If God’s
professed people would receive the light as it shines upon them from
His word, they would reach that unity for which Christ prayed, that
which the apostle describes, ‘the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.’ ‘There is,’ he says, ‘one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are
called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.’
Ephesians 4:3–5.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 379.
Summary: Jesus’ high-priestly prayer in John 17 is a reminder that Jesus still is

concerned about church unity today. His prayer should be our prayer, and
we should seek ways to solidify our faith in God’s Word. Love for one
another also should characterize our relationships to everyone, including
other Christians, whatever our theological differences may be.
37
i n s i d e
Story
God Fills a Hole
Frank Cantrill, a retired Seventh-day Adventist pastor in Australia, was
shocked when doctors diagnosed him with skin cancer. But an even bigger
surprise came two weeks later when a gaping hole in his head healed in what
stunned doctors called a miracle.
Frank was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, a kind of skin cancer, on his
head in 2014. “It was a shock to be told that if the new drugs didn’t work, I
would not have too many chances,” said Frank, 72.
A pastor anointed him, and people began to pray for him. Frank under-
went a series of operations, radiation treatments, and immunotherapies with
his wife, Marlene, at his side.
Complications arose after an operation where doctors removed a large
melanoma from the back of Frank’s head, leaving part of his skull exposed.
Nurses dressed the wound, waiting for the skin to grow back over the skull,
and later his wife took over.
The wound healed well at first, but then the skin just stopped growing.
One day, the color of the exposed skull changed from white to yellow.
A plastic surgeon gave Frank the disturbing diagnosis that his skull had
died. The surgeon called in a leading plastic surgeon for consultations, and
the two decided to perform a major surgery with the assistance of a neuro-
surgeon. The complex operation would take 8 to 10 hours and require the
doctors to replace Frank’s skull with an artificial one.
“The news was a shock to us,” Marlene said in an e-mail to friends.
A few days later, as Marlene was changing the dressing on Frank’s head, a
chunk of discolored skull came off with the dressing and rested in her hand.
“I nearly collapsed with shock!” Marlene said.
Underneath the chunk of skull that had come off, she could see that Frank’s
flesh had been growing across the skull and had covered the gaping hole.
Over the next two days, Frank visited three medical specialists to find out
what was happening. He learned that the human skull has three layers, and
his flesh had been growing underneath the first layer, eventually forcing the
top layer of the skull to pop off.
The medical specialists declared it a miracle.
“They said, ‘Who is looking after you?’ ” Marlene
said.
Frank, pictured left, and Marlene Cantrill pointed to God as

the Great Physician. The operation was canceled, and Frank
was sent back home.
“God knows what is happening, and He has perfect timing,”
Marlene said. “All we can say is ‘Praise the Lord!’ ”
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: John 17:20, 21
The Student Will:

Know: Describe Jesus’ concern that His followers be unified.
Feel: Discern the importance of unity for both the church and its mission.
Do: Seek to represent accurately God’s character of love and unity to the
world around him or her.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: A Mandate for Unity
A What does the nature and character of God have to do with Christian
unity?
B The prayer for oneness comes among several other petitions for the
followers of Jesus. How do the petitions relate to one another and to what
the early Christians would face after the death of Jesus?
C Why was Jesus so concerned about the unity of His followers?
II. Feel: Unity Is Necessary for Mission.

A In what specific ways does disunity among the followers of Jesus
impact the mission of the church?
B What does disunity in the church imply about the nature and character
of God?
III. Do: Showing Love and Respect

A What image of God do your current relationships portray to the
world?
Bter?
What obstacles are hindering an accurate portrayal of God’s charac-
C What steps do you need to take to more accurately reflect God’s char-
acter?
Summary: The prayer of Jesus in John 17 demonstrates Jesus’ great desire that
His followers accurately represent God’s nature and character to the world
around them. The oneness of purpose between Father and Son means that
Christian unity is indispensable to this goal.
39
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: John 17:20, 21
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Followers of Jesus have been

called to represent the love and character of God to the world around
them through their unity with one another.
Just for Teachers: Emphasize that when we call ourselves Christians,

people around us begin to judge Christianity and God’s character based
on what they observe about our interactions, whether or not we are aware
of our impact.
Opening Discussion: When I moved to the United States for postgraduate

study, I found myself unwittingly an ambassador for my country of citizen-
ship. When people listened to me talk, they assumed that my accent was
representative of the accents of all New Zealanders. They assumed that my
clothing style reflected the current fashion in New Zealand. In fact, all my
words, actions, and even food choices were scrutinized and assumed to accu-
rately reflect my background. In many cases, the assumptions made by those
around me were correct; but in other areas, their assumptions misled them.
Every Christian is called to be an ambassador for God. How we think
and act impacts the way the world understands His character. When we
act selfishly, causing disharmony, the world perceives a divided and
powerless God. But when we display love and unity with one another, we
display the true character of God.
Discussion Questions: When have you been an unwitting ambas-

sador? What sort of impression did your actions leave with regard to the
person, country, or sport you represented? Are you more likely to make
a better impression when you have chosen to be an ambassador? Give
reasons for your answer.
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: This section provides a focused review of the rela-
tional aspects of the prayer of Jesus in John 17.
Bible Commentary
The lengthy prayer in John 17 follows what some scholars have identified as
40
teachers comments
a typical farewell address. The content of the prayer itself suggests that the
prayer was intended as an encouragement for the disciples, who would soon
face challenges without the physical presence of Jesus.
I. The Key Relationship (Review John 17:2, 3, 20–23 with your class.)
At the very heart of the prayer in John 17 is the relationship between the
Father and the Son. It is a relationship of perfect love and unity that has
existed from “before the creation of the world” (John 17:24, CJB). The Father
is identified as “the only true God” (John 17:3, NKJV), the Holy Father (John
17:11), and the Righteous Father (John 17:25). These titles describe both His
character and His righteous actions. Jesus is identified in the prayer as Christ
(John 17:2), the Son (John 17:1), and the Sent One (John 17:3), who does
what the Father asks.
The relationship between the Father and Son provides the basis and
example for what Jesus requests from His followers. The relationship
between the Father and Son also features in the words that Jesus utters
about eternal life. Eternal life is dependent upon knowing both the Father
and the Son. But notice that it is not simply knowledge of Their existence.
The clarification that one must know that the Father is “the only true
God” and that the Son was sent by the Father suggests that a personal and
experiential knowledge is required for eternal life. The symbolism of the
names used for the Father reinforces this thought by implying that those
who receive eternal life have experienced the righteous and redemptive
actions of God.
This passage characterizes both the Father and Son not only by Their
divinity and oneness, but also by Their generous giving. The Father gives
to the Son, and the Son, in turn, passes on much of the things that the
Father has given Him.
Consider This: How does the use of the titles Father and Son relate to the
main messages of John 17? In what sense are the Father and Son one? What
does the giving character of God mean for His church?
II. Glory and the Mission of Jesus (Review John 17:1–5 with your class.)
The mission of Jesus was to reveal the name and words of God to the world
(John 17:6–8) and to bring honor and glory to Him. A name in Hebrew culture
was both a distinguishing mark and a definition of character. So, when Jesus
stated that He had revealed the Father’s name, we should understand that He
had revealed the nature and character of God. Jesus revealed these two things
by displaying the loving character of God through His actions.
Jesus begins His prayer by asking God to glorify Him. The request was
41
teachers comments
not merely a selfish request. It was grounded in the unity of the Father and
Son, and it contributed to Jesus’ mission to reveal the character of the Father.
The nature of the oneness of the Father and Son meant that if Jesus were
glorified, the Father would be automatically glorified. Jesus was thus praying
that He would complete His mission so that the Father’s love would be seen,
and He would receive the honor and glory that are due Him.
Consider This: Review the use of the words “glory” and “glorification” else-
where in John; then define what John means by the word “glorification.” Does it
refer to what happened at Christ’s ascension or to something else? In what sense
do Christ’s followers receive glory?
III. Jesus Prays for All of His Followers. (Review John 17:6–26 with your class.)
As Jesus’ prayer continues, the mission of the believers also is revealed as one
that makes known the character of God and brings glory to Him. The prayer of
Jesus for His disciples recognizes the difficult journey that lay ahead of them
as they attempted to fulfill this mission.
Jesus begins by praying for His followers’ protection by invoking the name
and character of God. In effect, He asks the Father to guard and protect believ-
ers, because He is a loving, merciful God, who is faithful to His promises.
God’s protection of His followers is necessary, because the disciples remain
in a world that is hostile to the values and principles they espouse. They are,
therefore, targets of Satan, who seeks to prevent their witness to the world.
Jesus demonstrated that representing God in the world can be done best
by demonstrating His character through our daily lives. Cognizant of the fact
that His disciples had been arguing over who would be the greatest in the
kingdom, Jesus prayed specifically for the oneness of the believers. Envy,
pride, and greed had the potential to divide them, and, consequently, destroy
the picture of God they were to demonstrate to the world. Oneness, on the
other hand, would demonstrate not only the nature and character of God, but
also His transforming power. It is significant that Christ did not pray only for
unity between believers. He also prayed for their unity with Himself and His
Father. Jesus recognized that unity between one another is dependent upon
unity with God. It is as we are united with Him that we develop a oneness in
purpose with Him that, in turn, transforms our relationships.
Transformation also is in view when Jesus requests that the disciples be
sanctified by the truth. As they interact with the truth as it is in Jesus, the
followers of Christ will experience the transformation of their lives. This
transformation is essential if the followers of Christ are to be witnesses of
the truth.
Consider This: Why do you think Jesus prays that His followers be with Him
42
teachers comments
and see His glory? What does Jesus ask God to protect, and why? What
transformations occur when we are connected to Jesus? How can Christians
remain connected to Jesus?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: The questions below can help class members to

evaluate their own roles and motivations in representing God’s character.
Thought/Application Questions:
 Why is it important that we know God personally and not simply know
about Him?
 What aspects of God’s name and character motivate your witness to the
world?
 Which of the petitions of Jesus on behalf of His disciples is most mean-
ingful in the twenty-first century church?
 How would you evaluate your current witness to the character and nature
of God? How can we improve our witness?
 What type of unity is Jesus wishing for His followers? Hint: Consider
the type of unity He has with His Father. What does this unity look like in
practice?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The activities provided below allow personal or

group reflection on the connection between our actions and our wit-
ness.
Activities:
 Compare the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 with the prayer of Jesus in
John 17 and then answer the following questions. What similarities and
differences do you note? Is unity alluded to in Matthew 6? If so, where?
What aspects of God’s character are appealed to in each prayer?
 Write a journal entry that explores your honest response to the relation-
ships and mission to which you have been called.
 Collect recent news articles about Seventh-day Adventists. Sort them
into two groups: (1) articles that reflect a positive image of God’s character
and (2) articles that reflect badly on God’s character. Choose one or two for
reflection. What actions might have led to a different outcome? Was disunity
a factor in any of the outcomes? Why, or why not?
43
The Key to Unity
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 1:3–14; Gal. 4:7; Eph.
2:11–22; 4:1–6, 11; Matt. 20:25–28; Eph. 5:15–6:9.
Memory Text: “Having made known to us the mystery of His will,

according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and
which are on earth—in Him” (Ephesians 1:9, 10, NKJV).
E
phesus was a major center of commerce and influence in Asia
Minor. The church there, in Ephesus, was made up of Jews,
Gentiles, and people in all social walks of life. Such a diverse
membership might have been as prone to conflicts as the world in which
they lived; that is, if it weren’t for Christ and the unity they had in Him
as members of the body of Christ. Thus, Paul’s concern for unity among
Christ’s followers is the central theme of his Epistle to the Ephesians.
Paul’s concept of unity has two dimensions: unity in the church,
where Jews and Gentiles are brought together in one body—Christ; and
unity in the universe, in which all things in heaven and earth find their
ultimate oneness in Christ.
The source of this unity is Christ. Paul’s expression “in Christ” or
“with Christ” is used numerous times in this epistle in order to show
what God has accomplished for us and for the universe through the life,
death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s ultimate purpose in the
plan of salvation is to reunify all things through Christ. This unity will
be made fully manifest only at the end of the age.
44
S unday October 21
Blessings in Christ
Read Ephesians 1:3–14. What, according to Paul here, have we been
given in Christ?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The followers of Jesus have much to praise God for. In Christ, God
has chosen to adopt us as sons and daughters and to represent Him
to the world. Paul uses many images to describe our new relationship
to God in Christ. Of these images, the image of adoption addresses
this lesson’s theme of oneness. In Christ, we have been adopted, and
we belong to the family of God. This family image also is a reference
to God’s covenant with the children of Israel. In the context of Paul’s
epistle, Gentiles who accept Jesus as the Messiah also are children of
God, heirs of the promises made to Israel (Rom. 8:17, Gal. 4:7). The
benefit of this relationship with Christ, to be in Christ, is fundamental
to all Christian unity. This passage also tells us that it has been God’s
desire all along to reunite all humanity in Christ. And, in God’s fam-
ily, we are all children of God, equally loved and cherished.
Some get confused when, in this passage, we read about predestina-
tion (Eph. 1:5, 11). The promise that God has chosen us to be saved
seems to imply also that God has chosen some to be lost. But that’s not
the biblical teaching. Rather, God prepared the plan of salvation before
the foundation of the world in order that everyone might be saved.
“ ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ ”
(John 3:16, NKJV; see also 1 Tim. 2:6, 2 Pet. 3:9). God knows before-
hand who will accept His offer of salvation, but that is not the same
as predetermining one’s decision. Salvation is offered to all humanity
because of what Christ has done for us. The question is: How do we
respond to this offer? God does not use coercion to save anyone.
“In the council of heaven, provision was made that men, though
transgressors, should not perish in their disobedience, but, through
faith in Christ as their substitute and surety, might become the elect
of God, predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ
to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will. God wills
that all men should be saved; for ample provision has been made, in
giving His only-begotten Son to pay man’s ransom. Those who per-
ish will perish because they refuse to be adopted as children of God
through Christ Jesus.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible
Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1114.
45
M onday October 22
Breaking Down the Wall

Some of the deepest divisions among people are caused by differ-
ences of race, ethnicity, and religion. In many societies, identity cards
indicate the ethnicity or religion one belongs to, and these distinctions
often are connected with privileges or restrictions that people have to
live with on a daily basis. When wars or conflicts arise, these markers
of identity and differences often become catalysts for repression and
violence.
In Ephesians 2:11–22, Paul indicates a better way for the Christian com-
munity. How does our unity in Christ affect our differences? What
was broken down by Jesus’ death on the cross?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Paul invites the Ephesians to remember what their lives were like
before they received the grace of God in Christ. Ethnic, cultural, and
religious differences created animosity and conflicts between people
groups. But the good news is that, in Christ, we are all one people with
a common Savior and Lord. We all belong to the people of God. “But
now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near
by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13, NKJV).
The ancient temple in Jerusalem had a wall of separation to distin-
guish the sections of the temple accessible only to ethnic Jews. This
wall had an inscription that forbade foreigners to go any further, under
pain of death. It is this regulation that Paul was accused of transgress-
ing when he entered the temple after his missionary journeys. When
Paul was arrested, he was charged with bringing into the Jewish sec-
tion of the temple an Ephesian named Trophimus (Acts 21:29). In this
epistle Paul argues that Christ “is our peace, who has made both [ethnic
groups] one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation” (Eph.
2:14, NKJV).
In Christ, believers are descendants of Abraham and receive the
circumcision of the heart. The physical circumcision that God gave
to Abraham pointed to the spiritual circumcision that believers would
receive in Christ (see Deut. 10:16). “In Him you were also circumcised
with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of
the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ” (Col. 2:11, NKJV).
Read again Ephesians 2:11–22. In what ways do we see in our own

church the reality of what Paul has written here? What challenges
remain?
46
T uesday October 23
Unity in One Body

Paul is practical in his inspired words to the Ephesians. The unity that
exists between Jews and Gentiles, between people of different cultural
and ethnic backgrounds, is not a myth or simply a theoretical construct;
it is a reality that demands us “to walk worthy of the calling with which
you were called” (Eph. 4:1, NKJV).
According to Ephesians 4:1–3, in what way are Christians to walk

worthy of their calling in Christ?
_____________________________________________________
The practical outcome of these virtues and graces in the Christian’s
life helps “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph.
4:3, NKJV). All these attributes are rooted in love (1 Cor. 13:1–7).
The active practice of love preserves relationships among brothers and
sisters and promotes peace and unity in the Christian community and
beyond. Unity in the church manifests God’s love in unique ways that
others can witness. The church is called to be such a witness, especially
in a time of strife, divisions, and wars.
Read Ephesians 4:4–6. What is one crucial theme in these three verses?
_____________________________________________________
In the first verses of this chapter, Paul expresses his deep interest in
the unity of the church. He begins with an exhortation to unity (Eph.
4:1–3) and follows with a list of the seven elements that unite believers
(Eph. 4:4–6). Unity is simultaneously something that believers already
possess (Eph. 4:4–6), something that must be constantly worked on and
maintained (Eph. 4:1–3), and something that is the future goal toward
which we strive (Eph. 4:13).
“The apostle exhorts his brethren to manifest in their lives the power
of the truth which he had presented to them. By meekness and gentle-
ness, forbearance and love, they were to exemplify the character of Christ
and the blessings of His salvation. There is but one body, and one Spirit,
one Lord, one faith. As members of the body of Christ all believers are
animated by the same spirit and the same hope. Divisions in the church
dishonor the religion of Christ before the world and give occasion to
the enemies of truth to justify their course. Paul’s instructions were not
written alone for the church in his day. God designed that they should
be sent down to us. What are we doing to preserve unity in the bonds
of peace?”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 239.
What choices can you make right now in order to be sure that you
are walking “worthy of the calling with which you were called”?
47
Church Leaders and Unity

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure
of Christ’s gift” (Eph. 4:7, NKJV). While salvation is a gift given to
all people who will receive it, some spiritual gifts are given to certain
people for a special purpose.
Read Ephesians 4:11. What gifts of leadership does God give to the
church?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
According to Ephesians 4:12, what is God’s purpose in giving special

gifts of leadership to the church? How do these gifts relate to each other?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
All Christians are in a sense ministers and servants of God and
the gospel. Christ’s commission in Matthew 28:19, 20 is given to all
Christians to go, to make disciples of all nations, to baptize, and to
teach. The work of ministry is not given only to a privileged few, such
as pastors and/or evangelists, but to all who bear the name of Christ. No
one can claim exemption from the work of spreading the gospel, and
no church leader can claim to have an exclusive ministry. The spiritual
gifts of leadership are specifically to edify the church. Church leaders
are needed to foster, promote, and encourage unity.
Paul’s list of gifts of leadership tells us that these roles also are for
equipping God’s people to reach the lost. It is the responsibility of some
specially called people within the church to help others fulfill their
ministry and service for Christ, and to edify the body of Christ, “till we
all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ” (Eph. 4:13, NKJV). The example of Jesus’ style of leadership
must guide how we do ministry. Jesus came to serve others and not to
be served (Matt. 20:25–28); we must go and do likewise.
There is a strong tendency among humans to be independent and
not accountable to anyone. Western society, in particular, is plagued by
this inclination. Paul reminds us, however, that no Christian is alone in
this world and that we form a community of faith with spiritual lead-
ers to help encourage one another in our common journey. We are, all
together, part of the body of Christ.
What spiritual gifts do you have, and how are you using them for
the unity of your local church?
48
Human Relationships in Christ

Christianity is a religion of relationships: relationship with God
and with one another. It makes no sense to claim to have a deep rela-
tionship with God without that relationship having an impact on the
relationships one has with other people. Christianity cannot be lived in
a vacuum. The principles of unity Paul discusses in his Epistle to the
Ephesians also are applicable to how we relate to others.
Read Ephesians 5:15–21. What is Paul saying to us in verse 21? What

is the relationship between submission and unity?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Paul’s exhortation to be submitted to one another is connected with
the phrase being “filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5:18. One of the
expressions of the infilling of the Spirit is submission to one another.
This refers to the proper attitude of humility and thoughtfulness that we
should have toward people. Of course, this is not a natural attribute of
most personalities, but is the result of the Spirit’s living in our hearts. It
is a gift of the same Spirit, who is the bond of unity in Christ. Viewed
from this perspective, submission is an inner quality that expresses our
reverence for Christ and His sacrifice for us.
Read Ephesians 5:22–6:9. What impact on our human relationships

does this quality of mutual submission have in the home and work-
place of a believer in Christ?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
To some extent, unity in the church depends upon unity in the home.
Paul emphasized that the unity, love, and respect that should exist
between husband and wife should exemplify the love of Christ toward
the church, a self-sacrificing love. Thus, Christlike respect in the home
as well as in the church is required of husbands and wives and church
members. This Christlike attribute also is to be exemplified in relation-
ships between children and parents and between employees and employ-
ers (bondservants and masters). The kind of harmony and peacefulness
that should pervade our homes should pervade our church life, as well.
What principles can you take from the verses for today that can
help you better understand how you should act (depending upon
your situation) toward a member of your family or a coworker?
49
F riday October 26
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Spirit of Unity,” pp. 179–188,

in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9.
“Christ recognized no distinction of nationality or rank or creed. The

scribes and Pharisees desired to make a local and a national benefit of
all the gifts of heaven and to exclude the rest of God’s family in the
world. But Christ came to break down every wall of partition. He came
to show that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as the air, the
light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth.
“The life of Christ established a religion in which there is no caste, a
religion by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a com-
mon brotherhood, equal before God. No question of policy influenced
His movements. He made no difference between neighbors and strang-
ers, friends and enemies. That which appealed to His heart was a soul
thirsting for the waters of life.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the
Church, vol. 9, pp. 190, 191.
 Reflect on this statement: “In the fourth chapter of Ephesians
the plan of God is so plainly and simply revealed that all His chil-
dren may lay hold upon the truth. Here the means which He has
appointed to keep unity in His church, that its members may reveal
to the world a healthy religious experience, is plainly declared.”
—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6,
p. 1117. What do you see in Ephesians 4 that points to the unity of
the church? What can we do to help ensure that unity?
 So central to the question of unity is the need for humility

and submission. Without these traits, how could any unity exist in
the church? If we are proud, sure of our views and positions, and
unwilling to listen to others, we have no chance of unity. How can
we learn this humility and submission?
 How can we have unity even when we don’t always agree on

everything?
Summary: In his Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul gives many counsels regarding
what it means for Christians to be “in Christ.” Salvation in Jesus trans-
forms our lives in practical ways. All our human relationships, including
relations between brothers and sisters in the church, are transformed by
the power of Christ in our lives. And this transformation is crucial in
order for us to have unity.
50
i n s i d e
Story
Female Bomber Baptized
By Philip Baptiste
Amina is serving a five-year prison sentence in East-Central Africa
after being arrested as she headed to India to blow up a large facility.
But persistent visits by a Seventh-day Adventist pastor resulted in
her discarding her fundamentalist understanding of Islam and being
baptized into the Adventist Church.
“I just praise God for the Adventist pastor who consistently prayed
for me and visited me in my time of great need,” Amina said.
For her safety, Adventist Mission is not disclosing Amina’s full name
or her location.
Amina was in solitary confinement, in an isolated cell, because of
the nature of her crime when the pastor first came to visit. She had
plotted the attack after being taught by fundamental Muslim leaders
that she would attain righteousness and live in paradise if she elimi-
nated evil.
Initially, Amina rebuffed the pastor, whose counseling visits were
arranged by the prison warden. But when the pastor kept returning, she
relented because the counseling sessions would be held outside her cell
and she missed the sunshine.
Amina refused the pastor’s first request to pray for her. She told the
pastor that he should pray for himself instead. The pastor prayed for
her anyway, and he kept on praying.
After a few counseling sessions together, the pastor had to take care
of business elsewhere for a few weeks. Amina began to miss the visits.
When the pastor did not return as soon as she expected, she started
reading a Bible that he had left in her cell.
A few months later, the Adventist church organized a camp meeting
at the prison, and Amina was invited to attend. Amina agreed to go for
the sake of socializing with the other inmates. To her surprise, when
the pastor made an altar call, she went up to surrender her life to Jesus.
Not long after, she was baptized.
Amina said she does not understand how, during the counseling ses-
sions, she lost interest in her former faith. She believes that God used
her imprisonment to reveal His truth to
her, and now she is anxious to reach her
friends.
“When I get out of prison, I will spend
all that I have to reach them,” she said.
Philip Baptiste is special assistant to the president

of the East-Central Africa Division.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Ephesians 2:9, 10
The Student Will:

Know: Identify the life and death of Christ as central to the fulfillment of
God’s ultimate purpose to bring harmony and unity to all creation.
Feel: Foster attitudes that help to maintain the unity that Christ calls us
to have.
Do: Seek to remain connected to Christ in order that he or she may experi-
ence the fullness of the blessings He provides.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Fulfilling God’s Purpose
A What is God’s purpose for His creation?
B What has Christ’s death done for us? List as many consequences as
possible.
C We often limit our discussions of what Christ accomplished to the
theological topic of salvation. In what specific ways do the life and death
of Jesus impact relationships and unity?
II. Feel: Humility and Submission

A What attitudes does Paul consider are necessary for maintaining the
unity that Christ has given so much to achieve?
B How can we cultivate these essential attitudes so that they become
natural responses in our lives?
C What does submitting to one another mean practically?
III. Do: Remain Connected.

A What advantages are there to being connected to Christ?
B How can we maintain an ongoing connection with Christ on a daily
basis?
Summary: God has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ. This stunning truth
results in our adoption, forgiveness, and Redemption, but also in the healing
of our relationships. As we remain connected to Christ, we experience a trans-
formation of our attitudes and actions that promotes unity.
52
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Ephesians 2:19–22
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: To experience the oneness that

God expects of His church, we must be continually connected to
Christ, the Source of unity.
Just for Teachers: The New Testament clearly places Jesus at the

center of the Christian life. It is His death and resurrection that provide
salvation, hope, and an understanding of how unity is possible between
Christians. As you discuss the lesson, emphasize how the life and death of
Jesus provide the key to attaining Christian unity.
Opening Discussion: Give your class a coded message related to the

topic of the lesson, but don’t give them the key to solve it. Choose a complex
code that class members are unlikely to be able to work out on their own.
Let the class spend time puzzling together over how the message might be
solved. After they have worked together for five minutes or so, drop a hint
about the key without giving away the full details of the key. Allow the class
a few minutes to try to make sense of what you have told them. If they still
need help, provide the full key to solve the message. Spend a few minutes
discussing the central idea of the message they received before discussing
the following questions.
Discussion Questions: Why was a key important for solving the mes
sage? Maintaining internal church unity seems to be like a puzzle for many
churches. Why is knowing that Christ is the Key to unity helpful for solving
problems in the local church?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: The book of Ephesians summarizes the good

news of the gospel and outlines God’s vision for a church that acts in
love and unity to fulfill His purpose. As you explore several passages
from Ephesians, emphasize that the church and its unity depend on
Christ and our ongoing relationship to Him.
Bible Commentary
Discussion about disunity often focuses on doctrine or truth. Christians
53
teachers comments
lament that if only we could agree on what we believe on an issue, disunity

would cease. While unity in doctrine does play a role in church unity,
doctrinal unity is not the primary key to understanding unity and disunity.
The key to unity is found in Jesus Christ.
I. The Source of Unity (Review Ephesians 1:3–14 with your class.)
Any discussion about the unity of the church cannot take place without
the recognition that Jesus Christ creates unity primarily through His
death and resurrection. It is these events that give rise to the statement
of praise at the beginning of Ephesians. While the verses conform to the
Jewish style of praise, they are marked by the repeated reference to the
fact that all God has done for us is “in Christ” or “in Him.” The extensive
list of blessings available to believers “in Him” includes being chosen,
predestined, and adopted, as well as being given grace, Redemption, for-
giveness, and a seal guaranteeing our inheritance. Indeed, it seems that
in Christ no spiritual blessing has been withheld from us (Eph. 1:3). But
also notice the way that relationship and unity underlie much of the pas-
sage before being brought into direct focus in verse 10: we were chosen
to be holy and blameless. God wanted us to be like Him and commune
with Him. We were reconnected with God through adoption, and our
broken relationships were healed through Redemption and forgiveness.
Paul summarizes the cumulative effect of these blessings in Ephesians
1:9, 10. These blessings were designed so that God could bring unity to
His creation in Christ.
The focus on Christ as the Key to unity continues in Ephesians
2:11–22, where Christ is portrayed as the Remover of barriers so that
all can have equal access to God. The passage alludes to the dividing
wall in the Jewish temple that restricted those who were not Jews from
the temple proper and hence from access to God. Christ’s death has
figuratively torn down this wall so that Jew and Gentile alike can be
reconciled to God. But it was not just the Jews and Gentiles who were
now able to be reconciled. Paul understood that Christ had broken
down all barriers, whether racial, class-related, or gender-based. All
people now had equal access to God and His great salvation.
Consider This: What does it mean to have every spiritual blessing in

Christ? What relevance do the blessings in the heavenly places have for
life right now? What clues does Paul provide in Ephesians 1 to help us to
understand God’s motivation and purpose for blessing us? What does this
purpose have to do with unity?
II. Remaining Connected to the Source (Review Ephesians 4:1–6 with your class.)
54
teachers comments
As a result of what God has done in Christ, we are one body, indwelt by
one Spirit, living in one hope (Eph. 4:4). We have a common Lord and
faith that has been witnessed through a common baptism (Eph. 4:5).
Because God has gone to such great lengths to bring all things into unity,
those who call themselves Christians are called to live in a manner that
maintains that unity. Chapters 4–6 of Ephesians describe the attitudes and
actions that help to maintain this unity. Some of the key attitudes include
humility (Eph. 4:2), gentleness (Eph. 4:2), patience (Eph. 4:2), truthful-
ness (Eph. 4:25), love (Eph. 5:1), submission (Eph. 5:22, 23), and obedi-
ence (Ephesians 6).
However, we cannot experience unity unless we are connected to
Christ. Paul alludes to this truth in Ephesians when he discusses all
the blessings we have that are “in Him” (Eph. 1:4, 7, 9, 10, 13, NKJV).
John is more explicit, illustrating the need for connection with Christ
by using the image of a vine (John 15:1–17). A branch lives and thrives
only when it is connected to the source of life. As we put faith in Christ’s
redeeming act and are baptized into His death and resurrection, we are
connected to the Source of life, power, and unity. However, the singu-
lar action of baptism does not guarantee ongoing connection with the
source of life. We must seek continually to remain connected to Christ
in order to bear fruit, such as the transformed attitudes that underlie our
ability to love and submit to one another. Remaining connected to Christ,
therefore, provides the foundation for unity with one another. The closer
we are to Christ, the closer our relationship will be with those around us.
Consider This: In what sense are we “in Christ”? How can we remain con-
nected to Christ in order to experience the fruitfulness and transformation that
God desires for us?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: While Christ is the Source of the unity of the church,
every member is called upon to maintain the unity of the church. Help stu-
dents to understand their need to remain connected with the Source of life and
unity in order to fulfill God’s will for the church.
 Why are all of the blessings that are listed at the beginning of Ephesians
focused on the unity of God’s creation?
55
teachers comments
 If Christ is the Key to unity and all Christian unity is dependent upon
Him, what part does each individual member play in the unity of the
church?
 Discuss the following quotation by Ellen G. White: “While the graft

is outwardly united with the vine, there may be no vital connection. Then
there will be no growth or fruitfulness. So there may be an apparent con-
nection with Christ without a real union with Him by faith. A profession
of religion places men in the church, but the character and conduct show
whether they are in connection with Christ.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire
of Ages, p. 676.
 Which of the attitudes outlined in Ephesians do you think is the most

important for maintaining the unity and harmony of the church? On what
evidence do you base your answer?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The idea that Christ is the key to unity and harmony
may seem very theoretical. It is important that your class understand that
Christ’s role is very practical.
Activities:
 Draw a diagram in which you try to connect the ideas of the lesson in
a meaningful way. Be certain to show how Christ is the key to unity.
 Create a large key out of any material that you have available to you.
Distribute paper key tags to each member of the class and have them
prayerfully complete one of the following sentences on the tag:
a. Christ is the key to improving my relationship with . . .
b. Christ is the key to removing barriers between me and . . .
c. Christ is the key to unlocking God’s purpose for my life in regard to . . .
d. Christ has forgiven me; therefore I need to forgive . . .
e. Christ has offered me grace; therefore I need to . . .
Once everyone has finished writing, use pins to hang the completed tags
on the key.
56
L esson 5 *October 27 –November 2
The Experience of Unity

in the Early Church
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 1:12–14, Acts 2:5–13,
Rev. 14:12, Acts 2:42–47, Acts 4:32–37, Acts 5:1–11, 2 Cor. 9:8–15.
Memory Text: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doc-

trine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts
2:42, NKJV).
C
hurch unity is the result of a shared spiritual experience in Jesus,
who is the truth. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Solid bonds of
fellowship are forged in a common spiritual journey and experience.
Early Adventists had such an experience in the Millerite movement.
Their common experience in 1844 tied their hearts together as they
sought to find an explanation for their disappointment. This experience
gave birth to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the truth about the
pre-Advent judgment and all that it entails.
The experience of Jesus’ disciples after His ascension to heaven is
a testimony to the power of God’s Word, prayer, and common fellow-
ship in creating unity and harmony among believers of widely different
backgrounds. That same experience still is possible today.
“I would insist that fellowship is a particularly important element in
corporate worship. . . . There is no substitute to the Christian for the
realization of the spiritual bond which unites him with other believers
and with the Lord Jesus Christ. . . . Jesus Christ first brings a soul to
Himself, but then He always unites that soul to other believers in His
body, the church.”—Robert G. Rayburn, O Come, Let Us Worship
(Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980), p. 91.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 3.

57
S unday October 28
Days of Preparation
In the last hours spent with the disciples before His death, Jesus prom-
ised that He would not leave them alone. Another Comforter, the Holy
Spirit, would be sent to accompany them in their ministry. The Spirit would
help them remember many things Jesus had said and done (John 14:26),
and would guide them in discovering more truths (John 16:13). On the
day of His ascension Jesus renewed this promise. “ ‘You shall be baptized
with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ . . . ‘You shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you’ ” (Acts 1:5, 8, NKJV). The Holy
Spirit’s power will be given to enable the disciples to be witnesses in
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Read Acts 1:12–14. What did the disciples do during this period of
ten days?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
We can imagine these ten days as a period of intense spiritual prepa-
ration, a kind of retreat during which these disciples share together their
memories of Jesus, His deeds, His teachings, and His miracles. They
were of “one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14).
“As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled
their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief. As they called
to remembrance the words that Christ had spoken to them before His death
they understood more fully their meaning. Truths which had passed from
their memory were again brought to their minds, and these they repeated to
one another. They reproached themselves for their misapprehension of the
Saviour. Like a procession, scene after scene of His wonderful life passed
before them. As they meditated upon His pure, holy life they felt that no
toil would be too hard, no sacrifice too great, if only they could bear wit-
ness in their lives to the loveliness of Christ’s character. Oh, if they could
but have the past three years to live over, they thought, how differently
they would act! If they could only see the Master again, how earnestly they
would strive to show Him how deeply they loved Him, and how sincerely
they sorrowed for having ever grieved Him by a word or an act of unbelief!
But they were comforted by the thought that they were forgiven. And they
determined that, so far as possible, they would atone for their unbelief
by bravely confessing Him before the world. . . . Putting away all differ-
ences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian
fellowship.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 36, 37.
What things do you wish you could do over in regard to your

faith? What can you learn from your regrets about the past that
can help you make a better future?
58
M onday October 29
From Babel to Pentecost

The days of spiritual preparation, following Jesus’ ascension, culmi-
nated in the events of Pentecost. The first verse tells us that on that day,
just before the Holy Spirit was poured upon the disciples, they were all
together, of “one accord,” in one place (Acts 2:1).
In the Old Testament, Pentecost was the second of three major feasts
that every male Israelite was obligated to attend. It was held fifty days
(in Greek, pentekoste, fiftieth day) after Passover. During that feast the
Hebrews presented to God the firstfruits of their summer harvest as an
offering of thanksgiving.
It is likely, also, that by the time of Jesus the Feast of Pentecost
included a celebration of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, as well
(Exod. 19:1). Thus, we see here the continued importance of God’s
law as part and parcel of the Christian message regarding Jesus, whose
death offers everyone who repents forgiveness for their violation of
God’s law. No wonder one of the crucial texts regarding the last days
deals with both the law and the gospel: “Here is the patience of the
saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the
faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12, NKJV).
Also, as with Mount Sinai, when Moses received the Ten
Commandments (Exod. 19:16–25, Heb. 12:18), numerous extraor-
dinary phenomena occurred at this Pentecost. “And suddenly there
came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled
the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them
divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2–4, NKJV).
Read Acts 2:5–13. What is the significance of this amazing event?

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Pentecost was to be a joyous feast, a feast of thanksgiving to the Lord
for His bounties. Here, perhaps, is the reason for the false accusation
of drunkenness (Acts 2:13–15). God’s power especially is seen in the
miracle of speaking and hearing in diverse tongues. Jews from all over
the Roman Empire who came to Jerusalem for this feast heard the mes-
sage of Jesus, the Messiah, in their own languages.
In a unique way, Pentecost helps undo the dispersion of the original
human family and the formation of ethnic groups, which began in ear-
nest at the Tower of Babel. The miracle of grace begins the reunifying
of the human family. The unity of God’s church on a global scale testi-
fies to the nature of His kingdom as restoring what was lost at Babel.
59
T uesday October 30
Unity of Fellowship
In response to Peter’s sermon and appeal for repentance and salva-
tion, about three thousand people made a decision to accept Jesus as the
Messiah and the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises to Israel. God
was at work in the hearts of all these people. Many had heard about Jesus
from far away and may have traveled to Jerusalem with the hope of seeing
Him. Some may have seen Jesus and heard His messages of God’s salva-
tion but had not made a commitment to become a follower. At Pentecost,
God miraculously intervened in the lives of the disciples and used them as
witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. Now they knew that, in Jesus’ name,
people could have the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38).
Read Acts 2:42–47. What activities did these early followers of Jesus do as a
community of believers? What created this amazing unity of fellowship?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
It is remarkable that the first activity this community of new believ-
ers engaged in was learning the apostles’ teaching. Bible instruction
is an important way to facilitate the spiritual growth of new believers.
Jesus had given the commission to His disciples to teach them “ ‘all
things that I have commanded you’ ” (Matt. 28:20, NKJV). This new
community spent time learning from the apostles all about Jesus. They
likely heard about Jesus’ life and ministry; His teachings, parables,
and sermons; and His miracles, all explained as the fulfillment of the
Hebrew Scriptures in the writings of the prophets.
They also spent time in prayer and the breaking of bread. It is unclear
whether the breaking of bread is a direct allusion to the Lord’s Supper
or simply a reference to sharing meals together, as Acts 2:46 seems to
imply. The mention of fellowship certainly infers that this new com-
munity spent time together, often and regularly, both in the temple in
Jerusalem, which still served as the center of their devotions and wor-
ship, and in their private homes. They shared an intimate life. They ate
and prayed together. Prayer is a vital element of a community of faith,
and it is essential to spiritual growth. This new community spent time
in worship. We are told that these activities were done “steadfastly.”
This steadfast fellowship generated good relationships with others in
Jerusalem. The new believers are described as “having favor with all
the people” (Acts 2:47, NKJV). No doubt the work of the Holy Spirit
in their lives made a powerful impression on those around them and
served as a powerful witness to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah.
What can your local church learn from the example set here in
regard to unity, fellowship, and witness?
60
Generosity and Greed

Luke tells us that one of the natural outgrowths of the fellowship
experienced by Jesus’ followers soon after Pentecost was their mutual
support of each other. “Now all who believed were together, and had all
things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided
them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44, 45, NKJV).
This sharing of common goods is not a requirement of the commu-
nity, but a voluntary outgrowth of their love for each other in the fel-
lowship they experience. It also is a concrete expression of their unity.
This mutual support continued for some time, and we are given more
details about it in Acts 4 and 5. It also is a theme that we find in other
places in the New Testament, as we will see next.
It is in this context that Barnabas is introduced for the first time.
He appears to be a wealthy person who owned land. Having sold his
property for the benefit of the community, he brought the money to the
apostles (Acts 4:36, 37). Barnabas is portrayed as an example to follow.
Read Acts 4:32–37 and 5:1–11. Compare the behaviors and attitudes
of Barnabas with those of Ananias and Sapphira. What went wrong
with this couple?
_____________________________________________________
Besides their sin of outright lying to the Holy Spirit, these people also
displayed greed and covetousness. Perhaps no sin can destroy fellow-
ship and brotherly love faster than selfishness and greed. If Barnabas
serves as a positive example of the early church’s spirit of fellowship,
Ananias and Sapphira are the opposite. Luke is honest in sharing this
story about less virtuous people in the community.
In the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:1–17), the last commandment,
about covetousness, is unlike the others. While other commandments
speak of actions that visibly transgress God’s will for humanity, the last
commandment is about what is hidden in the heart. The sin of covet-
ousness is not an action; rather, it is a thought process. Covetousness,
and its companion selfishness, is not a visible sin but a condition of
sinful human nature. It becomes visible only when manifested in self-
ish actions, such as what was seen here with Ananias and Sapphira. In
a sense the last commandment reveals the root of the evil manifested
in the actions condemned by all the other commandments. Their cov-
etousness opened them to Satan’s influence, which led them to lie to
God; this is not unlike what Judas’s covetousness led him to do, as well.
What are ways in which we can seek to uproot covetousness from

our own lives? Why is praise and thanksgiving for what we have
a powerful antidote to this evil?
61
T hursday November 1
Remember the Poor

The sharing of one’s resources was often a tangible expression of
unity in the early church. The generosity described in the early chapters
of the book of Acts continues later with Paul’s inviting the churches
he has established in Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution
for the poor in Jerusalem (see Acts 11:27–30, Gal. 2:10, Rom. 15:26,
and 1 Cor. 16:1–4). That gift becomes a tangible expression of the fact
that churches, consisting mainly of Gentile believers, care and love
their brothers and sisters of Jewish heritage in Jerusalem. In spite of
cultural and ethnic differences, they form one body in Christ and cher-
ish together the same gospel. This sharing with those in need not only
reveals the unity that already existed in the church but also strengthens
that unity.
Read 2 Corinthians 9:8–15. What does Paul say will be the results of
the generosity revealed by the church at Corinth?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The experience of unity in the early church shows us what can still
be done today. Unity, however, did not happen without intentional com-
mitment on the part of all believers. The leaders of the early community
saw it as their ministry to foster unity in Christ. As love between hus-
band and wife and children is a commitment that must be intentionally
fostered every day, so is unity among believers. The unity we have in
Christ is both encouraged and made visible in a number of ways.
The obvious elements that fostered this unity in the early church
were prayer, worship, fellowship, a common vision, and the study of
God’s Word. Not only did they understand their mission to preach the
gospel to all nations, but they also realized that they had a responsibility
of love and care toward each other. Their unity manifested itself in
their generosity and mutual support within their own local fellowships,
and more broadly, between church communities, even if long distances
separated them.
“Their benevolence testified that they had not received the grace of
God in vain. What could produce such liberality but the sanctification
of the Spirit? In the eyes of believers and unbelievers it was a miracle
of grace.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 344.
In what ways have you and your church experienced the benefits
of generosity toward others? That is, what blessings come to those
who give to others?
62
F riday November 2
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “Pentecost,” pp. 35–46, in The

Acts of the Apostles.
“This liberality on the part of the believers [in Acts 2:44, 45 and 4:32–35]
was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit. The converts to the gospel were
‘of one heart and of one soul.’ One common interest controlled them—the
success of the mission entrusted to them; and covetousness had no place in
their lives. Their love for their brethren and the cause they had espoused was
greater than their love of money and possessions. Their works testified that
they accounted the souls of men of higher value than earthly wealth.
“Thus it will ever be when the Spirit of God takes possession of the
life. Those whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ will follow the
example of Him who for our sake became poor, that through His poverty
we might be made rich. Money, time, influence—all the gifts they have
received from God’s hand, they will value only as a means of advancing
the work of the gospel. Thus it was in the early church; and when in the
church of today it is seen that by the power of the Spirit the members
have taken their affections from the things of the world, and that they are
willing to make sacrifices in order that their fellow men may hear the
gospel, the truths proclaimed will have a powerful influence upon the
hearers.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 70, 71.
 Read over the factors from this week’s lesson that helped create
the unity that the early church had experienced. How can we, as a
church today, do similar things? That is, what might we be lacking in
contrast to what was taking place among those believers at that time?
 How is the example of these early New Testament churches giv-

ing a generous offering to help the poor in Jerusalem an example
of what we should do today? How about other social issues? How
can local churches be involved in their communities in order to
alleviate poverty and supply other basic needs?
 What are some lessons we can take away from the sad story
of Ananias and Sapphira? What is the importance of the phrase
found in Acts 5:5 and 5:11 about the “great fear” that came upon
the church in regard to these two deaths?
Summary: The early church experienced rapid growth because Jesus’ disciples
intentionally prepared themselves for the outpouring of the promised
Holy Spirit. Their fellowship and common faith were the means used by
the Holy Spirit to prepare their hearts for Pentecost. After Pentecost the
Holy Spirit continued to transform this new community, as is manifested
in their generosity toward each other and the rapid growth of the church.
63
i n s i d e
Story
From Rocker to Doctor
By Vyacheslav Koshkodan
At the age of 16, I was a rocker who listened to Nirvana and Metallica,
had long hair, and wore torn clothing. I spent my nights at a dance hall,
drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana in my small hometown in the for-
mer Soviet republic of Moldova.
Then a Seventh-day Adventist church member took an interest in me. He
didn’t condemn me, but instead spoke about his love for Jesus. He often
asked me, “Have you read the Bible?”
After a while, I began to wonder why this guy wanted me to read the
Bible. One evening I took a Bible with me to the dance hall and began to
read. It was like a fairy tale to me, and I didn’t take it seriously. But I kept
reading, and something strange happened. My life began to change. Things
that I once liked were no longer exciting to me. One night I looked around
the dance floor and thought, What are you doing here? I went home and
never returned.
At home, I continued reading the Bible. I asked the church member many
questions, and I began to keep the Sabbath.
Soon I enrolled in the university to study medicine in Moldova’s capital,
Chișinău . We had classes six days a week, Monday through Saturday, but
I told the dean that I couldn’t study on Saturday. He replied that I should
change my major.
At home, I fell on my knees and prayed, “God, if You want me to
become a doctor, help me at school.” As I prayed, the idea came to me to
speak directly to the teacher who taught the Saturday classes. I told him
about my beliefs, and he gave permission for me to make up my school-
work on another day.
When I graduated six years later, my classmates looked at me with
respect. They said, “You came to classes only five days a week, but you have
better marks than we do. How is that possible?”
I told them, “I am learning from God, and He is my teacher.” But really,
God is more than my teacher. He has made me into a new person.
Today, I’m 33 and the father of three. In addition
to being a physician, I’m a pastor and the health
director for the Adventist Church in Moldova.
Anything is possible with Jesus. If Jesus could
change me, He can change anyone.
Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in fourth quarter

2017 helped turn a Soviet-era health resort into a Pathfinder
camp and conference center in Moldova. Thank you for your
mission offerings. Vyacheslav Koshkodan is pictured at left.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Acts 2:42–47
The Student Will:

Know: Comprehend that unity is forged through a shared spiritual journey
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Feel: Appreciate the connection between devotion to God and love for
others.
Do: Commit to increasing fellowship between the members of your
church.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Shared Spiritual Experience Underlies Unity.
A What beliefs, practices, and values were considered important by
members of the early church described in Acts 2?
B Why was it important that the believers gathered together in both the
temple courts and in their homes?
C What specific role did the Holy Spirit play in the new community?
II. Feel: Devotion to God Impacts Others.

A As you look at the list of activities in Acts 2:42–47, does any one
activity seem more important than another? Why, or why not?
B How might devotion to God lead to changed attitudes toward other
people?
C How have you experienced this change in attitude in your own life?
III. Do: Making Way for Fellowship

A How is Christian fellowship different from merely socializing with
friends?
B What obstacles prevent the contemporary church from experiencing
the full benefits of fellowship with one another?
C What steps can you take to improve fellowship within your Sabbath
School class and across your whole church family?
Summary: Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the early church witnessed
unity and its expression of love and generosity as individuals spent time
together, sharing their love for, and devotion to, God.
65
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Acts 2:42–47

Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: As we share in worship and
fellowship, the Holy Spirit works through us to transform our attitudes
to that of love for one another. This transformation gives glory to God.
Just for Teachers: There are multiple benefits of the togetherness
described in Acts 2. The most important factor highlighted by this story
is that working together with a common purpose helps us to forget the
things that divide us, thus transforming the ways that we see one another.
Opening Discussion: During the first half of the nineteenth century
on the North American continent, Christian churches experienced a reli-
gious revival commonly called the Second Great Awakening. Although it is
often remembered for its excessive levels of emotionalism, this revival had
other important effects. Convicted not only of their own sins but also of the
evil around them, Christians set out to reform their society. Thousands of
Christians joined voluntary organizations that had singular aims, such as
reducing alcohol consumption or reducing poverty. Many of the societies
were quite successful in achieving their aims. But there was a side effect that
no one expected. Christians from different denominational backgrounds, who
normally fought over doctrine or simply ignored each other, found that work-
ing closely together on a project with common goals led them to enjoy one
another’s company and want to worship together. Like the church in Acts, the
Christians involved in voluntary societies found that spending time in close
relationships with others who shared a common motivation bred harmony
between them.
Discussion Questions: Think of other examples in which working

closely together with a common goal or motivation unexpectedly brought
people together in harmony. What was the central motivation that brought
the early church together? How often do you remember the motivation that
brings you together with other Christians?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: Discussions of Acts 2:42–47 often focus on the
list of behaviors that the early church practiced. As you explore these
verses, try to move the focus to attitudes, values, and relationships.
Consider what motivated the behaviors.
66
teachers comments
Bible Commentary
Acts 2 provides a glimpse into the life of the first Christian community. It
was a community experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit and convicted
of the importance of the message of the gospel. It also was a community
that demonstrated God’s love practically through a profound unity in the
Spirit that is repeatedly highlighted in the early chapters of Acts. Such
unity does not occur by accident.
I. Defining Devotion (Review Acts 2 with your class.)
The early followers of Jesus are described as continually devoting

themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship. To give devotion to
something involves being faithful to it. The wholehearted attention that
faithfulness demands means that devotion cannot happen without a sig-
nificant level of commitment and discipline. Therefore, devotion cannot
be ordered or imposed on others. Rather, true devotion flows from one’s
own attitudes and priorities. It is a response of the heart.
Consider This: How would you describe devotion? What forms does
devotion take in the twenty-first century? Are all these forms of devotion
healthy? Why, or why not?
II. Devotion to God (Review Acts 1:12–14 and 2:42–47 with your class.)
The first object of the early church’s devotion was God. This is dem-
onstrated in their devotion to adhering to the teachings of the apostles,
prayer, and to the praising of God. The commitment paved the way for
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:12–14) and contin-
ued after it. Devotion to God thus preceded any change in the Christian’s
interactions with other people. As believers accepted Christ and devoted
themselves to Him, they placed themselves in a position where the Holy
Spirit could work to transform their lives. Luke is careful to emphasize
that it was not only one or two believers in isolation that practiced whole-
hearted commitment to Christ. All those who experienced God’s power
were together and shared the same devotion. But we should not forget
that the loving interactions with others both inside and outside of their
community also were acts of devotion to God. When we respond to God’s
grace in tangible ways, we honor Him.
Consider This: What underlying motivation was there for the early

Christians to be devoted to God? What might total devotion to God look like
in the twenty-first century? Is emulation of the early church feasible?
67
teachers comments
III. Devotion to Fellowship (Review Acts 2:42–44 with your class.)
The word “fellowship” is translated from the Greek word koinonia. - It is

derived from the Greek root koinos, which means “common,” “shared,” or
“mutual.” It thus referred to what was held in common between people. The
-
word koinonia itself was often used in Greek literature to describe the close-
ness, commitment, and mutual bonds of the marriage relationship. It includes
the ideas of close association in which there is a mutual sharing with each
other, as well as the idea of goodwill that manifests itself as sharing with oth-
ers. In Acts 2, fellowship is expressed as shared time, shared activity, shared
mission, and shared possessions. However, what the believers shared in com-
mon occurred only because of the foundation they had in common: that is
a shared relationship with Christ. While it is easy to list the activities of the
early church that were a manifestation of fellowship, fellowship in the New
Testament is primarily about relationship, not activity. Believers had relation-
ships with one another and shared a common life precisely because they had
a relationship with Christ. The nature of the relationships between believers
was an intimate one. This intimacy was witnessed in the early church through the
unusual act of sharing meals with other believers, regardless of socioeconomic
status or ethnic background.
Consider This: What key words do you find in Acts 2:42–46 that reveal
more about the nature of the fellowship that the early Christians shared? Why
does Luke emphasize the idea of joy and thankfulness in this passage?
IV. The Results of Devotion (Review Acts 2:45–47 and Acts 4:32–37 with your class.)
As the believers devoted themselves to God and fellowship, they not only
recognized their common bond in Christ, but they also became more aware of
the needs of those around them. They responded by helping in any way they
could, including selling their property and distributing their possessions. The
Greek construction of verses 44 and 45, with the repeated use of the imperfect
tense, suggests that this was not a one-time event but, rather, a regular and
ongoing practice in the community. It was a response that grew out of love
for God and for one another. However, this awareness of the needs of those
around them was not the only result of the devotion of the early believers.
Luke also emphasizes their joy, which was expressed in thankfulness and
praise to God and the fact that other people were attracted to this healthy and
vibrant Christian community.
Consider This: What other positive results might you expect in a com-
munity fully devoted to God? If giving was a voluntary action by members of
the church community, why did Ananias and Sapphira die?
68
teachers comments
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: This section seeks to help uncover the motiva-
tions for current behavior and devotion and then encourages consid-
eration of how members can put themselves in a place where the Holy
Spirit can transform those attitudes.
Thought Questions:
 What things or people claim your devotion? What is the basis for your
commitment to these things? Do any of them aid in the mission of the
church? Do you need to rethink the focus of your devotion?
 In what ways do you express your joy and thanksgiving for the grace
you have experienced in Christ?
 In what tangible ways can you spend more time growing together with
other Christians in worship and fellowship?
 What obstacles get in the way of the intimate sharing of your journey
with Christ? How might you move past these obstacles?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The following activities are designed to help mem-
bers respond to areas in which the Holy Spirit has challenged them to
renew their devotion to God or fellowship. They provide practical first
steps toward improving fellowship between members.
Individual Activity:
Write a letter to God in which you confess the objects and people who have
been the center of your devotion, and then ask Him to bring you to a place
where your devotion is centered in Him.
Group Activities:
 Develop a plan for your Sabbath School class to deepen their fellow-
ship with one another outside of Sabbath morning.
 Plan a shared activity with the goal of helping others or furthering the
mission of the church. Then invite fellow members to join you, including
those with whom you may have strained relationships.
69
United by
Mission
Lambet h Sr iwa Dwayne Harr is

ttanapapha
Do l by
W hat do an 11-year-old boy in Thailand, a dog in Indonesia,

and a mission pilot in the Philippines have in common?
They are united by mission in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division,
which will receive this quarter’s Thirteen Sabbath Offering.
Read more in the Youth and Adult Mission Quarterly
(bit.ly/adultmission) and the Children’s Mission Quarterly
(bit.ly/childrensmission).
Thank you for
supporting Adventist
Mission with your prayers
and Sabbath School
mission offerings.
18-4-ABSG Ad1.indd 1 11/28/17 3:20 PM

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L esson 6 *November 3–9
Images of Unity
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 2:9; Exod. 19:5, 6; Eph.
2:19–22; 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 1 Cor. 12:12–26; John 10:1–11; Psalm 23.
Memory Text: “For as the body is one and has many members, but
all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is
Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12, NKJV).
A
s anyone who has studied the Bible knows, it is filled with
images and symbols that point to realities greater than those
images and symbols themselves. For instance, the essence of
the whole biblical sacrificial system is, in a sense, symbolic of the
much greater reality: Jesus and the entire plan of salvation.
Many other kinds of images are used in the Bible, and sometimes from
the most basic elements, too—such as water, fire, wind. Depending
upon the context, these are images for spiritual and theological
truths. For example, when Jesus said, “ ‘The wind blows wherever it
pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or
where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit’ ” (John 3:8,
NIV), the wind was used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit.
The Bible uses a number of images to describe the kind of unity we
find in the church, the unity that God calls it to manifest before the
world. Each individual image is not complete in and of itself. Instead,
as a whole, these images reveal many things about church unity, such
as the church’s relationship to God, the members’ relationships to one
another, and the church’s relationship to the community as a whole.
This week’s lesson will look at some of the images and what they
reveal to us about unity in Christ.

72
S unday November 4
The People of God

Read 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 19:5, 6; Deuteronomy 4:20; and Deuteronomy
7:6. What do these verses say about the special status of the people
of God?
_____________________________________________________
The church is about people, but not any kind of people. The church
is the people of God, the people who belong to God, who claim God
as their Father and Savior, and who have been redeemed by Christ and
who obey Him. This image underscores the concept that God has had a
people on earth since the introduction of the plan of salvation and that
there is continuity between Israel in the Old Testament and the church
in the New. From the time of Adam, the patriarchs before and after the
Flood, and Abraham, God has made a covenant with His people to be
representatives of His love, mercy, and justice to the world.
God’s people are called a “chosen generation,” a “royal priesthood,”
and a “holy nation.” These terms indicate that they are set aside for a
special purpose: to “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9, NKJV). This also
is an echo of a description of God’s gracious character, as described
in Exodus 34:6, 7. “God acquired the church as His own special pos-
session in order that its members might reflect His precious traits of
character in their own lives and proclaim His goodness and mercy to
all men.”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 562.
Read Deuteronomy 7:6–8. What prompted God to select the descen-

dants of Abraham as His people? How is this still applicable today?
_____________________________________________________
Perhaps we could ask ourselves, What country today deserves the label
of “holy nation” (another image of the church)? None. All nations and
ethnic groups are composed of people who do not deserve God’s love and
grace. And though the Bible calls us to be a holy people, Scripture also
teaches that the selection and establishment of Israel was based entirely
on His love and not on any merits that human beings could bring to Him.
The formation of God’s people is an act of loving creation and—despite
sin and apostasy on a national scale—God kept His promise to Abraham
that through his seed, Christ, He would save His people. Just as the elec-
tion of God’s people was an act of His grace, so is their salvation. This
theme reminds us of our common roots in the unmerited grace of God.
Why must we always keep before us the sacred truth that our sal-
vation rests upon what Christ has done for us and not upon what
we can ever do for ourselves, even if we are “the people of God”?
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M onday November 5
The Household of God

Another image of the people of God in the New Testament is the
house or household of God. It is a metaphor of stones and buildings that
highlights the intricate and interdependent nature of human relationships
in the church. Peter refers to Christians as “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5,
NKJV). This metaphor contains a quality of permanency and solidity.
Read Ephesians 2:19–22. What key ideas does Paul emphasize in this
passage? What does this image tell us about unity in the church?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
In this passage, Paul combines two images of the church: one inert, a
house or building; the other alive, a household of people.
A stone is not very valuable by itself, but when it is bonded with other
stones, it becomes a structure that can withstand the storms of life. No
Christian can be a stone alone, but must be associated with others in the
fellowship of the household of God. For an edifice to be solid, it must rest
on a strong foundation. Jesus Christ is this foundation, and the “corner-
stone” of the house of God (see also 1 Cor. 3:11). The church also would
cease to exist if it did not make Christ the cornerstone of its activities.
The church is really about Jesus Christ: His life, death, resurrection, and
return. The church forms a community of believers united to share the
good news about Jesus to the world. The church’s agenda is Jesus: who
He is, what He has done for us and does in us, and what He offers to
anyone who will accept Him as Lord and Savior.
The image of a household also is very meaningful. This one rests on
the relationships people have among themselves. It is a familiar image
of father and mother, brothers and sisters. Ties between family mem-
bers can be strong, and the accompanying loyalties often transcend all
other outside ties. Loyalty is a big part of unity, for how could there be
any kind of unity without loyalty, as well?
How does this image relate to the church? Church members also are
part of one big family. We are linked, not only because we belong to the
human family through our common ancestor Adam, but also because
we are related to Jesus, the Second Adam, through our common “new
birth” experience. Thus, we become united with each other, not just
because of the doctrinal truths that we hold in common, but also in the
experience of being converted souls who have a new life in Jesus.
Sadly, not everyone has had a great experience with his or her
own family. Hence, that image might not mean much to them.
How, though, can we as a church become the family that these
people never had?
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T uesday November 6
The Temple of the Holy Spirit

Another building imagery Paul uses is that of the temple of God or of the
Holy Spirit. It is the image of a costly and valuable building. Along with
1 Corinthians 6:19, where the image refers to one’s personal body as the tem-
ple of the Holy Spirit, Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 uses the image to refer
to the most holy and precious edifice of the ancient Near East, God’s temple.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. What does it mean that the church is the
temple of the Holy Spirit? What is Paul warning about in verse 17?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Obviously, Paul does not, in referring to the church, have in mind a
physical temple or place of residence for God. The Greek of the New
Testament makes a distinction between a “you” singular, in order to
refer to one person, and a “you” plural, in order to refer to many people.
In this case it is the latter. This metaphor refers to a corporate entity:
together the Christians in Corinth form the temple of the Holy Spirit,
and in a spiritual sense God resides among them.
For Paul, God resides within the Christian fellowship; hence, his
warning that anyone who attempts to destroy this fellowship will suffer
the consequences of the judgment. The unity of believers is at the core
of this fellowship and of God’s presence in this temple. Though this text
is often used in the sense of taking care of one’s physical body (which
is, of course, what Christians are supposed to do anyway), that’s not the
specific point that Paul was making here. His message was, instead, a
warning about those who would destroy the unity of the church.
Earlier in the chapter, Paul referred to what he considers as chal-
lenges to unity: “for where there are envy, strife, and divisions among
you” (1 Cor. 3:3, NKJV). These attitudes and behaviors are real threats
to Christian unity and cause the withdrawal of God’s presence from
His temple. In other words, conflicts in the church can destroy God’s
temple. Thus, he wants members to put away the attitudes and behav-
iors that do threaten its unity.
When conflicts erupt in the church, Paul’s advice to the Corinthians is
still applicable today: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in
the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10, NKJV).
Envy, strife, and division—these are not just problems the church
faced in Paul’s day. We face them today, as well. What role does
each one of us have in seeking to work through these problems in
ways that will not threaten our unity?
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W ednesday November 7
The Body of Christ

Perhaps the best-known image of the church and one that speaks the
strongest about the unity of its varied parts is the body of Christ. “For as
the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. . . . Now you are the
body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Cor. 12:12, 27, NKJV).
Just as a body is a single unit that is made up of many different parts,
each with its different function and responsibility, this is the church as
the body of Christ.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12–26. How does this image of one body with
many parts apply to your local congregation? How does it apply to
a worldwide organization like the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 conveys the profound reality
that authentic Christian unity is not just in diversity, and certainly not
despite diversity, but rather through diversity. We should not be sur-
prised that it is the Holy Spirit who is the source of these expressions
of diversity. Just as the human body is both incredibly unified and
amazingly diverse, so ideally is the body of Christ, which through this
diversity expresses the completeness and richness of the body of Christ.
This image speaks directly to us as a church. In the past few decades,
the Seventh-day Adventist Church has grown by leaps and bounds.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is composed of people from almost
every conceivable background, culture, and environment. Our ethnic,
racial, cultural, educational, and age differences must not be permitted
to divide us in Christ. If anything, this diversity should be molded by
the Holy Spirit as a force for unity, revealing the truth that despite these
differences, we are all one in Christ.
As we have seen, at the foot of the cross we are all equal, regard-
less of who we are or where we come from. As the world around us
becomes more and more fragmented, the church must demonstrate that
unity in diversity is attainable. God’s people can demonstrate the heal-
ing and reconciling power of the gospel.
Amazingly, Paul tells us how this ideal can be accomplished. “Christ
is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23,
NKJV). “And He is the head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18,
NKJV). As each believer is spiritually connected to Christ, the entire
body is therefore nourished with the same food. We cannot, then, over-
emphasize the importance of the study of the Word of God, obedience
to what we learn in the Word, and the common experiences of worship
and prayer for unity in the body of Christ.
76
Sheep and Shepherd

Read John 10:1–11. What aspects of this metaphor of the church as a
sheepfold speak of unity? See also Psalm 23.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
In the modern world of large cities, it has become very rare to see animal
husbandry of any kind. Most people now know little of the relationship
between sheep and shepherds. However, when Jesus told this parable,
people understood Him well. When He said, “I am the good shepherd,”
they immediately recognized and appreciated His reference to Psalm 23:1,
“The Lord is my shepherd.” The image was not only clear but also full of
emotional value that made it vivid. In ancient Near Eastern culture, and
still today in the Middle East, shepherds are known to be dedicated to the
care of their sheep, regardless of the challenges. The figure of shepherd
has become one of the dearest images used in Scripture to describe the
character of God and His relationship to His people.
The image of God’s people as sheep is an interesting image. One
impression we often have of sheep is their harmless and defenseless
nature. Thus, they are dependent on a good shepherd for protection and
guidance. They are, quite frankly, seen as stupid. Sometimes, inadver-
tently, sheep get lost, and the shepherd will seek them and bring them
back to the fold. Young sheep often need to be carried and require extra
care. Patience and understanding is needed to care for sheep. In many
ways, this is a perfect image to represent the church. The church mem-
ber has nothing to fear but everything to gain in a relationship with the
Shepherd.
Jesus also emphasized in this parable the importance for the sheep
to listen to the voice of the shepherd. When the conditions require it,
it is possible to protect a few flocks of sheep by placing them in the
same enclosure or sheepfold. How can they be separated later? All that
is required is for the shepherd to stand at the door of the enclosure and
call. His sheep will recognize his voice and come to him. “ ‘And when
he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow
him, for they know his voice’ ” (John 10:4, NKJV). Listening to the
voice of the Shepherd is crucial for the church. In fact, the unity and
safety of the people of God depend on their proximity to Him and are
directly related to their submissive obedience to His voice.
People don’t generally like to be depicted as sheep. Nevertheless,

why is that such an appropriate metaphor for us? What should
this image tell us about our need of the Shepherd and our need
to obey His voice?
77
F riday November 9
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Divine Shepherd,” pp. 476–

484, in The Desire of Ages; “The Church on Earth,” pp. 240–243, in
Counsels for the Church.
“In the context of the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the ubiquitous

Greco-Roman structures, New Testament authors employ the temple
metaphor to enable believers to visualize the sanctity of the church, God’s
role in founding and growing the church, the defining nature of the work
of Christ and the Spirit, and the solidarity of believers within the church.
The architecture domain would seem to imply a static image. However, the
metaphor is used in conjunction with biological imagery and the process of
building is often accentuated. Rather than a static image, ‘we are impelled
to visualize a story of the process of construction rather than a completed
edifice.’ The church is granted the wondrous privilege of humbly acknowl-
edging in its life and story ‘the temple of the living God’ (2 Cor. 6:16).”
—John McVay, “Biblical Metaphors for the Church: Building Blocks for
Ecclesiology,” in Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, ed., Message, Mission, and
Unity of the Church (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald®, 2013), p. 52.
 Reflect on the biblical images of the church. Which one do you like
most? Why are you more attracted to that one? Some other metaphors
of the church can be found in these passages: 1 Tim. 3:15, 2 Tim. 2:3–5,
1 Pet. 2:9. What else do these metaphors teach about the church?
 “God wants His people to be united in the closest bonds of

Christian fellowship; confidence in our brethren is essential to the
prosperity of the church; union of action is important in a religious
crisis. One imprudent step, one careless action, may plunge the
church into difficulties and trials from which it may not recover for
years.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 446.
What should this warning teach us about how careful we must seek
to be in guarding the unity of the church? What role does each one
of us have in this sacred responsibility?
 Sunday’s study stressed that even as “the people of God,” we

must rely only on God’s grace for salvation, and never on our own
merits. In fact, couldn’t you even argue that it’s our very reliance
on God’s merit for salvation that indeed makes us “the people of
God”? Is this a valid claim? Why or why not?
Summary: The New Testament uses different metaphors to illustrate both the
nature and mission of the church. More important, these metaphors teach
that God is attentively watching over His people and protects them. These
images also teach that God’s people are intricately linked with each other
and that we need each other to do the work that we have been called to do.
78
i n s i d e
Story
The Book Smuggler
By Vladimir Borisov*
After attending a pastors’ conference in another country, friends asked me
to take a box of 100 religious books back home. I wanted to help, but my
country strictly controls the distribution of religious literature.
“I’ll take the box of books only if the bus driver agrees to assume respon-
sibility for it,” I told my friends.
Bus drivers often agree to carry extra cargo in exchange for a cash pay-
ment, and my bus driver agreed to help for US$100. A friend and I boarded
the bus and settled in for the long ride.
Arriving at the border at night, the driver approached me for information
about the box. He wanted to know how to speak with the border guards.
When I told him that the box contained Christian books, he pulled the $100
bill from his pocket and handed it back to me. “It’s easier for me to smuggle
cocaine than Christian books across the border,” he said.
My friend and I had no choice. We knelt beside the bus and repacked the
books into our suitcases. Then we prayed as we joined the line of passengers
at the border crossing. The person ahead of us put his bags on the scanner
belt and walked through customs. Then we put our suitcases on the belt.
The border guard pressed the button to start the belt, but it didn’t move. He
pushed the button again. He pounded the button and swore. Still, the belt
didn’t move.
The border guard looked at us. “Fine, go,” he said, motioning for us to
take our suitcases from the belt.
Minutes later, my friend and I walked to the second border post to enter
my home country. We put our suitcases on the belt, and the guard pressed
the button. Nothing happened. He began to swear, and he finally turned to
us. “Just go,” he said.
Only after crossing the border did we dare look back. The guard had
stopped the next person and was inspecting her bags manually. We thanked
God as we sank into our bus seats.
On Sabbath, a church member had a strange story to tell. A voice had
awakened her at night, saying, “Pray for your pastor.” She hadn’t known that
I was traveling and thought that I was at home asleep. The voice came again,
“Pray for your pastor.” Finally, she knelt and prayed for an hour.
I asked when she had heard the voice. It was the exact hour that my friend
and I had crossed the border.
Although I cannot name my country, please pray for God’s work. Thank
you for giving mission offerings to bring the message of salvation to many
around the world.
*Note: Adventist Mission is not identifying the author by his real name or
his whereabouts to safeguard his work.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Ephesians 2:19–22
The Student Will:

Know: Explore selected biblical images of unity that demonstrate the inte-
gral role unity plays in the nature and mission of the church.
Feel: Appreciate the central role of the Godhead in the life and unity of
the church.
Do: Value the contributions every member makes to the existence and
mission of the church.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Unity and the Images of the Church
A How is the necessity of Christian unity emphasized by the images of
the church, such as the people of God, the household of God, the temple
of the Holy Spirit, the body of Christ, and the sheep and Shepherd?
B What do we learn specifically about what unity looks like, and how
unity occurs, through these images?
II. Feel: God and Church Unity

A In what ways does each member of the Godhead contribute to the
unity of the church in the images studied in this lesson?
B Which of these contributions does your local church need the most?
III. Do: Every Member Important

A What do the images of church unity imply about the attitudes indi-
vidual Christians need to have toward God and their fellow Christians?
B In what ways can you be more intentional in recognizing the value of
every member of your church?
Summary: Metaphors of the New Testament church illustrate the vital nature of
dependence upon God and the harmonious relationships that God’s people
are called to have with one another.
80
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Our relationship with God

brings us into a unique relationship with other Christians. It impacts
the way we see ourselves and one another as we are brought face-to-
face with our common dependence upon God for all our needs and
our common call to serve Him.
Just for Teachers: The story discussed below illustrates how a single
relationship can alter other relationships. Help your class see the impor-
tance of the initial relationship and the role that a common mission
plays in changing relationships between those involved with the mis-
sion.
Opening Discussion: When Wendy accepted a job at a hospital in a

foreign country, she found herself surrounded by unfamiliar people in an
unfamiliar culture. Her immediate coworkers hailed from a variety of ethnic
backgrounds and adhered to an assortment of the world’s major religions.
At first glance, she had little in common with them. However, as she spent
time with her new coworkers, she discovered that one had trained in her
country. Another was an Orthodox Jew and, as such, respected the Sabbath.
But it was not these common elements that impacted her relationships the
most. It was their common relationship to the hospital that really brought
them together. They were all overly tired from long hours on call. They
all sat together doing paperwork and dictation late into the evening and
attended the same conferences. They all rejoiced when long-term clients
became well enough to go home, and they grieved when others died. Their
common relationship to the hospital changed the way they related to one
another so that within a few months they were socializing regularly outside
of the hospital.
Discussion Questions: Describe one relationship that transformed the

relationships you had with other people. What factors about the primary
relationship made the difference in your other relationships? How might
this help you to understand the ways in which your relationship with Jesus
changes your relationship with others?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: The Bible contains a great many images of the
81
teachers comments
church. Five metaphors have been introduced in the Standard Edition

lesson this week. This section explores three images that have been cho-
sen to represent the relationships the church has with each member of
the Godhead. As you examine each metaphor, try to understand how it
portrays the unity God desires for His church, and, also, explore how
the relevant Member of the Godhead is portrayed as contributing to
that unity.
Bible Commentary
I. The People of God (Review 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 19:5, 6; and Leviticus 26:12.)
The apostle Paul’s identification of the church as the people of God

connected the New Testament church with the history and promises of
Israel. Jewish believers would immediately associate the phrase with
their rich history of being a covenant people, for the term is, at its very
core, a relational one. The emphasis of the term, however, is not on the
people of God, but on the actions and character of God. It is God alone
who has created this people. It is God who has chosen His people, and it
is God who purchases, redeems, and saves His people. We are, therefore,
God’s possession and take our identity and direction from Him.
The term people of God highlights the privileged status we share
because we have been set apart to serve a God who is just and merci-
ful. As individuals and as a group of believers, we have experienced the
grace of God. The metaphor of the people of God also thus emphasizes
the shared aspects of our journey. Together we have been chosen and set
apart, and we have experienced God’s grace and favor. Together we share
an identity rooted in Christ, and together we have a shared purpose to
proclaim the wonders of our God. The metaphor, people of God, has the
potential to unite us as we recognize our common failed past, our com-
mon privileged present, and our common future hope in Christ.
Consider This: Why does Peter emphasize the idea of becoming a people?
What difference should our identity in God make to our everyday lives?
II. The Temple of the Holy Spirit (Review 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 with your class.)
The metaphor of the church as a temple likely raised differing pictures

in the minds of Paul’s audience. Jewish believers would connect the
church with Israel’s history and the magnificent temple in Jerusalem
that was central to Jewish religion and culture. Gentile believers out-
side of Palestine may have visualized pagan Greco-Roman temples,
82
teachers comments
such as that of Apollo. Nevertheless, Paul’s point about the church as a

temple would be understood by all. Ancient Near Eastern temples shared
common features and symbolism. Temples were carefully constructed
from the finest materials, for they were primarily a dwelling place for
divinity. While God could not be contained in a building, the presence of
His temple provided assurance that God, nevertheless, dwelt among His
people as He had promised. Because God dwelt in the temple, the temple
was both holy and a place of communication between God and His people.
The presence of a temple also proclaimed the strength and power of God.
It was an affirmation that God was interested and involved in the affairs
of His people.
The church, like a temple, must be a fitting representative of the God
that dwells within it. It is thus called to reflect His character. While each
individual member is called to represent God, the reflection of God’s char-
acter by the church, as a whole, provides a stronger witness to a watching
world. Consequently, a united church demonstrates both the character and
the power of God. Damage to the united demonstration of God’s character
destroys God’s temple by impacting its use and function.
Consider This: How is God’s presence visible in His church? Why is church
unity so important for helping to reveal His presence?
III. The Body of Christ (Review 1 Corinthians 12:12–26 with your class.)
The metaphor of the body was used by some Greco-Roman politicians,

such as Menenius Agrippa, to emphasize the unity of the state; so, Paul’s
inclusion of this metaphor to illustrate unity was not new. However, Paul’s
interpretation of the metaphor was very different from that of Menenius.
The politician saw unity as occurring when the lower classes understood
their place in the hierarchy and submitted to the rule of the ruling patri-
cians. Paul, on the other hand, encouraged the church to honor the weaker
and less visible members of the body, who were equally necessary for the
function of the church. The diversity of the members of the church was to
be embraced, for God Himself had arranged the various parts and roles. Of
equal importance in Paul’s illustration of the body is the interconnectedness
of each part. Each part needs the other and, in turn, is affected by the suc-
cess and failure of the others.
Consider This: Paul’s view of the body clashed with the views of ancient
politicians. How does the metaphor of the body continue to challenge the
attitudes and values portrayed in society around us?
83 83
teachers comments
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: All the metaphors of church unity studied in this

lesson include a reference to a member of the Trinity. Help your class to
understand the central role that our relationship to the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit plays in bringing this unity to fruition.
 The metaphor of the people of God calls us to recognize that our identity
is in God. In what ways does our identity in God relate to unity? We often
identify ourselves in other ways, such as nationality. What identities do you
tend to reveal before you reveal to others your identity in God? Do these
alternate identities or labels get in the way of unity in the church?
 How does viewing other people as members of the body of Christ
impact the way you see and interact with them? How does this impact the
way you see yourself and your own value?
Activity: Write a letter of appreciation for the gifts or service of a member

of your church who usually doesn’t get much recognition.
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: This activity reviews the principles found in the
metaphors studied this week and applies them in a new way. It creates
awareness of the importance of conveying the principles of Scripture
in a way that can be easily understood in each culture and time period
in history.
Activities: The New Testament authors used metaphors that were under-
stood easily by their readers. Jewish listeners could visualize the temple and
knew its importance and heritage. Likewise, most listeners were familiar
with shepherds and their relationships with sheep. However, these ideas are
more difficult for us to visualize today. Brainstorm possible twenty-first
century metaphors of church unity that would be understood more readily
in your own culture. Then choose one of these ideas to write a parable or
tell a story to emphasize how the church should function.
84
L esson 7 *November 10 –16
When Conflicts Arise
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 6:1–6; Acts 10:1–23;
Matt. 5:17–20; Acts 11:3–24; Acts 15:1–22; Amos 9:11, 12.
Memory Text: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ

have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in
Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27, 28, NKJV).
O
ne of the most difficult tasks of any Christian community is
to maintain unity when differences of opinion arise on matters
pertaining to the identity and mission of the church. These dif-
ferences can lead to devastating consequences.
Today’s Christian communities are no different from those we see
in the New Testament. People are people, and differences, even over
important points, will come. Early Christians faced some conflicts
arising from perceived interpersonal prejudices and from serious dif-
ferences of interpretations of key Old Testament stories and practices.
These conflicts could have destroyed the church in its infancy had it not
been for thoughtful apostles and leaders who sought the guidance of the
Holy Spirit and the Scriptures to resolve these tensions.
A few weeks ago we studied how the early church experienced
church unity. This week we look at how the early church solved the
inner conflicts that undermined its unity and threatened its survival.
What were these conflicts, how were they resolved, and what can we
today learn from those experiences?
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S unday November 11
Ethnic Prejudices
Read Acts 6:1. What issue in the early church caused people to com-
plain about what appeared to be the unfair and unequitable distri-
bution of food to widows?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Some early Christians appeared to be prejudiced against the widows
of Greek heritage in their midst and provided them with less food than
the widows of Hebrew heritage. This perceived favoritism caused a rift
in the early community of believers. Whether or not the favoritism was
real, the text does not say. It says only that some people believed that
it was. This conflict threatened the church’s unity very early on. How
fascinating that ethnic division was seen so quickly in the church.
Read Acts 6:2–6. What were the simple steps taken by the early church
to solve this misunderstanding?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The early church was growing rapidly, and this growth brought
increasingly heavy burdens on the apostles. The appointment of these
seven men, traditionally called “deacons” (although the New Testament
does not call them as such), relieved the tension in the Jerusalem
church and allowed for the involvement of more people in the ministry
of the church.
The apostles listened carefully to the complaints of Greek-speaking
believers and asked them for a solution. The selection of the seven men
to become associates of the apostles was left to this group, and they
recommended seven disciples, all of them from Greek-speaking heri-
tage. These men were said to be “of good reputation, full of the Holy
Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3, NKJV). The ministry of the apostles,
which until then had been both to preach the Word of God and to
distribute food to widows, was divided into two groups, each doing an
equally valuable ministry for the proclamation of the gospel. Luke uses
the same word, “ministry” or “service” (diakonia), to refer to both the
ministry of the apostles in preaching the Word (Acts 6:4) and to the
ministry of the deacons in distributing food (Acts 6:1).
What significance do you see in the fact that the leaders called
many of the believers together (Acts 6:2) in order to try to work
out a solution?
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M onday November 12
The Conversion of Gentiles

The conversion of Gentiles to the gospel of Jesus Christ is an event
in the book of Acts that sets the stage for the greatest conflict in the life
of the early church, one that would threaten its existence and mission.
Read Acts 10:1–23. What elements in this passage indicate that the
Holy Spirit was at work in the hearts of many people to prepare the
way for Gentiles to receive the gospel?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The vision must have seemed so bizarre to Peter. He was shocked by
it because, as a faithful Jew, he had never partaken of unclean or defiled
foods, as the law required (see Leviticus 11, Ezek. 4:14, and Dan. 1:8).
However, the intent of this vision was not about diet but about the bar-
riers between Jews and Gentiles that were hindering the spread of the
gospel. Such barriers were at least as prevalent in the ancient world as
they are today.
During the first decades, Christianity was basically made up of Jews
who had accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah of the Old Testament
prophecies. These early believers in Jesus were faithful Jews who
obeyed the law as they had been taught. They did not consider the
gospel of Jesus Christ as having erased or abolished the Old Testament
proscriptions (see Matt. 5:17–20).
Read Acts 10:28, 29, 34, 35. What did Peter understand was the mean-
ing of the vision he received in Joppa? What led him to this inter-
pretation?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
What we see happening in Acts is that the Holy Spirit had prepared
the way for Gentiles to be received into the fellowship of the Christian
community. And they could do this without having to be circumcised
and become Jews first. What convinced Peter and his friends that
this was indeed God’s will was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on
Cornelius and his household in a similar way to what the disciples of
Jesus had experienced on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 10:44–47). If the
Holy Spirit was given to Gentiles in the same way as it was given to
Jews, then it was evident that being circumcised was not a prerequisite
to becoming a believer in Jesus as the Messiah. This conclusion set the
stage for a major theological conflict among early Christians.
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T uesday November 13
The Spirit Is Leading

Reports of what happened in Caesarea with Cornelius soon reached
the leaders of the Christian community in Jerusalem, and they asked
Peter to give an account of what happened. They were offended by what
Peter had done because, according to their Jewish understanding of
the Law of Moses, faithful Jews were not allowed to eat with Gentiles
(Acts 11:3).
Read Acts 11:4–18. What did Peter say to explain the work of the Holy
Spirit and His leading in this event? What was the main point he
was making by recounting what had happened?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Although some raised questions about the legitimacy of Peter’s
actions and his decision to baptize these Gentiles, sufficient witnesses
(Acts 11:12) certified that the Holy Spirit did indeed manifest His
presence in the same way as at Pentecost. The guidance and leading of
the Holy Spirit in this case is unassailable and the gift acknowledged.
“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified
God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to
life’ ” (Acts 11:18, NKJV).
Read Acts 11:19–24. What happened next in the life of the early
church?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Perhaps some in Jerusalem thought that what happened with
Cornelius and his household would be an exception and that such an
experience would not be repeated. But that’s not what the Holy Spirit
intended. As the disciples of Jesus scattered beyond Jerusalem and
Judea, because of the persecution that arose after Stephen’s death (Acts
8:1), and went to Samaria, Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, subse-
quently more and more Gentiles accepted Jesus as their Savior. This
is what Jesus had predicted (Acts 1:8). As wonderful as this influx of
Gentiles was, if we put ourselves in the place of these early Jewish
believers it’s not hard to see how they weren’t quite sure how to react.
How might we ourselves be holding on to narrow views of the

church and of our message that could hamper our witness?
88
The Jerusalem Council

Read Acts 15:1, 2 and Galatians 2:11–14. What are the two issues that
caused serious conflict in the early church?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The threat to church unity faced by early Christians was real and dif-
ficult. Some Jewish Christians thought that salvation was possible only
for those who belonged to the covenant people of God, and this implied
that circumcision was a requirement. And as part of a faithful lifestyle,
these Jewish believers also believed that they were to avoid any con-
tacts with Gentiles that could possibly thwart their own salvation.
The Jews had very strict traditions in regard to their association
with Gentiles. These traditions quickly became a stumbling block for
the new Christian community when the apostles began to reach out
to Gentiles who wished to become followers of Jesus. Because the
Messiah is the Savior of God’s covenant people, as predicted in the Old
Testament, weren’t Gentiles supposed to become Jews first and then
follow the same covenant rules if they wanted to be saved?
Read Acts 15:3–22. What were some issues presented during the
Jerusalem Council?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The issue here was rooted in conflicts over deeply held interpretations
of the Old Testament stories regarding circumcision and relationship with
Gentiles. As apostles, elders, and delegates from Antioch sat together,
it seems the discussion went on for a long time without any resolution.
But then Peter, Barnabas, and Paul made speeches. Peter’s speech alluded
to the visionary revelation that God gave him and to the gift of the Holy
Spirit, which opened the way for the mission to the Gentiles. Then Paul and
Barnabas shared their stories of what God had done through them for the
Gentiles. As a result, many eyes were opened to new truth. Said Peter: “ ‘We
believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved
in the same manner as they,’ ” meaning the Gentiles (Acts 15:11, NKJV).
Centuries of long-held tradition were unraveling in light of the gospel.
Was there ever a time you changed your mind about how you
understood a deeply held belief? What did you learn from the
experience that could perhaps help you when you might again
have to question your understanding of a belief?
89
A Difficult Solution
It took some level of trust from the church at Antioch to send rep-
resentatives to Jerusalem in order to seek the best solution to their
conflict. However, after hours of discussion between the apostles and
elders, James, the brother of Jesus, who appears to be the leader of the
assembly, made a judgment about what should be done (Acts 15:13–
20). Clearly the council decided that Gentiles do not need to become
Jewish converts, obeying all aspects of the ceremonial laws, including
circumcision, in order to become Christians.
Read Amos 9:11, 12 and Jeremiah 12:14–16. What predictions did these
Old Testament prophets make regarding Israel’s neighboring nations?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
While James quotes from Amos 9, we see allusions to the salvation
of the nations in other Old Testament prophets. It was God’s inten-
tion all along to save the entire world through Israel’s witness and
experience. In fact, God’s call to Abraham included a blessing for all
nations through him and his descendants (Gen. 12:1–3). The leading
of the Holy Spirit; the ministry of Peter, Barnabas, and Paul among
the Gentiles; and the conversion of many Gentiles were evidences that
could not be set aside. These testimonies helped leaders of the Christian
community in Jerusalem realize that many Old Testament prophecies
were now being fulfilled. In fact, God already had given laws guiding
the presence of Gentiles in Israel and what restrictions applied to them
(Leviticus 17, 18). James also referred to these laws in his decision
(Acts 15:29). It became obvious to everyone that God was calling
Gentiles to join His people and receive salvation in Jesus. The guidance
of the Holy Spirit gave them a deeper understanding of the Scripture
and revealed to them crucial truths that they had not seen before.
Acts 15:30–35 tells the response of the believers in Antioch to what
was decided in Jerusalem: “The people . . . were glad for its encourag-
ing message” (Acts 15:31, NIV).
We see here in Acts a powerful example of how the early church,
through submission to the Word of God, along with a mind-set of love,
unity, and trust, could under the guidance of the Holy Spirit avert what
could have been a major crisis of unity.
What does this account teach us about how important it is for us

not only to listen to what others are saying but to consider that
they might be right, even when what they say is not exactly what
we want to hear?
90
F riday November 16
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “A Seeker for Truth,” pp. 131–142;

“Jew and Gentile,” pp. 188–200, in The Acts of the Apostles.
“The council which decided this case was composed of apostles and
teachers who had been prominent in raising up the Jewish and Gentile
Christian churches, with chosen delegates from various places. Elders
from Jerusalem and deputies from Antioch were present, and the most
influential churches were represented. The council moved in accor-
dance with the dictates of enlightened judgment, and with the dignity
of a church established by the divine will. As a result of their delibera-
tions they all saw that God Himself had answered the question at issue
by bestowing upon the Gentiles the Holy Ghost; and they realized that
it was their part to follow the guidance of the Spirit.
“The entire body of Christians was not called to vote upon the ques-
tion. The ‘apostles and elders,’ men of influence and judgment, framed
and issued the decree, which was thereupon generally accepted by the
Christian churches. Not all, however, were pleased with the decision;
there was a faction of ambitious and self-confident brethren who dis-
agreed with it. These men assumed to engage in the work on their own
responsibility. They indulged in much murmuring and faultfinding,
proposing new plans and seeking to pull down the work of the men
whom God had ordained to teach the gospel message. From the first
the church has had such obstacles to meet and ever will have till the
close of time.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 196, 197.
 What steps toward the resolution of conflicts found in the
accounts we looked at this week can be applied to your church
community if and when disagreements arise? Though one issue
the church was dealing with here was theological, what can we
learn from these accounts that can help the church when cultural,
political, or ethnic issues threaten unity? What important prin-
ciples can we take away from what we have seen?
 Look again at the Ellen G. White quote above. Despite the posi-
tive outcome, some were still not satisfied. What lesson should we
take away from this sad reality?
Summary: The early church was threatened by internal conflicts over a number
of issues that could have had a devastating effect on it. We saw the way
that the church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and submission to
the Word of God, was able to resolve these conflicts and avert schisms.
91
i n s i d e
Story
Praying for Missing Sheep
By Lloyd Perrin
The church that I pastor in the U.S. state of Oregon has an official
membership of 491 people. But only 38 percent of those members are
active, a number that inches up to 44 percent if you include elderly
members who are housebound because of physical or mental disabilities.
That means 56 percent of our members are inactive—a figure that I
haven’t found to be unusual during my decades of pastoring churches
in the United States. The problem is not limited to U.S. churches.
Worldwide, nearly half of all people baptized into the Seventh-day
Adventist Church over the past 50 years have ended up leaving. But the
church has an obligation to shepherd the flock. The apostle Peter says in
1 Peter 5:2, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you” (NKJV).
So, we have started going through our membership records at the
Milton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. I
will distribute a list of these missing members to each church officer. We
will pray daily for each missing member by name and ask God to help
us reconnect with them.
Surprises abounded when I gave a similar prayer challenge at my
previous church in Spokane, Washington. About three weeks after we
started to pray, I received a letter from a woman who had left the church
15 years earlier. The woman had quit church after failing to return a
storybook from the church library. She had moved to another state and,
she wrote, had been too lazy to find a way to return the book. But guilt
had gnawed at her heart and then grown into a cancer that poisoned her
relationship with God.
The woman wrote that she had suddenly remembered the book and
felt convicted to reach out to the church. She apologized for taking the
book and enclosed $50 to cover the book’s cost and 15 years of interest
on its value.
I called up the woman immediately and learned that her sense of
conviction had begun growing only when our church had started to pray
1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) away. I put her
in touch with her local Adventist pastor, and she
became an active member of that church.
Soon we also will pray for missing Milton
members. We need to find our missing sheep and
invite them home.
Lloyd Perrin is senior pastor of the Milton Seventh-day

Adventist Church in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and the Blue
Mountain Valley-Mission Church in Athena, Oregon.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Acts 11:17
The Student Will:

Know: Explain the principles used by the early church to resolve internal
conflicts.
Feel: Understand that internal conflicts undermine the unity and witness
of the church.
Do: Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and Scripture when conflicts
arise.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Principles for Conflict Resolution
A What was the basis of the conflicts faced by the early church?
B What principles of conflict resolution are present in all the conflicts
examined in this lesson? Are there some principles that are unique to the
individual examples that were examined? Explain.
C What factors contributed to the success of the apostles in their
attempts at conflict resolution?
II. Feel: Protecting the Witness of the Church

A Often church conflicts are ignored for long periods of time. How
important is it to resolve church conflicts quickly, and why?
B What clues are there in each example of conflict that indicate that the
unity and witness of the church was being compromised?
III. Do: The Leading of the Holy Spirit

A How can we be sure of the Holy Spirit’s leading as we attempt to
resolve conflicts today?
B How can we prevent our own biases from getting in the way of the
direction in which the Holy Spirit is leading?
Summary: The relational and theological conflicts faced by the early church were
resolved promptly by the leaders of the church as they submitted to the teach-
ing of the apostles and recognized the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: While conflicts are best avoided,
our response to church conflicts provides opportunities for church mem-
bers to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit and grow together.
Just for Teachers: Conflict and theological disagreement are a consis-

tent feature of the history of the Christian church. However, a review of
history suggests that positive results can come from potentially divisive
situations. As you consider the provided story, help students to recognize
that growth occurred when disagreement sent the church back to study
the Scriptures.
Opening Discussion: Marcion was a second-century Christian who

developed beliefs about God that placed him in direct conflict with the
church. He separated Jesus and His Father from the Old Testament God,
in part, because he could not reconcile a God of justice with a God of
love. He also denied that Christ was truly human, and he claimed that
Christ did not suffer on the cross. Using his beliefs about God as a basis
for correct doctrine, he compiled a collection of writings that he consid-
ered were inspired and useful for the Christian. He did not consider the
Hebrew Scriptures useful for the Christian, and he composed his canon
from selected epistles by Paul and a heavily edited Gospel of Luke.
In response to Marcion’s theology, the scholars of the church used the
Hebrew Scriptures and the writings of the apostles to clarify the char-
acter and nature of God, in particular showing that God could be both
just and loving. Marcion’s theology also helped the church to recognize
that Christians still needed the Hebrew Scriptures and, further, that they
needed to identify which Christian writings were inspired and thus should
be considered as Scripture.
Discussion Questions: The story of Marcion shows that conflicts

and even heresy can provide the church with opportunities to study and
clarify its beliefs. In what ways has the Seventh-day Adventist Church
grown from the result of conflict and theological disagreement? Can you
think of conflicts in which the church does not seem to have found a way
to grow? Why do you think that some events have led to growth and others
have merely torn the church apart?
94
teachers comments
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: As you examine the stories of conflict in Acts, help
your class to understand why the apostles were successful in their conflict
resolution. Focus particularly on the role of the Holy Spirit and how we
can move past our own biases.
Bible Commentary
I. Searching for a Resolution (Review Acts 6:1–6, Acts 11:1–18, and Acts 15:1–22
with your class.)
It may seem surprising that conflict erupted so quickly after the establish-
ment of the Christian church, but the reality is that wherever there are
people there is potential for conflict. The conflicts of the early church
included both theological dilemmas and relational issues arising from the
diverse backgrounds of those accepting Christ. The apostles did not ignore
the conflicts that arose in their midst. They set out to resolve them so that
nothing got in the way of the mission of the church. Several important
principles can be seen in their approach to conflict.
a. The problems were acknowledged openly. Too often conflicts are
ignored in the hope that, by doing so, the conflicts would disappear
on their own. Conflicts need to be acknowledged and dealt with
promptly.
b. One or more people were appointed to seek a solution for the prob-
lem. The individuals chosen were well known and trusted by the
congregation.
c. The stories and opinions of those involved on both sides of the con-
flict were heard.
d. Scripture was considered. For instance, at the Jerusalem Council,
the leaders considered both the law of Moses, which talked about
circumcision, and the prophets, who predicted that there would be
Gentile believers.
e. Evidence of the leading of God was both presented and sought after.
f. Finally, the decision was communicated, along with the reasons for
the decision. When this could not be done directly by the leaders
who had made the decision, a message was sent with an individual
trusted by the church.
By following this process, major divisions were avoided, and transparency
and accountability were provided.
Consider This: Are all these principles transferable to the twenty-first-

95
teachers comments
century church? Explain. Which of the above principles causes the most
difficulties in attempts to resolve conflict?
II. Following the Lead of the Holy Spirit (Review Acts 11:12–17 with your class.)
The Holy Spirit figures prominently in the story of Peter and Cornelius and at
the Jerusalem Council. Peter was acutely aware of God’s paving the way for his
encounter with Cornelius. He notes that “ ‘the Spirit told me to have no hesitation
about going with them’ ” (Acts 11:12, NIV), and after the Holy Spirit visibly was
poured out on the Gentiles, Peter concluded: “ ‘So if God gave them the same gift
that he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I
could stand in God’s way?’ ” (Acts 11:17, NIV). While the visible manifestation
of the Holy Spirit provided unassailable evidence of God’s leading, Peter already
had identified that God was leading him to Cornelius. Likewise, at the Jerusalem
Council, James identified God’s hand intervening to show His approval of
Gentile believers. The apostles were clearly convinced that the Holy Spirit was
guiding them in truth, as Jesus had promised before His death (John 16:13, 14).
Consider This: How did Peter know the Spirit was leading prior to seeing
visible confirmation of the Spirit? The apostles followed the leading of the Spirit
without hesitation. What is your reaction when you believe God is leading you to
do something?
III. Changing Perceptions (Review Acts 15:1, 2, 13–20 and Acts 11:18 with your
class.)
Following the leading of the Spirit is not always easy. We risk having to give
up our cherished ideas, having to admit that we are wrong, and having to
adjust our lives to God’s plans. This adjustment is particularly difficult in a
conflict situation, because we feel the need to save face. In Acts, the Jewish
believers found themselves having to give up firmly entrenched beliefs about
circumcision and Gentiles that touched upon the core of their identity. There
was predictable opposition; and yet, Luke also records that when believ-
ers heard the full story of how the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the
Gentiles, they realized God truly was leading (Acts 11:18). The visible nature
of God’s acceptance of the Gentiles helped to ease the transition in the prac-
tices of the church.
Consider This: Why did the group traveling to Jerusalem in Acts 15 take the
time to tell the story of the Gentile conversion to those in Phoenicia and Samaria?
Why do you think Peter framed the issue around the idea of God’s choice of the
Gentiles? Were there any factors other than the visible nature of the Holy Spirit’s
presence that helped the early church to accept the fact that believers did not need
96
teachers comments
to become Jews before they became Christians?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Although the lesson has reviewed church con-
flicts rather than personal conflicts, individual members are inevi-
tably impacted by churchwide conflicts. This section focuses on how
individual members respond when they are surrounded by conflict.
Encourage members to examine personally their own cultural biases
and seek God’s will when disagreements arise.
 What is your normal response to conflict around you? Do you jump in
and join in the argument, or do you do your best to avoid conflict? What
should be your personal response when conflict erupts in the church?
 How can we find God’s will in the midst of disagreement?
 The way that early Christians understood their Jewish heritage got in the
way of their understanding that Gentiles could be part of the church. How
might our culture get in the way of recognizing God’s leading or how might it
impact our interpretation of Scripture? Pray that God will help you to identify
some of your own biases that provide obstacles to interpreting Scripture.
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The activities section contains options for commu-
nicating the lesson’s key ideas or for delving deeper into a case study in
Adventist history. Each activity is designed to reinforce the importance
of identifying God’s leading in the church.
Activities:
 Develop a talk or visual presentation for the youth in your church that
outlines how a Christian can identify God’s leading in his or her life and
in the church.
 As a class, perform an impromptu skit in which you demonstrate an
understanding of how the early church resolved conflict.
 Examine Ellen G. White’s counsel to the attendees of the 1888 General
Conference session who found themselves embroiled in an emotional con-
flict over the law in Galatians. A good starting place is Manuscript 15, which
can be found on pages 163–175 of The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials. Look
specifically for any principles she outlines for moving forward. Compare
these principles with those used by the apostles.
97
Unity in Faith
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 4:8–12; Acts 1:11; Matt.
25:1–13; Heb. 9:11, 12; Exod. 20:8–11; 1 Cor. 15:51–54.
Memory Text: “ ‘Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no

other name under heaven given among men by which we must be
saved’ ” (Acts 4:12, NKJV).
I
n 1888 Seventh-day Adventists experienced a period of intense
debate over the interpretations of some key Bible texts. While pastors
and church leaders were debating the identity of the ten horns of the
prophecy of Daniel 7 and of the law in Galatians 3:24, few realized how
their hostile attitudes toward each other destroyed their fellowship and
friendship and thus marred the unity and mission of the church.
Ellen G. White deeply deplored this state of affairs and encouraged all
those involved in these discussions to think carefully about their relation-
ship with Jesus and how love for Jesus ought to be demonstrated in our
conduct, especially when we disagree. She also said that we should not
expect everyone in the church to agree on every point of interpretation
on all Bible texts.
But she also emphasized that we should seek unity of understand-
ing when it comes to essential Adventist beliefs (see Ellen G. White,
Counsels to Writers and Editors, pp. 28–32). This week we look at some
essential biblical teachings that make us Adventists and that shape our
unity in faith.
98
S unday November 18
Salvation in Jesus
Although as Seventh-day Adventists we have much in common with
other Christian bodies, our set of beliefs form a unique system of bibli-
cal truth that no one else in the Christian world is proclaiming. These
truths help define us as God’s end-time remnant.
Read Acts 4:8–12, 10:43. What importance does Peter give to the place
of Jesus Christ in his understanding of the plan of salvation?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The apostle Paul told the Corinthians that the good news is “that God
was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself ” (2 Cor. 5:19, NKJV).
Christ’s death is the means of our reconciliation with the Father, bridg-
ing the chasm left by sin and death. For centuries, Christians have
pondered the meaning of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the reconcilia-
tion He came to accomplish. This process of reconciliation has been
termed atonement, an old English word that originally meant “at-one-
ment.” This is a state of being “at one,” or in agreement. Accordingly,
atonement denotes harmony in a relationship, and when there has
been estrangement, this harmony would be the result of reconciliation.
Church unity is thus a gift of this reconciliation.
What do the following passages teach about the meaning of Jesus’

death and resurrection?
Rom. 3:24, 25______________________________________________
1 John 2:2________________________________________________
1 John 4:9, 10_____________________________________________
1 Pet. 2:21–24_____________________________________________
Though we hold this belief in Christ’s death and resurrection

in common with many other Christian bodies, we proclaim it in
the context of the “everlasting gospel” (Rev. 14:6), part of the
three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6–12. As Seventh-day
Adventists, we place an emphasis on these messages that no other
Christian body does.
How can you learn to keep before you at all times the reality of
Christ’s death and resurrection and the hope that it offers?
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M onday November 19
Second Coming of Christ

The apostles and early Christians considered Christ’s return “the
blessed hope” (Titus 2:13, NKJV), and they expected all the prophecies
and promises of Scripture to be fulfilled at the Second Advent. Seventh-
day Adventists still hold firmly to this conviction. In fact, our name,
“Adventist,” states it unequivocally. All who love Christ look forward
with anticipation to the day they will be able to share face-to-face fellow-
ship with Him. Until that day, the promise of the second coming of Christ
exerts a unifying influence on us as God’s people.
What do the following passages teach about the manner of Christ’s

return? How does this differ from some of the popular notions of
Christ’s return? Acts 1:11; Matt. 24:26, 27; Rev. 1:7; 1 Thess. 4:13–18;
Rev. 19:11–16.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
The Bible repeatedly assures us that Jesus will come again to claim His
redeemed people. When this event will happen should not be a matter of
speculation, because Jesus Himself stated, “ ‘But of that day and hour no
one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only’ ” (Matt.
24:36, NKJV). Not only do we not know when Christ is coming back, we
have been told that we do not know.
At the end of His ministry, Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins
(Matt. 25:1–13) in order to illustrate the experience of the church as it
awaits His second coming. The two groups of virgins represent two types
of believers who profess to be waiting for Jesus. Superficially, these two
groups appear to be alike; but when Jesus’ coming is delayed, the real dif-
ference between them becomes obvious. One group, in spite of the delay,
had kept its hope alive and had made the adequate spiritual preparation.
By this parable Jesus wished to teach His disciples that the Christian
experience is to be based not on emotional excitement or enthusiasm
but on a continuous reliance on the grace of God and perseverance in
faith even when there is no tangible evidence of the fulfillment of God’s
promises. Jesus invites us still today to “watch” and be ready at any time
for His coming.
Though our very name Seventh-day Adventist testifies to how cru-

cial the Second Coming is to us, how can we on a personal level
keep the reality of the Second Coming before us? How can we, as
the years go by, not make the mistake that Jesus warned about in
the parable of the ten virgins?
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Jesus’ Ministry in the Heavenly

Sanctuary
In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle,
or sanctuary, to serve as His “dwelling” here on earth (Exod. 25:8).
Through its services, the sanctuary is where the people of Israel were
taught the plan of salvation. Later, in the time of King Solomon, the
portable tabernacle was replaced by a magnificent temple (1 Kings
5–8). Both the tabernacle and temple were patterned after the heav-
enly sanctuary, “the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not
man” (Heb. 8:2, NKJV; see also Exod. 25:9, 40).
Throughout the Bible, it is assumed that there is a heavenly sanc-
tuary, serving as the primary dwelling place of God. The earthly
sanctuary services were “miniprophecies” of the plan of salvation
and of Jesus’ priestly ministry in heaven.
Read Hebrews 8:6; 9:11, 12, 23–28; and 1 John 1:9–2:2. What
do these passages teach concerning Jesus’ priestly ministry in
heaven?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Since His ascension, the heavenly sanctuary is the place where
Christ conducts His priestly ministry for our salvation (see Heb.
7:25). Therefore, we are encouraged to “come boldly to the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time
of need” (Heb. 4:16, NKJV).
As the earthly tabernacle had two phases of priestly ministry—
first, on a daily basis in the Holy Place and then once a year in the
Most Holy Place—the Scriptures also describe these two phases of
Jesus’ ministry in heaven. His ministry in the Holy Place in heaven
is characterized by intercession, forgiveness, reconciliation, and
restoration. Repentant sinners have immediate access to the Father
through Jesus the Mediator (1 John 2:1). Since 1844, Jesus’ mini-
stry in the Most Holy Place deals with the aspects of judgment
and cleansing that were done once a year on the Day of Atonement
(Leviticus 16). The ministry of cleansing the sanctuary also is based
on Jesus’ shed blood. The atonement performed on this day fore-
shadowed the final application of the merits of Christ to remove the
presence of sin and to accomplish the complete reconciliation of the
universe into one harmonious government under God. The doctrine
of this two-phase ministry is a unique Adventist contribution to the
understanding of the entire plan of salvation.
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The Sabbath
Another crucial biblical teaching that Seventh-day Adventists believe
and uphold is the seventh-day Sabbath. This is a key doctrine that
brings unity and fellowship among us. It is one that, with very few
exceptions in Christendom, we alone follow.
The Sabbath is God’s gift to humanity right from the Creation week
itself (Gen. 2:1–3). At Creation, three distinctive divine acts estab-
lished the Sabbath: (1) God rested on the Sabbath, (2) He blessed the
day, and (3) He sanctified it. These three actions instituted the Sabbath
as God’s special gift, enabling the human race to experience the reality
of heaven on earth and to affirm God’s six-day Creation. A well-known
rabbi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, has called the Sabbath “a palace in
time,” a holy day when God meets with His people in a special way.
What do the following passages teach about the meaning of the Sabbath
for humankind? Exod. 20:8–11; Deut. 5:12–15; Ezek. 20:12, 20.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
In our desire to follow Jesus’ example (Luke 4:16), Seventh-day
Adventists observe the seventh-day Sabbath. Jesus’ participation in
Sabbath services reveals that He endorsed it as a day of rest and wor-
ship. Some of His miracles were done on the Sabbath in order to teach
the dimension of healing (both physical and spiritual) that comes from
the celebration of the Sabbath (see Luke 13:10–17). The apostles and
early Christians understood that Jesus had not abolished the Sabbath;
they themselves kept it as well and attended worship on that day (Acts
13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4).
Another beautiful dimension of the Sabbath is its sign of our deliver-
ance from sin. The Sabbath is the memorial of God’s salvation of the
people of Israel from slavery in Egypt to the rest He promised in the
land of Canaan (Deut. 5:12–15). Despite the failure of Israel to enter
fully into this rest because of their repeated disobedience and idolatry,
God still promises that “there remains therefore a rest for the people
of God” (Heb. 4:9, NKJV). All who desire to enter into that rest can
enter it by faith in the salvation Jesus provides. The observance of the
Sabbath symbolizes this spiritual rest in Christ and that we rely only
on His merits, and not works, to save us from sin and to give us eternal
life. (See Heb. 4:10, Matt. 11:28–30.)
In what very tangible ways has the Sabbath helped you experi-
ence the unity and fellowship that Christ desires for His people?
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Death and Resurrection

At Creation, “God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
being” (Gen. 2:7, NKJV). This account of the creation of humanity
reveals that life derives from God. Is immortality an intrinsic aspect
of this life? The Bible tells us that only God is immortal (1 Tim.
6:16); immortality is not given to humans at birth. In contrast to
God, human beings are mortal. Scripture compares our lives with “a
vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James
4:14, NKJV), and at death our lives enter a sleeplike state in which
there is no consciousness. (See Eccl. 9:5, 6, 10; Ps. 146:4; Ps.
115:17; John 11:11–15.)
Although people are born mortal and subject to death, the Bible
speaks of Jesus Christ as the source of immortality and tells us that
He gives the promise of immortality and eternal life to all those who
believe in His salvation. “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23, NKJV). Jesus “has abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim.
1:10, NKJV). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV). So, there is hope of life
after death.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:51–54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. What

do these passages tell us about life after death and when immor-
tality will be given to human beings?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
The apostle Paul makes it clear that God bestows immortality
upon people, not at the moment of death, but rather at the resur-
rection, when the last trumpet will sound. While believers receive
the promise of eternal life at the moment they accept Jesus as their
Savior, immortality is given only at the resurrection. The New
Testament knows nothing of the idea of souls going off to heaven
immediately at death; this teaching has its roots in paganism, going
back to the philosophy of the ancient Greeks, and is not found in
either the Old or New Testament.
How does our understanding of death help us appreciate even

more the promise of the Second Coming? How does this belief
powerfully unite us as Seventh-day Adventists?
103
F riday November 23
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Foundations, Pillars, and

Landmarks,” pp. 28–32, in Counsels to Writers and Editors. Read the
article “Doctrines, Importance of,” pp. 778, 779, in The Ellen G. White
Encyclopedia.
As Seventh-day Adventists we do share important beliefs in common

with some other Christian bodies. The central one, of course, is belief
in salvation by faith alone through the atoning and substitutionary death
of Jesus. We, along with other Christians, believe that our righteousness
is found, not in our own works, but in Christ’s righteousness, which is
credited to us by faith, an unmerited gift of grace. Or, as Ellen G. White
famously wrote: “Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be
treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He
had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which
we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might
receive the life which was His.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 25. At the same
time, taken as a whole, our set of fundamental beliefs, and the practices
and lifestyle that emerge from those beliefs, make us unique among the
Christian world. That’s the way it should be, too; if not, why even exist,
at least as Seventh-day Adventists? Our love of Jesus and the teachings
we proclaim should be the most powerful uniting factors among us.
 In Faith and Works, p. 103, Ellen G. White equates justification
with forgiveness of sins. How is an appreciation of our forgiveness
and justification in Christ a basis for our fellowship and commu-
nity with brothers and sisters?
 Think about how important our doctrines are in the context of

church unity. That is, what has brought together millions of people
from so many diverse ethnic, religious, political, and cultural
backgrounds other than our shared doctrinal beliefs? What does
this tell us about how important doctrine is, not just in the context
of mission and message but for church unity, as well?
 Our very name, Seventh-day Adventists, points to two crucial

teachings, the seventh-day Sabbath and the Second Advent. One
part of our name points to Creation, the other redemption. How
are these two teachings related, and in what ways do they together
so succinctly capture the essence of who we are as a people?
Summary: Seventh-day Adventists hold in common many fundamental beliefs.

Some we hold in common with other Christians; others not. Taken as a
whole, these teachings form our identity as a distinct church and are the
foundation of our unity in Jesus.
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i n s i d e
Story
Punished for Others’ Sins
When people first met the young boy, their first question was not
“What’s your name?” but “What’s wrong with your legs?”
Jack Chen crawled along the ground in his rural home in central
Taiwan until he was five. Through daily physical exercises, he managed
to build enough muscle to stand upright when he entered first grade.
But he walked awkwardly on the balls of his feet, prompting teasing and
taunts of “Freak!” from the other children. Sometimes, the boys spat on
him as they passed by.
Chen was born with a leg disease that puzzled doctors. But Chen and
his parents had no doubt about the cause: Someone had done something
wrong in the family, and now they were being punished.
“My family worships idols, and my parents believed that we were being
punished for something that they or our ancestors had done,” Chen said.
When Chen was 12, a family friend suggested that Chen, who was
lagging in public school, might have a better chance studying at a nearby
Seventh-day Adventist school.
Chen heard about Jesus for the first time when he enrolled in the sev-
enth grade. He read the Bible for the first time. He decided at the age of
13 to give his heart to Jesus.
The answer to his biggest question—why he was being punished
for other people’s sins—came about a year later when he read of Jesus
healing a man blind from birth. He read, “And His disciples asked Him,
saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born
blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but
that the works of God should be revealed in him’ ” (John 9:2, 3; NKJV).
Chen felt a heavy burden being lifted as he read those words. “I real-
ized that this was not a punishment but a blessing,” he said. “If I didn’t
have this disease, my family and I never would have had a chance to
know God.”
Chen went on to graduate from Taiwan Adventist College and now
serves as a pastor in the coastal town of Jiading.
He walks with a slight limp in one leg but other-
wise functions normally. He is married and has
two young sons.
Jack Chen, 32, pictured left, marvels at how he found

Jesus—or how Jesus found him. “I wasn’t even a Christian,
but I was looking for God, for someone who could save my
life,” he said. “You have to open your mind first to look for
God, and then God will tell you what to do next.”
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Hebrews 9:11, 12
The Student Will:

Know: Review the contribution of core Adventist doctrines to Adventist
identity and unity in Christ.
Feel: Value the unifying nature of biblical truth.
Do: Allow the Holy Spirit to internalize truth so that it impacts daily liv-
ing.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Identity, Truth, and Unity
A How do the essential elements of the gospel contribute to the concept
of church unity?
B What doctrines form the core of Adventist belief? What led you to
choose those particular doctrines?
C Consider each of the doctrines you believe is core to Adventist iden-
tity. How might they have a unifying effect on the church?
II. Feel: Advantages of a Common Message

A Why do you think God revealed specific information about topics
other than Himself in Scripture?
B What value is there in having a group of people who agree biblically
about what they consider are important doctrines?
III. Do: Internalizing Truth

A Why is it essential that truth is internalized fully?
B How can we internalize truth so that it impacts the way we live?
C What steps do you need to make for this to be a reality in your life?
Summary: Seventh-day Adventist Christians recognize the central role of the

death and resurrection of Christ in salvation and Christian unity. They also
understand that God has revealed information in Scripture that is critical
in determining how we relate to God and to other human beings. These
doctrines define both our identity and our mission.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: Christian beliefs are not arbi-
trary propositions to which a Christian must consent. Instead, they
are guidelines for living that impact the relationships between the
Christian, God, and other people. Consequently, our beliefs shape
our unity in the faith.
Just for Teachers: Scripture does not equate unity with uniformity.
It does suggest, however, that Christians should hold some core
beliefs in common and implies that the unity that develops sends an
important message to the world. The opening discussion is designed
to help the class recognize that sometimes a group can accomplish
more than one individual.
Opening Discussion: Many sporting events involve the audience

to create effects that one person alone could not create. For instance,
during the opening of the Vancouver Olympic Games in 2010, a single
light was lit in the middle of the stadium, which was followed by a
growing sea of lights on the field. Once the light reached the edges of
the field, audience members had been instructed to turn on their torches
row by row, creating the effect of an ever-growing circle of light. At
other events, audience members have been given large square cards with
various colors on them. They are instructed to raise the squares high
above their heads at a particular moment during the program. Together
the squares form a message or symbol that millions of viewers can see
across the world.
Working together, the audience was able to accomplish something
that a single person working alone could not do. God has called the
church to work together to send a message more powerful than the mes-
sage that we could convey by ourselves. As we unite in the truth as it
is in Jesus and focus on the mission of the church, we demonstrate in a
memorable way the transforming power of the gospel to the world.
Discussion Questions: Have you ever worked together with others to

accomplish something that you could not do alone? What was accomplished?
What did it feel like to work with the team? What attitudes were key to the
completion of your task?
107 107
teachers comments
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: This section seeks to make connections between

doctrines and their implications for unity within the church by exploring
how the doctrines impact relationships and identity.
Bible Commentary
I. Unity and the Gospel (Review Acts 4:8–12 with your class.)
The central doctrines of Christianity relate to Jesus. His incarnation,

life, death, resurrection, and ministry in the heavenly sanctuary testify
to God’s desire to be in relationship with His creation. Jesus became the
Reconciler who made this relationship possible, dying on the cross to
deal with the consequences of humankind’s sinful choices. But the con-
sequences of His death extend beyond reconciliation with God. As we
are united with Christ in baptism, we also are united with one another.
Thus, Paul can claim that Jesus’ death also tore down barriers between
people (Eph. 2:14). Further, as we experience God’s reconciliation, we
are called to be reconciled with one another. Church unity is possible
only because of Jesus’ death.
Consider This: In what ways has the death of Jesus broken barriers
between people? How does being united in Christ impact your relationship
with other church members?
II. Unity and Truth (Review Matthew 25:1–13 with your class.)
Scripture calls for the church to be united, while at the same time, to
hold fast to truth. This poses a dilemma. Truth is, by nature, exclusive.
Pursuing truth involves rejection of error and is associated with the
concept of purity. Thus, truth can be seen as selective and exclusive.
On the other hand, unity is, by nature, inclusive. Consequently, dis-
cussions about unity often emphasize unity at the expense of truth or
emphasize truth at the expense of unity. How, then, do we resolve this
tension and pursue both truth and unity? Part of the solution can be
found by examining what the Bible says about truth.
The New Testament provides important information about both the
nature and role of truth. It identifies Jesus as “the truth,” as we noted
above (John 14:6; 18:32, 37), but also recognizes God’s Word (John
17:17), the law (Rom. 2:20), the gospel (Eph. 1:13), the apostles’
teaching (2 Thess. 2:13–15), and sound doctrine as truth (2 Tim.
4:2–4). Truth, however, is not simply something to which we give intel-
108
teachers comments
lectual assent. It must be internalized, leading to a change in our behavior.

It is no use knowing that Jesus is coming soon if that knowledge doesn’t
change the way we live or cause us to prepare for His coming. Likewise,
John suggests that if our lives don’t radiate love to others, we demonstrate
that we don’t know the truth (1 John 2, 3). If truth remains external and
intellectual, there will always be a clash between truth and unity. But
when, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, truth is internalized, truth impacts
our relationship with God and those around us and thus facilitates the
church in its quest for unity.
Consider This: How does the parable of the ten virgins illustrate the need
to internalize truth? How is truth internalized? Why it is easier to allow truth
to remain external to us? In what specific ways do the doctrines studied in this
week’s lesson impact your relationships with God and others?
III. Unity and Adventist Doctrines (Review Exodus 20:8–11 and 1 Corinthians
15:51–54 with your class.)
Truth not only impacts unity through internal transformation. It also pro-
duces a common identity and witness. Our identity is first and foremost
in Christ and what He has done for us, but we also have core beliefs that
constitute our common identity as Seventh-day Adventist Christians. This
core includes beliefs that the pioneers of the church believed had been
revealed to them in Scripture by the Spirit’s leading. They are beliefs that
have the potential to unite us in our understanding of God and ourselves.
In acknowledging, for example, the seventh-day Sabbath, we are united
in our recognition that God is in control of the universe and, with it,
time. We are reminded that we are mere creatures dependent upon Him.
As the Sabbath also is a memorial to Redemption, we also are united in
acknowledging and remembering that salvation is not our work but that
of Christ. Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary unites us in recog-
nizing our ongoing need for God’s mercy and grace while also providing
confidence that we can come before the presence of God. Our understand-
ing of the state of the dead unites us in recognizing our finiteness and
dependence upon God for every breath of life, while our understanding of
the Resurrection and the Second Coming unites us in hope as we wait to
spend eternity with the God of love and grace. Together these doctrines
not only contribute to our identity as Seventh-day Adventists, but they
also remind us of our identity as sinful humans with a common need and
hope in Christ.
Consider This: Why is a common identity important? How does this impact
the mission of the church? How does the identity provided by these doctrines
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teachers comments
prevent arrogance or exclusivity? In what other ways do the doctrines

studied this week unite us in our understanding of God and ourselves?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Truth and doctrine are often seen as abstract
propositions that make any discussion of truth and unity seem more
philosophical than practical. But doctrines are neither abstract nor
arbitrary. They are designed to impact our relationships with God
and with others around us. Highlight the practical nature of doctrine
and what lived truth might look like in the life of a Christian.
 If our source of unity is our shared life in Jesus, why does what we
believe make a difference to the unity we display to the world?
 What might Christ-centered unity imply about the ways in which we
treat those who disagree with us theologically? 
 How can the fact that Jesus is the Truth make a difference to the way
we understand truth and unity?
 What does living the truth as it is in Jesus mean? How does it impact
unity? Choose one doctrine and consider what living that truth in Jesus
might look like.
 Which doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has most helped
to unite you with other believers? How has it done so?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: Many believers think about doctrine only when
they are studying for baptism or when they attend a mission program
run by their local church. Help members to see the importance of
considering doctrine more carefully as they contemplate living truth
as it is in Jesus and fulfilling their commission to demonstrate unity
to the world.
Activities: Bring a list of the 28 fundamental beliefs to class. Create a

plan to study each doctrine more carefully, including taking the time to
examine what the doctrine reveals about God, how the doctrine might be
lived in everyday life, and how the doctrine contributes to the unity of the
church.
110
The Most Convincing Proof
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 11:51, 52; Eph. 2:13–16;
2 Cor. 5:17–21; Eph. 4:25–5:2; Rom. 14:1–6; Acts 1:14.
Memory Text: “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but
being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the
nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather
together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad”
(John 11:51, 52, NKJV).
L
ast week we studied how unity is made visible through a com-
mon message, centered on Jesus as Savior and on the truths of
Scripture to be emphasized in the time of the end. We are who we
are because of the message that God has given us and the calling we have
to spread it to the world.
This week, we focus on the visible unity of the church in its expres-
sion in the day-to-day lives of Christians and the mission of the church.
According to Jesus, the church does not simply proclaim God’s message
of salvation and reconciliation. The unity of the church itself also is an
essential expression of that reconciliation. In a world surrounded by sin
and rebellion, the church stands as a visible witness to the saving work
and power of Christ. Without the oneness and solidarity of the church
in its common witness, the saving power of the Cross would hardly be
apparent in this world. “Unity with Christ establishes a bond of unity
with one another. This unity is the most convincing proof to the world
of the majesty and virtue of Christ, and of His power to take away sin.”
—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5,
p. 1148.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 1.

111
S unday November 25
Under the Cross of Jesus

Like many other spiritual blessings God gives His people, church
unity also is a gift of God. Unity is not a human creation through our
efforts, good works, and intentions. Fundamentally, Jesus Christ cre-
ates that unity through His death and resurrection. As we appropriate
by faith His death and resurrection through baptism and forgiveness of
our sins, as we join in common fellowship, and as we spread the three
angels’ messages to the world, we are in union with Him and in unity
with one another.
Read John 11:51, 52 and Ephesians 1:7–10. What event in the life
of Jesus is the foundation of unity among us as Seventh-day
Adventists?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
“Now this he [Caiaphas] did not say on his own authority; but being
high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in
one the children of God who were scattered abroad” (John 11:51, 52,
NKJV). How strange that God used Caiaphas to explain the meaning of
Jesus’ death, even though Caiaphas did not know what he was doing in
condemning Jesus to die. Nor did the priest have any idea of just how
profound his statement was. Caiaphas thought that he was making a
political statement only. John, though, used it to reveal a foundational
truth about what the substitutionary death of Jesus meant for all of
God’s faithful people, who would one day be gathered “together into
one.”
Whatever else we believe as Seventh-day Adventists, whatever mes-
sage we alone are proclaiming, the foundation of our unity exists in our
common acceptance of Christ’s death in our behalf.
And, furthermore, we also experience this unity in Christ through bap-
tism. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many
of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26, 27,
NKJV). Baptism is another bond that we Adventists commonly share, as
it symbolizes our faith in Christ. We have a common Father; thus, we are
all sons and daughters of God. And we have a common Savior in whose
death and resurrection we are baptized (Rom. 6:3, 4).
Whatever cultural, social, ethnic, and political differences exist

among us as Seventh-day Adventists, why should our common
faith in Jesus transcend all such divisions?
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M onday November 26
Ministry of Reconciliation
Our world is certainly known for its disorder, troubles, wars, and
conflicts. All these factors affect our lives at the personal, community,
and national levels. At times it appears our entire lives are in conflict.
But disunity and disorder will not prevail forever. God is on a mission
to bring about cosmic unity. Whereas sin has resulted in disharmony,
God’s eternal plan for reconciliation brings peace and wholeness.
In Ephesians 2:13–16, Paul puts forward the principles that show
how Christ acted in order to bring peace among believers: through
His death on the cross Jesus made both Jews and Gentiles one people
and destroyed the ethnic and religious barriers that separated them. If
Christ was able to do this with Jews and Gentiles in the first century,
how much more can He still bring down any racial, ethnic, and cultural
barriers and walls that divide people within our own church today?
And from this starting point, we can reach out to the world.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17–21, Paul states that in Christ we are a new crea

tion, reconciled to God. What then is our ministry in this world?
What differences could we be making in our communities as a
united church body?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
As God’s new creation, believers receive a crucial ministry—a
threefold ministry of reconciliation. (1) Our church is composed of
believers who were once alienated from God but, through the saving
grace of Christ’s sacrifice, have now been united to God by the Holy
Spirit. We are the remnant, called to proclaim an end-time message to
the world. Our ministry is to invite those who are still alienated from
God to be reconciled to God and join us in our mission. (2) The church
also is God’s people reconciled to one another. To be united to Christ
means we are united to one another. This is not just a lofty ideal; it must
be a visible reality. Reconciliation to one another, peace and harmony
among brothers and sisters, is an unmistakable witness to the world that
Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. “ ‘By this all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ ” (John 13:35,
NKJV). (3) Through this ministry of reconciliation, the church tells the
universe that God’s plan of redemption is true and powerful. The great
controversy is about God and His character. Inasmuch as the church
cultivates unity and reconciliation, the universe sees the working out of
God’s eternal wisdom (see Eph. 3:8–11).
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Practical Unity
In 1902, Ellen G. White wrote: “What Christ was in His life on this
earth, that every Christian is to be. He is our example, not only in His
spotless purity, but in His patience, gentleness, and winsomeness of
disposition.”—Ellen G. White, in Signs of the Times, July 16, 1902.
These words are reminiscent of Paul’s appeal to the Philippians: “Let
this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, NKJV).
Read Ephesians 4:25–5:2 and Colossians 3:1–17, and then answer

these two questions: In what areas of our lives in particular are we
invited to show our allegiance to Jesus? How are we to be witnesses
of the gospel of Jesus in our public lives?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
There are many other passages of Scripture that invite Christians to
follow the example of Jesus and to be living witnesses of God’s grace
to others. We also are invited to seek the welfare of others (Matt.
7:12); to bear each other’s burdens (Gal. 6:2); to live in simplicity
and to focus on inward spirituality instead of outward display (Matt.
16:24–26; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4); and to follow healthful living practices
(1 Cor. 10:31).
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable
among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers,
they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the
day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:11, 12, NKJV). How often do we under-
estimate the impact of Christian character upon those who watch us?
The patience manifested in moments of annoyance, a disciplined life
in the midst of tension and conflicts, a gentle spirit in response to
impatience and harsh words, are marks of the spirit of Jesus we are
invited to emulate. As Seventh-day Adventists witness together in a
world that misunderstands the character of God, we become a power
for good and for God’s glory. As representatives of Christ, believers
are to be known not only for their moral rectitude but also for their
practical interest in the welfare of others. If our religious experience
is genuine, it will reveal itself and have an impact in the world. A uni-
fied body of believers revealing the character of Christ to the world
will, indeed, be a powerful witness.
What kind of witness do you present to others? What would one

find in your life that would make them want to follow Jesus?
114
Unity Amid Diversity

In Romans 14 and 15, the apostle Paul addresses issues that deeply were
dividing the church at Rome. His response to these issues was to invite the
Romans to show tolerance and patience for one another and not divide the
church over these concerns. What can we learn from his counsel?
Read Romans 14:1–6. What issues of conscience were causing church

members in Rome to judge and not fellowship with one another?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
It is very likely that these matters had to do with Jewish ceremonial
impurity. According to Paul these were “disputes over doubtful things”
(Rom. 14:1, NKJV), indicating that they were not matters of salvation
but matters of opinion that should have been left up to individual con-
sciences (see Rom. 14:5).
These disputes were first over the type of food eaten. Eating animals
forbidden in Leviticus 11 was not the problem addressed by Paul here.
There is no evidence that early Christians began eating pork or other
unclean animals during Paul’s time, and we know that Peter did not eat
any such food (see Acts 10:14). Also, that the weak ate only vegetables
(Rom. 14:2) and that the controversy also involved beverages (Rom.
14:17, 21) indicate that the concern focuses on ceremonial impurity. This
is further evident by the word unclean (koinos), used in Romans 14:14.
That word is used in the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament
to refer to impure animals, not the unclean animals of Leviticus 11.
Apparently there were some people in the Roman community who
would not eat at fellowship meals because they were not convinced that
the food was adequately prepared or had not been sacrificed to idols.
The same goes for the observation of some days. This did not refer
to the weekly observance of the Sabbath, since we know Paul observed
it regularly (Acts 13:14, 16:13, 17:2). This is likely a reference to the
various Jewish feast days or fast days. Paul’s intent in these verses is to
urge tolerance for those who are sincere and conscientious in the obser-
vance of these rituals as long as they did not think of them as a means
of salvation. Unity among Christians manifests itself in patience and
forbearance when we do not always agree on points, especially when
they are not essential to our faith.
In class, ask this question: Is there anything that we believe

and practice as Seventh-day Adventists that all who claim to be
Adventists need not believe and adhere to?
115
Unity in Mission
Contrast the mood of the disciples during the Lord’s Supper
in Luke 22:24 with the one they had shortly before the Pentecost
experience in Acts 1:14 and 2:1, 46. What made such a difference
in their lives?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
In Acts 1:14 and 2:46, the phrase “with one accord” also means
“persevered with one mind.” This came as a result of their being
together in one place, seeking in prayer the fulfillment of Jesus’
promise to send them the Comforter.
As they waited, it would have been easy for them to begin to criticize
one another. Some could have pointed to Peter’s denial of Jesus (John
18:15–18, 25–27) and to Thomas’s doubting Jesus’ resurrection (John
20:25). They could have remembered John and James’s request to
receive the most powerful positions in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 10:35–
41), or that Matthew was a former despised tax collector (Matt. 9:9).
However, “these days of preparation were days of deep heart search-
ing. The disciples felt their spiritual need and cried to the Lord for the
holy unction that was to fit them for the work of soul saving. They did
not ask for a blessing for themselves merely. They were weighted with
the burden of the salvation of souls. They realized that the gospel was
to be carried to the world, and they claimed the power that Christ had
promised.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 37.
The fellowship between the disciples and the intensity of their
prayers prepared them for this momentous experience of Pentecost.
As they drew nearer to God and put aside their personal differences,
the disciples were prepared by the Holy Spirit to become the fearless
and bold witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. They knew Jesus
had forgiven their many shortcomings, and this gave them courage
to press on ahead. They knew what Jesus had done for them in their
lives. They knew the promise of salvation found in Him, and thus the
“ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s char-
acter and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom.”—Page 48. No
wonder the Lord was able to do powerful things through them. What
a lesson for us as a church today.
It’s always so easy to find things in other people’s lives that are
wrong. How can we learn to put aside the mistakes of others,
all for the greater cause of doing God’s will in a united church?
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F riday November 30
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “Unity in Diversity,” pp. 98–103, in

Evangelism.
The following quote helps reveal how the early church, united in
Christ, was able to maintain unity despite differences among them,
and thus be a powerful witness to the world. “Within the church,
Scripture illustrates how the Holy Spirit guided the early church in
its decision-making process. This is done in at least three closely
interconnected ways: revelations (e.g., the Spirit told the people what
to do; Cornelius, Ananias, Philip; and perhaps the casting of lots),
Scripture (the church reached a conclusion in which the Scripture
was used), and consensus (the Spirit worked from within the com-
munity, almost imperceptibly, creating a consensus through dialogue
and study, at the end of which the church realized that the Spirit was
working within it). It appears that when faced with cultural, doctrinal,
and theological controversies among the community of believers, the
Holy Spirit worked through consensus in its decision-making process.
In this process, we see the active role of the community of believers
and not just its leaders, and the importance of prayer for discernment.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit is sensed throughout the community’s
understanding of the Word of God, the experience of the community
and its needs, and through the experience of its leaders as they minis-
ter. Various church decisions were made through a process guided by
the Holy Spirit in which Scripture, prayer, and experience were ele-
ments of theological reflection.”—Denis Fortin, “The Holy Spirit and
the Church,” in Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, ed., Message, Mission, and
Unity of the Church, pp. 321, 322.
 In class, go over your answer to Wednesday’s question about
how we decide on which teachings and practices are essential for
us as Seventh-day Adventists and which aren’t.
 How are we to relate to Christians in other denominations

who, as we do, believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus?
Summary: The most convincing proof of unity is for brothers and sisters to
love each other as Jesus did. The forgiveness of our sins and the salvation
we share in common as Adventists are the best bonds of our fellowship.
In Christ, we can thus show the world our unity and witness of our com-
mon faith. We are called to do nothing less.
117
i n s i d e
Story
Love Is the Best Medicine
A 30-year-old woman was admitted with a bad case of pneumonia to
Blantyre Adventist Hospital in Malawi. When she didn’t improve with
antibiotics, missionary physician Tiffany Priester ordered an HIV test. The
results came back positive. She had full-blown AIDS.
Priester explained to the family that it usually takes three weeks to treat
pneumonia and there was a 50 percent chance that she would make it.
But then the woman began to suffer kidney problems, and her chances of
survival plummeted to 10 percent. Priester told the family that there wasn’t
much hope. “We believe in God,” a family member replied. “We believe in
miracles. Let’s pray.”
Surrounded by the family, Priester prayed for a cure and put the patient
on a ventilation machine. The woman’s kidneys shut down 24 hours later.
All hope seemed lost. But then she began to recover. A few weeks later, she
walked out of the hospital. “Medicine has its limits,” Priester said. “The
hospital does what it can do, and the Lord does the rest.”
Priester, a U.S. cardiologist, worked for five years in Blantyre, the second-
largest city in Malawi with a population of about one million. Blantyre
Adventist Hospital—which employs six missionary doctors, two missionary
dentists, and seven Malawian doctors—did not have a cardiologist for the
decade before she arrived in 2011, a common problem in a country with
only one medical doctor for every 88,000 people.
Priester’s reason for mission is John 13:35, where Jesus says, “By this
all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”
(NKJV).
One day, a Malawian woman complained that she awoke with her heart
pounding every night around midnight. Tests came back normal, and other
doctors might have written off the case as the result of bad dreams. “But that
day I think the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask more,” Priester said.
Priester learned that the patient had started having sleeping problems
after meeting a self-professed prophet who had warned her that she would
be raped at midnight. Priester asked the woman
whether the man or God was stronger. “Put your
trust in God,” she said.
“You are the first doctor to tell me that God is
strong,” the woman replied.
This, said Priester, pictured left, is what it means
to “love one another”—making an extra effort to
provide physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
“Sometimes it’s the small things that set us apart,”
she said.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Ephesians 5:1, 2
The Student Will:

Know: Understand that his or her interaction with other people provides the
most convincing evidence of the unity of the church.
Feel: Sense the need to evaluate the nature and impact of his or her rela-
tionships with others.
Do: Ask God to work in and through his or her life to provide a witness
to the truth of the gospel.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Visible Unity
A Why is unity in doctrine alone insufficient to demonstrate visible
unity to the world?
B How do our lifestyles and the ways in which we conduct relationships
demonstrate our allegiance to Jesus?
C How does visible unity actively demonstrate the power of God?
II. Feel: A Need to Evaluate

A How have the actions of another individual impacted your spiritual
journey both positively and negatively?
B How would you evaluate your current witness of your identity in
Christ?
C Why does reconciliation produce powerful emotions in both those
being reconciled and those who are watching?
III. Do: Attitudes Toward One Another

A What area of your life most needs the transformation of God so that
you can provide a positive witness to the world?
B Do you need to embrace the ministry of reconciliation in your rela-
tionships?
Summary: Visible unity grows out of the new identity we embrace when we express
faith in the saving work of Christ. The way we live and interact with others
expresses the reality of the unity and provides convincing proof of both the
character of God and of His transforming power.
119
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Ephesians 2:13–16
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: As Christians live out their iden-
tity in the risen Christ, they provide a potent witness to the love and power
of God.
Just for Teachers: As you open this lesson, help students to recognize
the importance of what people observe about their lives. Emphasize how
our words and actions impact the way others view God and our connec-
tion to Him.
Opening Discussion: Julie was adopted as a baby. She was placed in

a home where she was nurtured and loved. In time, she blossomed into a
kind, thoughtful Christian woman. She deeply loved her adopted family. Yet,
as she grew into adulthood, she felt compelled to discover more about her
birth mother and blood relatives. Julie filed a request for the contact details
of her mother and was delighted when she received the information she was
seeking. Before meeting her mother and her other blood relatives, Julie sent
photos and the written proof of her connection to them. But these became
irrelevant when the day came to meet her relatives face-to-face. They took
one look at Julie and knew without a doubt that she belonged. Her new sib-
lings were overwhelmed by the similarity between Julie and her mother. Not
only did she look just like her birth mother, Julie even had the same manner-
isms and tastes as her birth mother. Julie’s likeness to her birth mother was
the most convincing proof that she was indeed part of the family.
In a similar manner, the New Testament writers suggest that the unity
and love of Christians is the most convincing proof of their connection to
Christ. How we look and act is a telltale sign of our connection with Him,
more so than any other proof we can provide.
Discussion Questions: What are you inclined to believe the most—

actions or written proof? Why? What type of assumptions have you made
about people based on their words and actions? Were all your assumptions
correct?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: This section discusses kingdom living, which dem
onstrates the power of God. It accentuates the link between our actions
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teachers comments
and our identity in Christ. As you discuss the lesson with your class,
emphasize that visible unity is not our own work but rather the work
of Christ. We are called merely to live the new identity we have been
given in Christ.
Bible Commentary
I. A New Identity (Review Ephesians 2:13–16 with your class.)
As discussed earlier this quarter, the unity of the church is dependent upon
the death and resurrection of Christ that have made us a new creation,
reconciled us to Christ, and provided us with a new identity in Him. The
call for believers to exhibit visible unity is, therefore, not a challenge to
do the seemingly impossible. Rather, it is “a call to live out an identity
that we are freely given when we submit our lives to Christ.”—Gregory A.
Boyd, “Living in, and Looking Like, Christ,” in Servant God: The Cosmic
Conflict Over God’s Trustworthiness, edited by Dorothee Cole (Loma
Linda, Calif.: Loma Linda University Press, 2013), p. 410. It is only as
we live out our identity in Christ that we provide proof of the gospel and
God’s mighty power.
II. Reconciled to God (Review 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 with your class.)
Biblical reconciliation refers to the restoration of the relationship between

previously hostile or quarreling partners. Although humans are respon-
sible for the hostility and alienation in their relationship with God, Jesus
reconciled us to God by dealing with the root cause of the enmity in the
relationship. As our Substitute, He took the penalty for sin imposed by the
law. God, therefore, must be seen as both the Initiator and center of recon-
ciliation. Because God has reconciled all of humankind to Himself through
Christ and given humans new life, Paul calls the Corinthians to live out their
new identity as reconciled to God. They are to do this by continuing the
ministry of reconciliation in the concrete situations of their everyday lives.
Paul expects that the Corinthians will spread the message of reconciliation,
and that the fruit of reconciliation will be manifested to those whom they
encounter in their Christian journey. In the absence of outward evidence of
their identity as reconciled, Paul is led to question whether the Corinthians
have truly accepted the reconciliation that God has provided. He therefore
calls them to “be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20, NKJV).
Consider This: What is the difference between the meanings of recon-

ciliation and justification? On what grounds is Paul justified in question-
ing the Corinthian commitment to God and the reconciliation that God has
121
teachers comments
provided? What does embracing a mission of reconciliation look like?
III. Living Kingdom Values (Review Ephesians 4:25–5:2 and Romans 14:1–6 with
your class.)
Living as a citizen of the kingdom of God involves more than reconciliation.

It involves a new way of living that is radically different from the ways of
the world around us, because it is based on different values. It involves not
only an exchange of lordships, but an exchange of lifestyle. Christians are
called to embrace a lifestyle that is characterized by love, grace, and mercy.
Paul explains that our old lives must be laid aside in order for us to live out
our new identity in the kingdom, which has been “created after the likeness
of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24, ESV). This new life
needs to be accompanied by a renewal of the mind in which our attitudes and
priorities change.
“The church is called to be an expression of this alternative society. . . .
A place where the upside-down priorities of the Beatitudes operate. Where
service is more important than status, where humility trumps hubris, where
love is expressed instead of lust, and where collaboration replaces com-
petition.”—Lowell C. Cooper, “Doing Justice, Loving Mercy—in the End
Time,” in Do Justice: Our Call to Faithful Living, edited by Nathan Brown
and Joanna Darby (Warburton, Victoria: Signs Publishing Company, 2014),
p. 86. Living our new identity with these new priorities draws attention
to the gospel. The harmony and unity that emerge when service replaces
the use of others for selfish ends and humility replaces pride in one’s own
accomplishments and status is so countercultural that it provides evidence
of the power of God in the transformation of lives.
Consider This: Why is it important that our identity as citizens in God’s king-
dom be accompanied by a renewal of the mind? How well is your church doing
in representing the alternative values of the kingdom of God?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: This section asks students to reflect on whether their
own lives and church accurately reflect their identity in Christ and, there-
fore, demonstrate proof of the power of God in their lives.
 What is the difference between the message of reconciliation and the
ministry of reconciliation?
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teachers comments
 Many studies suggest that the actions and conduct of the church differ
little from the society around it. Why do you think this relative lack of dif-
ference is the case? What might you conclude from such data?
 In what practical ways can you demonstrate your identity as reconciled

to God? To whom is God calling you to demonstrate kingdom living this
week? What are you currently communicating to others by your words and
actions?
 Which of the characteristics of life in the kingdom discussed in this les-

son do you find most difficult to exhibit in your own life? How might Paul’s
reference to the fact that Christ’s love compels us make a difference to your
attitudes and motivation?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: The activities below provide options for class mem-
bers to focus on one area of their lives that they have identified during the
week as failing to provide the witness of their identity to the world around
them.
Activities:
 Pinpoint one of the characteristics of your old identity listed by Paul
in Ephesians 4 that tends to creep back into your life (falsehood, stealing,
unwholesome words, wrath, evil speaking, et cetera). Then identify the
feature that Paul identifies should replace it. Find several texts about the
feature that should replace your weakness and write them on small cards
that you can carry with you. Reflect on them several times a day for the
next week. At the end of the week, journal about what God has told you
about your weakness and about what you need to do next.
 List practical examples of the type of speech that Paul calls for
Christians to practice. As a starting point, you might like to consider
ideas listed in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, and 2 Corinthians
13:11. Choose one of these examples and think about how you might
apply it this week in your home, in your workplace, and in your wider
circle of friends.
 Plan two group activities in which you seek to serve and show care to
someone in your congregation and to someone in your community.
123
L esson 10 *December 1–7
Unity and Broken

Relationships
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Tim. 4:11, Philem. 1–25,
2 Cor. 10:12–15, Rom. 5:8–11, Eph. 4:26, Matt. 18:15–17.
Memory Text: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to

God through the death of His Son, much more, having been recon-
ciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10, NKJV).
A
s we have seen, even after Pentecost the relationship between
believers was at times strained. The New Testament records
repeated examples of the way that church leaders and individ-
ual members dealt with such challenges. These principles are extremely
valuable for the church today. They reveal the positive results that can
come when we use biblical principles to deal with conflicts and pre-
serve our oneness in Christ.
In this week’s lesson, we will focus on restored relationships and how
our human relationships impact our oneness in Christ. The ministry
of the Holy Spirit involves bringing people closer to God and to one
another. It includes breaking down the barriers in our relationship with
God and breaking down barriers in our relationships with one another.
In short, the greatest demonstration of the power of the gospel is not
necessarily what the church says but how the church lives.
“ ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love
for one another’ ” (John 13:35, NKJV). Without this love all our talk
about church unity will come to nothing.
124
S unday December 2
Restored Friendship
Paul and Barnabas worked together in witnessing for Jesus. But they
had a disagreement over whether they could trust one as fearful as John
Mark (Acts 15:36–39). The potential dangers of preaching the gospel
had caused John Mark at one point to desert Paul and Barnabas and
return home (Acts 13:13).
“This desertion caused Paul to judge Mark unfavorably, and even
severely, for a time. Barnabas, on the other hand, was inclined to excuse
him because of his inexperience. He felt anxious that Mark should not
abandon the ministry, for he saw in him qualifications that would fit
him to be a useful worker for Christ.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the
Apostles, p. 170.
Although God used all these men, the issues between them needed
resolution. The apostle who preached grace needed to extend grace to
a young preacher who had disappointed him. The apostle of forgive-
ness needed to forgive. John Mark grew in the affirming mentorship
of Barnabas (Acts 15:39), and, eventually, Paul’s heart was apparently
touched by the changes.
How do Paul’s letters to Timothy and the church at Colosse reveal his
renewed relationship with John Mark and a new confidence in this
young preacher? Col. 4:10, 11; 2 Tim. 4:11.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Although details of Paul’s reconciliation with John Mark may be
sketchy, the biblical record is clear. John Mark became one of the
apostle’s trusted companions. Paul highly recommended John Mark as
a “fellow worker” to the church at Colosse. At the end of Paul’s life,
he strongly encouraged Timothy to bring John Mark with him to Rome
because he was “useful to me for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11, NKJV). Paul’s
ministry was enriched by the young preacher, whom he obviously had
forgiven. The barrier between them had been broken down, and they
were able to work together in the cause of the gospel. Whatever the
issues between them, and however justified Paul might have believed
himself to be in regard to his earlier attitude toward John Mark, it was
all behind him now.
How can we learn to forgive those who have hurt or disappointed

us? At the same time, why does forgiveness not always include a
complete restoration of a previous relationship? Why does it not
always need to?
125
M onday December 3
From Slave to Son

While he was imprisoned in Rome, Paul met a runaway slave named
Onesimus, who had fled from Colosse to Rome. Paul realized that he
personally knew Onesimus’s master. The Epistle to Philemon is Paul’s
personal appeal to his friend regarding a restored relationship with the
runaway slave.
Relationships mattered to Paul. The apostle knew that fractured
relationships are detrimental to spiritual growth and to church unity.
Philemon was a church leader in Colosse. If he harbored bitterness
toward Onesimus, it would color his Christian witness and the witness
of the church to the nonbelieving community.
Read Philemon 1–25. What important principles about restored rela-

tionships can we find here? Remember, the key word is “principles.”
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
At first glance it is somewhat surprising that Paul did not speak more
forcefully against the evils of slavery. But Paul’s strategy was far more
effective. The gospel, ideally, breaks down all class distinctions (Gal.
3:28; Col. 3:10, 11). The apostle sent Onesimus back to Philemon, not
as a slave but as his son in Jesus and as Philemon’s “beloved brother” in
the Lord (Philemon 16, NKJV).
Paul knew that runaway slaves had a bleak future. They could be
apprehended at any time. They were doomed to a life of destitution and
poverty. But now, as Philemon’s brother in Christ and willing worker,
Onesimus could have a better future. His food, lodging, and job could
be made secure under Philemon. The restoration of a broken relation-
ship could make a dramatic difference in his life. He became a “faith-
ful and beloved brother” and colaborer in the gospel with Paul (Col.
4:9). Paul was so fervent, so adamant, in his desire for reconciliation
between them that he was willing to pay out of his own pocket any
financial issues that might have arisen from what happened between
the two believers in Jesus.
Drawing from the principles of the gospel as seen here, what can
you take away that can help you deal with whatever stresses and
strains, even fractures, you have in relationships with others?
How can these principles prevent a breakdown in the unity of
your local church?
_____________________________________________________
126
T uesday December 4
Spiritual Gifts for Unity

As we saw in an earlier lesson, the church at Corinth had deep prob-
lems. What principles does Paul outline in 1 Corinthians 3:5–11,
12:1–11, and 2 Corinthians 10:12–15 for healing and restoration,
which are so vital to church unity?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
In these passages, the apostle outlines critical principles for church
unity. He points out that Jesus uses different workers to accomplish
different ministries in His church, even though each one is laboring
together for the building up of God’s kingdom (1 Cor. 3:9).
God calls us to cooperation, not competition. Each believer is gifted
by God to cooperate in ministering to the body of Christ and serving
the community (1 Cor. 12:11). There are no greater or lesser gifts. All
are necessary in Christ’s church (1 Cor. 12:18–23). Our God-given gifts
are not for selfish display, and they are given by the Holy Spirit for
service in the spreading of the gospel.
All comparisons with others are unwise, because they will make us
feel either discouraged or arrogant. If we think that others are far “supe-
rior” to us, we will feel despondent when we compare ourselves to them
and easily can get discouraged in whatever ministry we are in. On the
other hand, if we think our labors for Christ are more effective than is
the work of others, we will feel proud, which is the last sentiment any
Christian should be harboring.
Both attitudes cripple our effectiveness for Christ and the fellowship
we have with one another. As we labor within the sphere of influence
that Christ has given us, we will find joy and contentment in our wit-
ness for Christ. Our labors will complement the efforts of other mem-
bers, and the church of Christ will make giant strides for the kingdom.
Can you think of someone whose gifts in ministry have made

you jealous? (Not too hard, is it?) At the same time, how often
have you felt proud of your gifts in contrast to those of others?
The point is that Paul’s concerns are an ever-present reality in
fallen human beings. Regardless of the side on which we fall,
how can we learn the unselfish attitudes that are necessary in
order to maintain our oneness in Christ?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
127
W ednesday December 5
Forgiveness
What is forgiveness? Does forgiveness justify the behavior of some-
one who has horribly wronged us? Is my forgiveness dependent on the
offender’s repentance? What if the one with whom I am upset does not
deserve my forgiveness?
How do the following passages help us to understand the biblical

nature of forgiveness? Rom. 5:8–11; Luke 23:31–34; 2 Cor. 5:20, 21;
Eph. 4:26.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Christ took the initiative in reconciling us to Himself. It is the “good-
ness of God [that] leads you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4, NKJV). In Christ
we were reconciled to God while we were yet sinners. Our repentance
and confession do not create reconciliation. Christ’s death on the cross
did; our part is to accept what was done for us.
It is true that we cannot receive the blessings of forgiveness until
we confess our sins. This does not mean that our confession creates
forgiveness in God’s heart. Forgiveness was in His heart all the time.
Confession, instead, enables us to receive it (1 John 1:9). Confession is
vitally important, not because it changes God’s attitude toward us, but
because it changes our attitude toward Him. When we yield to the Holy
Spirit’s convicting power to repent and confess our sin, we are changed.
Forgiveness also is crucial for our own spiritual well-being. A failure
to forgive someone who has wronged us, even if they do not deserve
forgiveness, can hurt us more than it hurts them. If an individual has
wronged you and the pain festers inside because you fail to forgive, you
are allowing them to hurt you even more. Such feelings and hurt often
are the cause of divisions and tensions in the church. Unresolved hurt
between church members hurts the unity of the body of Christ.
Forgiveness is releasing another from our condemnation because
Christ has released us from His condemnation. It does not justify
another’s behavior toward us. We can be reconciled to someone who has
wronged us, because Christ reconciled us to Himself when we wronged
Him. We can forgive because we are forgiven. We can love because we
are loved. Forgiveness is a choice. We can choose to forgive in spite of the
other person’s actions or attitudes. This is the true spirit of Jesus.
How can focusing on the forgiveness we have in Christ help us

learn to forgive others? Why is this forgiveness such an essential
aspect of our Christian experience?
128
T hursday December 6
Restoration and Unity

Read Matthew 18:15–17. What three steps does Jesus give us to help
us to resolve conflicts when we are wronged by another church
member? How are we to apply these words in our contemporary
situations?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Jesus’ desire in giving the counsel of Matthew 18 is to keep inter-
personal conflict within the church in as small a group as possible. His
intent is that the two people involved solve the problem themselves.
This is why Jesus declares, “ ‘If your brother sins against you, go and
tell him his fault between you and him alone’ ” (Matt. 18:15, NKJV).
As the number of people involved in a conflict between two individuals
increases, the more contention can be created, and the more it can affect
the fellowship of other believers. People take sides, and battle lines are
drawn. But when Christians attempt to settle their differences privately,
and in the spirit of Christian love and mutual understanding, a climate
of reconciliation is created. The atmosphere is right for the Holy Spirit
to work with them as they strive to resolve their differences.
Sometimes personal appeals for conflict resolution are ineffective. In
these instances Jesus invites us to take one or two others with us. This
second step in the reconciliation process always must follow the first
step. The purpose is to bring people together, not drive them further
apart. The one or two who join the offended party are not coming to
prove his or her point or to join in blaming the other individual. They
come in Christian love and compassion as counselors and prayer part-
ners in order to participate in the process of bringing two estranged
people together.
There are occasions when all attempts to solve the problem do not
work. In this case, Jesus instructs us to bring the issue before the
church. He certainly is not talking about interrupting the Sabbath
morning worship service with an issue of personal conflict. The
appropriate place to bring the issue, if the first two steps have not
helped to reconcile the two parties, is the church board. Again,
Christ’s purpose is reconciliation. It is not to blame one party and
exonerate the other.
“Do not suffer resentment to ripen into malice. Do not allow the
wound to fester and break out in poisoned words, which taint the minds
of those who hear. Do not allow bitter thoughts to continue to fill your
mind and his. Go to your brother, and in humility and sincerity talk
with him about the matter.”—Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 499.
129
F riday December 7
Further Thought: Read the article “Forgiveness,” pp. 825, 826, in The
Ellen G. White Encyclopedia.
“When the laborers have an abiding Christ in their own souls, when all
selfishness is dead, when there is no rivalry, no strife for the supremacy,
when oneness exists, when they sanctify themselves, so that love for
one another is seen and felt, then the showers of the grace of the Holy
Spirit will just as surely come upon them as that God’s promise will
never fail in one jot or tittle.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages,
book 1, p. 175.
“If we stand in the great day of the Lord with Christ as our refuge,
our high tower, we must put away all envy, all strife for the supremacy.
We must utterly destroy the roots of these unholy things, that they may
not again spring up into life. We must place ourselves wholly on the
side of the Lord.”—Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p. 190.
 Read Colossians 3:12–17. Discuss the Christian qualities the
apostle Paul encourages the church at Colosse to seek. Why are
these qualities the basis for all conflict resolution? How do they
guide us in carrying out the principles that Jesus gives us in
Matthew 18:15–18?
 Look again at Colossians 3:12–17 and the teachings found in

these verses. Why are these things so utterly essential for the unity
in the church?
 If we look at our church, that is, the Seventh-day Adventist

Church as a whole, what is the greatest thing holding us back from
the kind of unity that will be needed in order to reach the world?
Is it our teachings and doctrines? Of course not. These are the
very things that God has given us to proclaim to the world. Maybe
the problem exists solely in us, in our interpersonal relationships,
our petty jealousies, our bickering, our selfishness, our desire for
supremacy, and a whole host of other things. Why must you plead
for the power of the Holy Spirit to bring the changes that have to
occur in you before we see unity in the whole church?
Summary: The gospel of Jesus Christ is about healing and transformation.

And when these come, they cannot help impacting our relationship with
others. The Bible gives us powerful principles and examples of how we
can have good and close relationships with others, even in a world of sin.
130
i n s i d e
Story
Our Church Is Schools
Seventh-day Adventist education is the path to people’s hearts in Bangladesh,
church leaders said.
“Our church in Bangladesh is basically schools,” said Milton Das, com-
munication director for the Bangladesh Union Mission. “Education is the
strongest medium to reach the people of Bangladesh. Where there is a church,
there is a school.”
That first mission station, which paved the way for Adventist education to
blossom in the country, was founded in 1906 by Lal Gopal Mookerjee and his
wife, U.S. schoolteacher Grace Kellogg, in then-East Bengal.
Today, Adventist schools are thriving centers of influence across this coun-
try of 162 million people, with some 10,000 students attending 174 village
schools, 10 city schools, and nine boarding schools. About 60 to 70 percent
of the students are non-Adventist, and the figure rises to 99 percent in city
schools such as the Dhaka Adventist Pre-Seminary school, which teaches
1,535 students in the country’s capital.
Adventist education is in high demand, with parents from various
faiths wanting their children to learn Christian values, Das said.
“There are many more children waiting to go to school,” said Das, who
also oversees Bangladesh Children Sponsorship Services, a department
of the Bangladesh Union Mission that covers the tuition costs of 3,000
underprivileged children a year through partnerships with the General
Conference, Adventist supporting ministry Asian Aid, and the Adventist
Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
Das himself received 16 years of Adventist education after an
Australian woman paid his monthly tuition costs through Asian Aid. He
said 90 percent of local church leaders were sponsored as children.
Shova Rani Bayen, 76, a retired schoolteacher, told of how she saw
Adventist education change the lives of the Santali people living near
Bangladesh’s border with Myanmar. She said the people wore nothing more
than scant cloths to cover their genitals and ate all living creatures—including
snails, rats, cats, and dogs—when she first
arrived in the area with her husband, evange-
list Narottom Bayen, in the early 1960s. The
adults had no desire to live differently. “But
then we opened a church school,” Bayen
said. “Many of those children are now
church workers, pastors, and evangelists.”
Milton Das, far left, visits an Adventist school in

Dhaka, Bangladesh.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Ephesians 4:26
The Student Will:

Know: Identify the personal attitudes necessary for the maintenance and
healing of relationships.
Feel: Discern the impact of broken relationships on spiritual growth and
church unity.
Do: Commit to offering grace and forgiveness in his or her relationships.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: The Necessity of Healthy Attitudes
A What do we learn about the importance of attitudes in the health of
relationships through the story of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark?
B What other biblical stories demonstrate important principles about
healthy relationships?
C How does Paul envisage spiritual gifts contributing to the health and
unity of relationships in the church?
II. Feel: The Effects of Broken Relationships

A What messages do conflicts and animosity between Christians send to the
watching world? What do they reflect about the nature and power of God?
B What impact do strained relationships have on the local church con-
gregation?
C In what ways have broken or strained relationships impacted your
spiritual growth?
III. Do: Choosing Grace and Forgiveness

A Why is it hard to offer grace and forgiveness when we have been
wronged repeatedly?
B What factors can help to motivate us to choose consistently to for-
give others?
Summary: The gospel story demonstrates God’s extravagant grace and forgive-
ness as He reconciles and heals the broken relationship between God and
human beings. It also provides the motivation for pursuing reconciliation
and healing in human relationships, and it illustrates the attitudes that are
necessary for this to occur.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Romans 5:10
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The healing and transforma-

tion of relationships are central to the gospel message and crucial for
our oneness in Christ.
Just for Teachers: Our attitudes are key in the health of relationships.
As you consider the following story, emphasize the key attitudes displayed
within it and the results in the lives of those who chose to embrace them.
Opening Discussion: In 1961, civil rights activists in the United States

began a series of what were called Freedom Rides. Activists rode inter-
state buses into the segregated states of the southern United States, then
attempted to use the restrooms, waiting areas, lunchrooms, or water
fountains in segregated bus terminals. Among these freedom riders was
a 21-year-old African American seminary student named John Lewis.
When he attempted to enter the segregated waiting area of a bus station in
South Carolina, he was beaten severely by Elwin Wilson, who held strong
beliefs about those of ethnic origins other than his own.
Forty-eight years later, MSNBC broke the news that a remorseful
Wilson had apologized for his long-held racism and hatred. John Lewis,
now a senator, willingly accepted Wilson’s apology and offered his for-
giveness. He further noted that Wilson’s change of heart showed the true
power of love and grace. Wilson, for his part, believed he needed to do
more than simply reconcile with the man he had injured. Pledging his life
to a new cause, he became an activist for peace and equality, speaking
against the bigotry and intolerance that still exists in society. (See http://
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/lewis-and-beater-receive-award/.)
The attitudes that we choose to embrace can result in the destruction
of relationships or the healing of relationships. Grace and forgiveness are
essential to the healing of relationships and to church unity. However,
embracing these attitudes does not guarantee that other people will
respond as we hope.
Discussion Questions: What evidence is there in the story that sug-

gests that Lewis already had forgiven Wilson before he asked for forgive-
ness? Why do you think that it was important for Wilson to do more than
simply ask for forgiveness? What are the benefits of forgiveness?
133 133
teachers comments
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: Grace and forgiveness are critical in the healing of
broken relationships. As you work through this section, help the class to
recognize that the gospel provides both the example and the motivation
for our expressions of these attitudes in our relationships.
Bible Commentary
I. Attitudes, Relationships, and the Gospel (Review Philemon 1–25 with your
class.)
This week’s lesson provides two illustrations of the impact of attitudes

upon relationships. Information is missing from both stories. We are told
how the relationship between Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark was broken,
and we have evidence that it was healed, but we are left with unanswered
questions about how this occurred. On the other hand, there is an attempt
at reconciliation in Philemon, but we must use textual clues to guess the
cause of the dispute. Yet, both stories highlight the necessity of love, grace,
and forgiveness in the maintaining of healthy relationships and, hence, the
unity of the church. This combination of attitudes cannot help but draw our
minds to the gospel story, where God’s character is on display. In His provi-
sion of salvation, God has modeled the attitudes for healthy relationships.
It is because of His love, grace, and forgiveness that we have experienced a
restored relationship with Him. Paul’s failure to exhibit the same grace and
forgiveness that he preached in his interaction with John Mark highlights
the universal need to let the gospel story transform every part of our lives.
Even the most productive and dedicated leaders need to allow the Spirit to
help them to live the gospel in their everyday lives. Nevertheless, Paul’s
letter to Philemon indicates that Paul learned this lesson, for the impact
of the gospel is threaded throughout the letter with attempts to bring rec-
onciliation between Philemon and Onesimus. Paul engaged in the stories
of both men in an attempt to reshape their perceptions. He contrasted the
lives of both Philemon and Onesimus before and after hearing the gospel
message, and saw the gospel as the key to restoration.
Sometimes our attitudes and beliefs blind us to the greater realities
of situations. It is easy to ignore information that is inconsistent with
our attitudes and beliefs and, hence, distance ourselves from objectivity.
Paul’s belief that John Mark was a quitter overshadowed any of the posi-
tive traits he might have seen in John Mark. However, Paul’s engagement
with the stories of Onesimus and Philemon allowed him to see that both
had been transformed by the gospel and that reconciliation was indeed
134
teachers comments
possible because of what they had in common.

Just as Christ entered into history and our world to bring salvation, we are
called to engage in people’s lives and stories. We must recognize both our-
selves and those with whom we seek reconciliation as broken people who are
being transformed by the gospel. We must recognize the grace that we have
been given and offer it freely to others. Like Paul, in the letter to Philemon,
we should direct attention to Christ and His gospel that provides the Model
for our relationships. Only as we see our lives in the shadow of Calvary can
we exhibit the attitudes of love, grace, and forgiveness in our relationships,
for an encounter with Jesus does not leave our lives unchanged.
Consider This: What attitudes are displayed by Paul in his split with Barnabas
and John Mark? What difference do you see in the attitudes he displays and
requests of Philemon? What parallels do you see between Paul’s actions in
Philemon and the gospel story, particularly in the work of Jesus on the cross?
II. Understanding Forgiveness (Review Romans 5:8–11 with your class.)
Forgiveness involves a conscious choice to give up feelings of resentment

toward another person and, consequently, it also removes any right to seek
revenge for what he or she has done. Forgiveness does not require you to be
the guilty party or imply that the other person deserves forgiveness. Rather,
forgiveness roots out anger and bitterness from our own lives, helps heal
wounds, and builds a basis for restoring relationships. Forgiveness does not
mean excusing wrong behavior or removing any consequences that might result
from the behavior. True forgiveness recognizes the seriousness of the offense
but chooses a path of healing. God forgave humans, even though we were
undeserving of His forgiveness. But divine forgiveness did not undermine the
seriousness of sin or remove all the consequences of sin. Indeed, Jesus took the
ultimate consequence of sin, suffering death on our behalf.
Consider This: Why is it sometimes difficult to forgive others? Why is

it important to understand that forgiveness does not necessarily remove all
the consequences of our actions? Whom does forgiveness benefit more—the
offender or the person offering the apology? What evidence is there to sup-
port your answer?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Emphasize the importance of seeing ourselves and
135
teachers comments
those who have wronged us through the lens of the gospel. When we see
our grievances in this light, we remember the importance of offering
grace and forgiveness to those with whom we are in a relationship.
 How should we deal with differences in opinions and theological
understandings? How often do we excuse our behavior, because we are
defending truth or something we believe in strongly?
 How might the recognition of our own sinfulness and need of salva-
tion help us as we seek to restore broken relationships?
 In what other ways does knowing the gospel impact relationships?
How can we better pattern our own relationships after the example pro-
vided for us by Christ? 
 How does seeking to understand the stories and motives of the other
person in a conflict change the way we seek resolution to the conflict?
 What obstacles make forgiveness difficult?
 What steps can you take this week to begin the process of healing and
reconciliation in your relationships?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: In these activities, class members are encouraged

to recognize the impact that forgiveness has on their own lives and to
choose to be more forgiving in their relationships.
Activities:
 Provide the class with pen and paper. Then ask them to write about
two experiences. The first should focus on either a time when they were
unexpectedly forgiven or a time when they forgave someone else who had
wronged them. The reflection should include any feelings about forgive-
ness and the results that forgiveness had on the relationship. The second
response should outline a time when class members found it difficult to
forgive. After completing their responses, ask each person to share his or
her answers with one other person in the group. Together the pair should
reflect on what they have learned about forgiveness and the obstacles that
make it difficult for them to forgive.
 Identify one person in your life whom you need to forgive or to whom
you need to show grace. Write a letter to that person, offering forgiveness.
 Create a Bible study about grace or forgiveness.
136
Unity in Worship
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Rev. 4:8, 11; Matt. 4:8, 9;
Dan. 3:8–18; Rev. 14:9; Rev. 14:6, 7; Acts 4:23–31.
Memory Text: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the
earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a
loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judg-
ment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the
sea and springs of water’ ” (Revelation 14:6, 7, NKJV).
S
oon after the Day of Pentecost, the early Christians spent much of
their time in worship. “And they continued steadfastly in the apos-
tles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers”
(Acts 2:42, NKJV). The joy that came from knowing Jesus as the Messiah,
the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, filled their hearts with thanks-
giving and gratitude to God. What a privilege to know this wonderful truth.
These early Christians felt the need to spend time together in fellowship,
study, and prayer, all in order to thank God for His revelation in the life,
death, and resurrection of Jesus, and for what He had done in their lives.
The church of Jesus Christ is by definition a worshiping community,
called into being by God to be “a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet.
2:5, NKJV). Gratitude to God expressed in community worship transforms
people’s hearts and minds into the likeness of the character of God and
prepares them for service.
This week’s lesson focuses on the meaning of worship and how it
preserves unity among believers in Jesus.

137
S unday December 9
Worshiping Our Creator and

Redeemer
In discussions about worship, we often highlight elements of worship,
what it includes and how it is done. But what is the deep meaning of wor-
ship? What does it mean to worship God? And why do we do it? In Psalm
29:2, David states: “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; wor-
ship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 29:2, NKJV). This psalm
points us in the right direction to understand the meaning of worship. To
worship the Lord is to give Him the glory and honor He deserves.
Read Revelation 4 and 5. What reasons do the inhabitants of heaven

give for worshiping God and Jesus, the Lamb of God? See Rev. 4:8,
11; 5:9, 10, 12, 13.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
This depiction of worship in the throne room of heaven as Jesus
is introduced as the Lamb of God and Savior of the world is awe-
inspiring. Worship happens when God’s creation responds to Him
with words of adoration and thankfulness for what He has done.
Worship is the response of a grateful person for God’s creation and
salvation. At the end of time, the redeemed also will join in adoration
and respond in a similar way to God’s salvation. “ ‘Great and marvel-
ous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your
name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship
before You, for Your judgments have been manifested’ ” (Rev. 15:3,
4, NKJV).
So, worship is a response of our faith in God for His mighty works:
first, for creating us, and, second, for redeeming us. In worship we give
to God the adoration, reverence, praise, love, and obedience we believe
He is worthy to receive. Of course, what we know about God, as our
Creator and Savior, comes from what He revealed to us in Scripture.
Furthermore, what Christians know about God was revealed more fully
in the person and ministry of Jesus (see John 14:8–14). That is why
Christians worship Jesus as Savior and Redeemer, as His sacrificial
death and resurrection are at the very core of worship.
When Christians come together in worship, it is out of this sense of
awe and thankfulness that our worship should proceed.
Think about what we have been given in Christ as our Creator
and Savior, about what He has spared us from, and about what
He offers us—all because He willingly died in our stead. Why
should these truths be the foundation of all our worship?
138
M onday December 10
False Worship
Read Matthew 4:8, 9. What was Jesus’ third temptation in the wilderness?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
With pride and arrogance, Satan declared himself to be the rightful
ruler of the world, the owner of all its riches and glory, claiming the
honor and respect of all who live in it, as if he had created the world.
What an insult to God, the Creator. Satan revealed that he knows
exactly what worship is about: it is to give honor and respect to the
rightful owner of the universe.
Compare the experience of the three Hebrew friends in Daniel 3

(especially verses 8–18) with that of the believers who will face the
end-time power of Revelation 13:4 and 14:9–11. What is at stake at
the time of the end? What is the core issue in both accounts?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
From Cain and Abel, to the three Hebrew boys in Babylon, to final
events regarding “the mark of the beast” (Rev. 16:2), Satan seeks to estab-
lish a false system of worship, one that takes people away from the true
God and, even if subtly, direct worship toward himself. After all, even from
before the Fall, he wanted to be like God (Isa. 14:14). It’s no coincidence
that just as the three young men faced the threat of death unless they were
to worship an “image,” in the last days God’s faithful people will face the
threat of death unless they will worship an “image,” as well. Why worship
any “image” when we are called to worship the true God instead?
“Important are the lessons to be learned from the experience of the
Hebrew youth on the plain of Dura. . . .
“The season of distress before God’s people will call for a faith that will
not falter. His children must make it manifest that He is the only object
of their worship, and that no consideration, not even that of life itself, can
induce them to make the least concession to false worship. To the loyal heart
the commands of sinful, finite men will sink into insignificance beside the
word of the eternal God. Truth will be obeyed though the result be imprison-
ment or exile or death.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, pp. 512, 513.
What are different ways, even now, that we can be tempted into
worshiping anyone else other than the only Being worthy of our
worship? How might false worship be a more subtle threat than
we realize? What are some things that we might even now be
tempted to worship?
139
T uesday December 11
The First Angel’s Message

Seventh-day Adventists see the three angels’ messages of Revelation
14:6–12 as depicting their mission and the core of their message just
before the second coming of Jesus (Rev. 14:14–20). These are the
important messages to be preached with “a loud voice” to all inhabit-
ants of the earth.
Read Revelation 14:6, 7. What is the first angel’s message, and what
does it say about God? Why is there a reference to worship in this
message?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
The first of the three angels’ messages proclaims a message to the
entire world. This is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prediction in Matthew
24:14. There is a sense of urgency and haste in the depiction of these
three angels and their mission. The first message urges people to focus
on God because “ ‘the hour of His judgment has come’ ” (Rev. 14:7,
NKJV). The second coming of Jesus is the catalyst for the judgment.
“ ‘Fear God,’ ” the angel says (Rev. 14:7). For those who do not take
God seriously, this message and call to action will indeed generate fear
in their mind. But for those who have been followers of Jesus, this call
invites awe and respect. They look up to God and see the fulfillment of
His promises. A sense of grateful reverence for God overtakes them.
“ ‘And worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of
water’ ” (Rev. 14:7, NKJV). This language makes an unmistakable allusion
to the Sabbath commandment, with its reference to Creation (see Exod.
20:8–11). The God of Creation, who instituted the Sabbath as a memorial
of His creative power, is the One who is to be worshiped and revered.
It is interesting to note that at the end of time worship is identified
as a key issue in the great controversy for the allegiance of the human
race. This worldwide announcement is a call to worship the Creator.
“The central issue in the final crisis will be worship. Revelation
makes clear that the test will not be denial of worship, but rather who
is worshiped. At the time of the end, only two groups of people will be
in the world: those who fear and worship the true God (11:1, 18; 14:7)
and those who hate the truth and are worshipers of the dragon and the
beast (13:4–8, 14:9–11). . . .
“If worship is the central issue in the final conflict, no wonder then
that God sends His end-time gospel urging the inhabitants of the earth
to take Him seriously and worship Him as the Creator, the only One
worthy of worship.”—Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ:
Commentary on the Book of Revelation (Berrien Springs, Mich.:
Andrews University Press, 2002), pp. 444, 445.
140
Bible Study and Fellowship

Read Acts 2:42. What were some of the elements of early Christian
worship?
___________________________________________________
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellow-
ship” (Acts 2:42, NKJV). From the earliest moments of the church, wor-
ship has been characterized by the centrality of the study of the Word
of God given to us by the apostles. The first Christians were faithful
in studying the Scriptures for what they said about Jesus the Messiah.
They were in constant fellowship to share with one another the bless-
ings God had given them and to encourage each other in their spiritual
walk with God. In the Word they mined the sacred truths that became
the foundation of their message to the world.
What do the following passages say about the importance of studying

God’s Word in fellowship with other believers?
2 Kings 22:8–13____________________________________________
Acts 17:10, 11_____________________________________________
2 Tim. 3:14–17_____________________________________________
“Wherever the truths of the gospel are proclaimed, those who hon-
estly desire to do right are led to a diligent searching of the Scriptures.
If, in the closing scenes of this earth’s history, those to whom testing
truths are proclaimed would follow the example of the Bereans, search-
ing the Scriptures daily, and comparing with God’s word the messages
brought them, there would today be a large number loyal to the pre-
cepts of God’s law, where now there are comparatively few.”—Ellen G.
White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 232.
We are a united people because of the truths that we proclaim, truths
that we find from the Word of God. This was true of God’s church in
the early days, and it is true of it today. The study of God’s Word forms
the core of both our worship to God and our unity as a people who have
been called to proclaim the three angels’ messages to the world. When
we come together as a family to fellowship and worship, the Scriptures
speak to us words from God to guide our lives in preparation for our
mission and for Jesus’ second coming.
How firmly grounded are you, from the Bible, in what we believe?
That is, are you grounded enough in it to the point where you
could, like the three Hebrew boys, stand firm in the face of death?
141
Breaking of Bread and Prayer

Whatever the challenges the early church faced, they were united in
their common faith in Jesus and in the truth He had entrusted them to
spread to the world. It’s what Peter even called “present truth” (2 Pet.
1:12). And thus, united in the truth, they expressed their unity in a
number of ways.
“And they continued steadfastly . . . in the breaking of bread, and
in prayers” (Acts 2:42, NKJV). This reference to breaking of bread
probably refers to a fellowship meal or to regular meals shared
between believers. At some point during a fellowship meal, someone
would offer a special blessing over the bread and drink in memory of
Jesus’ death and resurrection, in expectation of His soon return. Early
Christians thus devoted their time to remembering the meaning of
Jesus’ life and ministry, and loved to talk about it in fellowship meals.
The meals they shared became moments of worship. “So continuing
daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to
house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, prais-
ing God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to
the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46, 47, NKJV).
No doubt this time of fellowship together greatly helped strengthen
the sense of unity they had in Jesus.
What examples do we have in the book of Acts of early Christians

praying together? What did they pray for?
Acts 1:14_________________________________________________
Acts 4:23–31______________________________________________
Acts 12:12________________________________________________
The early church cherished the opportunity for direct communication

with God and never failed to offer up petitions to Him when gathered
together in worship. Paul in his First Epistle to Timothy mentions the
importance of prayer when Christians are together (1 Tim. 2:1). To the
Ephesians, he also emphasized the need of prayer: “praying always with
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with
all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me” (Eph.
6:18, 19, NKJV).
What are ways that we can experience a deeper unity through the
power of intercessory prayer for common causes? How does this
prayer help unite us as a church?
_____________________________________________________
142
F riday December 14
Further Thought: Read the articles “Prayer,” pp. 1044–1046, and

“Worship,” pp. 1290, 1291, in The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia.
“ ‘The importance of the Sabbath as the memorial of creation is that it

keeps ever present the true reason why worship is due to God’—because
He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. ‘The Sabbath therefore lies
at the very foundation of divine worship, for it teaches this great truth
in the most impressive manner, and no other institution does this. The
true ground of divine worship, not of that on the seventh day merely, but
of all worship, is found in the distinction between the Creator and His
creatures. This great fact can never become obsolete, and must never be
forgotten.’—J. N. Andrews, History of the Sabbath, chapter 27. It was
to keep this truth ever before the minds of men, that God instituted the
Sabbath in Eden; and so long as the fact that He is our Creator continues
to be a reason why we should worship Him, so long the Sabbath will
continue as its sign and memorial. Had the Sabbath been universally
kept, man’s thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator
as the object of reverence and worship, and there would never have been
an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign
of loyalty to the true God, ‘Him that made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of waters.’ It follows that the message which com-
mands men to worship God and keep His commandments will especially
call upon them to keep the fourth commandment.”—Ellen G. White, The
Great Controversy, pp. 437, 438.
 Since the biblical concepts of worship, creation, and salvation
are so closely intertwined, how do you think the celebration of the
Sabbath could be God’s antidote to false worship? What role does
the Sabbath play in this end-time prophecy of Revelation 14:6, 7?
Why is the Sabbath referred to in the first angel’s message?
 Oftentimes we talk about worship as a matter of content—

things we should do or not do during worship. Is that good
enough? What is worship really about? How is your local church
experiencing meaningful worship?
 In some societies, Christian community worship slowly is being

forgotten or abandoned, even in Adventist communities. What can
your local church do to counter this trend?
Summary: Worship is the Christian believer’s thankful response to God for

His gift of salvation. It also is an essential element of the Christian com-
munity’s experience of unity and fellowship. Without prayer and Bible
study in a desire to know God’s truth for us, our community will fail to
experience oneness in Christ.
143
i n s i d e
Story
Ukrainian Builds 22 Churches
Construction company chief Vladimir Vladovskyy knew it would take
a miracle to build a Seventh-day Adventist church in the northern Russian
seaport of Arkhangelsk.
He had no blueprint for the project. He had only a few summer months to
build the church. And a senior city administrator, without giving a reason, had
vowed never to sign the paperwork.
So, Vladovskyy secured a blueprint for the church’s foundation and started
work.
“Summer is very short in Arkhangelsk, and we didn’t have time to deal with
bureaucracy,” said Vladovskyy, a Ukrainian native who has built 22 Adventist
churches and other church facilities in Russia, Ukraine, and Mongolia over
two decades. “So, we started building.”
After laying the foundation, Vladovskyy received the blueprint for the sec-
ond stage and put his construction crew to work on the walls. Then came the
next blueprint and the roof.
Remarkably, no one from the city government tried to stop the construc-
tion. Vladovskyy, however, had not forgotten about the official paperwork.
Vladovskyy gathered his crew every morning to pray for a miracle at the
construction site.
A month passed. Two months. Three months. Arkhangelsk’s summer lasts
for only three months, from June to August. The exterior of the church was
completed before the first snow fell in September. The interior was finished
in December.
Vladovskyy returned to the city administrator to ask for the documents. He
didn’t know what to expect, but he felt at peace, knowing that he had prayed
daily and that the weather had stayed warm long enough to finish the church.
The city administrator didn’t say a word. He simply signed every document.
“In the end, he signed everything,” Vladovskyy said. “I don’t know why. It
was a miracle.”
Vladovskyy, a third-generation Adventist who restored old buildings for
a state construction company during Soviet times, has encountered many
miracles since he first teamed up with the Adventist Church by construct-
ing the Euro-Asia Division’s headquarters in Moscow in
1995. Currently, he is building churches in Krasnoyarsk,
Tomsk, and a third Russian city.
But no miracle has been quite as remarkable as the
one in Arkhangelsk in 1999, he said in an interview in
Ukraine’s capital, Kiev.
“We built a church without a blueprint and without
permission,” he said.
Vladimir Vladovskyy holds a photo of the Arkhangelsk church.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Revelation 4:8–11
The Student Will:

Know: Define true worship and its role in the great controversy between
God and Satan.
Feel: Have a sense of awe and thankfulness for who God is and what He
has done for him or her.
Do: Worship God with both heart and mind.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: True Worship
A What is meant by the word “worship”? What actions might be consid-
ered part of worship?
B How can we distinguish true and false worship from each other?
C How can we ensure that God remains the center of our worship?
D What role does worship play in each of the three angels’ messages?
II. Feel: The Greatness of God

A What aspect of God’s character is the most meaningful to you? Which
aspect speaks most to your situation today?
B What feelings and emotions come to mind when you consider what
God has done for you?
III. Do: Responding With Our Whole Being

A How is worshiping God with our hearts different from worshiping
God with our minds?
B What do these two aspects of worship look like in practice?
C How is it possible to magnify God when we cannot make Him larger?
What is magnified in the process of our worship?
Summary: Worship involves showing honor and respect, as well as service

and obedience. The character and redemptive actions of God call forth a
response of worship from His creatures as together they recognize their
dependence upon God.
145
teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Revelation 14:6, 7
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: True worship is a heartfelt

response to who God is and what He has done for us.
Just for Teachers: Worship is a key issue in the end times. The
identity of who is worshiped defines our allegiance. As you open
the lesson, emphasize the importance of identifying correctly who is
worshiped.
Opening Discussion: One summer day, John decided to pick a few

of the abundant mushrooms that grew near his home. He had taken a
course in mushroom hunting and knew something about the identification
of mushrooms. He spotted a group of mushrooms that he thought were
edible and picked them for his evening meal. He intended to check them
with a field guide on his return home to be sure they were edible, but by
the time he reached home, he was running late for an appointment. Sure
in his own mind that the mushrooms were indeed edible, he cooked and
ate them. But John’s identification of the mushrooms had been wrong. He
had eaten a dangerously poisonous species of mushroom that destroys the
liver and frequently results in death. Eight hours later, John started vomit-
ing, and tests showed that his liver and kidneys had been damaged badly.
While John survived, his mistake nearly cost him his life.
The apostle John warns us that we need to be equally careful about the
identification of the object of our worship. God should be the only object
of our worship, and our worship should reflect our allegiance to Him.
Discussion Questions: Why was distinguishing between edible and

poisonous mushrooms difficult? What could John have used to distin-
guish between them? How might your answer help you to think about how
you distinguish between true and false systems of worship?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: This study section examines the nature of wor-
ship and its role in the great controversy. Emphasize that understand-
ing what constitutes true worship is essential to preventing Satan from
deceiving us with counterfeit forms of worship. Don’t let the class get
sidetracked into discussions about worship styles and preferences.
146
teachers comments
Bible Commentary
I. The Nature of Worship (Review Revelation 4:8–11 with your class.)
The Bible uses multiple words in Greek and Hebrew to describe differ-
ent aspects of worship. The Hebrew words for worship emphasize honor,
respect, and reverence by focusing on the actions of bowing down, pros-
trating, or otherwise humbling oneself before another person. However,
worship in the Old Testament is not confined to bodily actions. It also
includes the concepts of obedience and service that demonstrate the
reality of our worship. Isaiah clearly indicates that simply going through
the motions of worship activities without obedience is not worship at all
(Isa. 1:10–17, Isaiah 58).
In the New Testament, we find a similar variety of words that can mean to
bow down, revere, show honor and devotion, or to serve. The most common
word for worship in the New Testament is proskyneo, - which literally means
“to kiss toward.” It likely reflects the custom of showing honor to a king or
official by bowing before them and kissing their feet, an action understood
as an admission of dependence or submission to the person in authority (see
William F. Arndt, F. Wilbur Gingrich, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer,
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian
Literature [Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000], p. 882). In using this
word to describe the worship of God, we can therefore deduce that more than
the physical action of kissing or bowing down is intended. To worship God is
to recognize the greatness and majesty of God, to understand that He is the
Creator and we are creatures, and to admit one’s own unworthiness, helpless-
ness, and absolute dependence upon Him. Such admission also carries with it
the implication of willingness to accept God’s lordship over our lives.
True worship has several important features. First and foremost, it is
directed at God and Him alone (Deut. 6:13, Matt. 4:10). Second, it is
never forced. It is a spontaneous response to the character of God and His
redemptive actions on our behalf. It begins from the heart and not from
the expectations of others. Third, worship is not simply a Sabbath morning
activity or a part of a worship service. It is a lifestyle. We are to live and
breathe our responses to what God has done for us. The living creatures in
the throne room, pictured in Revelation 4, worshiped continually day and
night. While such intense focused worship is not possible in our lives, this
figure underscores the idea that each word and action of ours should bring
honor to the name of God.
True worship has the potential to unite us in ways not possible otherwise.
When we focus our lives on worshiping the Center of our faith, we are less
likely to see the things that divide us. Whether alone or in a worship service,
147
teachers comments
we worship with others around the world, giving praise to God. Thus, worship
gives us the opportunity to recognize that we are part of something beyond
ourselves. At the same time, worship reminds us of our dependence upon God.
Pride and jealousy, which contribute to disharmony, dissolve when we recog-
nize that we are all creatures who depend on God.
Consider This: In what sense can obedience be considered worship? What
does a life of worship look like?
II. Worship and the Great Controversy (Review Revelation 14:6–12 with your
class.)
The importance of understanding true worship is highlighted by the central

role that worship plays in the three angels’ messages and in the wider con-
text of the great controversy between God and Satan. The battle commenced
with Satan’s rebellion in heaven and his pride-filled comparison of himself
with God (Isa. 14:14). The cosmic war continues with his challenging the
very character of God. While God demonstrates His character through an
outpouring of love and grace, which calls forth a response of worship, Satan
calls forth worship through deceit. Satan seeks to remove focus from God
by setting up an alternate system of worship. The message of the first angel
is a reminder that the only person who deserves worship is God, the Creator
of the universe. Honoring the seventh-day Sabbath that He sanctified is an
act of worship and allegiance to Him. However, to limit the meaning only
to the day of worship is to miss the sweeping implications of the message.
Worship of the Creator occurs not only by direct worship of Him on the
day that He appointed, but also by valuing His creation. You cannot truly
worship the Creator while you destroy and abuse what He has created. The
message of the second angel displays the love and grace of God, providing a
warning for those who have been deceived by counterfeit approaches to sal-
vation and worship. Finally, in the third angel’s message, we see that choos-
ing the wrong focus of worship ultimately leads to death, while choosing to
worship God alone leads to life. Because God is the Creator and Sustainer
of life, we would expect nothing less. When we are disconnected from the
Source of life, there is only death.
Consider This: Why do you think that worship is central to the three angels’
messages? How can you be sure that you are worshiping the Creator and not
falling for one of Satan’s schemes to distract you? In what ways do the mes-
sages of the three angels draw us together in unity?
148
teachers comments
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: We often limit the extent of worship to what

happens on a Sabbath morning. However, worship is much broader
than this. Help your class to explore the wider dimensions of worship.
 Worship is much more than the singing of songs and praying. Why do you
think we rarely consider worship outside of the Sabbath and other religious
services?
 Why do you think that some individuals find a lack of meaning in wor-
ship services? How might this relate to the rest of their week?
 How can we make worship a lifestyle?
 Is your current participation in worship activities a response from the heart?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: We are called to worship the God who has cre-
ated and redeemed us. The activities provided help participants to
focus on God, the Center of our worship.
Activities:
 Create a responsive reading for a worship service that helps people to
focus on different aspects of God’s character.
 Plan an evening of prayer. Structure it so that participants are presented
with a clear focus for prayer on a regular basis over the evening, and vary
the mode of prayer for each focus.
 Listen to a song that extols the greatness or majesty of God. Then pray
that God will help you to experience the beauty and character of God in new
ways.
 Present a basket of common household objects to your class. Ask the
group to consider how God is like each of the items in the basket. Then
thank God for helping you to remember the many dimensions of His nature
and character.
149
Church Organization and

Unity
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 5:23–27; Matt. 20:25–28;
Titus 1:9; Matt. 16:19; Gal. 6:1, 2; Matt. 28:18–20.
Memory Text: “ ‘Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever

desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And
whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave’ ”
(Matthew 20:26, 27, NKJV).
A
s Seventh-day Adventists, we are Protestant Christians who
believe that salvation is through faith alone in what Jesus Christ
has accomplished for humanity. We do not need a church or a
church hierarchy in order to receive the benefits of what Christ has
done for us. What we get from Christ we get directly from Him, as our
Substitute on the cross and as our mediating High Priest in the heavenly
sanctuary.
Nevertheless, the church is God’s creation, and God placed it here
for us, not as a means of salvation but as a vehicle to help us express
and make manifest that salvation to the world. The church is an orga-
nization that Jesus created for the spreading of the gospel into the
world. Organization is important insofar as it solidifies and enables
the mission of the church. Without a church organization, Jesus’ saving
message could not as effectively be communicated to others. Church
leaders are important, too, in that they foster unity and illustrate the
example of Jesus.
This week we study why church organization is crucial for mission
and how it can foster church unity.
150
S unday December 16
Christ, the Head of the Church

As we have seen already in an earlier lesson, in the New Testament
the church is represented by the metaphor of a body. The church is the
body of Christ. This metaphor alludes to several aspects of the church
and the relationship between Christ and His people. As the body of
Christ, the church depends on Him for its very existence. He is the
Head (Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:22) and the Source of the life of the church.
Without Him there would be no church.
The church also derives its identity from Christ, for He is the Source and
the Foundation and the Originator of its belief and teachings. Yet, the church
is more than these things, as crucial as they are to its identity. It is Christ and
His Word as revealed in Scripture that determine what the church is. Thus,
the church derives its identity and significance from Christ.
In Ephesians 5:23–27, Paul uses the relationship between Christ and

His church to illustrate the kind of relationship there should be
between husband and wife. What are the key ideas of this relation-
ship between Christ and His church?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Although we may be hesitant with the concept of submission because
of how leaders in the centuries past have abused it, the church is none-
theless to be subject to the Head, Christ, and is subject to His authority.
Our acknowledgment of Christ as the Head of the church helps us
remember to whom our ultimate allegiance must belong, and that is the
Lord Himself and to no one else. The church is to be organized, but that
organization always must be subordinate to the authority of Jesus, the
true Leader of our church.
“The church is built upon Christ as its foundation; it is to obey Christ
as its head. It is not to depend upon man, or be controlled by man. Many
claim that a position of trust in the church gives them authority to dictate
what other men shall believe and what they shall do. This claim God does
not sanction. The Saviour declares, ‘All ye are brethren.’ All are exposed
to temptation, and are liable to error. Upon no finite being can we depend
for guidance. The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ in the
church. Upon this the weakest may depend, and those who think them-
selves the strongest will prove to be the weakest, unless they make Christ
their efficiency.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 414.
How can we learn to depend upon Christ and not upon any
“finite being,” as it is so easy to do?
151
M onday December 17
Servant Leadership
During His ministry with His disciples, Jesus repeatedly experienced
moments when He probably felt exasperated by the envy for power they
seemed to have. The apostles appeared to be anxious to become power-
ful leaders of Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 9:33, 34; Luke 9:46). Even as the
disciples were eating the Last Supper together, these feelings of domi-
nation and supremacy were palpably felt among them (Luke 22:24).
During one such occasion, Jesus clearly expressed His thoughts

regarding spiritual leadership among His people. What principles
of leadership do we learn from Jesus’ exhortation in Matthew
20:25–28? How can we manifest this principle in our lives and
especially in our churches?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
“In this concise passage Jesus presents us with two models of
authority. The first is the Roman idea of authority. In this model, the
elite stand hierarchically over others. They have the power to make
decisions and expect submission from those below them. Jesus
clearly rejected this model of authority when He stated, ‘Not so with
you!’ Instead He presented the disciples with a breathtakingly new
model of authority, a thorough rejection, or reversal, of the hierar-
chical model with which they were familiar.”—Darius Jankiewicz,
“Serving Like Jesus: Authority in God’s Church,” Adventist Review,
March 13, 2014, p. 18.
The concept of authority that Jesus presents in this story is based
on two key words: “servant” (diakonos) and “slave” (doulos). In some
Bible versions, the first word, “servant,” is often translated “minister,”
and the second, “servant” or “bondservant.” Both words thus lose much
of the force of Jesus’ intent. Although Jesus did not wish to abolish all
authority structures, what He wished to emphasize is that church lead-
ers must first of all be servants and slaves of God’s people. Their posi-
tions are not to exercise authority over people or to dominate them or
to give themselves prestige and reputation. “Christ was establishing a
kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to
service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position,
talent, education, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to
serve his fellows.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 550.
Read John 13:1–20. What example of leadership did Jesus give

His disciples? What is Jesus still trying to teach us in this pas-
sage? How can we manifest the principle here in all our actions
with others, in and outside of the church?
152
Preserving Church Unity

Read 2 Timothy 2:15 and Titus 1:9. According to Paul’s counsels to
Timothy and Titus, what crucial tasks are the responsibility of a
faithful church leader and elder?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Notice how much emphasis Paul puts on keeping the doctrines and
teachings pure. This is crucial for unity, especially because one could
argue that, more than anything else, our teachings are what unify our
church. Again, as Adventists, as people from so many different walks
of life, cultures, and backgrounds, our unity in Christ is found in our
understanding of the truth that Christ has given. If we get confused on
these teachings, then only chaos and division will come, especially as
we near the end.
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will
come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their
own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for them-
selves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and
be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:1–4, NKJV).
With these words, Paul focuses his inspired thoughts on the second
coming of Jesus and on the day of judgment. The apostle uses all his
God-given authority (see 1 Tim. 1:1) to give Timothy this important
counsel. In the context of the last days, with false teachings abounding
and immorality rising, Timothy is to preach the Word of God. That is
the ministry he has been called to.
As part of his teaching ministry, Timothy is to convince, rebuke,
and exhort. These verbs are reminiscent of the guidance given by the
Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16). Clearly, Timothy’s work is to follow, teach,
and implement what he finds in the Scriptures and to do so with long-
suffering and patience. Harsh and severe rebukes rarely bring a sinner
to Christ. By following what Paul wrote, and following it under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, and with a servant-leader attitude, Timothy
would be a powerfully unifying force in the church.
What are practical ways that we can help our church leaders
maintain unity in the church? How can we make sure we are
always a force for unity as opposed to disunity, even amid dis-
putes?
153
Church Discipline
One of the main issues of church organization is to deal with disci-
pline. How discipline helps to preserve church unity is sometimes a
touchy subject and easily may be misunderstood. But from a biblical
perspective, church discipline centers on two important areas: preserv-
ing purity of doctrine and preserving purity of church life and practice.
As we already have seen, the New Testament maintains the impor-
tance of preserving the purity of biblical teaching in the wake of apos-
tasy and false teaching, particularly at the end of time. The same goes
for preserving the respectability of the community by guarding against
immorality, dishonesty, and depravity. For this reason the Scripture is
spoken of as “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16, NKJV).
Read Matthew 16:19 and 18:15–20. What principles did Jesus give to
the church regarding discipline and admonishing those who are at
fault?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
The Bible supports the concept of discipline and of our account-
ability to each other in our spiritual and moral lives. In fact, one of the
distinguishing marks of the church is its holiness, or separation, from
the world. We certainly find in the Bible many examples of difficult
situations that required the church to act decisively against immoral
behaviors. Moral standards must be maintained in the church.
What principles do these passages teach us to follow when addressing

difficult issues in the church? Matt. 7:1–5; Gal. 6:1, 2.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
We cannot deny the biblical teaching about the need of church dis-
cipline. We cannot be faithful to the Word without it. But notice the
redemptive quality in many of these admonitions. As much as possible,
discipline should be redemptive. We need to remember, too, that we
are all sinners and that we all need grace. Thus, when we administer
discipline we need to do it in humility and with a keen awareness of
our own failings, as well.
In our dealings with those who err, how can we learn to act with
an attitude of redemption more than of punishment?
154
Organizing for Mission

As we have seen throughout this quarter (and which bears repeat-
ing), as a church we have been organized and unified for mission, for
outreach. We are not just a social club for like-minded people to get
together and affirm each other in what we believe (though that can be
important, as well). We have been brought together to share with the
world the truth that we, ourselves, have come to love.
In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus gave His disciples final instructions for their
mission to the world. Identify the key words of Jesus’ command.
What do these words imply for the church today?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Jesus’ great commission to His disciples includes four key verbs: go,
make disciples, baptize, and teach. According to the Greek grammar
of these verses, the main verb is to make disciples, and the other three
verbs indicate how this can be done. Disciples are made when believers
go to all nations to preach the gospel, baptize people, and teach them
to observe what Jesus said.
As the church responds to this commission, God’s kingdom is
enlarged, and more and more people of all nations join the ranks of
those who accept Jesus as Savior. Their obedience to Jesus’ commands
to be baptized and to observe His teachings creates a new universal
family. The new disciples also are assured of the presence of Jesus
every day as they themselves make more disciples. The presence of
Jesus is a promise of the presence of God. The Gospel of Matthew
begins with the announcement that the birth of Jesus is about “God
with us” (Matt. 1:23) and ends with the promise of Jesus’ continued
presence with us until His second coming.
“Christ did not tell His disciples that their work would be easy. . . . He
assured them that He would be with them; and that if they would go forth in
faith, they should move under the shield of Omnipotence. He bade them be
brave and strong; for One mightier than angels would be in their ranks—the
General of the armies of heaven. He made full provision for the prosecution
of their work and took upon Himself the responsibility of its success. So long
as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not
fail.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 29.
Reflect on the meaning of the promise of Jesus’ presence with His

people until His second coming. How should the reality of this
promise impact us as we seek to fulfill the commission that we
have been given by Jesus?
155
F riday December 21
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “Individual Responsibility and

Christian Unity,” pp. 485–505, in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel
Workers; “Unity in Diversity,” pp. 483–485; “Church Discipline,”
pp. 498–503, in Gospel Workers. Read the articles “Church,”
pp. 707–710, and “Church Organization,” pp. 712–714, in The Ellen G.
White Encyclopedia.
“Principles of good leadership apply in all forms of society, includ-

ing the church. However, the leader in the church must be more than a
leader. He must also be a servant.
“There is an apparent contradiction between being a leader and being
a servant. How can one lead and serve at the same time? Does not the
leader occupy a position of honor? Does he not command and expect
others to obey him? How, then, does he occupy the lower position of
being a servant, of receiving orders and fulfilling them?
“In order to resolve the paradox we must look at Jesus. He supremely
represented the principle of leadership that serves. His whole life was
one of service. And at the same time He was the greatest leader the
world has ever seen.”—G. Arthur Keough, Our Church Today: What It
Is and Can Be (Washington, D.C., and Nashville: Review and Herald,
1980), p. 106.
 Dwell more on the idea of a servant leader. What, if any, exam-
ples, can we find of this in the secular world?
 Read again Matthew 20:25–28. What does this tell us about

how God understands the meaning of the word “great” (Matt.
20:26) in contrast to how the word is understood by the world?
 If one of the tasks of church leaders is to preserve unity, what

should we do when church leaders falter, when their humanity
prevents them from being perfect examples?
 Why is it so important that we administer church discipline

with a spirit of graciousness and love toward the ones who are err-
ing? Why should Matthew 7:12 always be foremost in our minds
during the process?
Summary: Good church organization is essential to the mission of the church

and to the unity of believers. Christ is the Head of the church, and church
leaders are to follow His example as they lead the people of God. Unity is
preserved through the faithful teaching of the Word of God and by living
in faithfulness to that Word.
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i n s i d e
Story
My Wife Left Church
By Daniel Gatan
My wife has stopped attending the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but I
have not given up hope. Here’s why.
During repressive Communist times, a woman in my home country,
Romania, learned about the Adventist Church and began to attend Sabbath
services regularly. This infuriated her husband.
“Where are you going at the same time every Saturday?” he asked.
“Honey, I am going to the Adventist church,” she said.
“I already know that,” he snapped. “You can keep going, but on one condi-
tion: You cannot be baptized. I don’t want to hear that you’ve been baptized,
or I’ll kill you.”
As the woman read the Bible and learned more about Jesus, she became
convicted that she needed to take a public stand for Jesus through baptism.
Church members surrounded the newly baptized people after the Sabbath
ceremony. They offered hugs and colorful flowers. Everyone was smiling
except for one woman. She wasn’t sure how her husband would react.
That afternoon, she found her husband in the front yard when she returned
home with flowers in her arms. He was sitting at a wooden table with a sharp
knife sticking out of the top.
“Where are the flowers from?” he asked.
“I was baptized today,” she replied.
His face turned purple with rage.
“Did you not believe me when I told you that I would kill you if you were
baptized?” he said, pulling the knife out of the tabletop. “Get ready to die,” he
said and lunged at her.
His wife fled to the back of the house, where the couple had a garden. Her
husband caught up to her in the cornstalks. As he raised the knife over his
head, the woman begged for one last wish: to pray. The husband agreed and
watched as his wife knelt. He loomed over her as she spoke to God, holding
the knife high above his head.
Suddenly, the knife blade silently slid out of the handle and fell harmlessly
to the ground. The man’s face turned pale. His whole body began to tremble,
and he fell to the ground beside the blade. His wife jumped to her feet and
helped him up. Wordlessly, they went into the house.
After some time, the husband was baptized. God
changed his heart.
If God can change this man’s heart, I know He also
can touch my wife’s heart. I can trust in God even when
all hope seems lost.
Daniel Gatan, 68, is a retired construction worker from Plosca,
Romania.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: Matthew 20:26
The Student Will:

Know: Review the features of the church’s organizational and authority
structure that help foster the unity of the church.
Feel: Nurture attitudes of humility, love, and willing submission rather
than of self-seeking behavior.
Do: Resolve to support attempts to foster unity in the church.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: Authority and Unity
A In what ways does recognizing Christ as the Head of the church
impact the decision-making and authority of its human leadership?
B Why was Jesus so insistent that spiritual leaders be nothing like those
of the Roman world around them?
C How does the practice of church discipline demonstrate love and at
the same time preserve church doctrinal purity and unity?
II. Feel: Humility Versus Pride

A What leadership qualities and attitudes promote unity?
B How do these attitudes impact the motivation and practice of church
discipline?
C How can we foster the attitudes of humility and submission toward
others rather than of pride and self-seeking behavior?
III. Do: Fostering Unity

A What steps do you need to take to assist the leadership of the church
in its maintaining of church unity?
B In what ways can you use your spiritual gifts to build up the church
and foster unity?
Summary: Believers recognize Christ as the Head of the church. Nevertheless,

a degree of human organization is essential for the mission and the unity
of the church. Leaders foster unity through serving humbly, upholding
truth, engaging in redemptive discipline, and organizing the church for
mission.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Matthew 20:25–28
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: The church’s organizational

structure aids the mission and unity of the church when the headship
of Christ is honored and its leaders demonstrate love, humility, and
faithfulness in their lives.
Just for Teachers: The concept of leaders exercising power over

other people is not in keeping with the model of authority that Jesus
demonstrated to His disciples. A Christian leader should instead be a
humble servant-leader. As you open the lesson, emphasize the value
of both servant leadership and humility.
Opening Discussion: Mahatma Gandhi fought for India’s indepen-

dence from Britain in the opening years of the twentieth century. A devout
Hindu, he valued and pursued equality for all races and classes of people.
He dressed in a simple loincloth and lived a life of voluntary poverty, serv-
ing and identifying with the poor of society. He volunteered to nurse those
whom others avoided, such as people with leprosy and pneumonic plague.
Committed to passive resistance, he consistently displayed humility in his
interactions with others. Ironically, Gandhi had been attracted to the life
of Jesus, but he rejected Christianity because Christians did not live like
the Christ of the Bible.
Christians have been called to servanthood. Although Gandhi was not
a Christian, he modeled servant leadership by serving others and putting
their needs before his own needs.
Discussion Questions: What made Gandhi’s leadership so powerful?

Why was Gandhi able to model servant leadership? How does servant
leadership draw attention to the cause that the individual is representing?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: Every aspect of the church’s authority struc-

ture offers an opportunity for a countercultural demonstration of
love, humility, and faithfulness that fosters the unity of the church.
Emphasize the importance of both the headship and servanthood of
Christ in understanding the role of leaders in the church.
159 159
teachers comments
Bible Commentary
I. Authority Structures (Review Ephesians 5:23–27 and Matthew 20:25–28 with
your class.)
The church is God’s creation and possession with Christ as its Living
Head. It exists as God’s representative on earth with a specific mission to
demonstrate the character of God. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 indicates that
unity between the believers contributes to the success of the church’s mis-
sion (John 17:20–23). Crucial to both the unity and mission of the church
is the headship of Christ. As Head of the body (Col. 1:18), Jesus provides
both the identity for the church and the Source of its life. We are there-
fore dependent upon Him for our existence and progress as a church. The
image of the church as a body also reminds us that the Head directs and
governs the church. Without the Head, the other parts of the body cannot
function together. It is the Head that unites and coordinates the action of
the body to accomplish its mission.
Nevertheless, Christ has delegated some of His authority to the church,
which functions more efficiently when there are human leaders. Ellen G.
White argued that “gospel order” within the church was “indispensably
necessary in order to bring the church into the unity of the faith.”—Early
Writings, p. 100. She initially voiced her opinions at a critical time in
Adventist history when there was little organization within the movement.
The church existed in largely unconnected congregational groups that
lacked even the most basic authority structure. This posed a problem for
the unity and mission of the church. Of particular concern was the vulner-
ability of the church to false teaching because of teachers who pushed
peculiar and personal agendas. A call to gospel order was therefore neces-
sary to protect the unity of the church.
Care must be taken, however, to understand the role that leaders play
in the church. They are called to a countercultural model of authority that
embraces servanthood rather than domination. Although it is not always evi-
dent in the English translations of the Bible, Paul and other New Testament
writers carefully avoided describing the role of church leaders in the Greek
terms commonly used to describe the function of those leading in secular
roles. Furthermore, the disciples were advised specifically that they were
not to lord it over others like the Gentiles (Matt. 20:25–28).
The servant model of leadership contributes to the harmony and unity
of the church precisely because it is humble, unselfish, and empowering
of others. Servant leaders set the tone by listening and serving rather than
by demanding their own ways. Their focus is the mission of the church and
not their own glory (see 1 Pet. 5:2, 3). Church leaders also contribute to the
unity of the church by remaining in connection with Christ, maintaining the
160
teachers comments
truth that unites us, and modeling the values of healthy relationships.
Second Timothy 2:15 also suggests that leaders need to be genuine and cor-
rect in both their teachings and in their conduct. They must hold firmly and
faithfully to the truth, but, at the same time, act in accordance with the gospel
they preach. True servanthood arises from an authentic relationship with God,
which is informed by the truth of the gospel.
Consider This: In what ways is the headship of Christ visible in the Seventh-
day Adventist Church? What does Christ’s headship imply about the role of
human leaders? How does servant leadership promote the mission of the
church?
II. Discipline and Unity (Review Galatians 6:1, 2 and Matthew 18:15–20 with your
class.)
Even with the best servant leadership, there are still times in church life
in which discipline is needed for the sake of the individual or the church.
While church discipline seems to have become less popular in the twenty-
first century, it nevertheless plays an important role in maintaining the unity
of the church.
In his book Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of
Jesus (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2012), Jonathan Leeman identifies four ways
in which church discipline is a loving response that protects the unity of the
church while advancing its mission. First, church discipline shows love for
the individual by helping him or her recognize wrongdoing and with it the
need for repentance. Church discipline is redemptive in nature and not simply
punitive. Second, church discipline shows a love for the church because it
aims to protect from harm and temptation those who might be new or weak
in the faith. Third, church discipline shows love for the world beyond the
church walls by allowing the church to project a witness that more accurately
displays the transforming power of the gospel. Finally, church discipline
shows love for Christ through both obedience and the safeguarding of His
reputation.
Consider This: When is discipline needed? Why do you think that some
churches are reticent to practice church discipline? Do you agree with
Jonathan Leeman’s suggestion that discipline is a loving response that pro-
tects the name of Jesus? Why, or why not? In what ways do you see church
discipline impacting the mission of the church?
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: The application questions allow for teachers to focus
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teachers comments
on one of two areas: either (1) servant leadership or (2) the connection
between church discipline and love.
 How are the ideas of authority and servanthood compatible?
 What motivates servant leadership?
 How do you reconcile Jesus’ instructions not to judge others with the
need for church discipline?
 In your experience, how has church discipline been used? How does
what you have observed align with the loving responses outlined above?
How can we ensure that it is used redemptively?
 What differences might there be in the way public and private sins are
handled?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: It is easy to limit our consideration of servant

leadership to those in appointed offices of the church, but all mem-
bers of the church are called to use their spiritual gifts to serve the
church. Discuss the function of spiritual gifts to build up the church.
Help your class understand the need for every member to serve will-
ingly.
Activities: Listen to a selection of songs about serving others and reflect

on their words. Then consider how you can serve both your church and
your community in a practical way. There are many Christian songs deal-
ing with the topic of service, especially as it relates to the world beyond
the church. If you are stuck for ideas, consider songs such as “O Jesus, I
Have Promised,” “Make Me a Servant,” “Do Something,” “Legacy,” or “If
We Are the Body.”
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Final Restoration of Unity
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 14:1–3, Isa. 11:1–10,
Rev. 21:1–5, 1 Thess. 4:13–18, Rev. 22:1–5, Isa. 35:4–10.
Memory Text: “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for

new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter
3:13, NKJV).
O
ne of the greatest promises of the Bible is Jesus’ promise to
come again. Without it, we have nothing, because our hopes
center in that promise and what it means for us. When Christ
returns in the clouds of heaven, all that is earthly and human-made
and thus temporary and at times meaningless will be swept away. After
the millennium in heaven, this earth with its wars, famines, diseases,
and tragedies will be made new and become the dwelling place of the
redeemed, finally reunited with their Lord and with each other.
Hope in the second coming of Christ is a major theme of the New
Testament, and for centuries Christians have longed for the fulfillment
of this promise. We as Seventh-day Adventists also long for His return.
Indeed, our name itself proclaims that hope.
In this final lesson, we look at this promise and what it means for
Christian unity. Our oneness in Christ is often challenged by our human
limitations and weaknesses. But we will no longer need to seek for
solutions to our fragmentation, because there will be no fragmentation.
At the Second Advent, we will be one with the Lord, finally reunited
and forming one restored family.
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S unday December 23
The Certainty of Christ’s Return

John 14:1–3 is the best-known promise of Jesus’ second coming. What
does this promise tell you about the kind of life the redeemed will
live on the new earth?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Early Christians considered Christ’s return the “blessed hope”
(Titus 2:13, NKJV). They expected all the prophecies and promises of
Scripture to be fulfilled at the Second Advent, for it is the very goal of
the Christian pilgrimage. All who love Christ look forward to the day
they will be able to share face-to-face fellowship with Him. His words
in those verses suggest a closeness and intimacy that we will share, not
only with Jesus but with each other, as well.
Christians believe in this promise because the Bible assures us of its
fulfillment. We have this assurance because we believe in the words
of Jesus, “I will come again” (John 14:3, NKJV). Just as Christ’s first
coming was prophesied, so His second coming also is foretold, even in
the Old Testament. Before the Flood, God told the patriarch Enoch that
the Messiah’s coming in glory would put an end to sin. He prophesied,
“ ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute
judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their
ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of
all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him’ ”
(Jude 14, 15, NKJV).
A thousand years before Jesus came to this earth, King David also
prophesied of the Messiah’s coming to gather God’s people together.
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour
before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall
call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge
His people: ‘Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a
covenant with Me by sacrifice’ ” (Ps. 50:3–5, NKJV).
The second coming of Jesus is linked closely to His first advent. The
prophecies that predicted His birth and ministry (for example, Gen. 3:15;
Mic. 5:2; Isa. 11:1; Dan. 9:25, 26) are the foundation for our hope and
trust in the promises about His second coming. Christ “has appeared to
put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. . . . So Christ was offered once to
bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a
second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Heb. 9:26, 28, NKJV).
What are ways that you can even now draw hope and comfort
from the promise of the Second Coming?
164
M onday December 24
The Promise of Restoration

Read Isaiah 11:1–10. What promise is given to Israel, and what does it
say about the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
The Bible begins with the story of the Creation of the earth (Genesis
1, 2). It is a description of a beautiful and harmonious world entrusted
to our first parents, Adam and Eve. A perfect world and home for the
human race, whom God had created. The Bible’s last two chapters also
speak of God’s creating a perfect and harmonious world for redeemed
humanity (Revelation 21, 22), but this time it is more accurate to say
re-creation, the restoration of the earth from the ravages of sin.
In many places the Bible declares that this eternal home of the
redeemed will be a real place, not an imagined fantasy or dream. The
redeemed will be able to see, hear, smell, touch, and feel a new experi-
ence, a new life. The prophecy of Isaiah 11 is a beautiful passage fore-
telling the coming of the Messiah, who will create a new era. He will
end all violence and usher in an eternal peace. The reign of God on this
new earth will establish universal harmony.
Read Revelation 21:1–5. What will disappear forever as a result of this

new harmony?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Ellen White wrote of what awaits the redeemed:
“As the years of eternity roll, they will bring richer and more glorious
revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so will
love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God,
the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens
before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in
the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed beat with
a stronger devotion, and they sweep the harps of gold with a firmer
hand: and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands
of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise.”—Ellen G. White,
The Story of Redemption, pp. 432, 433.
What are ways that we can understand even now the character of
God? How does living in harmony and unity with others reveal
something about the character and nature of God?
165
Resurrection and Restored

Relationships
From the earliest days of the church the promise of Christ’s return has,
perhaps more than anything else, sustained the hearts of God’s faithful
people, especially during trials. Whatever their frightful struggles, what-
ever their inconsolable sorrows and pain, they had the hope of Christ’s
return and all the wonderful promises the Second Advent contains.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. What promises are included in this pas-

sage? What does this say about the hope of restored relationships?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Christ’s second coming will affect all humanity in profound ways. An
important aspect of the establishment of God’s kingdom is the gathering
of the elect. “ ‘And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trum-
pet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one
end of heaven to the other’ ” (Matt. 24:31, NKJV). At the moment of this
gathering, the righteous dead will be resurrected and receive immortality
(1 Cor. 15:52, 53). “The dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16,
NKJV). This is the moment we all have been waiting for. The resurrected
ones will reunite with those who have been longing for their presence
and love. This is how Paul exults at this event: “ ‘O Death, where is your
sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ ” (1 Cor. 15:55, NKJV).
It is not the diseased, aged, disfigured bodies that went down into
the grave that come up in the resurrection, but new, immortal, perfect
bodies, no longer marked by the sin that caused their decay. The res-
urrected saints experience the completion of Christ’s work of restora-
tion, reflecting the perfect image of God intended at Creation (Gen.
1:26, 1 Cor. 15:46–49).
At the moment of Jesus’ second advent, when the redeemed dead are
resurrected, the righteous alive on earth will be changed and also be
given new, perfect bodies. “For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53, NKJV). So, these
two groups of redeemed, the resurrected and transformed righteous,
“shall be caught up together . . . in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17, NKJV).
In our scientific age, even some Christians try to find a natural

explanation for everything, including “miracles.” What does the
promise of the resurrection teach us about why only the super-
natural acts of God can save us?
166
A New Earth for the Redeemed

“ ‘For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former
shall not be remembered or come to mind’ ” (Isa. 65:17, NKJV). Both
Isaiah and John (Rev. 21:1) saw in vision the promised new earth.
Consider John’s description of the fabulous city of the redeemed,

the New Jerusalem, in Revelation 21:2, 9–27. What do these verses
imply about the unity and harmony that will exist in this city?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Read Revelation 22:1–5. The river of life that flows from the throne of
God with the tree of life that spans it are two other important fea-
tures of the new city. What will be their purpose on the new earth?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
The tree of life, which Adam lost access to through his transgres-
sion (Gen. 3:22–24), will be restored by Christ in the New Jerusalem.
Access to this tree is one of the promises to those who overcome (Rev.
2:7). Its bearing twelve kinds of fruit, a new kind each month (Rev.
22:2), might possibly suggest a reason that in the new earth “ ‘from one
New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall
come to worship before Me, says the Lord’ ” (Isa. 66:23, NKJV). The
reference to the “healing of the nations” also underscores God’s intent
to remove all barriers between people and to restore humanity to its
original purpose: to restore all people, tribes, and nations into one undi-
vided family, living in harmony and peace, united to give glory to God.
“ ‘The healing of the nations’ refers figuratively to the removal of
all national and linguistic barriers and separation. . . . The leaves of the
tree of life heal the breaches between nations. The nations are no lon-
ger ‘gentiles’ but are united into one family as the true people of God
([compare] Rev. 21:24–26). What Micah anticipated centuries earlier
is now being fulfilled: ‘Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
and never again will they train for war. Each of them will sit under his
vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid’ (Mic.
4:3–4; [compare] Isa. 2:4). There on the banks of the river of life the
redeemed will ‘invite his neighbor to sit’ (Zech. [3:]10) with him under
the tree of life. The curing quality of the leaves of the tree will heal all
wounds—racial, ethnic, tribal, or linguistic—that have torn and divided
humanity for ages.”—Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ:
Commentary on the Book of Revelation, p. 593.
167
Life on the New Earth

Read Isaiah 35:4–10 and 65:21–25. How different will life then be
from what we experience now?
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___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Several times in the book of Isaiah we read of something new: “new
things” (42:9, 48:6), “a new song” (42:10), “a new thing” (43:19), “a new
name” (62:2). What is new in chapter 65 is a new order of things. There
is peace and harmony among all God’s creatures. The covenant curses on
the land for disobedience and rebellion (see Lev. 26:14–17, Deut. 28:30)
will be canceled forever, because sin is no more. Instead, there will be an
abundance of blessings, houses to live in, and food to enjoy.
What will life be like in such a beautiful place? Some people wonder
if we will be able to recognize our friends and family, after our bod-
ies receive immortality and are fully restored into God’s image. After
Christ’s resurrection, His disciples were able to recognize Him. Mary
recognized His voice (John 20:11–16). Thomas recognized Jesus’ physi-
cal appearance (John 20:27, 28). The two disciples of Emmaus recog-
nized His mannerisms at the dinner table (Luke 24:30, 31, 35). So, if our
bodies are to be similar to Jesus’ resurrected body, we certainly will be
able to recognize each other, and we can look forward to an eternity of
restored relationships. We safely can assume that we will continue our
relationships with those we know and love and who are there with us.
“There the redeemed shall know, even as also they are known. The
loves and sympathies which God Himself has planted in the soul shall
there find truest and sweetest exercise. The pure communion with holy
beings, the harmonious social life with the blessed angels and with the
faithful ones of all ages who have washed their robes and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb, the sacred ties that bind together ‘the
whole family in heaven and earth’ (Ephesians 3:15)—these help to
constitute the happiness of the redeemed.”—Ellen G. White, The Great
Controversy, p. 677.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. . . . For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which
are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen
are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16–18, NKJV). How can we in a world that’s
so temporal, so fleeting, learn to reach out and grasp the unseen
and eternal?
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F riday December 28
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “ ‘Behold, I Come Quickly,’ ”

pp. 355–359, in Counsels for the Church. Read the articles “Resurrection,”
pp. 1082–1084, and “Heaven and New Earth,” pp. 863, 864, in The Ellen
G. White Encyclopedia.
“The resurrection and ascension of our Lord is a sure evidence of the

triumph of the saints of God over death and the grave, and a pledge that
heaven is open to those who wash their robes of character and make
them white in the blood of the Lamb. Jesus ascended to the Father as a
representative of the human race, and God will bring those who reflect
His image to behold and share with Him His glory.
“There are homes for the pilgrims of earth. There are robes for the righ-
teous, with crowns of glory and palms of victory. All that has perplexed
us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The
things hard to be understood will then find explanation. The mysteries
of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only
confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beauti-
ful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that
seemed most trying. As we realize the tender care of Him who makes all
things work together for our good, we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory.”—Ellen G. White, Counsels for the Church, p. 358.
 Though other Christians (but not all) believe in the literal sec-
ond coming of Jesus, what is unique about the Adventist hope in
the second coming of Christ?
 Two fish were swimming when one said to the other, “How’s
the water?”
The other fish answered: “What’s water?”
The point is that we can get so used to things that we don’t realize
just how prevalent they are. For instance, how can we, as beings born
in sin, filled with sin, and living in a sinful world, really get a good
grasp on what a wonderful new existence we will have in the new
heavens and new earth? Why, whatever the limitations, should we still
try to envision what it will be like?
 There’s no question that, whatever our existence will be like in

the new earth, we will live in unity with everyone. What can we do,
right now, to help prepare ourselves for when that happens?
Summary: The Bible speaks confidently of the time this earth will be re-
created and the ravages of sin erased forever. At last humanity will be
restored to its original purpose, and all people will live in harmony. Our
current spiritual oneness in Christ, though not now fully realized, will
then be a living and eternal reality.
169
i n s i d e
Story
My Bucket List
By Bob Stuart
The doctor looked me straight in the eye.
“You have inoperable prostate cancer,” he said. “You have 18 months to live.”
Back at home, my family and I sat down to compile a bucket list of things
to accomplish in my last 18 months. One of my four sons said he wanted to
go on a cross-country bike ride with me. Another son spoke of running a half
marathon in Seattle. My daughter wanted to cut a music CD together.
Then I thought to myself, What do I want to do? The answer was easy. I
wanted to do more to share the gospel. I decided to bring at least one person
to church every month.
My first chance to extend an invitation came two days later when someone
asked me, “Bob, how’s your cancer?”
I told her about my bucket list and my plan to invite people to church.
“Would you be willing to help me fulfill my bucket list by coming to church
next Sabbath?” I said.
The woman looked at me with compassion. She saw this as a last wish. “Of
course, I’ll come,” she said.
I have 2,200 clients a year, so I have a golden opportunity when they inquire
about my health. It’s so easy to invite them to church.
At least two people—a married couple—have been baptized, and their
eldest daughter will be baptized in a few weeks. Today, the wife leads a chil-
dren’s Sabbath School class and is bringing other people to church.
“I’ll keep your gift going,” she told me. “I’ve got kids and their parents com-
ing to church.”
Anyone can have a bucket list. It might be 20 years or more before you die,
but you can start fulfilling that bucket list today by inviting someone to church
every month. Imagine how quickly the Seventh-day Adventist Church would
grow if each of the church’s 20 million members brought in just one person
a year. Conceivably our church membership could double in just 12 months.
Twenty-seven months have passed since the doctor gave me 18 months to
live. I have invited many people to church, and about
half have come.
The bucket list has become a lot of fun. It’s wonder-
ful to hear people say, “Yes, I will commit to visiting
your church.” But the most gratifying moment of all is
when they actually come. They hug you and sit with
you in church. They become part of your family.
Bob Stuart, 68, is a serial entrepreneur based in College

Place, Washington.
teachers comments
The Lesson in Brief

Key Text: 2 Peter 3:13
The Student Will:

Know: Recall God’s promises to re-create the world and restore the unity
and harmony in which His creation was originally designed to live.
Feel: Yearn for the time when his or her oneness in Christ will be fully
realized.
Do: Live a life of hope as he or she eagerly awaits the fulfillment of God’s
promises.
Learning Outline:
I. Know: The Certainty of Renewal
A Why can we be certain that God will follow through with His prom-
ises of a harmonious future?
B What does the description of the new heavens and the new earth reveal
about the character of God and His ideal for His creatures?
II. Feel: Longing for Unity

A How would you describe the difference between life on the earth made
new and life now?
B When you consider your life and relationships, what needs renewal
the most?
C What is most attractive about the descriptions provided by John and
the prophets of life in the new earth?
III. Do: The Life of Hope

A In what ways does confidence in God’s promise of making all things
new impact your life right now?
B How is your hope expressed in your everyday relationships?
Summary: We can have certainty in the promise of a new heavens and a new
earth without any trace of sin or disharmony. In the earth made new, all
of creation will experience the peace and unity that God designed for His
creation.
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teachers comments
Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate
Spotlight on Scripture: Revelation 21:1–5
Key Concept for Spiritual Growth: We are called to live in hope while
we await the culmination of salvation history. At that time, our oneness in
Christ and with all of creation will be fully realized.
Just for Teachers: As you introduce the lesson, focus on the certainty
of the Second Coming and of God’s promise of a new heaven and earth
without sin. Help your class realize that certainty leads to hope that
should impact Christian living in a tangible way.
Opening Discussion: On October 22, 1844, William Miller and many

thousands of other Christians waited expectantly for the return of Christ.
As they waited, they joyfully sang songs and tried to imagine what it
would be like to finally be with their Lord.
Miller had determined that the 2,300-day prophecy of Daniel would
end that day. He assumed that this fulfillment indicated the date of Christ’s
return. Longing to be with Jesus, the Millerites spread the news of Jesus’
soon coming to everyone they knew. Assured of God’s faithfulness in
keeping His promises, many sold or gave away property. Such was their
certainty and hope.
Similar scenes have occurred throughout history as other Bible stu-
dents have set dates for the Lord’s return. While mistaken in their notion
that anyone could know the date of the Second Coming, the Millerites
and those who have continued date setting demonstrate that living in hope
of the fulfillment of God’s promises should make an impact on our lives
right now.
Discussion Questions: What difference did the expectation of the

Second Coming have on the Millerites? What difference has the certainty
of Jesus’ coming made to your own life? Does it matter that you don’t
know the date on which the fulfillment of God’s promises will occur?
How can you best live in the hope of a new earth and restoration of rela-
tionships?
STEP 2—Explore
Just for Teachers: This section provides a focused study on the nature
and extent of restoration that is promised in the Scriptures.
172
teachers comments
Bible Commentary
I. The Re-created Heaven and Earth (Review Revelation 21:1–6 with your class.)
Creation and Redemption inextricably are linked together in the nar-

rative of Scripture. While our focus often is drawn to the plan of
Redemption, the Creation account provides the context to understand
the plan of Redemption. The Creation account details the loving cre-
ation of man from dust and the Creator’s personal touch as He breathes
life into the still form. The Creation account describes the ideal that
God had in mind for His creation: a world that was untainted with sin,
in which peace and harmony reigned and face-to-face communion with
God was possible.
When sin marred the perfect world of God’s creation, a plan was
already in place for the restoration of God’s ideal. The plan involved
the revelation of the divine ideal in the incarnated Son of God, who
died to make reconciliation possible between God and humans. But
this Incarnation was not the end of the story. The last two chapters of
Revelation indicate that God will re-create the world in order to bring to
fruition His original ideal of a world in which peace and harmony once
again reign.
John’s description of the new heavens and new earth in Revelation 21
is carefully constructed. It contains imagery from both Isaiah (especially
Isaiah 60 and 65) and Ezekiel (especially Ezekiel 40–48), as well as
themes that link it to the promises contained in the letters to the seven
churches. The new heavens and earth take the place of the former heav-
ens and earth, which have “passed away” (Rev. 21:1). The world tainted
by sin is no more.
We also are told that there is no sea in the new earth. This statement
might sound unusual to the casual reader; however, it is possible that the
word “sea” is being used as a metaphor in this passage. In Jewish think-
ing the sea symbolically is linked to evil, oppression, and that which is
frightening. (Compare with Rev. 13:1.) When John claims that there is
no sea in the new earth, he is suggesting that there is no longer any rea-
son to fear evil, because all traces of it have been removed. See Ranko
Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ (Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews
University Press, 2002), pp. 575, 576. The absence of evil subsequently
is reinforced by John’s claim that tears will be wiped away because their
causes have been removed along with anything associated with the old
way of life. That which destroyed relationships is now gone.
Of primary importance in John’s description of the new earth is
the declaration that God will dwell with His people(s) and be their
God. “Our eternal home, therefore, will be characterized by commu-
nity in the highest sense. It will be home not only to creatures but to
173
teachers comments
the Triune God. The one who throughout eternity is the community of
Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—will grace the new community with
the divine presence.”—Stanley J. Grenz, Created for Community (Grand
Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1998), pp. 292, 293. God had walked in the Garden
of Eden with Adam and Eve and had manifested His veiled presence in the
Old Testament sanctuary, but, both times, He had withdrawn His presence.
With all traces of that which stands between God and man removed, humans
will once again be able to commune with God face-to-face. God will reunite
with His people, and unity with God brings with it a oneness with the rest
of the redeemed as they once again fully reflect the image of God.
Consider This: What is new about the new heavens, the new earth, and the
New Jerusalem? How do these re-creations relate to the old entities? John
does talk about the “springs of the water of life” (Rev. 21:6, NLT) and the
“river of water of life” (Rev. 22:1, 2, NKJV) in the new earth. What is the
significance of this water?
II. Harmony for All Creation (Review Isaiah 11:1–10 with your class.)
It is easy to focus our attention solely on the benefits of the new earth for
human beings. But to do so is to omit the wider testimony of Scripture. Our
being reunited with God is only part of the story. Isaiah indicates that har-
mony also will exist within the rest of creation.
In Isaiah 11, we find that the righteousness and justice of God is at the
center of His kingdom. These characteristics underlie the peace and harmony
that are described in verses 6–10.
Isaiah’s description of life in the new earth has the fiercest predators lying
peacefully with their prey and with humans. Isaiah connects with the reader
through the imagery of a child herding domestic animals—a common prac-
tice throughout Israel’s history, one that even can be observed today among
nomadic groups. In this passage, the animals most dangerous to the flock are
pictured eating and lying down with the flock in the heat of the day. The peace
and harmony among all creation is highlighted further by the emphasis on the
ability of even the youngest child to play safely with animals that normally
would pose a significant danger to an adult.
Consider This: How does Isaiah 11:1–5 relate to verses 6–10? What is the
relationship between wisdom, righteousness, justice, and peace? What reason
is given for peace in this passage? What is meant by the knowledge of the
Lord in this context?
174
teachers comments
STEP 3—Apply
Just for Teachers: Knowledge about the restoration that God intends
to bring about in the future should not be regarded as interesting trivia
or as an excuse not to work for harmony among God’s people now.
Help students to focus on the specific impact that the hope of renewal
and restoration should have on their lives.
 What impact does the fact that God’s Word is true and trustworthy
have on your life?
 What difference does it make that God will dwell with His people
face-to-face? Even though we don’t see God face-to-face now, He is still
among us. How can we experience community with Him now?
 If everything is going to be made new, why does it matter what you
do with the resources around you now?
 Compare the promises to the seven churches found in Revelation
2 and 3 with the description of the new earth in Revelation 21 and 22.
What similarities do you find? What might this indicate about how hope
of restoration should impact our lives now?
STEP 4—Create
Just for Teachers: Revelation 21 and Isaiah 11 present a vivid pic-

ture of the harmony and community we can expect to experience in
the new earth. Help students understand its extent and reality so that
they will yearn for what is to come and share that hope with others.
Activities:
 Create a collage or scrapbook page in which you contrast the reality
of relationships now with relationships as they are described in the new
earth.
 Share the hope that you have for a new beginning with someone
who needs to know that there is something beyond his or her current
problems.
175
2019 Bible Study Guide for the First Quarter
During the first quarter 2019, we will study the book of Revelation
and focus on the book’s major parts and themes. Our guide, entitled The
Book of Revelation by Ranko Stefanovic, reveals Jesus Christ, His life,
His death, and His ministry on behalf of His people.
Revelation was written from Christ’s perspective. It is only through
Him that the book’s symbols and images receive their ultimate meaning
and significance. Revelation’s prophecies are analyzed and applied using
the historicist method of prophetic interpretation, which teaches that
prophecy follows the flow of history, from antiquity to the end of the
world. We will make every effort to derive meaning from the text itself,
studying its language, imagery, and context.
Revelation promises blessings to those who read or listen to its words,
and who heed and keep the admonitions found therein. As we analyze
this book, you are invited to discover the things that you need to hear, and
heed, as we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lesson 1—The Gospel From Patmos

The Week at a Glance:
Sunday: The Title of the Book (Rev. 1:1, 2)
Monday: The Purpose of the Book (Rev. 1:1)
Tuesday: The Symbolic Language of Revelation (Rev. 1:1)
Wednesday: The Godhead (Rev. 1:4, 5)
Thursday: The Keynote of Revelation (Rev. 1:7, 8)
Memory Text—Revelation 1:3, NKJV
Sabbath Gem: Revelation’s prophecies are an expression of God’s
care for His people. They point us to the shortness and fragility of this
life, but also to salvation in Jesus, and our calling to spread the gospel.
Lesson 2—Among the Lampstands

The Week at a Glance:
Sunday: On Patmos (Rev. 1:9)
Monday: On the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10)
Tuesday: Encountering Christ on Patmos (Rev. 1:12–18)
Wednesday: Christ’s Messages for Then and Now (Rev. 1:11, 19, 20)
Thursday: Message to the Church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:1–4)
Memory Text—Revelation 3:21, NKJV
Sabbath Gem: The Lord revealed to John some of life’s mys-
teries and the struggles they bring. The sanctuary scene shown
to him provided John with the assurance of Christ’s presence and
care—an assurance that he passed on to the churches and to the
succeeding generations of Christians until the end of this world.
Lessons for the Visually Impaired The regular Adult Sabbath School
Bible Study Guide is available free each month in braille and on audio CD to sight-
impaired and physically handicapped persons who cannot read normal ink print. This
includes individuals who, because of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, accident,
and so forth, cannot hold or focus on normal ink-print publications. Contact Christian
Record Services for the Blind, Box 6097, Lincoln, NE 68506-0097. Phone: 402-488-
0981; e-mail: info@christianrecord.org; Web site: www.christianrecord.org.

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Contents

1 Creation and Fall—September 29–October 5 5

2 Causes of Disunity—October 6–12 18

4 The Key to Unity—October 20–26 44

5 The Experience of Unity in the Early Church—October 27–November 2 57

6 Images of Unity—November 3–9 72

7 When Conflicts Arise—November 10–16 85

8 Unity in Faith—November 17–23 98

9 The Most Convincing Proof—November 24–30 111

10 Unity and Broken Relationships—December 1–7 124

11 Unity in Worship—December 8–14 137

12 Church Organization and Unity—December 15–21 150

13 Final Restoration of Unity—December 22–28 163

Editorial Office 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904

Principal Contributor Associate Editor Pacific Press® Coordinator

T he church is God’s family on earth: serving, studying, and worshiping

Denis Fortin is a professor of theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Semi-

Creation and Fall

Memory Text: “Then [God] brought [Abraham] outside and said,

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 6.

Love as a Foundation of Unity

The Consequences of the Fall

Further Disunity and Separation

Abraham, Father of God’s People

God’s Chosen People

Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Creation,” pp. 44–51; “The Call

God’s original purpose in the creation of humanity also is reflected

 Although the story of the Tower of Babel tells us that human

The Lesson in Brief

The Student Will:

II. Feel: Longing for Harmony

III. Do: Becoming an Ambassador

Spotlight on Scripture: 1 John 4:16

Just for Teachers: The opening discussion is based on a true story. It

Opening Discussion: A bride had spent months planning the perfect

Just for Teachers: God’s nature and character are foundational

II. Disruption of Harmony (Review Genesis 3:16–19 with your class.)

Consider This: Make a list of the consequences of sin and consider

Just for Teachers: The application questions invite the class to consider

Memory Text: “ ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 13.

“Return, O Backsliding Children”

Read Deuteronomy 28:1–14. What blessings would come to Israel if

Read Jeremiah 3:14–18. What do we learn from God’s call to Israel

What has the difference between obedience and disobedience

“Right in His Own Eyes”

The Division of the Hebrew Nation

Read the story of King Rehoboam in 1 Kings 12:1–16. What caused

According to 1 Corinthians 1:10–17, what seems to have been the

“Wolves Will Come”

How can we, as a church, protect ourselves from similar kinds of

Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “The Rending of the Kingdom,”

 Reflect on the story of King Rehoboam and the division of

 What can church leaders and members do to help prevent

 Study the context of the passage on discord in Proverbs 6:16–

The Lesson in Brief

The Student Will:

II. Feel: The Need for Understanding God’s Will

III. Do: Follow God’s Will.

Discussion Questions: The story we just read provided two reasons

Just for Teachers: The Bible provides a number of examples of people

In contrast to the self-centered actions described in Judges and 1 Kings,

III. Ensuring a Correct Focus (Review 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 and 2 Timothy

Corinth was a prominent center of commerce, situated on the Isthmus of