Sep25–Oct1: Story and History

Teaching Points

1. Read Joshua 3:9–17. What is the purpose of this miracle?

ANSWER:

• Jos 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
• To assure God’s people that the “living God” is among them and that He will drive out their enemies.
• “Canaan was not taken by Israel because of Joshua’s military genius or Israel’s valiant efforts. Victory over the inhabitants of the Canaanite city-states was achieved only by God’s powerful intervention.” SSL 9

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• In what ways are you trying to work your way through difficulties, rather than trusting solely in the power of “the living God”?

OBSERVATION:

• Jos 3:7 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee…. Jos 4:14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
• Jos 4:23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: Jos 4:24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
• This miracle serves two other purposes. One is to establish Joshua’s authority as one who will lead God’s people to Canaan. And the second is to have an influence of fear over the surrounding nations of the world.
• It’s interesting to also note that God worked a similar miracle (parting of the Red Sea) in bringing His people out of Egypt.
• So in the beginning of the journey to the Promised Land and at the end of that journey, God’s power was manifested in a similar way.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• In what way did God manifest His power that marked the rise of the Christian church? Will there be a similar way of working at the end?

WORD STUDY: “the living God”

• According to Joshua 3, what sign did God give the Israelites for them to know Him as “the living God”? Jos 3:13 …the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
• His power over His creation. Therefore, He has to be the Creator.
• It’s interesting to note that this term “the living God” is connected to the power of the Creator:
• Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jer 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. Jer 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
• Ac 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 

PROPHETIC APPLICATION QUESTION:

• What “sign” is related to “the living God” in the last days? Can you prove this from the Bible?

CONCLUSION:

• God worked a mighty miracle to bring His people across the Jordan River. This miracle proved that it is by the creative power of God alone that could give His people the promised inheritance. In a similar way, in the last days, the issue regarding God’s creative power will again surface. 

Sep18-24: All the Rest is Commentary

Teaching Points

1.  What are the issues in Romans 14 causing division?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 14:2—Food in markets.
• Rom. 14:5, 6—days—holy days or feast days—should we keep them.
• Rom. 14—Condemning others based on what we think is right.
• Acts 15—The Church’s decision that Gentiles should not eat meat offered to idols.
• 1 Cor. 10:19-25—some of the food sold in markets may have been offered to idols.
• Paul is dealing with food that was perhaps offered to idols not clean vs. unclean meat which has already been made clear in other areas of the Bible. Paul is dealing with the fact that some people have more sensitive consciences and even though one person may be able to eat meat in the market without feeling guilty because the meat might have been offered to idols someone else may not be able to do that. What if another person who can’t do that with a clear conscience, sees you doing it?

2.  What is the heart issue that Paul is dealing with?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 14:3, 4, 10-13, —Do not condemn. God will judge us individually.

3.  Though we should not condemn, what should we remember?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 14:7—The things we do affect others.
• Rom. 14:13, 21—Don’t put a stumbling block or a occasion to fall in our brother’s way.

4.   How should we deal with something not inherently wrong but that causes another person to fall?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 14:15, 16—We are not to offend because this is not showing love to our brother or living peacefully.
•  Rom. 14:19—We should only do those things that make peace and will edify (build up or promote growth).
• Rom. 14:22—We will be happy if we don’t condemn ourselves by what we allow or approve. 

OBSERVATION:

• The issue was not so much, does sacrificing food to idols contaminate the food but does the person who eats that food cause someone else to stumble spiritually.
• Should we judge others on the amount of faith they have or do not seem to have?  
• We must leave the judgment of others to God. He reads the heart.
• Our part is if we are causing someone to sin because of our influence in any area of our life, we must change our influence. Otherwise we are guilty of not showing true love or being peaceable because we are causing others to violate their conscience. 
• Even though something may not be wrong necessarily, if it causes someone else to sin, or lose the way, we should not do it.
• We should only do those things that will make peace and build up others.
• Let us not condemn ourselves by things we allow or approve.   

5.  What is a crucial way to show true love?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 15:1—We that are strong should endure the scruple of conscience of the weak, not please ourselves.
• 1 Cor. 13:5—True love does not seek her own.
• A crucial way to show love is to look out for others and not seek to please self. Without this kind of love we can’t have unity.   

6.  What helps develop patience (cheerful endurance) so that we can have comfort and hope?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 15:1-4—Enduring the conscientious convictions of those weaker in faith to strengthen them and learning from what was written in the Bible.
• Patiently dealing with faults.

7.  What is God’s desire for His people?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 15: 5-7—For them to be likeminded: one mind.  

8.  How do Paul’s closing statements in Romans help us know his theme?

ANSWER:

• In the beginning (chapters 1, and 2) of Romans he shows how the Jews and Gentiles are divided and the Jews are judging the Gentiles.
• In the end (chapters 14, and 15) Paul addresses the key issue of judging each other and division and shows how everyone can be brought into harmony, or unity, or have one mind.
• In Rom. 15:15-24 he more clearly states his calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He established the fact that the Gentiles are able to be saved as well as Jews.

OBSERVATION:

• True love guards the conscientious convictions of others even when this does not please self.
• The key to unity is surrendering self and seeking the best interest of others, not self.
• God wants His people, Jews and Gentiles, to be united as one body in Christ. God does not want them fighting or causing someone to stubble because of their influence.
• Paul closes with stating his mission for the Gentiles after establishing the fact that Gentiles have equal opportunity for salvation. 

SOP:

• But there has been among us as a people a lack of deep, earnest, soul-touching sympathy and love for the tempted and the erring. Many have manifested great coldness and sinful neglect, represented by Christ as passing by on the other side, keeping as far as possible from those who most need help. The newly converted soul often has fierce conflicts with established habits or with some special form of temptation, and, being overcome by some master passion or tendency, he is guilty of indiscretion or actual wrong. It is then that energy, tact, and wisdom are required of his brethren, that he may be restored to spiritual health. In such cases the instructions of God's word apply: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in a spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1. 460 {CCh 254.2 (ch. 46)}
• "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1. No soul who believes in Christ, though his faith may be weak, and his steps wavering as those of a little child, is to be lightly esteemed. By all that has given us advantage over another,--be it education and refinement, nobility of character, Christian training, religious experience,--we are in debt to those less favored; and, so far as lies in our power, we are to minister unto them. If we are strong, we are to stay up the hands of the weak. Angels of glory, that do always behold the face of the Father in heaven, joy in ministering to His little ones. Trembling souls, who have many objectionable traits of character, are their special charge. Angels are ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the hardest battle with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most discouraging. And in this ministry Christ's true followers will co-operate.  {DA 440.1 (ch. 48)}
• God does not want us to place ourselves upon the judgment seat and judge each other. . . . When we see errors in others, let us remember that we have faults graver, perhaps, in the sight of God than the fault we condemn in our brother. Instead of publishing his defects, ask God to bless him and to help him to overcome his error. Christ will approve of this spirit and action, and will open the way for you to speak a word of wisdom that will impart strength and help to him who is weak in the faith. {OFC 127.6 (ch. 5)}
• The work of building one another up in the most holy faith is a blessed work, but the work of tearing down is a work full of bitterness and sorrow. Christ identifies Himself with His suffering children, for He says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). . . . Every heart has its own sorrows and disappointments, and we should seek to lighten one another’s burdens by manifesting the love of Jesus to those around us. If our conversation were upon heaven and heavenly things, evil speaking would soon cease to have any attraction for us. . . . {OFC 128.1}   

CONCLUSION:

• The Jews and Gentiles were disputing about food offered to idols and keeping feast days, but this was not the issue.
• The issue was a heart issue: judging and condemning each other.
• Paul shows us that even if something is not a sin, if it influences someone else to sin, or if it offends someone’s conscience, we should not do it.
• We should not judge or condemn others but rather build up their faith in Christ.
• True love guards the conscientious convictions and does not seek to please self.
• Unity is only possible when we are surrendering self and seeking the best interest of others.
• God wants His people, Jews and Gentiles, to be united as one body in Christ, not fighting or causing someone to stubble because of their influence.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Are you daily surrendering self and seeking others’ best interest and not your own?
• Are you condemning others but doing the same thing?
• Are you judging others or building them up in Christ by faith?
• Are you guarding the convictions of others and seeking to live peaceably with them?
• Are you losing focus on Christ by getting angry or being jealous of another person?
• Is anything in your life—movies, music, jewelry, attitude, judging, selfishness, food,—that is influencing someone else to fall into sin?

Sep11-17: Love and Law

Teaching Points

1.  For what reason does Paul entreat us to present ourselves as living sacrifices to God? And why is it our reasonable service?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 12:1—Therefore—What point did he previously give?
• Rom. 11:25-32—God’s great mercy.
• Rom. 11:33-36—God’s rightful ownership and wisdom.
• The reason Paul is pleading with us to surrender ourselves to God, is God’s great mercy and wisdom and rightful ownership. It is our reasonable service because of God’s ownership and great mercy toward us. 

2.  What is a beautiful example of a living sacrifice familiar to the Jews?

ANSWER:

• Gen. 22:2, 9-12—Issac surrendered himself as a living sacrifice, willing to die, if it was God’s will. 

3.  What is the key to being transformed and proving what is God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 12:2—The renewing of our mind.
• We cannot continue our old thoughts, desires, and actions. Our mind must be made new. Our mind must be brought in harmony with God’s perfect will!

4.   When we have surrendered ourselves as living sacrifices and our minds are being renewed how are we to relate to others (Jews and Gentiles in Christ)?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 12:4-21—We are to treat them with love as part of Christ’s body—without hypocrisy. We are to be in harmony of mind and humble, not thinking we are better than others. We are to let God take care of revenge and we should repay evil with good. 

OBSERVATION:

• We should be willing to surrender ourselves like a living sacrifice because we realize God’s rightful ownership and His great mercy toward us.
• The submission of Isaac to be a sacrifice, trusting that his father was guided by God, is a beautiful example of how we should be willing to surrender all to Christ.
• The renewing of our mind is the essential key to bringing us into harmony with God’s will. This is the opposite of harmony with the world.
• We cannot be God’s and continue to follow the practices of the world.
• When we have surrendered all to Christ and our minds are being changed to follow God’s will we will treat others as part of Christ’s body. We will love them without hypocrisy. We will be humble and peaceable, returning good for evil, even with our enemies, letting God take care of the consequences. 

5.  How are we to relate to those in authority over us?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 13:1-7—We are to submit to them, honor them, pay them what is due.

6.  How does Paul summarize proper human relations?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 13:8-10—Owe no one anything but love. True love fulfills the Ten Commandments.

7.  What reason does Paul give for the urgency of being ready?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 13:11-13—It is high time to awake—our salvation is nearer than when we believed.
• The night is far spent. 

8.  How can we be fully prepared to walk honestly?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 13:12-14—casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light. Putting on the Lord Jesus and making no provision for the flesh (sinful desires).

OBSERVATION:

• We are to submit to those in authority over us and pay them what is due.
• We are not to owe anyone anything but love. We are to love as the commandments show us.
• Paul urges us to wake up because time is short. There is no time for sleeping, or drinking, or getting upset with people.
• We should throw off the works of darkness and put on Christ (the armor of light) and not make ways to act on our sinful desires.

SOP

• It is displeasing to God for any who profess to love him to work so hard with their hands and brains in their own business as to unfit themselves to render to God that service which comes from a fervent spirit. Christians should not make it a practice to urge their families to work until their energy is exhausted, and there is no vitality left to devote to the service of God, who requires soul, body, mind, and strength. If you employ the powers of your entire being to serve your own interest, what have you reserved to offer to God? Is it not a lame sacrifice? "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  {RH, March 29, 1870 par. 16} 
• The apostle exhorts the church, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Man, then, can make the body unholy by sinful indulgences. If unholy, they are unfitted to be spiritual worshipers, and are not worthy of Heaven. If man will cherish the light God in mercy gives him upon health reform, he may be sanctified through the truth, and fitted for immortality. If he disregards light, and lives in violation of natural law, he must pay the penalty.  {PH138 3.3} 
• But if the body is neglected, if unsuitable hours are consumed in study, if the mind is overtaxed, if the physical powers are left unemployed and become enfeebled, then the human machinery is trammeled, and matters that are essential for our future welfare and eternal peace are neglected. Book-knowledge is made all-important, and God is dishonored. The student forgets the words of inspiration, and does not follow the instruction of the Lord when He says: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." The minds of many need to be renewed, transformed, and molded after God's plan. Many are ruining themselves physically, mentally, and morally, by overdevotion to study. They are defrauding themselves for time and eternity through practicing habits of intemperance in seeking to gain an education. They are losing their desire to learn, in the school of Christ, lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart. Every moment that passes is fraught with eternal results. Integrity will be the sure result of following in the way of righteousness.  {FE 351.2} 

CONCLUSION:

• Because of God’s rightful ownership and amazing mercy, it is our reasonable duty to surrender ourselves to Him as living sacrifices.
• God wants to renew our mind—to bring us into harmony with His will.
• God wants us to treat others as part of Christ’s body with true love, humility, and harmony.
• God wants us to respect and submit to those over us paying them what is due.
• Our proper relationship with other is to treat them with love. True love fulfills the Ten Commandments.
• There is no time for sleeping, drinking partying or getting mad at people. Time is too short.
• We need to join the side of Christ, put His armor on, and let nothing give the enemy a foothold in our heart.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Are you realizing the amazing mercy of God to you and His right to ownership of you? And are you acknowledging this by surrendering to Him?
• Are you treating your church family as part of the body of Christ?
• Do you with a humble, grateful heart realize your unworthiness and seek to live peacefully with others?
• Are you respecting your leaders and living up to the law of love?
• Are you losing focus on Christ by getting angry or being jealous of another person?
• Is anything—spiritual sleep, friends, parties, arguments, or jealousy—keeping you from clearly joining Christ?
• Are you giving a foothold to Satan in your life or are you closing every possible door for temptation?