Month / November 2023

by In Light Of The Cross

9: Mission to the Powerful-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, Sabbath, Sabbath December 2, 2023.

Main Theme: God can and will use humble people to bring powerful people to Jesus.

Read in Class: Daniel 4:19-37. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What happened to the king here, and what does this tell us about salvation coming to one of the world’s most powerful men?

Apply: Even if we are not rich and powerful by the world’s standards, why must we be careful to avoid the kind of arrogance that this king had manifested? Why might that attitude be easier to have than we might think?

Share: Your friend says our political world is being so corrupt and polarized, there is no hope. Your friend says the leaders are so corrupt there is no hope for their eternal salvation. In light of Daniel 4, what do you say to your friend about the corrupt leaders today?

Read in Class: 2 Kings 5:1-19. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What can we take from this story about reaching people for the Lord?

Apply: What lessons should we learn from this story about not pushing people too quickly, especially those who come from a non-­Christian background?

Share: Your friend says if she had been the servant girl, she would never had told Naaman about the prophet who could heal him. Instead she would pray he would die so she could escape and be free to go back home. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 3:1-12. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does this story reveal about Nicodemus’s spiritual needs and how Jesus addressed them right away?

Apply: Why must we be careful of the trap of thinking that because “we have the truth” (which we do), then the knowledge of this truth alone is enough to save us? How many souls will be lost who had more than enough knowledge, even of the three angels’ messages, to be saved?

Share: Your friend asks if you think Nicodemus ever heeded Jesus’ invitation to be born again? How might John 7:43-52 and John 19:39 help you answer your friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 19:1-10 and Mark 15:43-47. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: Talk about the contrasts between the stories in Matthew 19:16-22 and Luke 19:1-10. What do think made the differences? What does Mark 15:43-47 tell us about how God uses rich people?

Challenge: Add someone to your daily prayer list who is in a position of power, is not a believer, and is someone you could come in contact with from time to time. Remember Daniel 4. No one is so powerfully corrupt that they are beyond hope!

Challenge Up: Address a letter or email to someone in a position of power—even if it is someone you may never have met—and tell that person that you are praying for him or her.

by In Light Of The Cross

This was my Hometown

Last week my sister and I moved dad to her home in Tennessee. For the first time since 1954 dad no longer lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dad was baptized in the Tulsa First Seventh-day Adventist church in 1958. Ever since then that is the only Adventist church he has ever been a member of. I find that interesting beings how I have been a member of 8 different churches, and have served in many more.

Now, for the first time ever, whenever I return to Tulsa I will have no family there. Since my mother died in Tulsa, and my dad just now finally moved, going home to see my parents has also always meant going back home to where I grew up. It’s always meant going back to the church I was born and raised in, with the church school I attended right across the parking lot. It’s always meant visiting Chimis Mexican restaurant where I started dining when it opened in the 80’s. Its also meant hanging out with the friends I grew up with and met living in Tulsa. I moved away from Tulsa in 1993, but have always come back to see family and friends.

I realized recently how I took going to see my parents and seeing my hometown for granted. What I mean by that is, I realize many of my friends moved as kids or their parents moved after my friends were grown. Therefore, for many, going to see parents does not necessarily mean going back home to where you grew up. Their parents live in different places now. But for me. ever since 1993 until now, going to see dad always meant going back home to where I grew up. For the first time in my almost 60 years, I have no family in Tulsa. Going to see dad won’t mean going home anymore. Except for the fact that he is living with my sister and I have also always considered that home too, but you get my point. Tulsa isn’t my hometown now. It was my hometown.

Of course I’ve always known you can never go home again. Tulsa in 2023 is not the Tulsa I was born into back in the 60’s. Actually the neighborhood my dad lived in the last 26 years did not even exist when I grew up in Tulsa. We lived by the Adventist church and school. Of course most of the members who worship there now were not around when I grew up there, and most all my friends have moved on just as I did. But some still remain. Of course when I go back to the Adventist school I attended its like walking into a school I never knew before. Walking into Tulsa Adventist Academy today is no more going home than walking into Atlanta Adventist Academy or Toronto Adventist School would be.

yes, you can never go home again and maybe that’s why I loved certain things about Tulsa. In some ways I could go home again. Chimis was nearly the same for over 40 years and I could eat there with some dear friends who I actually grew up in Tulsa with or met as a young adult. Braums, Mazzios Pizza and Quick Trips always took me back to my younger days. Still I miss Crystals Pizza, Casa Bonita, the Tulsa Roughnecks NASL team, and old friends who have moved away or fallen asleep. I miss the old revivals we had at the Tulsa Adventist church when Walter Wright would come to town. I miss the fresh fall breeze at the Tulsa State Fair. I miss zipping along I-244 as a teenager on my way back from seeing friends in Claremore, with my brand new driver’s license, listening to pop music on KRAV 96.5 without a care in the world, realizing my whole life was still in front of me.

But Tulsa has changed and so have I. We have both grown. And the cool thing is, I am realizing that while we can never go home again, in another sense we never leave home. When I left Tulsa in 1993 I moved to Fort Worth, Texas which at the time seemed a long way from Tulsa. But now that I have lived in the Tampa Bay Florida area for 20 years, I look back now on Tulsa and Fort Worth and they both seem so much closer to each other now. Why from Florida Tulsa and Fort Worth are practically neighbors. I am sure if I went to Australia Tampa and Tulsa would look like neighbors from there. I guess what I am trying to say is, Tulsa, Fort Worth and Tampa are all home now. When I go from one city to the other I don’t feel like I am leaving home or going home. I am home the entire time. Its like going from the den to the living room. Its all home. When I go from Tulsa to Fort worth to Tampa its all home now. While in one sense we can never go home again, in another sense we never leave home. We just expand the borders of our home to include our current home, friends, churches and hangout spots, and even new activities and traditions.

I am sure I will be returning to Tulsa, but it wont be the same, but then again it never was the same. While some people say things aren’t what they used to be, I say yes, but they also never were what they are now. Psalm 23:6 tells us God’s mercy and goodness follow us all the days of our lives. Why compare the past with the present when God’s goodness and mercy are always with us? I am not saying forget about the past. God blesses us with precious memories but He also blesses us with a precious present. I can’t go back to my childhood church of the ’60s, but you know what? The same God who was with me when I was baptized as a child in the Tulsa First Seventh-day Adventist church is the same God who is with me when I baptize a new member here in Florida. The same God who was with me when I was going to Tulsa Roughneck games with my friends in the 70’s is the same God who is with me when I go to Tampa Bay Rays games with my friends here in Tampa. The same God who was with me when I enjoyed Crystals Pizza with my family in the 70’s is with me as I eat at Cappys Pizza in Tampa with new family. God is my home. He aways has been and always will be,

Thank you for reminiscing with me. Sorry if I wandered and did not make a lot of sense. We tend to get that way when we get older and look back on a million different memores and try to make sense of them all, or think they can all be summed up on one phrase or theme. I may be a little melodramatic here too. After all, Tulsa is still there. It hasn’t changed in the last week since dad left. I can still and will go back to Tulsa to see friends. But still I know it will be different. Not bad just different. Thanks again for reminiscing with me. I owe you one.

by In Light Of The Cross

We too, Must be Born Again

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Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NKJV

Recently while studying the third chapter of John I turned to The Desire of Ages and found a sentence about Nicodemus being startled that also startled me.

He was startled at the thought of a kingdom too pure for him to see in his present state. –Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Page 171.

Now this is a very simple sentence but it spoke volumes to me. It explained to me why I am experiencing all the trials and tribulations I am going through. Even though I am a good pharisee like good ole Nicodemus, after all I am a 5th generation Seventh-day Adventist and minister of the Gospel, but God is still working on my character. He is still fitting me for His kingdom. If God were to remove all my trials and tribulations my character would never be developed to fit me for His kingdom.

Fact is God has not called me to be a pastor because I have it all together,-I clearly don’t have it all together. He has not called me into ministry because I have arrived. Rather God has called me to be a pastor so through the trials and tribulations of a pastor He can discipline me, and recreate me in order to be able to fit and save me into His kingdom. I love being a pastor. I love my job, but lets be real. We all have had moments when we wish we could quit whatever it is we are doing and just run away to a deserted island way off in the South Pacific. We just want to escape all our trials, tribulations and challenges. Problem is, we wont be living alone on little islands in God’s kingdom. God gives us jobs and positions, not to promote us but to humble us and recreate us into His image. The trials, tribulations and challenges we face in our life’s calling are there to humble us so that we will be born again and converted to the kingdom of God.

Those who know me know I love people and have a lot of friends, but again lets be real. Some people just rub us the wrong way. Well I remember a dear old lady years ago in a group Bible study saying, “When someone rubs you the wrong way God is just using them to polish your character.” So I am reminded I don’t need to run away when I face challenging people or situations. Fact is, like Nicodemus, the kingdom of God is too pure for me to enter in my present sate. God knows my character will never be fitted for His kingdom while living on a deserted island in the South Pacific. God has put challenging people and situations in my life in order to convert not them but me!

One night around two thousand years ago a religious leader was told by Jesus, you must be born again. You cannot see the kingdom of God in your present state. You need to be converted. Just a few nights ago, while reading the same story, Jesus told this 5th generation Adventist pastor, you must be born again. You cannot see the kingdom of God in your present state. You need to be converted. Now I know why James said to be happy when we have trials. Those trials are humbling us so we will be willing to be born again and converted. Those trials are fitting us for the kingdom of God. Those trials and tribulations are our salvation! Without them we will never be fitted for the kingdom of God.

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 NKJV

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
by In Light Of The Cross

8: Mission to the Needy-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, November 25, 2023.

Main Theme: God has a plan to reach those who might be needy in any number of ways. Their needs might be physical, emotional, financial, or even social: that is, some might be deemed as outcasts from their community or family. Whatever the needs are, we must be ready to do what we can to help. This is a central part of what it means to be a Christian and what mission must include.

Read in Class: Luke 5:17-26. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are some of the lessons we can take from this story about mission and ministry?

Apply: Who around you, right now, needs some help? What are you going to do for them?

Share: Your friend points out that the pharisees and teachers were already in the house listening to Jesus when the men brought their friend to Jesus. The Bible does not say that the men were teachers or had any kind of a title or position in the church. Your friend asks, which is better? To be a pharisee or teacher sitting in the church, or a regular lay member actively bringing people to Jesus? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 5:1-9. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does this story teach us about ministry to the needy?

Apply: How might this statement help us find ways to minister to those who need our help? ” “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.” —The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.

Share: Your friend asks how we can mingle with people of the world without becoming like the world? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Deuteronomy 10:19, Psalm 146:9, Romans 12:13, and Leviticus 23:22. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the important theme here to remember?

Apply: Even if it’s only a small amount, what can you do to help any immigrants or refugees you know about?

Share: Your friend says that there is a difference between legal and illegal immigrants. If we help illegal immigrants it only hurts those who are trying to enter legally. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 25:34-40 and John 15:13. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the message here for us? How do we apply these principles in our ministry to others?

Challenge: Learn about foreigners or non-Christians who live in your country. Joshuaprojects.net is a good place to survey unreached people groups in your culture.

Challenge Up: Identify someone within your sphere of influence. Begin regularly praying for the person after answering the following questions: Is this person my friend—according to Jesus’ model of friendship? Do I know the needs of his or her life? How can I lead him or her to Jesus for healing?

by In Light Of The Cross

Is the Story of the Good Samaritan Still Practical Today?

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 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13 NKJV

Years ago I was sitting in a Sabbath School class where we were talking about the Good Samaritan. Someone commented that we need to be careful stopping to help strangers today, because now it could be dangerous. I thought, wait a minute? Was it not dangerous back then too? After all the man the Samaritan was helping had just been robbed. beaten and left for dead. That sounds pretty dangerous to me. What if it was set up? What if the robbers were waiting to attack the Good Samaritan when he stopped to help? Was it wroth the risk? The Good Samaritan thought so. He took that risk. Is it practical for us to take that risk today as well? In the story of the Good Samaritan is Jesus teaching us only to stop and help people if we feel it is safe to do so?

Besides, what if the person we are helping doesn’t even like us? I’ve heard people say, “Don’t cross the ocean for someone who would not even cross the street for you.” But did the Good Samaritan have that attitude? More importantly, did Jesus have that attitude when He left heaven to come die for ungrateful sinners?

The story of the Good Samaritan is about a man who risked his life to save someone who never would have helped him had the situation been reversed.

“A certain Samaritan, in his journey, came where the sufferer was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. He did not question whether the stranger was a Jew or a Gentile. If a Jew, the Samaritan well knew that, were their condition reversed, the man would spit in his face, and pass him by with contempt. But he did not hesitate on account of this. He did not consider that he himself might be in danger of violence by tarrying in the place. It was enough that there was before him a human being in need and suffering. He took off his own garment with which to cover him. The oil and wine provided for his own journey he used to heal and refresh the wounded man. He lifted him on his own beast, and moved slowly along with even pace, so that the stranger might not be jarred, and made to suffer increased pain. He brought him to an inn, and cared for him through the night, watching him tenderly. In the morning, as the sick man had improved, the Samaritan ventured to go on his way. But before doing this, he placed him in the care of the innkeeper, paid the charges, and left a deposit for his benefit; and not satisfied even with this, he made provision for any further need, saying to the host, “Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”

In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus gave a picture of Himself and His mission. Man had been deceived, bruised, robbed, and ruined by Satan, and left to perish; but the Saviour had compassion on our helpless condition. He left His glory, to come to our rescue. He found us ready to die, and He undertook our case. He healed our wounds. He covered us with His robe of righteousness. He opened to us a refuge of safety, and made complete provision for us at His own charges. He died to redeem us. Pointing to His own example, He says to His followers, “These things I command you, that ye love one another.” “As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 15:17; 13:34. -Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Pages 503-504.

So, is the story of the Good Samaritan still practical today? Is it still practical to cross the ocean to help someone who would not even cross the street to help you? Is it practical today to help someone even if it puts us in danger? What parts of the story of the Good Samaritan help us answer these questions?

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

7: Mission to my Neighbor-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, November 18, 2023.

Main Theme: Our mission is to put the theory of the Gospel into practice.

Read in Class: Luke 10:25-26. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What did the lawyer ask and what was Jesus’ answer?

Apply: Jesus did not give his own opinion or philosophy when asked this important question. He directed the seeker straight to God’s Word to find the answer. What can we learn from this for when we are asked important questions regarding truth? Can we help people find the answer in the Word of God?

Share: Share a time a friend or even stranger was talking to you about a secular topic and you were able to use that secular topic as a springboard to share to Jesus.

Read in Class: Acts 17:11 and 2 Timothy 3:16. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How do these verses help us understand Jesus’ response to the lawyer in Luke 10:26?

Apply: Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, always pointed people back to the Written Word. What should this tell us about the importance of the Bible and why we must reject any philosophical or theological reasoning that lessens our trust in the Bible?

Share: Your friend tells you that while the Adventist church teachers the Bible over tradition that some traditions are not bad. He also insinuates that some Adventists have their own traditions apart from the Bible. Is your friend right? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Luke 10:27-28. Define the main idea of this passage. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What was the lawyer’s answer to his own question?

Apply: Read James 1:26 and James 2:17-22. How do these verses relate to what Jesus told the lawyer? How successful are you at putting God’s Word into practice? Especially when it come to showing love and compassion to those who may not be too loveable?

Share: Share a time you were a good Samaritan. Don’t be shy. We are not bragging we are encouraging others to put the Gospel into practice.

Read in Class: Luke 10:30-37. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How would you summarize Jesus’ meaning in the story here?

Challenge: Begin praying daily for someone who is different from you, or even for someone you may not personally like.

Challenge Up: List at least three names of your acquaintances (non-Adventists); identify their needs (emotional, physical, social), and consider how you can minister personally to those needs. What can you do practically for them in the coming week?

by In Light Of The Cross

Speaking in Tongues in the Bible

Early in my ministry I found myself talking to a man who felt he was led by the Spirit because he spoke in tongues. However, it was not the Bible version of speaking in tongues, where “every man heard in his own language.” He was speaking things no one understood. He told me about a Pentecostal prayer meeting he recently attended, where he was “filled with the spirit,” spoke in tongues and ended up at a hotel with a lady he met at the meeting! I assured Him the Holy Spirit would not have led him to do such a thing. He would not listen to me. He was on an emotional high, going strictly by feelings.

This man was not the only one who put emotions and feelings above Scripture. Not long after, I began studying with three members of a 7th-day Pentecostal church in west Texas. They explained the wonderful emotions that overtakes them when speaking in tongues. Interestingly enough, I preached in their church a handful of times, but they never spoke in tongues while I was there. Still, for years, they put their emotions over Scripture, telling me they knew it was real because they felt it. I sure am glad Jesus did not put feelings above the Word of God, after fasting 40 days in the wilderness, when Satan questioned if He was really the Son of God. I am glad I don’t put need to consult my emotions before the Scripture, when John tells me if I confess my sins, God is faithful to forgive me, even though I still feel terrible about what I have done. It took me several years of study and friendship before this trio were convicted and put God’s Word above their feelings and were baptized and joined my local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

What I find ironic, is how many people sincerely believe that a church has to speak in tongues in order to be spirit-filled, while at the same time scoffing at the Seventh-day Adventist Church for claiming to have the Spirit of Prophecy. Fact is, though, that the Spirit of Prophecy is an identifying mark of God’s last day church, and not speaking in tongues.

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Revelation 12:17 NKJV

the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10 NKJV

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV

God’s church has the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Spirit of prophecy is the gift the Bible tells us to pursue above all others, and not speaking in tongues. Why?

Because…

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 14:22 NKJV

According to Acts 2:6 Biblical speaking in tongues is when people hear the gospel in their own language.

About ten years ago I heard a young lady preaching. She was a student at Southern Adventist university near Chattanooga Tennessee. She spoke of a mother she knew who was at a local park with her 6-year-old English-speaking daughter. The daughter met a little Spanish girl at the swings, and started talking to her about Jesus. The two little girls continued talking, and both of the girls’ mothers were amazed to hear them  speaking to each other, because the English girl only knew English and the Spanish girl only knew Spanish! God created a miracle so the little girl could hear about Jesus in her own language just like on the day of Pentecost. According to 1 Corinthians 14:22 speaking in tongues is for the unbelievers to hear the gospel in their own language. It is not for the believers in church, because they have already heard the gospel. That’s why they are there.

By contrast, prophesying is for those who already believe. This is very important to understand. We are not supposed to use the Spirit of Prophecy to convince unbelievers. The Testimonies for the church are directed to the church, not unbelievers. It was the same in Isaiah’s day.

Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1 NKJV

Isaiah was given the Spirit of Prophecy to show the church its sins, not the world. The world is to be told there is a Savior, and then they can be instructed through the Spirit of Prophecy, not before. What that means to us today is that we need to be telling our neighbors that Jesus loves and died for them, and not that they need to stop eating cheese or drinking with their meals. But I digress…

So Biblical speaking in tongues is when someone hears the gospel in their own language. Speaking in tongues does not need to be used in the church. It needs to be used outside the church to share the gospel with unbelievers in their own language. When unbelievers accept the gospel and become believers, they are welcomed into the church, where the gift of prophecy is shared with them.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.

by In Light Of The Cross

6: Motivation and Preparation for Mission-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, November 11, 2023.

Main Theme: The Bible shares events and experiences in the early church that give us guidance as we prepare for mission.

Read in Class: Luke 24:36-49. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What happened here, and why was this such a pivotal experience for the apostles?

Apply: How well grounded are you in the prophecies that point to Christ, both His first and second comings? Especially in the last days, why must we be grounded in the Word of God, including the prophecies, and why is understanding them so crucial, especially for mission?

Share: A classmate in Sabbath School notices, that earlier in Luke 24 Jesus could have shown his scarred hands to the two on the road to Emmaus, but instead He just directed them to Scripture. Later Jesus lets everyone see his scars, handle Him and still led them into the Scriptures. Your friend asks, how much do we rely on signs, and what we see and feel, compared to how much we rely on Scripture alone? What do you tell your classmate?

Read in Class: Acts 1:12-26. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study:  What were the disciples, now numbering around 120 men and women, doing while they were waiting?

Apply: How can you learn to wait upon the Lord and not lose faith in the meantime? Meanwhile, while waiting, how can you best use your time, as the disciples did here?

Share: Your friend says casting lots sounds a lot like gambling. Can we really just pray and flip a quarter to see what God’s will is? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Acts 2:7-11 and 37-41. Define the main idea of these passages.

Study:  What happened to the disciples as a result of receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?

Apply: Why should the idea that even some of those who were complicit in Christ’s death were offered salvation (1) encourage us for our own souls and (2) encourage us to witness to others, no matter how bad they may seem to be?

Share: Your friend says that our churches are not growing as fast as the early church grew. Your friend asks why we are not seeing more baptisms now? Do you agree with your friend or not? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Acts 2:41-47. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What kind of picture of the early church is present here?

Challenge: Think of someone in your life who you wish was a believer. Pray every day for him or her to have a personal experience with Jesus.

Challenge Up: Whom are you discipling and leading into a relationship with Jesus? Look for ways to bring him or her into fellow­ship with other believers.