Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, May 4, 2024.

Main Theme: The Reformers saturated their minds with Scripture. They lived by the Word, and many of them died because of the Word. They were not casual, complacent, careless Christians with a superficial devotional life. They knew that without the power of God’s Word, they would not withstand the forces of evil arrayed against them.

Read in Class: Psalm 119:103-104, 147, 162. Define the main idea of these passages.

Study: What was David’s attitude toward God’s Word? How did this impact the Reformers, and how does it influence our lives today?

Apply: In what ways have the Scriptures comforted you in times of trial?

Share: Your friend says it must have been hard for the reformers to stand alone, just like it must have been hard for Elijah to stand alone. Sure God is with us, but why does God often let us feel alone as if we have no human support? It would be a lot easier to stand alone on the Word of God if we had more human support and encouragement. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: 2 Corinthians 2:14 and 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. What is the common thread in these passages.

Study:  What do these passages tell us about the confidence Paul had, despite the challenges he faced in proclaiming the truth of God’s Word?

Apply: Read Daniel 12:3 and Revelation 14:13. How do these texts relate to the lives of the reformers? Now think about your own life and your impact on others. What encouragement do these texts give regarding the opportunity you have to influence others for eternity?

Share: Your friend feels discouraged and laments that they have never given a Bible study where anyone got baptized, and has never been able to lead anyone to Christ. Even in their family no one seems to listen when they talk about Jesus. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 16:13-15. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What principles can we take from this text regarding how we should interpret the Bible?

Apply: How often do you pray as you read Scripture? How much do you depend on Bible commentaries as opposed to doing your own searching and comparing Scripture with Scripture?

Share: Your friend says, I told my sister about the Sabbath and even showed her right there in the Bible. But she died without ever accepting it, so I guess she will be lost. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Romans 1:5, Ephesians 2:8-10, and Titus 2:11-12. Define the common thread in these texts.

Study: How are we saved? What vital truths do these passages reveal about the Christian life? What do faith and grace produce in our lives?

Apply: When you look at yourself what hope do you have for salvation from both sin and death? How has God’s grace changed both your way of thinking, and your behavior?

Share: Can you think of a friend who may benefit from an encouraging passage from Scripture? How can you share it with them this week?