Tag / Covenant at Sinai

by In Light Of The Cross

8: Covenant at Sinai-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, 23 August 2025.

Main Theme: God calls out to all of us; our eternal destiny depends on our response.

Read in Class: Exodus 19:1-8. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: What did God promise them here, at the base of Mount Sinai?

Apply: Imagine being God’s “special treasure”! What special privileges would that encompass? What special responsibilities would you have?

Share: Your friend says that when Jesus died on the cross, He made a new covenant with His people, which was no longer based on the law. What do you tell your friend? Hint: See Was the Law or the Covenant Given at Sinai Changed at the Cross?

Read in Class: Exodus 19:9-25. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did God prepare Israel to receive the Ten Commandments?

Apply: How do you understand the idea of the Ten Commandments as an expression of God’s love? What does that mean? How is God’s love revealed in them?

Share: Your friend notes that in Exodus 19:10, the people are told to wash their clothes in preparation for keeping the commandments. Your friend asks if this is why in Revelation 22:14, some translations say, “wash their robes,” while others say “keep the commandments.” What is the parallel between “washing our robes” and “keeping the commandments?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 20:1-17. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are the principles of the Decalogue, and how is it organized?

Apply: in John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Why is it important to keep the commandments out of love, rather than just to receive a reward? How can we be sure we are not just doing it for the sake of the latter?

Share: Your friend says that she heard that God’s biddings are His enablings, and that His commands are actually promises. Is that true? If so, can you explain to your friend why?

Read in Class: James 1:23-25 and Romans 3:20-24. Ask the class to share the main idea of these passages.

Study: What is he saying, and how do these words help us realize what the function and importance of the law is, even though it cannot save us?

Apply: How should we apply the meaning of “Christ is the end of the law” in Romans 10:4?

Share: Your friend says that faith abolishes the law. What do you tell your friend? See Romans 3:31.

by In Light Of The Cross

7: Covenant at Sinai – Teaching Plan

7: Covenant at Sinai – Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for the Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath School lesson for May 15, 2021

Key Thought: God gave His people a covenant of grace. He promised to deliver them from bondage by His own power.

1. Have a volunteer read Exodus 6:6,7.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
  2. What did God redeem Israel from?
  3. Personal Application: How does God ransom us from slavery to sin? If we are saved by grace what role does the law play? Does grace save us from the law or does grace save us from sin? See Romans 1:5, Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 2:11-12. These verses show us grace gives us obedience, good works, and righteousness in this present world.
  4. Case Study: your boss tells you his pastor says that Jesus died to save us from the bondage of the law so we would not have to keep it anymore. How do you answer your boss? What verses do you share. For example, Romans 3:31, 1 peter 2:24.

2. Have a volunteer read Exodus 19:4, Deuteronomy 1:29-31…

  1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
  2. How did God bring Israel from Egypt to Sinai?
  3. Personal Application: Do we care for each other the way God cares for us? See John 3:34-35. Do we love others the way God loves us? Are we patient and sympathetic towards sinners as Jesus is towards us?
  4. Case Study: Share a time that someone showed selfless interest in you.

3. Have a volunteer read Exodus 19:5,6.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
  2. What does God mean by “obey” and ‘keep” my covenant? Notice: the word for obey in the original manuscripts simply means to listen. The word “Keep” simply means to cherish and regard. It is the same word in the original manuscripts when God told Adam to “keep” the garden. He meant for him to cherish and care for it. Read here for more info.
  3. Personal Application: When we obey and keep or listen and cherish God’s promises what do we become?
  4. Case Study:  Your cousin tells you he is tired of promising God He will never smoke again because he never can keep his promises he makes to God. What can you share with your cousin about listening to and trusting God’s promises instead of making our own? See 2 Peter 1:4.

4. Have a volunteer read Exodus 19:8.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
  2. What was the problem with the first covenant? Was the problem with the law or with the people thinking they could promise God to keep the law on their own? Was the problem with the law or with the people trusting their own promises? See Hebrews 8:8. For more info read here.
  3. Personal Application: If we are saved by grace why keep the law?
  4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).