Tag / Seventh-day Adventist Adult Sabbath School class

by In Light Of The Cross

2: The Genesis Foundation-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, April 12, 2025.

Main Theme: This week, we are going to study a handful of big concepts at the core of Revelation. There are many, and so we will choose a few to illustrate the all-important point that understanding the ancient foundations behind Revelation enables the student to see countless nuances in the text, each of which can yield important lessons about the nature of humanity, of God, and of the conflict being waged in our universe and, thus, in our lives, as well.

Read in Class: Genesis 22:1-13. Ask the class to summarize this passage in their own words.

Study: The first mention of “love” in the Bible is found in Genesis 22:2. What does this story teach us about the nature of God’s love?

Apply: Read John 3:16. What parallels apply between the story of Abraham in Genesis 22 and the love of God in John 3:16 and the cross? What are the similarities, and what are the differences?

Share: Your friend says she has heard that God tested Abraham so he could prove his obedience. Others say the story of Abraham and Isaac was only an illustration of God’s self-sacrificing love for us. She asks what you think. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Genesis 22:7-8, Exodus 12:3-13 and Revelation 5:5-10. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How does the story of Isaac’s near-sacrifice help us understand how lambs are used symbolically? How does this story tie into what John sees in Revelation 5?

Apply: Why is knowing that Jesus is our Substitute so foundational to our salvation? What hope would you have without Him, as that Substitute, especially in the judgment?

Share: Your friend asks why God wanted the people to have the lamb in their home four days before sacrificing it? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 4:8-15, 1 Corinthians 15:15-19, and Revelation 1:18. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: What do these passages—which include the first mention and occurrence of death—tell us about why people die, how God views death, and what His solution is for our problem?

Apply: Without the problem of death being solved, why are our lives ultimately useless, meaningless and futile? What does this fact teach us about how thankful we should be for what Jesus has done for us?

Share: Romans 6:23 tells us the wages of sin is death. Wages are something we have earned. However the gift of God is eternal life. A gift is something we have not earned. Your friend asks how do we get the gift of eternal life? What do you tell your friend? Hint: See Salvation in Light of the Cross.

Read in Class: Genesis 3:1-5 and Revelation 12:1-9. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: What are some of the common themes in each account? How do the details found in the introduction of the serpent in Genesis help us to understand some of the issues that had previously led to the war in heaven mentioned in Revelation?

Apply: Read in Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:13-17. How did Jesus apply the story of the brass serpent, as the solution for when we are bitten by the serpent and deceived into sin?

Share: Can you think of someone you can share the plan of salvation with this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

1: Some Principles of Prophecy-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Bible on the pulpit by Bill Nicholls is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, April 5, 2025.

Main Theme: This week, we will explore some principles that yield a consistent and reliable understanding of prophecy.

Read in Class: Matthew 24:15, Revelation 1:3 Matthew 11:29 and Jeremiah 9:23-24. Ask the class if they see any common threads in these passages.

Study: What do these texts suggest about God’s intention to make Himself understood?

Apply: What are some technigues you have found helpful in understanding the Word of God?

Share: Your friend says she enjoys trying to find “loopholes” in the Word of God. Why may that not be a good idea. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 139:1-6, Psalm 147:5, Romans 11:33 and 1 John 3:20. Ask the class if they see any common threads in these passages.

Study: What do these passages suggest about God’s understanding in comparison to our own?

Apply: Though, yes, there is much that we don’t know, why is it crucial to focus now on what we do know and to follow what we know—as opposed to obsessing over what we don’t know?

Share: Your friend says his pastor said we should not worry about things we read in the Bible that are not salvation issues. Your friend asks what is meant by salvation issues? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, and Luke 24:27. Ask the class if they see any common threads in these passages.

Study: What do these verses teach us about the way we ought to approach Bible prophecy?

Apply: What has been your experience with those who use only certain selected texts to try and make their point about, say, the state of the dead? Or even the Sabbath? What is the best way to respond?

Share: Your friend asks if Seventh-day Adventists have any traditions, good or bad, that cannot necesarrily be supported by Scripture? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:24, Revelation 1:16, and Revelation 1:20. Ask the class what common threads they see in these passages.

Study: How does Daniel 7:24 help us understand Daniel 7:7 and how does Revelation 1:20 help us understand Revelation 1:16? Does this show us that the Bible inteprets itself for us?

Apply: Even if some symbols and prophecies remain mysteries, how can focusing on what we do understand strengthen our faith?

Share: Your friend asks why God speaks in symbols instead of just being more literal or forthright? What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

13: Love is the Fulfillment of the law-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, March 29, 2025.

Main Theme: God’s law shows us how to love God and our neighbor.

Read in Class: Exodus 20:1-17. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: How do these verses reveal the two principles, those of love for God and of love for others?

Apply: Is it possible to love others while continuing to violate the Ten Commandments?

Share: Your friend says its impossible for us to keep the Ten Commandments, since we are human. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Romans 6:1-3 and Romans 7:7-12. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passage.

Study: What are these verses telling us about the law, even after Christ died?

Apply: How does John 14:15 help you understand the link between love and the law?

Share: Your friend says that the law in the New Testament is the law of love and not the Ten Commandments. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:10. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does this teach about God’s promises to give us a new heart? 

Apply: How do you apply Jesus’ words in John 3:1-21 help you understand the idea of a new birth and a new heart?

Share: Your friend says that since we are saved by grace there is no real reason to keep the law. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: James 2:1-9. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What crucial messages are we given here?

Apply: Dwell more on the idea of loving the world as Christ loved the world. How might this help us better understand the concept of Christian perfection and how we are made fit for eternal life?

Share: Romans 2:4 tells us it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. How can you show others the goodness of God in His law, so they can be led to repentance?

by In Light Of The Cross

12: Love and Justice: The Two Greatest -Commandments-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, March 22, 2025.

Main Theme: As we have seen, love and justice go together; they are inseparable. God loves justice. Accordingly, if we love God, we will love justice, as well.

Read in Class: Matthew 19:16-23 and Matthew 22:34-40. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does Jesus Answer the lawyers question? How do Jesus’ answers to the rich young ruler’s questions relate to His answers to the lawyer’s question in Matthew 22?

Apply: Though we might not all be called to sell all that we have, as was this rich young ruler, what might you, personally, be clinging to that if you don’t give up, could lead to your eternal ruin?

Share: Your friend says, so we don’t have to keep the Ten Commandments anymore. All we have to do is love God and our neighbor. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 135:13-19 and Zechariah 7:9-12. Ask the class what the ideas in these passages are?

Study:  According to the prophet Zechariah in this passage, what does God decry? How does it and the sin of idolatry relate to the two great commandments?

Apply: Read 1 John 4:20-21. How do you explain why love for God cannot be separated from love for others? How do you understand this unbreakable link?

Share: Your friend says that we can become legalistic when observing the letter of the law, but can we also be legalistic when doing acts of compassion? Why or why not? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 82:1-8 and Matthew 23:23-30. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passage?

Study: How do these passages express God’s concern for justice in the world? What does Jesus teach here about what is most important? What do you think He means when He refers to “weightier matters”?

Apply: What would our families and churches look like if we focused on Micah 6:8 and intentionally put it into practice in both word and deed? In whatever context you are in, how could the application of these principles be made manifest better?

Share: Your friend asks, “If you were to focus on the “weightier matters” today, what would that look like as opposed to whatever “tithe of mint and anise and cummin” we might be focusing on instead?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Luke 10:25-37. Have the class identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What is this passage saying in light of the cry of the prophets for mercy and justice and of the kinds of injustices that different people groups have inflicted on “others” throughout human history?

Apply: What can we learn from the life and ministry of Jesus about reaching out to those in need? Even if we can’t perform miracles as He did, for many hurt people how could our help be deemed “miraculous” enough?

Share: Your friend says the story about the Good Samaritan does not apply today, because it can actually be dangerous helping people in today’s world? What do you tell your friend? How can we help bring others to repentance and salvation by showing God’s goodness in our community today?

by In Light Of The Cross

10: Rules of Engagement-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, March 8, 2025.

Main Theme: This week’s lesson explores the parameters of both sides in the battle between Christ and Satan.

Read in Class: Daniel 10:1-14. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What do these verses teach that is relevant to the cosmic conflict? What do you make of the angel sent by God being “withstood” for twenty-one days?

Apply: How have you experienced the limits of working only through the principles of love and not coercion? What lessons did you learn about the limits of power?

Share:  Your friend asks, Why did the angel get withstood 21 days? Why didn’t God’s angel immediately get the king of Persia to begin the process of delivering God’s people? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 13:1-8. Have class define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does this reveal about the extent of the dragon’s jurisdiction?

Apply: However hard for us to see it now, in the end good will eternally triumph over evil. Why is it so important that we never forget this wonderful promise?

Share: Your friend asks you why the world leaders in Jesus’ day crucified Jesus for claiming to be God, and then years later instead of crucifying the beast who claims to be God, the world leaders worship the beast who claims to be God. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Job 1:1-12 and Job 2:1-7. As the class what is going on in these passages?

Study: What principles of the great controversy do we see unveiled here?

Apply: Job found himself in the middle of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. In What ways has the reality hit you that you are in the midst of the Cosmic Battle between Christ and Satan? How does it comfort you knowing God put limits on what Satan could do to Job?

Share: Your friend says it was not fair for God to let Satan harass Job in a conflict Job had nothing to do with? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 6:5, and Mark 9:29. Ask the class to define the common thread in these passages.

Study: What do these texts display about how even divine action might be integrally related to factors such as faith and prayer?

Apply: Noah preached in his day only to save 7 other people in the end. There were people that Jesus could not work with miracles with. How should this comfort us when the success of our ministry seems to be limited, while not letting us use it as an excuse for failure?

Share: In Matthew 6:10 Jesus prays for His Father’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In heaven Satan was cast out. Your friend asks if our prayers can also limit Satan’s working in our homes, churches and communities? What do you tell your friend? How can you pray this week for your community in light of the cosmic conflict?

by In Light Of The Cross

9: The Cosmic Conflict-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, March 1, 2025.

Main Theme:  We will address how the two following questions might be answered according to some crucial biblical passages: (1) Where does Scripture teach that there is a cosmic conflict between God and Satan? (2) According to Scripture, what is the nature of the conflict?

Read in Class: Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43. Ask the class to share the main idea of this parable.

Study: How does the parable help us understand evil in our world?

Apply: What are some of the dangers in seeking to uproot the tares from the wheat now? At the same time, why does this not mean simply ignoring the evil that we encounter?

Share: Your friend asks you where do you see or experience the conflict between good and evil? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Isaiah 14:12-15. Ask the class to identify the common thread of these passages.

Study: How do these passages describe the one who fell, and the origination of evil?

Apply: How do we understand the fact that Lucifer, who fell, was originally “perfect . . . from the day” he was created “till iniquity was found” in him (Ezek. 28:15)? How could a perfect being fall unless being “perfect” included true moral freedom?

Share: Your friend asks, why didn’t God stop this evil up in heaven before it got out of control? What do you tell your friend? How might the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13 help you explain your answer?

Read in Class: Genesis 3:1-7, 15, and Matthew 4:1-11. Ask the class if they see any similarities in these passages.

Study: How do these passages help us understand the conflict between Christ and Satan, and how sin originated on earth, and its solution?

Apply:  God’s statement in Genesis 3:15 to the serpent that the Seed of the woman, referring to the Messiah, would crush the serpent’s head is often identified as the first gospel (protoevangelium) in Scripture. How does this both reinforce the reality of the conflict and yet provide hope for us in the midst of it?

Share: Your friend asks you how are we as mere mortal human beings supposed to survive the same kind of Satanic attacks Jesus endured? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 8:44-45 and Revelation 12:7-9. Ask the class what similarities they see in these passages.

Study: What do these passages reveal about the character of the devil and his strategy?

Apply: How does putting on the whole armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:10-19 help you defend yourself against Satan’s strategies?

Share: “Often He [Jesus] met those who had drifted under Satan’s control, and who had no power to break from his snare. To such a one, discouraged, sick, tempted, and fallen, Jesus would speak words of tenderest pity, words that were needed and could be understood. Others He met who were fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of souls. These He encouraged to persevere, assuring them that they would win; for angels of God were on their side, and would give them the victory. Those whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could trust with perfect confidence. He would not betray the secrets they poured into His sympathizing ear.” –Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Pages 91-92.

How might you encourage someone this week who is fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of souls?

by In Light Of The Cross

8: Free Will, Love, and Divine Providence-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, February 22, 2025.

Main Theme: Strong Biblical evidence shows that God does not determine everything that happens. Instead, He grants humans free will, even to the point where they (and angels) can choose to act directly against His will. The history of the Fall, of sin, and of evil is a dramatic and tragic expression of the results of abusing this free will. The plan of salvation was instituted in order to remedy the tragedy caused by the misuse of free will.

Read in Class: Psalm 81:11-14, Isaiah 30:15-18, and Luke 13:34, Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these texts say about the question of whether God’s will is always being done?

Apply: Think through the implications of any theology that attributes everything that happens to God’s direct will. What kind of deep problems, especially in the context of evil, would such a theology create?

Share: Your friend says that she has always heard that God puts into office whoever He wants in that office, and yet Hosea 8:4 says, “They set up kings, but not by me?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelaion 11:17, Matthew 19:26, Jeremiah 32:17-20. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these passages teach about God’s power?

Apply: Scripture also teaches that God wants to save everyone (for example, 1 Tim. 2:4-6, Titus 2:11, 2 Pet. 3:9, Ezek. 33:11), but not everyone will be saved. What does this fact teach about the reality of free will and the limits of God’s power with beings granted free will?

Share: Your friend asks, you if there was ever a time when you knew what the right thing to do was, but you still had a hard time doing it? What did you end up doing and what were the results?

Read in Class: Ephesians 1:9-11. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What is this text saying about predestination? Are some people predestined to be saved and others to be lost?

Apply:  What kind of attitude and response to God might people have if one believed in predestination? 

Share: Your friend says that if God knows the end from the beginning then we really have no choice in anything? How is your friend’s thinking faulty? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 16:33. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Even when the consequences of other people’s choices bring us trials and suffering, what hope does this passage give us?

Apply: How often do you think about the fact that God is grieved by suffering as well? 

Share: Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good to those who belong to God. This does not mean that everything that happens is God’s will or even good. What it does mean is that God will overrule everything that happens to bring about good to those who love Him. Can you think of someone this week, who you can encourage by your own testimony on how God has overruled evil in your life? How can you share your testimony with that person this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

6: God’s Love of Justice-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, February 8, 2025.

Main Theme: In stark contrast to the false gods of the ancient world, and even to the modern “gods” of today, as well, Yahweh is deeply concerned about evil, suffering, injustice, and oppression—all of which He constantly and unequivocally condemns. And, most important, He will one day eradicate them all, as well.

Read in Class: Psalm 33:5, Psalm 85:10 and Psalm 89:14. Have the class define the main idea of these passages.

Study: How do these texts shed light on God’s concern for justice?

Apply: What are examples, even now, of perverted human justice? How, then, can we not cry out for God’s perfect justice to come one day?

Share: Your friend tells you when he was in Adventist middle school, the pastor’s son would bully him all the time, but the teachers would never do anything about it. When his parents talked to the teachers and even the pastor himself, they all said he was making it up. Your friend asks you were was God’s mercy and justice in all of that? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 92:15, and Psalm 145:9-17. Have the class define the common thread in these passages.

Study: What do these passages teach about the faithfulness and righteousness of God? What do these verses teach about God?

Apply: How do you trust God’s goodness when other people cheat you and seem to get away with it? How do you trust God when others seem to be getting all the breaks but you never seem to?

Share: Your friend asks, “Why does such a good God allow for so much of the evil that is in this world?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Exodus 32:14 and Jeremiah 18:4-10. Have the class idenify the main idea of these passages.

Study: What do you make of these descriptions of God’s “relenting”?

Apply: How does God’s repentance and change in judgment relate in any way to restoration? 

Share: Your friend asks, if God never changes then why does He relent or seem to change His mind? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 5:43-48. Have the class identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does this teach about God’s amazing love? How should we act toward others in light of this teaching of Jesus?

Apply: Isaiah 25:1 proclaims, “O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” (NKJV). How can we learn to praise God, even in bad times? In what ways can your life itself be an offering of praise to God in a way that furthers justice in your sphere of influence?

Share: Romans 2:4 says it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. Is there anything from this week’s lesson you can share with someone to help them see the goodness of God this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

4: God is Passionate and Compassionate-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class January 25, 2025.

Main Theme: there are beautiful truths to be garnered from the realization that God’s love for us is a deeply emotional love, but always with the caveat that though God’s love (emotional or otherwise) is perfect, it should not be thought of as identical to emotions as humans experience them.

Read in Class: Psalm 103:13, Isaiah 49:15, and Jeremiah 31:20. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: What do these depictions convey about the nature and depth of God’s compassion?

Apply: How have you demonstrated God’s love to a son or daughter or other family member, and how has someone in your family demonstrated God’s love to you?

Share: Your friend says that her parents were not loving. How might you be able to help your friend see the compassion of God, even though her parents were unloving?

Read in Class: Hosea 11:1-9. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does the imagery in these verses bring to life the way God loves and cares for His people?

Apply: Anyone who has ever been a parent knows what the lesson is talking about. No other earthly love begins to compare. How does this help us understand the reality of God’s love for us, and what comfort can, and should, we draw from this understanding?

Share: Your friend says its hard to know when to “shake the dust off our feet” (See Matthew 10:14) when you are compassionately and passionately working with a stubborn and wayward soul. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 9:36, Matthew 23:37 and Mark 1:41. Have the class identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How do these verses shed light on the way Christ was moved by the plight of people?

Apply: There is no greater example of God’s great compassionate love for us than Jesus Himself—who gave Himself for us in the ultimate demonstration of love. Yet, Christ is not only the perfect image of God. He is also the perfect model of humanity. How can we model our lives after the life of Christ, focusing on the felt needs of others, and, thus, not merely preaching God’s love but showing it in tangible ways?

Share: Your friend says he has been paying the electric bill for his son’s family because his son keeps wasting his money on other things. Your friend wants to be compassionate towards his grandchildren who he does not want to freeze to death, but does not want to keep enabling the son to waste money. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study:  In what ways does this passage call us to reflect God’s compassionate and amazing love in our relationships with others?

Apply: Why is a death to self and to the selfishness and corruption of our natural hearts the only way to reveal this kind of love? What are the choices that we can make in order to be able to die this death to self?

Share: Your friend points out that while 1 Corinthians 13:4 says love does not envy or get jealous, that Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:2 that he has a godly jealousy. Your friend asks how do you reconcile having a godly jealousy with love never being jealous? What do you tell your friend? See Godly Passion and Jealousy.

by In Light Of The Cross

3: To be Pleasing to God-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath , January 18, 2025.

Main Theme: By God’s grace we can be pleasing to God.

Read in Class: Luke 15:11-32. Have the class summarize this story.

Study: What does the parable of the prodigal son reveal about God’s compassion and love? What warning does it provide for those who, like the other son, remained home?

Apply: Interesting is the reaction of the other son. Why was this reaction such a human reaction, based at least in part on fairness, and so understandable, as well? What, however, does his part of the story teach us about how human concepts of fairness don’t capture the depth of the gospel or of God’s love for us?

Share: Your friend says young people will never appreciate being in the church until they have first gone out into the world and experienced sin. After all, people who have stayed in the church all their lives don’t have any amazing conversation stories to share. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Zephaniah 3:17 and Ephesians 5:25-28. Ask the class what the common thread is in these passages.

Study: How does Zephaniah 3:17 shed light on the parable of the prodigal son? What does Ephesians 5:25-28 say about the love we should display as well?

Apply: When you hear that someone who has left the church has returned, what is your first reaction? Rejoicing and celebrating or skepticism? Exactly how should we celebratee when soneone returns to the church? Throw a party like the prodigal son’s father?

Share: Your friend is very upset because her church is having a baby shower for a 15 year-old unwed mother. The 15 year-old girl is sorry and wants to come back God and raise her child in the church, but really? Why should the church reward this girl’s sinful behavior with a shower? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Isaiah 43:4, Psalm 149:4, and Proverbs 15:8-9. Ask the class what these passages are saying?

Study: What do these passages tell us about God taking delight in His people?

Apply: Think about how closely tied heaven and earth must be that God, the Creator of the universe, can be so intimately involved, even emotionally, with us. What hope should this amazing idea give you, especially if you are going through a hard time?

Share: Your friend says he hears people in the church talking bad about the youth and how worldly they dress and act. Everyone seems disappointed in them. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Romans 8:1 and Romans 5:8. Ask the class what the main idea is of these passages.

Study: What do these texts teach about our standing before God?

Apply: Read 1 Peter 2:4-6 and compare it with Hebrews 11:6. What does this tell us about how we can be pleasing to God?

Share: Your friend asks how he can know if he is pleasing God or not? What do you tell your friend?