2: Teach us to Pray-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, January 13, 2024.

Main Theme: Praying the Psalms has helped many believers establish and maintain regular and fulfilling prayer lives.

Read in Class: Psalm 105:5, Colossians 3:16, James 5:13. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the place of the Psalms in the believer’s worship experience?

Apply: What does it mean to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16)? Why is reading the Bible the first and most crucial step for that experience?

Share: Your friend complains about their lack of faith. He says that God always provides for him but when new trials come he loses faith all over again and becomes anxious. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 44:1-12, 23-26, and Psalm 22:1-11, 21-24. Define the main idea of these Psalms.

Study: What two main moods do we see in these Psalms? Why the change in moods? What does this teach us about trusting God even in times of trouble?

Apply: How can drawing on past times, when God’s presence felt very real, help you deal with the times in which troubles make you think that God is far away?

Share: Your friend suggests that David is way too negative in some of his prayers. Shouldn’t we always praise and thank God in our prayers instead of complaining or being so negative? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 13:1-6. Define the main idea of this Psalm.

Study: What two main moods can you distinguish in this psalm? What decision do you think brought the radical change in the psalmist’s general outlook?

Apply: How can your trials draw you closer to God? Why, if you’re not careful, can they push you away from Him?

Share: Your friend asks you if you feel like God has always dealt bountifully you even amid your trials? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 60:1-5. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: For what occasions do you think this psalm would be a suitable prayer? How can we benefit from the psalms of lament even in joyous seasons of life?

Apply: Whom do you know, right now, who needs not only your prayers but your ministering touch, as well?

Share: Have you ever written a poem or “Psalm” about how God has heard your prayers? Can you share your poem with someone this week who may be encouraged by it?

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?

12: The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast Part 2-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, June 17,2023.

Main Theme: We all have to make a choice for or against God.

Read in Class: Revelation 13:5, Revelation 12:6,14 and Daniel 7:25. Define the common threads of this passage.

Study: How long was this power to rule through previous centuries?
(Note: 42 months; a time, times, and half a time; and 1,260 days is the same 1,260 years from 538AD with Justinian’s Code to 1798AD with Berthier marching into Rome and putting the pope in prison.)

Apply: Think about how amazing biblical prophecy is and how it reveals to us God’s knowledge of future events. What should this fact teach us about why we can trust the Lord’s promises, even the ones we don’t yet see fulfilled?

Share: Your friend says the 1260 days are still in the future and do not have anything to do with the papacy. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 9-12. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does Paul predict about the last days? What identifying marks does he give for the beast, the antichrist power?

Apply: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12, NKJV). How must we apply this principle in dealing with the theme of the beast powers in Revelation 13 and 14?

Share: Your friend says, “1 John 2:18 says there are many antichrists. If there are many antichrists who are they? Hint: Could you be an Antichrist?

Read in Class: Revelation 17:12-14. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does John describe these final scenes of earth’s history? What powerful contrast is seen here?

Apply: How do make sure we are not unwittingly at war with the Lamb?

Share: Your friend asks, “Why does the Lamb have to conquer all the other powers? Why can’t we just all peacefully coexist? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 14:9-12. Define the main idead of this passage.

Study: Where is the mark of the beast placed? (See Deut. 6:8, Deut. 11:18). What two characteristics contrast God’s people from those who receive the mark of the beast?

Apply: In what ways has humanity always been divided along the lines of being on either God’s side or on Satan’s? Why can there be no middle ground? How can we know, for sure, just whose side we really are on?

Share: You friend says that she heard someone say that the third angel’s message in Revelation 14:9-12 is all about righteousness by faith. How so? What do you tell your friend?