Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide

Teachers Edition: 
Final Publication Copy

The Wonder of Jesus

by 
Roy Adams

April, May, June
2008

	Contents
	 1  Who Was Jesus?–March 29–April 4	11
 2  The Mystery of His Deity–April 5–11	23
	 3  The Reality of His Humanity–April 12–18	35
	 4  The Wisdom of His Teachings–April 19–25	47
	 5  The Wonder of His Works–April 26–May 2	59
	 6  The Challenge of His Sayings–May 3–9	71
	 7  The Puzzle of His Conduct–May 10–16	82
	 8  The Intensity of His Walk–May 17–23	94
	 9  The Tenderness of His Love–May 24–30	108
	10  The Meaning of His Death–May 31–June 6	120
	11  The Power of His Resurrection–June 7–13	132
	12  The Efficacy of His Priestly Ministry–June 14–20	144
	13  His Return as King and Friend—June 21–27	156

http://www.absg.adventist.org 
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12501 Old Columbia Pike,
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Come visit us at our Web site:
 http://www.absg.adventist.org

Principal Contributor:
Roy Adams

Editor:
Clifford R. Goldstein

Associate Editor:
Soraya Homayouni Parish

Publication Manager:
Lea Alexander Greve

Editorial Assistant:
Sharon Thomas-Crews

Pacific Press Coordinator:
Paul Hey

Art Director and Illustrator:
Lars Justinen

Concept Design:
Dever Design

The following teachers edition components were written by the following:
1. The Lesson in Brief: Tresa Beard, freelance writer, Silver Spring, Md., U.S.A.
2. The Learning Cycle, lessons 1-7: John Fowler, associate director, Education Department, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Md., U.S.A. 
3. The Learning Cycle, lessons 8-10: Lynn Ripley, associate pastor, Austin First Seventh-day Adventist Church, Austin, Texas.
4. The Learning Cycle, lessons 11-13: Fylvia Fowler Kline, principal, Rogue Valley Adventist School, Oregon, U.S.A.

The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide is prepared by the Office of the Adult Bible Study Guide of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The preparation of the guides is under the general direction of a worldwide Sabbath School Manuscript Evaluation Committee, whose members serve as consulting editors. The published guide reflects the input of the committee and thus does not solely or necessarily represent the intent of the author(s).	

Bible Versions Table

	Scripture references other than from the King James Version quoted by permission in this Bible Study Guide, for 
Teachers Edition Second Quarter 2008, are as follows:
	NASB.  From the New American Standard Bible, copyright ©  the Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.
	NIV.  Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
	NKJV.  Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
	RSV. Bible texts credited to RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission.	

A Hope Big With Immortality

	Of all the people immortalized over millennia upon the pages of history, Jesus of Nazareth had the shortest period of public labor. Only three and a half years. 
	But what a three and a half years they were!
	Socrates taught for 40, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, Jesus for not even four. Yet the impact of Christ’s short ministry infinitely exceeds that of the combined 130 years of those three Greek giants.
	Someone once wrote that “the grandest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci are but a reflection of Jesus, the Light of the world. Haydn, Handel, Bach, and Mendelssohn gave to the world their best melodies in the symphonies and oratorios they wrote to glorify Jesus Christ. Art, culture, music, philosophy—all have been enriched by His teachings. But Christ offers far more than philosophy, art, and music. These cannot save. Jesus offers light and life and salvation to sinful men.” 
	That statement, however eloquent, falls short of doing justice to the richness of Jesus, for that quote is in the context of the West only; Christ’s appeal, in contrast, is universal, transcending all political, ethnic, and cultural borders. 	
	“You should search the Bible,” Ellen G. White writes, “for it tells you of Jesus. As you read the Bible, you will see the matchless charms of Jesus. You will fall in love with the Man of Calvary, and at every step you can say to the world, ‘His ways are ways of pleasantness, and all His paths are peace.’ You are to represent Christ to the world. You may show to the world that you have a hope big with immortality”—Life Sketches, p. 293.
	With Jesus at its center, Christianity is also a historical religion, meaning that it revolves around a person whose life and work are amenable to historical study and analysis. Yet, at the same time, we cannot circumscribe Jesus Christ within the confines of history. For the reality of His person is suprahistorical (above history)—there’s a point beyond which historical analysis cannot probe. History cannot take us into the mysteries of salvation, or into the wonders of what Christ’s death offers the world. For all that history offers, it cannot begin to fathom what Ellen G. White called “a hope big with immortality.” 
	This quarter centers on Jesus, on who He was, on what He taught, on what He did—and on what He is doing now. That last clause, “on what He is doing now”, makes all the difference in the world. It is what might be called “the mystery of the present tense,” a crucial element that distinguishes Jesus from every other historical figure, for what other historical figure, no matter how great, is doing anything for us now?
	Who was this amazing Jesus? What was He like? What did He do while here? What is He, indeed, doing for us now? And finally, why should He be a concern for people in the twenty-first century? 
	The answers, as we will see, are far from academic. On the contrary, they affect the destiny of every human being.

	Roy Adams, a native of the Caribbean, the author of this quarter’s Bible study guide, is an associate editor of the Adventist Review, the international magazine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is married to Celia (nee Wilson), and they have two adult children, Dwayne and Kimberly.

TE-2Q-2008-01-The Lesson In Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Matthew 16:13–15
	
The Student Will:					
Know: Understand that Jesus’ life and ministry was not just a myth, but He was truly the Messiah—Son of the living God.
Feel: Sense a need to be at one with Jesus who is a very personal Savior to every believer.
Do: Profess that Jesus came to save a fallen world from the disastrous effects of sin.
 
Learning Outline:
I. Who Do Men Say That I am?
A. The question of the identity of Jesus was repeated throughout His ministry on earth.
B. The disciples were very familiar with the talk of the day about who Jesus really was.
C. Jesus wanted the disciples to be sure of who He was, in spite of what others were saying.
	
	II.	Savior or Prominent Historical Figure?
A. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries new scientific criteria would be applied to the study of the Bible.
B. Rational thought replaced the biblical view of a divine being coming to rescue humanity from sin.
C. Jesus was no longer presented as a Savior but as a historical figure—a good man/teacher that lived long ago.

	III.	Biblical Faith Prevails
A. By the twentieth century, the scientific view of who Jesus had begun to waver.
B. Today, the Christian point of view prevails among many—upholding Jesus as the Savior of a sinful world.
C. Our faith in Jesus rests on the New Testament accounts of the disciples, who witnessed the many miracles of Jesus and testified that He was the Messiah.
D. Jesus himself claimed to be the Son of God.	 

Summary: Over the centuries there has been much debate about  the true identity of Jesus. However, in spite of scientific applications to Bible teachings, faith in Jesus as the Savior of the world prevails.

TE-2Q-2008-01-Learning Cycle

STEP 1—Motivate!

 	Just for Teachers: We focus this quarter on heaven’s most important gift to us–Jesus! Nothing in history is as great or as significant as the Person of Jesus, His life and ministry, His teachings and His promises, and His death, resurrection, and return. Each lesson this quarter presents an opportunity to motivate your class to discover anew the wonder that Jesus is. At the end of each lesson, class members should be led to have a fresh and life-sustaining experience with Him.

A thousand questions confront us each day, but none is so crucial as the one that Jesus Himself raised: “ ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ ” (Matt. 16:13, NIV). A truthful answer provides meaning to our life in the midst of chaos and  defines our destiny in terms of eternal life and fellowship with God.
	Discuss with the class two aspects of this question. 
	First, what do people today say Jesus is? Consider atheists, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, scientists, philosophers, and others. What do they say about Jesus? Second, who do you say Jesus is? How does your answer affect your life?	

STEP 2—Explore!	
	
Just for Teachers: Who was Alexander the Great? Who was Abraham Lincoln? Who was Mahatma Gandhi? Who was Martin Luther King? Who was Carl Marx? Knowing the right answer to these questions may or may not make any difference to the way we live. Not so, the question, Who is Jesus? Explore with the class the importance of this question.
	
	Bible Commentary 
Matthew 16:13–17 is basic to the understanding of Christ and His mission. When Jesus asked the question, “‘ Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ ”, He was challenging every generation and every human being with the need to face the issue honestly and squarely. Three common attitudes emerge: indifference, admiration, and acceptance.

I. Indifference
Nazareth typifies indifference to and rejection of Christ: “‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?’ ” (Matt. 13:55, NIV). Yes, Jesus was a carpenter, but He was more than that. It is this additional dimension of the nature of Christ—that Jesus is God in flesh—that offends many. Nazareth was blind and indifferent to Christ for the same reason that many today are indifferent to Him. Christ makes His appearance not as a good teacher, a miracle worker, a consummate dispenser of wisdom, but as one who demands to Himself absolute adherence as the Son of God. That claim to divinity is too bitter to swallow for those who are seething in self-importance. And self is the first thing Christ commands us to give up.

Nazareth saw Jesus as its son, confined to a geographic and historic locale. But Jesus cannot be so confined. He is the Creator of the world and the Lord of history. And what’s more, He must ever be understood as God’s self-disclosure to sinful humanity. He is Emmanuel—God with us (Matt. 1:23).
	
Consider This: Why does indifference to Jesus mean denial and rejection? 

II. Admiration 
Admiration of Christ as a great man, a towering moral authority, a teacher without peer, a great prophet, has been history’s common verdict. The disciples themselves answered Christ’s question by referring to what others were saying about Him—that He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets (Matt. 16:14). Each offered a recognition of dignity and authority.
Each was a symbol of moral and spiritual courage against evil of his time. Christ is greater than these. Yet who has ever defined or lived ethics as Jesus did? Who has ever taught the magnificence of love as Jesus in the parable of the good Samaritan or the lost son? Who in the endless drama of world history spoke and modeled a kingdom of grace?	

Yes, Jesus is a person without match. He is worthy of all admiration. But that’s not the answer Christ expects. He demands an either/or answer: Either He is God or He is not.
		
Consider This: Why is admiration of Jesus—as a good man, a remarkable teacher, or a martyr—not an acceptable answer?

III. Acceptance
Answers to who Christ is vary. However laudable such answers may be, Christ is not interested in adoration or flattery. What others say does not matter. Individual decision must not be colored by crowd psychology or another’s perception. Jesus’ demand is personal and intimate: “What do you as a person say?’” To this pointed question came the profound reply from Peter: “ ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ ” Peter’s confession unequivocally accepts that Christ is of God, and that He is the Messiah.  Such a Christological confession cannot come from human discovery, and Jesus was the first to point (Matt. 16: 16, NKJV). this out: “ ‘Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven’ ” (Matt. 16:17-18, NKJV). 
To know Christ, we must turn to God’s revelation. Only those who accept His revealed Word and the working of the Holy Spirit will be able to say that Christ is “my Lord, my God” (John 20: 8), or with Paul, “God blessed for ever” (Rom. 9:5). Such a confession is a result of not knowing about Christ, but knowing Him—in person, in faithful acceptance, and in loyal obedience.
	
Consider This: Why did Christ’s ministry often involve one-on-one situation(Matt. 19:16–23; Luke 18:35–42; 19:1–10;John 3:7; 1:43–49; 4:21–24; 5:5–9)?

STEP 3—Practice!

Thought Questions:
Ø “Never can humanity, of itself, attain to a knowledge of the divine.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 412. Why?
	
Ù What was Satan’s motive in each of the three temptations he used against Christ? (Matt. 4:1-11)? Why was it necessary for Christ never to doubt His Sonship? Why is it necessary for us to accept Him as God’s self-disclosure?
	
	Application Questions:
Ø “They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23). What does Christ as “Emmanuel” mean to your life in various aspects—mental, physical, social, communal, and spiritual?
		
Ù Every religion has a basic message that is traced back to an important person: Judaism to Moses, Islam to Muhammad, Buddhism to Buddha, Hinduism to Krishna. But with Christianity, it is not merely the message of Jesus that is important but Jesus Himself. Begin with Him, and then examine what He said and did. Why is the person of Jesus so important?
	
 STEP 4—Apply!
	
Just for Teachers: We learned this week that Jesus is more than a great Man, a wondrous Teacher, and a profound Prophet. He is the Son of God. Encourage your class to share as to what they can do with this great truth.
	
Thought Questions:
Ø Jesus is the Son of God and often spoke of God as His Father. Jesus also taught us to address God as our Father. Is there a difference between His claim and our prayer? If there is, how does that difference affect our relationship to the Godhead?

Ù As Son, Christ came to reveal the Father (John 14:9), to glorify Him (vs. 14:13), and to do His works (John 4:34, 10:32). How does being God’s children impact our  practical life as children of God?

TE-2Q-2008-02-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: John 17:5
	
The Student Will:
Know: Comprehend that Christ existed (eternally) with the Father before the earth began.
Feel: Experience gratitude toward Jesus for His communion with us.
Do: Live a life that honors the preexistent, divine Son of God.
 
Learning Outline:
I. The Preexistence of Christ
A. The prophet Isaiah refers to the coming Messiah as the eternal God and Father.
B. Bible writers show that Jesus existed before the world began—before He was conceived as a man.
C. Jesus acknowledged His own preexistence with the Father before He came to earth.
	
	II.	The Unity of Father and Son
A. The Bible describes Jesus as being the only Son (monogenes) that came forth from God the Father.
B. Jesus’ everlasting fellowship and communion with God the Father continued while He was here on earth.

	III.	The Divinity of Jesus
A. Jesus declared, “ ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father’ ” (John 14:9, NIV), showing Himself to be divine.
B. New Testament writers establish the truth that Jesus is One with the Father.
C. Jesus—who was both divine and human—offered Himself to die for the sins of the world.

Summary: Jesus, the Son of God, existed eternally with the  Father before the world began and is both divine and human.  Jesus spoke of His own existence with the Father before coming to save humanity, and remained in constant communion with God while here on the earth.

TE-2Q-2008-02-Learning Cycle	

STEP 1—Motivate!
	
 	Just for Teachers: “The divinity of Christ,” says Ellen White, “is the believer's assurance of eternal life.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 530. Motivate your class to study how the divinity of Christ helps each one to live a life that will reflect His character, and how each can daily confess as Thomas did, “My Lord and my God”! (John 20:28, NIV).
	
The difference between Christ and every other person is  that He is God. He claimed to be God, and He recognized His mission as one set by His Father. Read some of His claims to divinity (John 5:23; 10:30; 14:7,9; 17:5) and discuss: Was Jesus right in making such claims? Either Jesus was right in affirming His divinity or He was living in delusion. Yet who in history can ever pass a verdict that Jesus was a deluded person making lofty claims?
Jesus had a mission statement for Himself: “I am 
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Why is the divinity of Jesus an absolute essential for Him to fulfill His mission?

STEP 2—Explore!
	
Just for Teachers: Lead your class to focus on the deity of Christ. Every one of the 66 books of the Bible testify to the nature and mission of Christ. The Old Testament looked forward to His incarnation, and the New Testament looked back to His life and ministry—and both testify to the deity and humanity of Christ. John 3:16 is an excellent summary of the nature of Christ—He is God’s Son, coexistent and coequal, sent to provide eternal life to all who believe.

Bible Commentary
Neither human intelligence nor insight can arrive at the truth that Christ is God, just as reason cannot prove the existence of God. This is an area where we have to rely by faith in God’s self-disclosure in the Word of God (1 Tim. 3:16), and it is faith in what the Word reveals that provides us an understanding of the mystery that is Jesus. Hence, the question: What does the Bible say about the deity of Jesus? The answer may be looked at from two perspectives: of Himself and of others.
	
	I. Christ: His Claims
Did Jesus know who He was? Was He conscious of His divinity? If He was not conscious of His uniqueness, then we have no right to attribute that “specialness” to Him. 

Jesus claimed a special relation of equality with God the Father. “I and my Father are one,” He declared (John 10:30). “I am in the Father, and Father in me” (John 14:10). So intimate was His status with God that Jesus equated one’s attitude to Him with the attitude to God. Thus, to know Jesus was to know God (John 12:44); to hate Him was to hate God (John 15:23); to honor Him was to honor God (John 5:23); to believe in Him was to believe in God (John 12:44); and to see Him was to see God (John 12:45, 14:9). To preach the gospel was to preach in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—all three being coequal and coeternal Persons of the Godhead (Matt. 28:19). Jesus further claimed that He shared the glory of the Father from eternity (John 17:5, 24). Can a man, however good and great, make such claims?

Jesus not only called God His Father but also asserted His coeternity with Him. “Before Abraham was, I am,” He declared in a dialogue with Jewish leaders (John 8:58). “I AM” is the name by which Yahweh revealed Himself to Moses (Exod. 3:14). Jesus applied this title to Himself, thus claiming His perfect equality with God. And some people were angry because they understood His claim and were ready to stone Him to death for blasphemy. Could Jesus have committed the sin of blasphemy? When Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28), Jesus did not refuse either designation. He knew He was God.
		
Consider This: How do the eight great “I AM” statements (John 6:35; 8:12, 58; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25, 14:6; 15:1, 5) reinforce the divinity and messiahship of Jesus? Without Christ being divine, there is no full revelation of God, no salvation, and no eternal life.

Jesus performed functions that are prerogatives of God alone. He forgave sin (Mark 2:5, Luke 7:48). He claimed that He is life (John 14:6, 11:25) and that He had the right to bestow life (John 5:21, 10:10). He came to be the Savior of the world (Mark 10:45) and will judge the world at the end of history (John 8:15–17). No created person can make such claims.
		
	II. Christ: Biblical Testimony About His Deity
	Four specific biblical testimonies are illustrative.

John 1:1–3, 14. The text marks out four points. The Word (i.e., Jesus, vs. 14) independently and eternally existed. The Word is distinct from but equal with God the Father. The Word was with God and was God. The Word is the Creator. The Word is Jesus.

Matt. 1:21–23. The invasion of the Son into history in Bethlehem placed two names upon Him: Jesus meaning “Saviour,” denoting the work only God can do; Emmanuel, meaning “God with us,” notifying God’s identification with human beings. 

Gal. 4:4. If Christ had His origin only in Bethlehem, He would have been just an ordinary man. But the Bible pictures His birth as a divine intervention in history—-“When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son” (Gal. 4:4). That is to say, God sent the Son from His heavenly throne to be born as a babe on earth. It is to this preexistent state that Jesus referred when He prayed, “ ‘Glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was’ ” (John 17:5, NKJV).
Heb. 1:8. Of the Son, God says: “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever” (Heb. 1:8, NIV). God the Father introduces the Son as God at His incarnation.

Consider This: Look up the following texts and discuss how they testify to the divinity of Christ (John 5:23; Acts 7:59, 60; Eph. 1:3, 4; Phil. 2:5, 6, 10, 11; Col. 1:15, 16).
 
STEP 3—Practice!	

Just for Teachers: Consider a few important principles as to why the deity of Christ is important for the universe as well as for you as a person. How does Christ’s divinity play a role in your life?	
	
	Thought Questions:
Ø Jesus was aware of His God-given mission on earth: “ ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ ” (Mark 10:45, NIV). What is your mission, and in what practical ways can you manifest it?
		
Ù Ellen White points to the divinity of Christ in these powerful words: "In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived.” —The Desire of Ages, p. 530. Make a list of what these three descriptions mean.
	
	Application Question:
A creature cannot be the Savior. Therefore, it was necessary for God the Son to come into this world to be our Savior. What does this say about those of us who are charged to be messengers of salvation?
		
STEP 4—Apply!

Just for Teachers: We learned this week that Jesus is God. As followers of Jesus, what can we do with this great truth? Ask class members to share their inmost thoughts, fears, and promises.
	
	Thought Questions:
Ø “My Father and I are one,” said Christ. They both are one in nature, one in character, and one in purpose. Is it possible for us to say “Christ dwells in us”? If it is possible, how would that be seen in our lives?
		
Ù  To accept Christ as God is to accept each other as brothers and sisters without any barrier or prejudice. How does the divinity of Christ help us to appreciate universal unity among Christian believers? (Eph. 2:13, 14).								
TE-2Q-2008-03-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Hebrews 4:15
	
The Student Will:
Know: Recognize that Jesus was both divine and human.
Feel: Cultivate a desire to overcome sin just as Jesus did.
Do: Live a life that is free from the slavery of sin through the power of Christ.
 
Learning Outline:
I. The Divine and Human
A. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as both human and divine.
B. Although He was human, Jesus lived a sinless life.
C. The man Jesus—being also God—deserves our worship.
	
	II.	Opposing Views of the Nature of Christ
A. The disciples testified with conviction about the mystery of the divine—human nature of Jesus, notwithstanding any opposition that would arise.
B. By the early first-century, opposing views of the nature of Christ began to arise: some supported His divine nature, others His human nature.
C. The Bible reveals attributes of Christ’s nature that prove His humanity, such as thirst, growing weary or tired, and weeping.

	III.	Tempted As We Are
A. Jesus, of His own free will, denied the exercise of His divine power while here on earth.
B. Jesus came to earth in the flesh, was tempted (as we are), was obedient, and finally suffered the death of a sinner, all for the benefit of fallen human beings.
C. As our High Priest, Jesus understands our human weaknesses. Because He Himself lived and suffered in the flesh, He knows what it is like to be tempted in that flesh.  

Summary: Although Jesus was divine, He suffered in the flesh and experienced our weaknesses. He did not use His divinity to overcome sin and temptation, yet He lived a sinless life.

TE-2Q-2008-03-Learning Cycle

STEP 1— Motivate!
	
 	Just for Teachers: Using John 1:14, lead your class to consider the question, Why is the humanity of Christ important in our understanding of the person and mission of Christ?
	
John 1:1–3, 14 is foundational to understand the nature of Christ and its significance to Christ’s ministry. This passage teaches us three great truths. First, John, the beloved of Christ’s disciples, introduces Christ as the Word. This Word existed from the beginning, along with God, coequal and coeternal with Him. Second, being God, the Word took upon Himself the “flesh”—that is, human nature—and dwelt as man on earth. Third, the reason for His incarnation is that the human race may see His glory, may know the Father and the fullness of His grace and truth. It is through this grace that we are saved (John 3:16, Eph. 2:5–8).
Consider This: Why is it necessary for Christ to become human to be our Saviour? Can Christ be our Saviour without either His divinity or His humanity? Explain.
				
STEP 2—Explore!	
	
Just for Teachers: “The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. . . . Christ was a real man. . . . Yet He was God in the flesh.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 244. As you study the humanity of Christ, consider its mystery, reality, and relevance.

Bible Commentary
	I. Christ’s Humanity: Its Mystery
God Incarnate. The word incarnation is not found in Scripture, but the doctrine that God in Christ took humanity permeates throughout the New Testament. Christ called Himself “Son of Man” more than 70 times. He is "the second man . . . from heaven" as opposed to Adam "the first man . . . of the earth" (1 Cor. 15:47). 

Why incarnation? Other religions do teach incarnation, but the key difference between them and that of the Bible is twofold. First, the biblical narrative of incarnation has the end purpose of redemption from sin (Mark 10:45); it is through taking human nature, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Cor. 5:19). Assumption of humanity is God’s ultimate revelation of His love toward a sinful human race (John 3:16). Christ took upon human nature in order to bear “our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24, NIV). Second, the Bible never portrays incarnation as myth or magic that some divine being plays in the drama of human struggle. Rather the Bible reveals incarnation as a real entry of God in space and time, whereby the Son of God takes a real body and a real human nature through which He inaugurates and completes the plan of salvation (Gen. 3:15; Eph. 1:7–8). 
		
Consider This: How does God become man? How can Christ be God and Man at the same time? The biblical answer is an invitation to a faith affirmation: “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16).

	II. Christ’s Humanity: Its Reality
The issue. That Christ was really human would hardly be a theological issue today. But in the early years of the church, it was a hotly contested problem. As the gospel spread beyond the borders of Judea, its converts were largely from a Greek worldview rooted in a spirit-matter dualism, with the spirit being good and the matter being evil. Hence the question posed by the Greeks: How can God, who is good, incarnate in human flesh, which is evil? Therefore, Christ did not have a truly human nature but an appearance, an illusion, of a human body. Against such Gnostic heresy, John, whose Gospel is the most compelling in its emphasis on Christ’s divinity, not only affirms that Christ came in the flesh (John 1:1–3, 14) but pronounces that “every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist” (1 John 4:3, NKJV).

Scriptural evidence for Christ’s humanity. Jesus called Himself a man (John 8:40) and was called a man by others: Peter (Acts 2:22), Paul (1 Cor. 15:21, 1 Tim. 2:5), Pilot (John 19:5), scribes (John 7:46). He had a human mother (Luke 1:26-35; Gal. 4:4), was subject to the normal laws of human development (Luke 2:40, 52), and had a real body and real blood (Matt. 26:26, 28; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 4:2). He experienced common human needs and emotions: hunger (Matt. 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), sleep (Matt. 8:24), weariness (John 4:6), love and compassion (Mark 10:21), anxiety (Heb. 5:7), need for obedience (Heb. 5:8), and dependence on God (Matt. 26:39-44). 

Consider This: Read Philippians 2:5–8. How does Paul relate the two natures of Christ? Consider the apostle’s usage—“form of God” and “form of a slave.” In both cases “form” is the same Greek word morphe. What does this show regarding the reality of both natures of Christ?

	P “In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us.”–Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 25. What does this passage mean to you?
				
	III. Christ’s Humanity: Its Relevance
Why did God the Son take upon Himself human flesh and retain it as an eternal link with humanity? Two significant reasons may be noted:

To reveal God (Matt. 11:27, John 1:14). Outside of Christ we have either incomplete or false concepts of God. The Greeks conceived God as pure mind, wisdom, or beauty. Some Eastern religions view Him as the immovable, the unchangeable force that plays hide and seek in the predicament of humanity and then withdraws to some mysterious self-contemplation. There are tribes that see God in terms of sexual force. Humanists interpret God in terms of moral imperatives and social justice. Against such notions, Christ came proclaiming that "God is love" (1 John 4:8, NIV) and that He is our Father (Matt. 6:9). “Christ came to reveal God to the world as a God of love, full of mercy, tenderness, and compassion.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 738, 739.

To deal with the problem of sin (Gen. 3:15, Isa. 53:4-6, John 3:16, Rom. 5:6–11). The core purpose of incarnation is that Jesus “shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21; cf. 1 John 4:9). Hence, God’s Son came in the form of a helpless babe in Bethlehem and allowed Himself to be the Man of the cross. So the apostle says, God “loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Without His divinity, Christ could not have been qualified to be our Savior; without His humanity, He could not have taken the cross on our behalf. It is the God-Man, Jesus the Christ, who saves us from sin, and concludes the great controversy by His victory over sin, death and Satan (Rev. 11:15–18).
				
STEP 3—Practice!
	
Just for Teachers: Note the implications of the humanity of Christ to our Christian faith and life.

	Thought Questions:
Ø “I perceive that there is danger in approaching subjects which dwell on the humanity of the Son of the infinite God.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1,129. What are some of these dangers, and how should we deal with them?
	
Ù Christ is both God and man. And He was tempted “as we are” (Heb. 4:15). Did Christ’s nature provide him an advantage over us in facing sin? In what ways are the temptations of Jesus the same as or different from ours?

STEP 4—Apply!

Just for Teachers: We have learned so far that Jesus is both God and Man. As His followers, how do we relate to this great truth?
	
	Thought Questions:
Ø “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). How can we relate this promise to the divine-human natures of Christ?

Ù Some say that the moral and ethical example of Christ as a man is what makes Him our Savior. Is this right? If so, why? If not, why not?						

						

TE-2Q-2008-04-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: John 7:46
								
The Student Will:
Know: Recognize that Jesus showed compassion for ordinary people, including the weakest of society.
Feel: Nurture a desire to minister to people personally, as Jesus did.
Do: Live a life of humility, forgiving others as we have been forgiven.
 
Learning Outline:
I. The Words of Jesus
A. Jesus was not just a wise Teacher; He spoke as one with authority.
B. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught attitudes and behaviors that were contrary to the social norm for that time and for the present time.
	
	II. A Revelation of God
A. Jesus gave us the greatest revelation of God.
B. The Savior’s loving regard for children and the weakest members of society is a manifestation of the true character of God.
C. Jesus taught that we must forgive others just as we have been forgiven.

	III.	Humility and Grace
A. Jesus gave us the greatest example of humility by becoming a man and dying the death of a criminal—a sinner.
B. The true meaning of grace can be seen in the parables and real-life experiences of Jesus.
C. The Lord’s examples of grace show that the undeserving can receive help and forgiveness in times of need.	 

Summary: The words and actions of Jesus reveal the true nature of God and teach us the real meaning of humility.

			

TE-2Q-2008-04-Learning Cycle	
		
STEP 1—Motivate!
		
 	Just for Teachers: “You are a teacher who has come from God” (John 3:2, NIV). History joins Nicodemus in acclaiming Jesus as a great teacher. Other religious founders, philosophers, and leaders may also be great teachers. But what separates Jesus from all others? The wisdom of His teachings? His ethical benchmarks? His philosophic insights? His profound definition of life and its meaning? Ask your class to focus on where lies the uniqueness of Jesus as a teacher.
	
It lies in who He is. Socrates and Confucius, Buddha and Krishna, Shakespeare and Tolstoy, found their authority in logic, ethics, morality, poetry, humanism, or philosophy, but Christ’s authority was His own life: He is God speaking God’s will. He did not come seeking truth; He was the truth, the way, and the life (John 14:6).
		It lies in His authority. When Jesus finished 
speaking, the crowds were “amazed” (Matt. 7:28,29, NIV). The word translated “amazed” literally means, “blown away.” His teachings were so compelling, so pointed, so divine that people were astonished and unsettled. There was no room for debate: His word was God’s word. “My teaching,” He said,  “is not my own. It comes from him who sent me” (John 7:16, NIV).
	
Consider This: What other factors underscore Jesus as a unique teacher?
 
STEP 2—Explore!	
	
Just for Teachers: Suppose archaeologists suddenly came upon fragments of an ancient book entitled, “Autobiography of Jesus” or “My Teachings, by Jesus of Nazareth.” Would that change anything that we believe as the teachings of Christ based on the Gospels? If not, why not? Reflect on John 21:24-25 for a possible answer.
	Bible Commentary
While the Bible is the means through which Christ the Word speaks to us (2 Tim. 3:16, 17), the Gospels in a special way records the wonder of Christ’s teachings on many essentials of life—from where we came from to where we are headed, and all the in—between issues. But this week we focus on Christ’s teachings on who God is and how we ought to live.

	I. What Christ Taught About God
Discuss what some concepts of God found outside of Christ are, and what is wrong with such notions?
Christ incarnated as a human being to dispel false 
	notions that Satan had instilled in human minds, 
 	and to reveal the true nature of God. If indeed God was speaking through His Son (Heb. 1:1, 2; John 1:1–3, 14), it is important for us to recognize that Jesus is the ultimate disclosure of God. What did He disclose about God? 

Christ taught that God is our Father (Matt. 6:9–14). In the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a model prayer in which He bids us to relate to God as Father—intimate, personal, caring, and loving; not a distant, impersonal force or idea. "Father" is Christ's favorite way of describing God. He uses it 4 times in Mark, 15 times in Luke, 44 times in Matthew, and no less than 107 times in John—an ascending increase in usage. Does this signify the importance of the concept of God as Father to the growing faith community?

Christ taught that God our Father is one of love, grace, and truth (John 1:14, 3:16). The Fatherhood of God presents God in terms of true love (1 John 4:16). God's love not only has created us, but has sought out to redeem us when we have chosen to wander away in sin (Rom. 5:6–8). In describing God’s love, the New Testament uses the word agape, a sacrificial, outgoing, unmerited love. It neither changes nor oscillates; it is utterly dependable. It is love for love’s sake. It loves us not because we deserve it, but because we are in need of it. By His agape, God has given the utmost dignity to human life, so that if there had been only one sinner, Christ would have died for that single prodigal. 

	II. What Christ Taught About How We Should Live
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) stands as the epitome of Christian lifestyle and conduct. Through this most significant sermon ever preached, Jesus presented not an impossible idealism or a perfectionist legalism but a standard of conduct for those saved by His grace. The Sermon on the Mount is the divine manifesto for the believer’s life. Note two keys to understanding this sermon.

First, the Sermon on the Mount is God’s eternal call to be different. This is the same call that came to Noah, Abraham, Israel—and now His disciples. Christ wants a people who are not “like them” (Matt. 6:8, NIV). Jesus demands of His disciples to be different from those around them—in the way they believe, worship, relate, live, love, or die. The purpose is not to form an isolationist cult, but to be a distinct and permeating remnant—like salt to make the food edible or light to dispel darkness (Matt. 5:13-16). Discipleship is a call to be different.

Second, the Sermon on the Mount is an affirmation of the moral law through the unique technique of extension by the Lord who Himself authored that law, thus establishing the eternal relevance of the Decalogue (Matt. 5:17–19). Jesus does this masterfully by using two phrases, “It was said . . . but I say unto you.” The contrast introduces a more demanding definition and a transparent lifestyle. Sin moves from act to thought (5:21–42), prayer from the mechanical to the relational (6:7–13), righteousness from what one does to in whom one lives (6:14–34), relationship from blood to brotherhood (7:1–12), love from the near to the other (7:43–48), and the ultimate living principle from the hypocritical to a radical one of commitment (7:21–27).
	
Consider This: The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-11) are not a cafeteria of choices from which Christians can choose and select. They must possess all just as they must have the components of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23).
	
STEP 3—Practice!
	
Just for Teachers: Take some time to let your class members share with each other how the Sermon on the Mount is relevant to some of the burning issues, such as child and spousal abuse and status of marriage in society today.
	
	Thought Questions:
Ø Some versions begin the Beatitudes with “Blessed are they. . . .” and others begin with “Happy are they. . . .” Which is more appealing to you, and why? Is there a difference between the two?
		
Ù Implied in Matthew 5:17–20 is the notion that some have evidently thought that Jesus was opposed to the law. What would have prompted such thinking?

	Application Questions:
Ø Fasting is not a popular practice these days. Can you think of reasons in favor of fasting?
	
Ù The Lord’s Prayer has six petitions. Identify them. How can one use this as a model in private and public prayers?
					
STEP 4—Apply!
	
Just for Teachers: We learned this week the wondrous nature of the teachings of Jesus. Probe your class with questions such as these: Where does the wonder lie? Have you felt a tug at your heart as you contemplated some of Christ’s teachings? Which of His teaching is the most timely and relevant to you this week?
	
	Application Questions:	
ì Jesus taught us to address God as our Father. If God is our Father, what are we to each other? And how is that new relationship in Christ reflected in Christ’s teaching on our relationship to each other?
	
í Christ taught us to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). What does this imply to our day-to-day life?

TE-2Q-2008-05-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Matthew 3:2
	
The Student Will:
Know: Discuss how the kingdom of heaven is as much a present reality as it is a future hope.
Feel: Sense a desire to experience the compassion of God on a daily basis.
Do: Share the message of God’s kingdom with others.
 
Learning Outline:
I. The Compassionate Christ
A. Jesus didn’t just simply speak words of comfort; He also ministered to the needs of others.
B. Many of the experiences of Christ—such as feeding the 5,000—give us a visual picture of why He came to the earth: to show humanity that He is able to provide for their every need, both physical and spiritual.
C. Jesus demonstrated His power over everything that concerns humanity.

	II.	Messiah
A. Jesus did not seek recognition or personal gain but lived His life for the benefit of others, showing that He came to save us.
B. John the Baptist and many other people were uncertain at first about Jesus being the true Messiah.
C. The words, actions, and miracles of Jesus revealed the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies.

	III.	The Kingdom of God: For Now and Forever
In the life of Christ we are shown that the kingdom of God is both a present and a future reality.

Summary: The works of Jesus were evidence that He was truly the Messiah. But He did not come simply to speak of a future hope. He showed that God’s kingdom—filled with love and compassion, free from sin and suffering—could become a reality for every believer now.

TE-2Q-2008-05-Learning Cycle	
				
STEP 1— Motivate!						
	
 	Just for Teachers: “His name shall be called Wonderful,” prophesied Isaiah (9:6). Wonder and mystery mark the life and ministry of Jesus. His birth, death, resurrection, and ascension are wonders of cosmic proportion. His teachings are filled with wonder and defy all human understanding. This week we study the wonder of His works. 
		
Of all the miracles Jesus performed, which is the most wonderful, and why? 

After discussing the above question, read Matthew 
	11:4, 5. To the Baptist’s query whether He was the 
Messiah, Jesus sent back the response: Tell John that “the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor” (Matt. 11:5, NIV, italics supplied). Why does Jesus list “preaching the good news” along with miracles? Is it because the good news is the most wondrous of all miracles?

STEP 2—Explore!	
	
Just for Teachers: In Nazareth, Jesus announced His Messianic mission by quoting a passage from Isaiah and then affirming that He is the fulfillment of that prophecy. Read Luke 4:16-31 and let the class identify: (a) the power behind Jesus’ works; (b) the gospel and its relation to freedom and healing; (c)the meaning of the “year of the Lord.”   
	
	Bible Commentary 
Jesus “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). From this verse we note three characteristics of the work of Jesus: His ministry was without frontiers; His ministry was the embodiment of righteousness; His ministry was one of deliverance.   
	I. A Ministry Without Frontiers
Jesus “went about” is how Peter describes the extensiveness of His ministry (Acts 10:38). Matthew also says: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages” (Matt. 9:35, NIV). Christ’s ministry is not restricted to one locality or one people. He is the Lord of the universe, and He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The lost is the planet, and hence His mission is to Galilee, Judea, Samaria and through His disciples to the ends of the world (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8). He is the Lord of the universe and a Man with a message for all people. Hence He or His message cannot be restricted to frontier of any kind—be it geography, culture, caste, language, or tribe.
		
Consider This: The Adventist church today has a global mission, with the aim of reaching every unreached community around the world. How does your life and witness fit into this worldwide mission?
		
	II. A Ministry of Righteousness
“Jesus went about doing good.” He is good, and He can do nothing but good. But the good that Jesus did was considered so not because such good works met some human standards. What Jesus did was good because they were part of “the good news” of the kingdom of God that He established. His name, said the prophet, is “The Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6), and in Jesus we have righteousness in all its fullness and power.

Ministry of compassion. One way the absolute goodness of Jesus is described in the Gospels is that He was moved with compassion wherever He saw human need–be it spiritual lostness (Matt. 9:36), hunger (Matt.14:14, 15:32), leprosy (Mark 1:40, 41), blindness (Matt. 20:34), the widowhood (Luke 7:13) or demon possession (Mark 9:25). The Greek word for “compassion” is splagchna, which indicates no ordinary pity but the deepest emotion one is capable of, an emotion that arises from the very depths of one’s being. It suggests a passionate involvement with the other, like the love the father showed to the prodigal (Luke 15:20) and the compassion exhibited by the good Samaritan (Luke 10:33). Both parables use the word splagchna.

Consider This: “Never are we to be cold and unsympathetic, especially when dealing with the poor. . . . Christ declared that the gospel is to be preached to the poor. Never does God's truth put on an aspect of greater loveliness than when brought to the needy and destitute. Then it is that the light of the gospel shines forth in its most radiant clearness, lighting up the hut of the peasant and the rude cottage of the laborer. Angels of God are there, and their presence makes the crust of bread and the cup of water a banquet.”—Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, pp. 162, 163.

Compassion and unreserved love marked Jesus’ ministry of righteousness. He saw sheep without a Shepherd, sickness without a physician, children without parents, people without dignity, the oppressed without a liberator, sinners without a Savior, and He did something about it. He was moved with compassion to render His ministry of righteousness.

	III. A Ministry of Deliverance and Peace 
Jesus healed “all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). To this testimony of Peter, add Jesus’ own self-understanding that He came “to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18), and we have a remarkable definition of what and why the work of Jesus is. Jesus traced the root of every problem in the world—be it fear, disease, loneliness, depression, disabilities, and death—to sin and its originator. Hence, to Him the ultimate healing and restoration rests in liberation from Satan’s crutches. The works Jesus did and the miracles He performed were but small illustrations of the big picture: God in Christ has invaded the dominion of Satan and established His kingdom of righteousness (Heb. 2:14; 1 John 5:8).

What is the oppression that you have or feel? Sinking in a storm-tossed sea (Matt. 8:23–27)? Possessed by demons of culture or abuse (vss. 8:28–23)? A life without hope (John 5:5–9)? Inability to proceed with normal life (Matt. 15:29–31)? A malady with malice (Matt. 8:1–4)? A loss of identity and acceptability (Mark 5:24–34)? Or grief and death (John 11:1–45)? Help is just a prayer away. Jesus liberates us from every oppression of the evil one. Through His work and message, “the kingdom of God has come” upon us (Matt. 12:28). Those who by faith enter that Kingdom have freedom and peace (John 8:36, Rom. 5:1).   

STEP 3—Practice!
		
Just for Teachers: Most of the miracles that Jesus performed were to meet different human needs. In performing those miracles, Jesus often said, “ ‘Your faith has made you whole;’ ” “ ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ ”   Probe this a little by discussing the following.
	
	Thought Questions:
Ø In what ways can sin be held accountable for human misery? Is it one’s personal sin or sin as a system that has affected the human race?
		
Ù Can we consider lifestyle issues that affect our health as falling within the definition of sin?
			
Ú What role does faith have in healing and restoration? Does faith mean “a will to live” or a surrender to God? What are some of the signs that one’s Christian life is governed by such a faith?
					
STEP 4—Apply!
		
	Just for Teachers: We learned this week that the 
greatest wonder of Jesus’ work is His establishment of His Kingdom. We also are aware that this kingdom has two aspects: the kingdom of grace here and now, and the kingdom of glory yet to come. Discuss with your class members their responsibility to both aspects of the kingdom.
	
	Application Questions:
Ø If indeed “the kingdom of God has come upon” us (Matt. 12:28, NKJV), how do we ensure that the good news is made known to others, as well?
				
Ù Christ is responsible for the establishment of both aspects of the kingdom. How would this truth affect your relationship in the church and the community?            
TE-2Q-2008-06-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Matthew 4:4
	
The Student Will:
Know: Realize that many of the things Jesus said did not fit in with the norm of the times.
Feel: Sense the need to apply the underlying principles of Jesus’ words to our everyday living.
Do: Follow the sayings and teachings of Jesus—even those that are untraditional. 
 
Learning Outline:
I. The “Sayings” of Jesus
A. Jesus said many things that were puzzling and contrary to popular beliefs and traditional behaviors.
B. One of the hard-to-understand “sayings” of Jesus deals with the issue of divorce. (See Matthew 19:3–12.)
	C. We should not allow controversies or disputes to arise over the sayings of Jesus that are hard to understand or interpret.
	
	II.	Unconventional Words
A. Jesus taught unconventional things in regard to such topics as forgiving others, obtaining wealth, and achieving perfection.
B. The Lord stressed the importance of loving God more than loving one’s family. 
C. Jesus also spoke of putting the kingdom of heaven above earthly concerns.

Summary: Many of the sayings of Jesus were very controversial because they did not fit in with popular traditions. Even today some of the words of Jesus seem hard to follow and difficult to apply to our “normal” way of life. Controversial issues over these unusual sayings should be avoided as we attempt to apply the principles behind the words to our everyday lives.
TE-2Q-2008-06-Learning Cycle
	
STEP 1—Motivate!							
	
 	Just for Teachers: Many who heard Jesus teach found His sayings hard to understand and harder to accept (John 6:60). The position is no better today. Why is it important that we pay heed to all the teachings of Jesus, including the ones considered difficult?
		
Jesus did not present some soothing palliatives. His teaching was tough and often opposed what was considered normal. Consider the Beatitudes, for example. How do they challenge our culture and our time? 
Discuss some possible attitudes one can take 
toward the teachings of Jesus: (a) admire them as the musings of an idealist; (b) dismiss them as setting standards too high for any mortal to reach; (c)take what agrees with you and ignore the others; (d) accept them as the principles of His kingdom and seek His empowerment to follow them.

STEP 2—Explore!	
	
Just for Teachers: His sayings are challenging because they expect a radical change in us. His was not a pulpit that massaged the soul; His was a message that demanded transformation and often death to the past. As your class reviews some of these difficult sayings, focus on what Jesus was really trying to say–not on whether His teaching is realistic in today’s context.
 
	Bible Commentary
Two thousand years after He spelled out His message, Jesus’ sayings continue to comfort, baffle, and mystify. “Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood,” Christ said to His disciples. Their reaction was the same as ours: This is a hard saying. “Blessed are the poor,” He said, but our world looks down upon the poor and seeks its blessedness in material abundance. So, how are we to relate to these difficult sayings? Consider a few of them pertaining to discipleship, lifestyle, and relationships.

	I. The Challenge of Discipleship
Discipleship begins with death and denial.“You must be born again,” Jesus said (John 3:7, NIV). Nicodemus responded for the world, “How can this be?” (vs. 3:9, NIV). The call to a new birth is a call to death of the old self. Without giving up the old, we have no possibility of embracing the new. Death precedes discipleship, and hence the Jesus ultimatum: “ ‘Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple’ ” (Luke 14:27, NIV). Why is this demand so hard to accept? Was Jesus expecting too much? Is there no alternative to carrying the cross? 
	
Discipleship involves placing Jesus above all interests, including one’s family. Jesus defines family not in terms of blood but in terms of doing God’s will (Luke 8:19-21). If this is a hard saying, consider the following: “ ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple’ ” (Luke 14:26, NIV). Does this mean that Jesus wants us to actively hate our family? Far from it. Did not Jesus Himself provide for His mother even as He hung on the cross (John 19:25-27)? And did He not command us to love everyone? What, then, is meant by this passage? Christ demands our absolute, unconditional loyalty to Him as the Lord of our lives. Nothing—not parents, not children, not self—can take the place of Christ in a disciple’s life. He is life’s first priority.

II.	The Challenge of Christian Lifestyle
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). At the heart of the Sermon on the Mount is this command. Did our Lord expect us to be sinless, to be morally and ethically perfect? Can anyone ever be perfect like God? If no one can, why did Jesus say what He did? From this passage some argue for a sinless life here on earth. To them, sinlessness is an attainable objective. Such a call to moral perfection can indeed be a hard saying. Yet the context (vs. 43 onward) makes clear what Jesus was driving at: Be like the Father. Love everyone even as He loves. Be merciful like Him (Luke 6:36). Life is not a battle of wits; it is a relationship to be lived. Viewed thus, the saying is not difficult after all; but practicing it certainly is.

Forgiveness is another challenge in discipleship. Yet forgiveness is what makes the Christian life possible. The gospel is God’s message of forgiveness, and forgiveness plays a significant part of Christ’s teaching. He placed it as an essential part of prayer life (Matt. 6:12). Indeed, there and in Matthew 18:35 Jesus linked God’s forgiveness of us to our forgiveness of others. The gospel makes no room for revenge. To Peter’s question as to whether seven times is a reasonable limit for forgiving someone, Jesus answered, “ ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’ ” (Matt. 18:22, NIV). Both this and His earlier statement of turning the other cheek (Matt. 5:39) make Christian life not particularly easy. Yet, in these sayings, is Jesus outlining the impossible as a guide to Christian conduct? Or is He saying that if God’s love dwells in one’s heart, such love can do what is humanly impossible? Are His sayings a measure of human ability or divine empowerment?
	
	III. The Challenge of Relationships: Marriage
Marriage and divorce. The saying of Jesus on marriage and divorce (Matt. 19:3-9) is an increasingly difficult one at a time that when divorce is so common within the faith community. More than the legality of divorce, Jesus was interested in the divine sanctity of marriage. He finds in the inspired Word that (a) God established marriage; (b) marriage creates one indivisible unity out of two; (c) what God has glued together no one has the right to separate; and (d) infidelity is the only ground for divorce. What Jesus said was so hard even for His disciples that they gave up in despair, saying “it is better not to marry” (vs. 19:10, NIV). Here is one reason why we find some of Jesus’ sayings difficult: they are inconvenient; they uphold what the Scriptures consider as the ideal; and they run counter to what we perceive as acceptable conduct. Social norms, current laws, or common agreements of the parties may justify divorce. Is it not better for the two to separate in peace instead of continuing to live in a relationship that hurts both? The dilemma produces a tension between the ideal and the real, and it takes the wisdom and justice of God to uphold the ideal and “suffer” (vs. 19:8) the reality.
					
STEP 3—Practice!

Just for Teachers: Mark Twain once said that what bothered him most about the Bible were not the things that he could not understand but the things that he could understand. What does this say about human nature?
	
Thought Questions:
Ø Consider Jesus bidding us to take up the cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34) and Paul’s saying that we must die daily (1 Cor. 15:31). What should I do today to fulfill this demand of discipleship?
	
Ù How did Jesus practice what He taught? Cite some examples.
		
Ú While the “common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37, NKJV), the establishment leaders, the rich, and the powerful found Him offensive and a disturber. Why? Have you ever found Jesus offensive?

STEP 4—Apply!

Just for Teachers: We learned this week the high standards that Jesus sets for discipleship. How should we relate these standards to our witness?
	
	Application Questions:
Ø “Show me a Christian and I will become one” is often said by those who admire the teachings of Jesus but do not choose to follow Him. What is our responsibility to counter this argument?
							
Ù Choose a particular hard saying of Christ, such as turning the other cheek (Matt. 5:39) or selling all and giving it to the poor (Luke 18:22). Do you know of any who has practiced such a principle? Will following such a principle lead to salvation?

TE-2Q-2008-07-The Lesson In Brief. . .
		
Key Text: John 5:30
	
The Student Will:
Know: Discuss how Jesus’ faithfulness in doing the will of the Father in heaven came before all else. And He knew that God’s will for Him was to save humankind.
Feel: Nurture a desire to demonstrate personally that each believer is accepted into God’s family, regardless of status.
Do: Reach out to everyone, regardless of their status.
 
Learning Outline:
I. Son of Man—Son of God
A. Jesus knew that He was the Son of God and understood, even in His youth, what His purpose was for coming to the earth.
B. Although He had respect for His parents, Jesus’ loyalty to God was greater than His loyalty to them.

	II. Jesus Our Brother—Our Example
A. In many cases Jesus expressed human emotions much as we do.
B. In many situations, Jesus was silent, or, seemingly, gave no response at all.
C. We must follow Christ’s example by applying the underlying principles behind His own words and behaviors.
	
	III.	Friend of the Outcast
A. Although Jesus mingled with ordinary people, He also interacted with (and welcomed) the unacceptable, the outcast, and the lower class of society.
B. Many people who did not understand the Lord’s conduct in associating with “sinners” misjudged Him or accused Him wrongly.

Summary: The Savior’s ministry and purpose to bring salvation to humankind was far-reaching and all-inclusive. He therefore reached out to “whosoever” would come—from prostitute to preacher, from leper to lawyer. In all that He did, He always put His loyalty to the Father and His purpose for saving humanity above all else.

TE-2Q-2008-07-Learning Cycle
			
STEP 1—Motivate!

 	Just for Teachers: “We are to copy no human being. 
There is no human being wise enough to be our criterion. We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness.... He is the pattern man.... His character is our model.”—Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 166. 
		
Jesus is indeed our model. Yet, His conduct at times is puzzling. For example, when a Gentile woman approached Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, His first reaction was silence, compounded later by a seemingly harsh derision of her race as dogs (Matt. 15:21–26). Did Jesus possess such contempt for those of another culture? Or was He using this incident to show that racial hatred has no place in His kingdom?

	 	Jesus is unique in His person and mission. He is 
both God and Man, and as such His approach to His work at times seems so different from the options open for us. However, there are certain things in which we ought to imitate Jesus without any hesitation. What are they?
					
STEP 2—Explore!	
		
Just for Teachers: As we study incidents in Jesus’ life that may seem puzzling, encourage the class to (a) remember that He is different from us; (b) view His mission as Messianic; and (c) see a purpose behind each puzzling conduct a purpose. 
	
	Bible Commentary
Observe the puzzling conduct of Jesus in three areas—His childhood, His associations, and His attitudes—and discover behind each puzzle a purpose.

	I. The Puzzle of His Childhood
The only recorded incident of Jesus’ childhood (Luke 2:41–51) leaves us with amazement and a query. We wonder at the ability of the 12-year old Jesus to debate with the learned. We are puzzled by His response to the anxiety of His parents: “ ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’” (vs. 2:49, 50, NKJV).
Was Jesus careless and irresponsible in so
   	responding to His parents’ anxiety? Was He arrogant because of sudden eminence bestowed upon Him by His audience in the temple? Should He not have felt bad that He caused His parents so much pain? The incident is puzzling. But behind the puzzle is the divine purpose: to unfold to Jesus and His parents His Messianic mission, that even as He is growing up as their son, He has an eternal Father, and His work will soon consume His life itself.
		
Consider This: Was Jesus insensitive toward His parents? See Luke 2:51.

	II. The Puzzle of His Association
“One’s character is known by the friends one keeps” is a common saying. The scribes and the Pharisees applied this saying to Jesus and passed a judgment: Jesus could not be good and could not qualify to be the Messiah because He associated with sinners, tax collectors, and the undesirable of society (Luke 5:31–32; Matt. 9:10–13). 

Jesus met His accusers with a profound answer: It is the sick who need a doctor, the sinners that need the Savior. The healing and saving mission of Jesus considers not the status of whom He met but their need. The deeper a person is in sin, the more longing is the Savior’s love. No one is alien to His redemptive search. So what is the divine purpose behind Jesus’ association with the undesirables of the society? Simply this: to reveal to all humanity that God hates sin but loves the sinner; that sin’s oppression cannot place one beyond the reach of divine grace; that what is considered scandalous by human opinion is precisely the object of divine mission. Hence, come Zacchaeus, come Mary Magdalene, come leper, and also come Nicodemus, come Peter, come Paul—there is room for all in Christ’s kingdom.
	
Consider This: Supposing you see your pastor walking around in the bad part of town where prostitutes and drug dealers hang around, or find him coming out of an all-night bar. What would you conclude?
		
	III. The Puzzle of His Attitudes
Does Jesus care? Caring for the oppressed, saving the lost, being a friend of the friendless, weeping with those that weep, feeding the hungry: Don’t such instances of love and tenderness show that Jesus cares? And yet, is it not puzzling to note that while John the Baptist was languishing in prison Jesus never paid Him a visit (Matt. 14:1–12)? After all, Jesus taught that visiting those in prison is a characteristic of the citizens of His kingdom (Matt. 25: 31–46). How are we to understand, then, Jesus’ attitude toward the imprisoned and the beheaded Baptist? Does it reflect insensitiveness, neglect, and inconsistency? 
Matthew says that John’s disciples “told Jesus” all that had happened to the Baptist (Matt. 14:12). Was this a hint? “Beware, don’t let this come to you.” 
	
Consider This: “Jesus did not interpose to deliver His servant. He knew that John would bear the test. Gladly would the Saviour have come to John, to brighten the dungeon gloom with His own presence. But He was not to place Himself in the hands of enemies and imperil His own mission. Gladly would He have delivered His faithful servant. But for the sake of thousands who in after years must pass from prison to death, John was to drink the cup of martyrdom.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 224.

Did Jesus respect property? When Jesus healed two men possessed by demons, He allowed the demons to enter a herd of 2,000 swine, causing the pigs to drown in a nearby lake (Matt. 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–19). The miracle had caused much discussion about Jesus’ attitude toward property rights and animal welfare. Are His critics right to charge Him as uncaring and insensitive?
We can be sure of certain things. First, Jesus could not have deliberately destroyed the pigs. Second, He could not have wished any economic loss to the owners of the pigs. Third, He who spoke of a little sparrow or the one lost sheep with such intense feelings could not have wantonly caused cruelty to animals. 
And so why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the swine? One reason is the saving of the two oppressed men. Salvation is always His first priority: is it not His mission, even to the point of His own death on the cross? Another is to awaken the villagers to the reality that they were too preoccupied with material things that they did not care for the spiritual, and that now in seeing the salvation of two of their own neglected men, they may turn to their own salvation. With Jesus there is always a balance and a priority. 
					
STEP 3—Practice!

	Thought Question:
Jesus overturned the moneychangers’ tables because He did not approve of their actions (Matt. 21:12, 13). Is this an act of righteous anger, targeted at cleansing a religious institution, as part of His messianic mission? Or is it a revolutionary model for us to emulate?

	Application Questions:
Ø Consider an imaginary situation in your church. For some time rumors have been floating that an elder has been behaving inappropriately with members of the opposite sex. There has also been talk of two deacons misappropriating some church funds. You feel concerned about it. Will you be justified in exposing this during a divine service and demanding action? If not, why not? 
		
Ù In situations such as the above, why is it that we cannot assert the same rights as Jesus did? What sets Jesus apart from us in taking certain actions such as He took?
			
STEP 4—Apply!

Just for Teachers: The conduct of Jesus as seen in the gospels shows how compassionate, merciful, and caring He is.  In some cases (such as we have noted in this lesson), His conduct also is puzzling. Ask your class to jot down illustrations of both kinds and invite them to discuss in which ones they should be more involved, and why.

	Application Question: 
	Jesus was righteously indignant when He saw unbelief (Matt. 17:17), and when He saw God’s temple abused (Matt. 21:12, 13). How would you apply such righteous anger in your personal life?

TE-2Q-2008-08-The Lesson in Brief . . .
			
Key Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
	
The Student Will:
Know: Identify that Jesus’ power to overcome temptation came from His closeness with the Father.
Feel: Cultivate a desire to spend much time in prayer on a daily basis.
Do: Strive to develop a close connection with God.
 
Learning Outline:
I. A Strong Foundation
A. Jesus’ upbringing gave Him a strong spiritual foundation.
B. Very early in life Jesus developed and maintained a close relationship with His heavenly Father.
C. Jesus’ close connection to the Father gave Him strength and stability in His public ministry.

	II.	Tempted as We Are
A. Every response to the tempter in the wilderness gave evidence of Jesus’ unvarying communion with the heavenly Father.

B. Jesus lived His life on earth in the flesh—experiencing what we experience (only worse)—but still did not succumb to sin.

	III.	A Purpose for Life
A. Throughout His life on earth, Jesus often spent many hours alone in prayer.
B. Jesus was ever cognizant of His mission to reach lost souls. This was His focus and purpose on a daily basis.
C. As we follow Christ’s example in His relationship to the Father, our service for the Lord and relationship with Him must be constant.

Summary: We must be totally dependent on the Lord, just as Jesus was dependent on the Father in heaven. Like Jesus, we also can acquire a close connection with God through continual prayer and communion with Him.
TE-2Q-2008-08-Learning Cycle

STEP 1—Motivate!

When your spouse or someone you love and share life with is absent for an extended period of time, how do you stay in touch? You probably have considered such avenues of communication as telephone, mail, or email. Discuss other creative options to continue your relationship over the long distance.

In class, invite members to share when they might 
have experienced an extended separation. What ‘secrets of survival’ did they learn that would benefit someone who may be facing a similar situation?
		
STEP 2—Explore!

	Bible Commentary
	I.  Walking as Jesus Walked
Review 1 John 2:6 with your class.
The four Gospels give us insight into what it
means to “walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NIV). Luke tells us that “the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40). Luke also tells us Jesus spent extended periods in intentional communication with God (Luke 6:12). John tells us that Jesus’ connection with God included action. He looked for opportunities to share the water of life with others in places some were afraid to go (John 4:1-35). 
	
Consider This: From the Gospels, what can we learn from the pattern of Jesus’ life? What stories most graphically and clearly help you follow His example? 
	
II. Discovery and Investigation
John 1:43–46 records the calling of Jesus’ first disciples. As a group, read this passage and then outline the different events that took place.
	
Consider This: Our culture invites us to experience something before we invest our money, time, or energy in it. In John 1:46 Philip invites Nathanael to come and see. Discuss what is significant about this approach to witnessing. How can discovery and personal investigation be a fruitful tool as we share Jesus with our friends and work associates? 
	
Compare and Contrast: How did you find out about Jesus and His promises to you? What types of witnessing techniques have you experienced or been involved in? Which were most successful? Compare them with Ellen White’s statement of how Jesus shared the gospel. “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. 
	
Consider This: After Philip met Jesus, he was so intrigued and excited about what he found, he went out to tell his friends. Why didn’t he just dismiss this Man as an interesting encounter? Why did he take the next step and share with his friends about Jesus?
	
Consider These Possibilities: We see lots of advertisements for a wide variety of goods and services. What advertising techniques work best as you consider items your family might purchase? Even if you are really interested in an item, what things keep you from taking the steps necessary toward owning it? How might these insights apply to how we witness about Jesus? How do we make it difficult for people to meet Him?

	III. Practical Habits to Live By Spiritual Disciplines 
Consider This: When Jesus was praying for His disciples (see John 17), He gave some significant principles of how to know God. Read this passage together as a group and make a list of those principles. Then break into smaller groups of one or two to make a list of practical suggestions on how to live out those principles in everyday life.

Practical Tools for Having a Real Relationship with God
Notice the process of being conformed to the
nature of Christ for the sake of others (Rom. 12:2). There are three sets of spiritual disciplines, the inward disciplines, those that take place inside our minds, the outward disciplines, those that take place through our actions, and corporate disciplines, where we work together as fellow believers.
Examples of inward disciplines include meditation
(Isa. 1:18), prayer (Ps. 5:1-3) and fasting (Esther 4:16, also see Isa. 58:6). Some outward disciplines are simplicity (Luke 12:15, Matt. 6:33), solitude (Luke 6:12) and service (Matt. 25:34-36). The corporate disciplines include confession (Matt. 5:23, 24) and worship (one example is found in 1 Chron. 16:16, 29).

Compare and Contrast: On numerous occasions the Scriptures record that Jesus went up on the mountainside alone to pray, sometimes all night. At other times, He took His disciples with Him. How does Jesus’ life and ministry compare with that of His disciples? Discuss why the disciples experienced discouragement and even failure at times. How do we apply the lessons learned from this discussion to our own personal walk with the Savior and our experience of ‘fruit bearing’ or lack of it?

IV. Avoiding Roadblocks (Barriers to Communication With  God)
	
Consider This: After Jesus spent some time in prayer with His disciples nearby Mark 14:40 records, “When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy” (NIV). When you consider your spiritual journey, what roadblocks have kept you from an ever-deepening experience with Jesus? As a group, make a list of those roadblocks. Then brainstorm avenues to overcome or remove them. (For example, if you listed “lack of time,” discuss ways to reprioritize your schedule to allow more time. “Turn off the television” might be one suggestion.)

P Jesus warned the disciples that some of the towns He sent them to in order to share the gospel would not receive their ministry. See Luke 9:1–5. Our tendency is to dismiss people before we have truly formed a relationship with them that would allow them to respond to the Gospel invitation. How can we learn to deal with apathy in love and zeal for those who initially appear uninterested?

STEP 3—Practice!

Thought Questions:
Ø As the disciples were in the boat on Galilee, tossed by the ferocious storm (Matt. 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41, Luke 8:22–25), what might have kept them from panicking? In the Gospels read the portion of Scripture from the beginning of the Gospel to where the narrative of the storm is recorded. What clues to peace and certainty in difficult situations did the disciples miss? How did Jesus repeat these lessons in the rest of the Gospels?
	
Ù “There is a difference between imitating a good man and counterfeiting him.”—Benjamin Franklin. Spiritual disciplines have been described as behaviors that facilitate spiritual growth. Expand on the list of spiritual gifts included in the ‘Explore’ section of the teacher’s helps. Choose one that you will incorporate into your schedule during the next week. Ask a trusted friend to hold you accountable for following through on your commitment.
		
	Application Question:
When children have good news to share (receiving a new toy or a fun time with a friend), you can’t contain their enthusiasm to tell the story. Paul talks about disciples as ones that “shine like stars in the universe” (Phil. 2:15, NIV) or as those whose “joy in Christ Jesus will overflow” (Phil. 1:26, NIV) with the good news of Jesus’ willingness to save. He even prays for all disciples in all ages “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thess. 3:12). Read these texts together as a class. Discuss their context and how joy and witnessing was possible during difficult times. How can God help you live out that same kind of enthusiasm in your ministry of outreach to others?
		
Witnessing

“He makes known that which he himself has heard, seen, and handled of the word of life, that others may have fellowship with him through the knowledge of Christ.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 142. What have you learned about Jesus and His connection with His heavenly Father that your non-Christian friend at work needs to know? Set up some time to spend with that friend. Ask God to prepare the way for your relationship to grow in a way that you can help lead that person to Jesus.

STEP 4—Apply!
	
Before nursing students give their first injection, they practice on oranges. How can we practice walking as Jesus walked? Jesus spent time with His Father in prayer, He spent time teaching His disciples, and He went about serving people through acts of healing. As a group, make a list of two ways we can practice Jesus’ example in each area: prayer, teaching, and serving. Covenant as individual class members to follow at least one suggestion in each area during the next week. Take some of the classtime next week to report on what happened and how this affected your life and the life of the person/s you served. 

Consider This: What does it mean to be a truly authentic disciple of Jesus Christ? When Jesus commanded “Go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19, NIV), what did He mean? If you met a disciple for the first time, how would you know he or she was Jesus’ disciple? What would he or she look or act like? Find a friend who would spend time with you in Bible study. Read through the Gospels together asking the question “What made Jesus’ disciples different from the people who hadn’t met Jesus yet?”

TE-2Q-2008-09-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Matthew 9:36
	
The Student Will:
Know: Recognize that Jesus was very compassionate in His interaction with the people around Him.
Feel: Sense the Lord’s compassion in your own life.
Do: Reflect the gentleness of the Savior in your own relationships with people.
 
Learning Outline:
I. The Compassionate Lord
A. Jesus was moved with compassion and was always concerned about the needs of others.  That was the prime focus of His whole life and ministry.		
B. Jesus showed compassion for the woman caught in adultery.  He also showed compassion for her accusers by not condemning them openly.
	C. Jesus showed great compassion for children and welcomed them into His presence.
	
	II.	Friends or Foes
A. In His relationship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, we see Jesus’ concern for the interests and needs of His closest friends.
B. Jesus even had compassion for His enemies—giving them opportunities for repentance and forgiveness.

	III.	Gentle Words
A. The gentle nature of the Lord is evident in how He always spoke the truth about people, whether good or bad, without belittling or condemning them.
B. The Lord’s correction and tough words for the Pharisees always gave the listeners the opportunity to take heed and change their ways.

Summary: In the life and ministry of Christ we have the perfect example of gentleness—of compassion, as Jesus was seeking to save as many as would be saved.

TE-2Q-2008-09-Learning Cycle

STEP 1—Motivate!

What comforts you when you are stressed or fearful? What memories of peaceful times and gracious people does this question bring to mind? Invite each class member to share a memory of care given when most needed during a difficult time. Then discuss what qualities of the person who came to your rescue most attracted you. How did those qualities especially meet your need?

		Take at least 10 minutes of class time to make a 
specific list of people in the congregation and/or friends outside the fellowship of the church who are facing trying circumstances. Lift their names and situations up in prayer. Commission members of the class to contact them during the week through a phone call or visit.

STEP 1—Explore!

	Bible Commentary
	I. Jesus, A Model of Love Lived Out Through A Human Life
If Jesus had used strictly human discernment and eyesight while looking out over the nation of Israel from the crest of a hill, He would have seen a motley group of misfits. Instead, Scripture records that He used heavenly eyesight “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36, NIV). Looking down through history, He also saw each of His children who would live on the face of the earth. Instead of seeing broken, incompetent people, He saw, through the power of infinite love, disciples able and willing to suffer and serve for the cause of reaching others with the good news of the gospel.
	
Consider This: Using a concordance, find all the times the word compassion is used in conjunction with Jesus’ ministry. What does this tell you about the nature of compassion? How might these insights impact how you relate to the people in your sphere of influence?

Compare and Contrast: Using a dictionary, look up the words compassion and love. As a group, write a definition of compassion as modeled by Christ. How would you describe what you know of Jesus’ compassion to someone who is struggling with feelings of being abandoned by God? What in your personal life journey could be shared as a witness of the authenticity of His love? 
		
	II. Those Who Need Love (But Don’t Deserve It)
Do you make lists of things you like and those things you most definitely don’t like? Do those lists include people? Matthew 5:44-48 mandates love for those who are openly hostile—our enemies. Discuss why verse 48 equates love for our enemies with “perfect love.” Consider the people in your life who are difficult for you to love. Pray for a change of heart in your attitude toward them. Covenant to exhibit God’s love toward at least one of those people in a tangible way during the coming week.

III.  Making Love the Defining Characteristic of Your Life
Each congregation is called to a specific mission on behalf of the kingdom of God. Many even write vision and mission statements in attempt to stay focused on that purpose and as a means to invite others to become involved. These focus statements constitute core principles that are used by the church in making decisions on ministries to pursue. God invites us as individuals to answer two core questions. Do I believe with saving faith in the Son of God? Is my life modeled after His? In class, discuss how the answers to these questions might help your group focus on a mission. 

	IV. Loving Enough to Be Misunderstood
“All who received Him would . . . be conformed to His character. This involved the relinquishment of their cherished ambitions . . . The insincere, the selfish, who had sought Him, no longer desired Him. If He would not devote His power and influence to obtaining their freedom from the Romans, they would have nothing to do with Him.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 399.

	Compare and Contrast This: Read John 6:25–66. A crisis 		of decision confronted the multitude that followed Jesus. Discuss the difference between those who turned away and those who became more deeply convicted that Jesus was the Messiah. How can we remain courageous in sharing a gentle, genuine witness, even when we are misunderstood?

STEP 3—Practice!
	
	Thought Questions:
Ø In our culture, with all its technology and opportunities for entertainment, we seldom have time to follow Mary’s example. Luke 10:39 (NIV) records that she “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” How could you reorder your priorities, beginning tomorrow morning, so that you could have at least 10 minutes to hear God speak His love to you through His Word?
				
Ù Entrapment in sinful choices leads many down what seem like irreversible paths. Gossip and outright slander seem to confirm the worthlessness of those individuals who are the objects of negative rumors. Jesus dealt with an apparently hopeless situation—a life obviously broken beyond redemption—in John 8:2–11. Read this passage and then, as a group, discuss each of the characters in the narrative. How might Jesus’ example in this story change how we interact at work or church?
		
	Application Question:
Acts 6:7 describes the impossible happening. Even “a large number of priests became obedient to the faith,” (NIV). When we look at growth in the church, we think in terms of addition instead of multiplication and the obvious and possible instead of becoming involved in what only God can do. When we consider Jesus’ love and its impact and results, we have to wonder, “How can we see this same type of growth happening through our congregation?” Form your Sabbath school class into a task force that seeks answers on how to become more productive witnesses so that even the apparently unreachable may be won for Christ. Share your findings and suggestions with your church leadership. 

Witnessing

The little song “Jesus Loves Me” has impacted many lives. But somehow its true impact is missed much of the time. Jesus very personally loves YOU! Using a concordance, look through the passages in the Gospels that use the words love, loved, or loves. What impression do they make about the depth and life changing power God’s love is to have in your life? If you haven’t told Jesus, “I am so thankful you love ME.” Do that right now. Then, take the next step. With courage and the Holy Spirit’s presence, ask God to send you to someone that needs to experience this same assurance right now.

STEP 4—Apply!

Consider This: Make a list that includes any work associate, neighbor, or other acquaintance with whom you have enough of a relationship that you know something about their family or life situation. Then try to picture them sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His parables and seeing His miracles. Jesus modeled the Father’s love by coming to this earth and serving broken, rebellious humanity. He stated that mission in the synagogue recorded in Luke 4:18–19. He then made application of that mission to us. “ ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you!’ ” (John 20:21, NIV). Which of the people in your list need you to serve them? How can you change the picture on the hillside to include you as the serving, compassionate teacher? How will you start that journey today? 

TE-2Q-2008-10-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Galatians 2:8
	
The Student Will:
Know: Comprehend that the Lord’s sacrifice of death for all people was by His own choice.  He came of His own free will to save us.
Feel: Experience joy for His power to remove the sins from his or her life.
Do: Live a life free from the enslaving power of sin through the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ.
 
Lesson Outline:
I. He Came to Die
A. Simeon’s prophecy to Mary, the mother of Jesus, foretold the horrific suffering that Jesus would one day experience (Luke 2:25–35).
B. Jesus’ whole purpose in coming to earth was to die for humankind. No matter how good His life was, the end result would inevitably be death. It had to be that way for the plan of salvation to be implemented.		
	
	II.	Predestined 
A. Formulated before the creation of the world, the Lord’s plan to die for the sins of the world was by His own choice. 
B. Those who were directly involved in the persecution and death of Jesus will be held accountable individually, not corporately.

	III.	Because He Died
A. Jesus gave Himself as one sacrifice for the sins of many (of the whole world).
B. The Savior’s death paved the way for the salvation of humanity.
C. Through Jesus we have been reconciled with the Father.

Summary: It was of His own free will that the Savior gave His life for sinners. He came in order to save all those who will come to Him in faith.

TE-2Q-2008-Learning Cycle-10
	
STEP 1—Motivate!
	
Jesus died on the cross to save us. How can someone dying save anyone? How would you explain Jesus’ death and the purpose of His death to a 10 year old? How would you explain it to someone who had never heard of Jesus Christ before? See 1 Peter 1:3–9.

STEP 2—Explore!

	Bible Commentary
	I. A Horrendous Price Paid
When we hear that someone has died, or even when someone uses the word death, we feel sadness and despair. Jesus walked on this earth, God with man, God as man, to face death. (See Matthew 27:45, 46.) 

Consider This: As Jesus approached this time of darkness, how did He, in His humanity, keep from running away from paying the price for our salvation? What did He do for His disciples to prepare them? What did He tell them? 
		
Compare and Contrast: Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for the culmination and purpose of His ministry on earth, His death on the cross for our sins. As a class, discuss Jesus’ patience and perseverance as well as the methods He used to prepare them so that they might remain faithful. Consider how the disciples perceived what Jesus was trying to share. Why did Jesus’ persecution and death come as a total surprise even to those that were closest to Him? 
		
Consider This: Describe the picture you might paint of Matthew 27:45, 46. What colors would you use? How could that portrait be a blessing to those who saw it?

	II. Hope in Death
Imagine being present during the scenes in the temple that Luke 2:25–35 describes. You might wish you could hold the beautiful Baby that Mary cuddled in her arms. How would Simeon’s words impact your response to this Child? Why would the warm, joyful thoughts chill as he pronounced “ ‘a sword will pierce your own soul too’ ” (vs. 35, NIV). What does it mean to be born to die? Why do we consider Simeon’s words to be a hopeful prophecy?	
Consider This: Jesus said of Himself, “ ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’ ” (John 14:6, NIV). What was He trying to teach the disciples about the meaning of His death? 
		
P Our favorite stories have the hero “living happily ever after” because he or she has successfully triumphed over adversity. The ultimate story with a perfect ending is the great controversy theme of Scripture. How did Simeon’s prophecy encapsulate this cosmic conflict? How does the grand theme of the war between our Savior God and the adversary give us a relevant context for sharing the gospel with our postmodern generation? What is your personal great controversy experience? Who needs to hear it? During class time, plan to role-play sharing your testimony.
		
	III. Life to the Full
The disciples didn’t comprehend that Jesus was trying to prepare them for His death. Their preconceived ideas, the national prejudice and expectations that they grew up with, colored their understanding of everything Jesus said. 
	
Consider This: Jesus tried to keep the disciples from being devastated by His death by telling them the purpose of His presence on earth. If they would have grasped what He had said to them, how much easier the trauma would have been.  We only can imagine the missed opportunities they had for sharing that glad fact with others. What barriers do we raise to our own insight into God’s truth, and that of those with whom we should be sharing the gospel, because of our own misconceptions of God’s plans? What would it take for us to be more open to truth?
		
Compare and Contrast: When Jesus was arrested, the disciples fled. When He was crucified, they could not see beyond His death to the resurrection. They met in secret—in fear and abject disappointment. How does their response fit with what Jesus had told them, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV)? Discuss how John’s record of the disciples’ activity after Jesus’ death might have been different if they had understood what His death would accomplish. 
	
	IV. Knowing the Outcome
When a couple is planning for the birth of their first child, knowing the outcome helps them take the steps necessary in order for that birth to take place. They find a competent physician, choose a hospital or birthing center, and may even take “prepared childbirth” classes. 

	Compare and Contrast: Read 1 Corinthians 15:3. What is 		the importance of the concept “according to the Scriptures” NIV? Now read 2 Corinthians 5:18–21. How are these two passages related? How are they different? What does it mean to you personally that Jesus planned that you have a “message of reconciliation” (vs. 19, NIV) to share? 
		
STEP 3—Practice!

	Thought Questions:
We are told that to truly empathize with others, we must “walk in their shoes.” Jesus came to earth, God in human flesh, even though He possessed an infinite understanding of His creation (Isa. 40:28). How does Hebrews 2:17 describe Jesus’ journey on earth? What does it mean that “He had to be like His brothers in every way” (NIV)? What does this tell you about how Jesus relates to your needs?
		
	Application Questions:
	Paul records his personal testimony in this way, “I 		have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, NIV). What experiences in his life allowed him to have such a depth of understanding of Jesus’ death? How can we comprehend the fullness of Jesus’ love for us? Covenant with a friend to meet weekly, either in person or by telephone. Ask your friend to hold you accountable to a daily study of God’s Word in search of the fullness of the salvation that Jesus offers you through His death.
	
Witnessing
In Galatians 6:14 Paul shares a reason to boast. Why did He say that was appropriate for the Christian? How can we boast when death is such a devastating reality? What is different about Christ’s death? How is it possible, given the world in which we live? Take some time in class to draw a graphic that could be used to explain to a neighbor how Jesus’ death gave Christians a different, hopeful worldview. 

STEP 4—Apply!
	
Consider This: We dislike having things planned out for us. We like being in control and making our own choices (consider a child’s rebellion when his or her mother picks out clothes for the first day of school). Why is it of “first importance” (1 Cor. 15:3, NIV) for us to understand the truth about the plan of salvation? Discuss how the whirl of activity and challenges in our lives keeps us from making a deeper understanding of Christ’s death a priority. Make a personal “action plan” to overcome your lack of time to spend in quiet consideration of this truth of Scripture. Consider items that can be removed from your daily agenda/schedule to make room for finding security and hope in Jesus’ death on the cross for you.

TE-2Q-2008-11-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: John 11:25			
	
The Student Will:
Know: Recall there truly was a literal, visible resurrection of Jesus, and many people were witnesses of that event.
Feel: Rekindle his or her gratitude to Jesus for giving His promise of eternal life.
Do: Comfort one another with the hope of the resurrection to come.
 
Learning Outline:
I. How Authentic Was the Resurrection?
A. All of the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus give indisputable evidence of its occurrence.
B. The Christian faith is dependent on the validity of the resurrection.
	
	II.	He Is Risen
A. The miracles and eyewitness testimonies of the apostles gave evidence of a risen Savior.
B. Many people besides the disciples were witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. 
C. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the disciples spread the good news of the resurrected Lord.

	III.	The Resurrection and Life
A. Many people were brought back to life when Jesus was resurrected. These individuals were seen by friends and loved ones, who also gave testimony of the risen Savior.
B. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we, too, have the hope of a resurrection. Otherwise death is the final end of us all.
C. Without the resurrection, the plan of salvation would be in vain.

Summary: The resurrection of Christ was an actual event witnessed by many people, including the disciples. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, have the hope of a resurrection.

TE-2Q-2008-11-Learning Cycle					

STEP 1—Motivate!						

Of all the doctrines and teachings ofChristianity, the idea of the resurrection of the dead has to be one of the most intense and faith-demanding teachings. The dead, rising? Some after having been gone for thousands of years?  How could that be? How can anyone really believe this?
The answer, however, is simple—we believe it because the Word of God promises it. We believe it because Jesus promised it. We believe it because without it we would have no hope whatsoever. Indeed, without it, our faith would be meaningless. Without it, Christ’s first coming was be a waste of time, and who among us believes that?

STEP 2—Explore!
	
	Bible Commentary
	Read Luke 24:13–35.

	I. The “Buts” and “Besides” of Disappointment
The scene is the road to Emmaus. Two disappointed
disciples are returning home from Jerusalem after witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus. A stranger joins them, and they continue discussing their disappointment. In verse 21 their narrative recollection of what happened over the weekend is punctuated with disappointment: “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened,” (NKJV).		
When Jesus did not overthrow the Roman Empire as they had hoped, they continued to wish for some kind of uprising as a result of His death—something that would result in the Jewish people  gaining political control. But Jesus’ death did no such thing. Even His closest disciples seemed to have disappeared. What could have been an opportune time of action was long since gone (it was three days since His death).
What this account should teach us is that it’s
important that we not superimpose our own desires, our own wishes, our own expectations, on our understanding of doctrine. We need to be surrendered to what the Word of God teaches, even if it teaches things that aren’t exactly as we like. We need to be surrendered to the Word; the history of Christianity is littered with the 
sad accounts of what happens when the Word of God is subjugated to human desires.
What are some of those examples of the Bible
	being subjugated and twisted by those who want to
	use it for their own selfish purposes? 
		
	II. The Burning of Spiritual Pyrosis
When the disciples realized that the stranger
traveling with them was Jesus resurrected, suddenly it all came together—how the “stranger” rationally connected the dots of history from Moses to the cross and drew the bigger picture of spiritual redemption; how they felt the overwhelming urge to be in His company and how they felt a burning spirit of conviction in their hearts as they listened to Him.
		Consider This: Pyrosis is the medical term for acid
	reflux or heartburn. From their symptoms (vs. 32),
	it’s possible that the men disregarded the uneasiness
they felt while Jesus spoke to them (perhaps they chalked it up to heartburn?). They were so focused on their disappointment that they failed to see the enlightenment and clarity that was right in front of them. In what similar ways do we disregard the Holy Spirit? In what ways have things been presented so clearly to us and yet, at the time, from our own hardness of heart, we completely missed them?  How can we learn to avoid making similar mistakes again?

	III. The Context of Spiritual Redemption
There’s no question about the utter importance of Christ’s resurrection to our faith. Without it, nothing else that Jesus did while here really matters. What did His death on the cross accomplish for us if He weren’t raised from the dead? What good were all His teachings to us if He were not raised from the dead? What good is our faith to us without Christ’s resurrection?
		
Consider This:  As Jesus spoke to these disciples, He helped them to understand not only the historicity of the plan of redemption but also the purpose of the plan of redemption for each person on earth. Jesus helped them see their individual place and role in God’s plan of salvation.
As soon as they understood, accepted, and appreciated the events of the weekend, these disciples(who had just walked seven miles) turned around and returned to Jerusalem (vss. 33–35).
Why did they do this? What was the urgency to make the journey without resting? What does this tell us about our responsibility as those who understand and accept the message of the cross?

STEP 3—Practice!

Thought Questions:

Ø “Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward.”——Soren Kierkegaard. (http://www.brainyquote.com) Apply this to spiritual growth. How does your past experiences and walk with the Lord strengthen your faith and your beliefs today? How do your past help you be a better witness for Christ’s grace and an advocate for the plan of salvation?

Ù Why is the resurrection of Christ crucial to your faith? What if Christ had died for your sins but not risen to life? 
	
	Application Questions:

Ø In what ways do you show gratefulness for and acceptance of Christ dying for you? How should His death affect the way you respond to the Holy Spirit?

Ù In an age of war, terror, and natural disasters, what does the empty tomb say to you—that God is powerful and in control or that God is distant and aloof? Explain.
		
	Witnessing
Jesus’ resurrection had a profound effect on everyone, especially on those in His “inner circle”—His disciples and His immediate family members (Acts 1:14, Gal. 1:19). How should the resurrection affect our social and community interactions? 	

Consider This: How can your church “cash in” on the commercialism of the Easter season to market the gift of salvation?
		
STEP 4—Apply!

In the days when books were not readily available and libraries were nonexistent, reading was a serious and arduous undertaking. To read was to ingest every word and internalize the material before the book was circulated. Reading was more than rote memorization; it was a concentrated, emotional task experienced in solitude—with the aim to know the material and the writer inside out and to make its content imprinted forever in the reader’s mind and heart.
			
	Application Questions:
	Ø Challenge yourself to read the Bible every day with
the assumption that you won’t have one available tomorrow.

Ù Why is it important to understand the Old Testament
	and the historicity of humanity prior to the death 
and resurrection of Christ? How can this knowledge
	enable you to be more comfortable when talking about 
	the gift of salvation found through the cross?
	
Ú How do the Scriptures and the cross specifically help you in the following areas: spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially?

	Memorize a portion of Scripture each week.	
TE-2Q-2008-12-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Heb. 8:1
	
The Student Will:
Know: Realize that the earthly sanctuary represented God’s plan of salvation and pointed to the heaven sanctuary and the ministry of Jesus in heaven.
Feel: Experience a sense of peace from believing that Jesus is interceding in the heavenly sanctuary for him or her.
Do: Determine to come with boldness to God’s throne of grace to obtain forgiveness.
 
Learning Outline:
I. Plan of Salvation
A. The earthly sanctuary was established to represent God’s plan of salvation.
B. Each aspect of the earthly sanctuary had a special meaning and pointed to the ministry of Jesus.
C. The death of Jesus ended the necessity of the earthly-sanctuary ceremonies and rituals. This was signified by the rending of the inner veil, which divided the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

	II.	Heavenly High Priest
A. After His resurrection, Jesus became our heavenly High Priest.
B. Jesus and His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary replaced the earthly tabernacle, the earthly priesthood, the animal sacrifices, and the daily and yearly ceremonies.
C. Because of the one sacrifice of Christ—one time, for all people—we now can come “boldly” to the throne (of grace) where the Most Holy is seated.

Summary: Christ’s High Priestly ministry has no time barrier. It was relevant in the days of the early New Testament church and still applies to our time today. Through His ministry, all who come to Jesus can have access to God the Father.

TE-2Q-2008-12-Learning Cycle

STEP 1—Motivate!

There’s a story about a preacher who told his congregation in Africa that he could walk on water, just as Jesus did, if only he had enough faith. To prove his point, he took them all to a lake. He was on a boat and stepped out into the water. He sank and, much to everyone’s horror, drowned.—Daily Record Co. UK, Aug. 30, 2006. 
Ask the class: What is it about human nature that urges us to attempt to be God? What is the difference between being God and being Christlike? Why is it important to know the distinction between the two? Why is it so much easier for us to try to be God, as opposed to being like Christ?  How does this human trait get in the way of letting God be God in our lives?  

STEP 2—Explore!

	Bible Commentary
	Read Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:13; Psalm 110.

	I. Helpless and Hopeless
Every time David tried to control his life without the help of God, he failed. And every time he failed, he fell to his knees in recognition of his unworthiness and God’s power and grace.
Beloved of God, King David represents each of us. Because we can’t escape our sinful nature, we have a need for a priestly mediator. 

Consider This: Randomly read passages from the Psalms. Meditate on the bipolar behavior of the sinful heart, the vacillation of emotions and needs. How do you experience this same thing in your own life; that is, the desire of your heart for sinful things, carnal things, at one moment and then at another the desire for holiness, purity, faithfulness and piety?
		
	II. Revelation and Reconciliation
	Christians—born in sin, living in the constant
	awareness of this sinful world—have two basic, 
spiritual needs: to know God and to be with God.
	Constrained by this sinful world, we learn quickly that
life is more manageable when we know who God is and what His purpose is for us. Unaware of our inadequacies, we yearn for ways to be with God. 
So God, in His love and mercy, gave us His
	Son—someone who understands both parties 100 percent,
Someone who can mediate and straighten out the problems and misunderstandings that exist between God and us.
 		
Consider This: Before Christ became our Mediator in
	heaven, He lived here among us, as a human, subject to
temptations, subject to many of the things that we
	struggle with. Why was this such an important part of
	the plan of salvation? Explain.				

II. Jesus, Customized Savior
The role Jesus plays on our earthly journey is so multifaceted. Writers of the Scripture, inspired by divinity, have used metaphors to describe the function of Jesus to enable us to appreciate and apply Jesus’ presence in our daily living. Jesus is described as the Shepherd, the Door, the Light, the Vine, the Cornerstone, etc.
The Bible uses more than one hundred names/titles to describe Jesus. The meaning His life holds for us is beyond our fathoming; His role as Priest and Mediator will be appreciated in its fullness only when we see and understand God’s divine government in heaven.

Consider This: Have the class think of other metaphors that symbolize the intimate, concerning, priestly role that Jesus plays in our lives. (The metaphors don’t necessarily have to be biblical; they may have modern implications.) Ask how the many titles and functions of Christ help them keep the faith.
	
P How can certain metaphors be more helpful to some people than others?  That is, why do some folks relate better to certain images than to others?  What does that tell us about how the Lord can meet the needs of all of us, regardless of our personalities or histories?

STEP 3—Practice!

	Thought Questions:
Ø To be someone’s advocate is relatively risk free; but to be someone’s savior is a commitment beyond death! How does Jesus’ death as Savior make Him the most competent priest and Mediator you could have? How does Jesus’ title Priest affect your relationship with Him?
	
Ù Dwell on the question of the whole purpose of a mediator. Why do we need Jesus as a mediator? What’s the reason for it?
	
Ú What biblical examples can you find of people  working the role of a mediator in behalf of others? For example, look at the role of Moses (see Deut. 9: 8–19).
	
	Application Questions:

How can volunteering in a social service activity (such as tutoring a child) help convey the attitude of Christ as a mediator to someone? What other kinds of interactions could help us be mediators like Jesus?
	
	Witnessing
Help your class connect their community projects with Christlike attitudes and behaviors. Help them see how they can be “mediators” for the church.

Consider This: Jesus came to show us how we can access divine power for meaningful life on earth. Our interactions with people give us opportunities to be a Christlike mediator. Encourage your class to match their spiritual gifts with opportunities of mediation (e.g. the spiritual gift of listening enables one to be a problem solver.)

STEP 4—Apply!

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time” (1 Tim. 2: 5, 6, NASB). During the second century Irenaeus of Lyons taught that Jesus was offered as a ransom to the devil to free people’s souls. The devil, however, was defeated because he did not know that Jesus was God Himself!
For hundreds of years this theory was adopted by
 	the Christian world, until Anselm of Canterbury pointed out that Irenaeus’ theory assumed that the devil had far too much power. Instead, Anselm said that Jesus’ life was paid to God and not to the devil!
What a more poignant picture that makes—Jesus’life
given as a ransom to God in exchange for my eternal life!

	Application Questions:
Ø A ransom is required to free the hostages. Sometimes a hostage exchange is demanded to guarantee the transaction. How is Jesus’ death more than a “hostage exchange”? 

Ù What are the benefits of having a Savior who is superior to anything or anyone else? How can His superiority motivate you in your life? What is your potential if you maximize the use of His superiority? 
			
Ú Compile verses about the power of Jesus as Savior and Priest as a gift to a neighbor or friend. Or email your friends a verse a week about the power of Jesus.

Û How can you actively bring Christ as a Mediator into the workplace and thereby be a witness of your Christian lifestyle? What role can prayer play in this endeavor?

TE-2Q-2008-13-The Lesson in Brief . . .
		
Key Text: Mark 13:26, 27
	
The Student Will:						
Know: Realize that the promise of the second coming of Christ will be fulfilled.
Feel: Sense personally the reality of His return. 
Do: Tell others of His soon coming and do all that he or she can to be ready. 
 
Learning Outline:
I. The Day of the Lord
A. Many stories (books and movies) have painted a very fearful picture of Christ’s return.
B. The New Testament presents a joyful expectation of the return of Jesus for those who know Him.
C. Those who are in Christ should not be afraid of the coming of the Lord. Instead, they wait with anticipation and joy.
	
	II.	Signs of His Coming
A. Jesus gave the disciples many signs of His second coming.
B. The signs of the Lord’s coming were not designed to bring about fear in the hearts of the disciples but to show them what to expect and how to know when His coming was near.

	III.	Prophecy Fulfilled
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies assure us that the prophecies of Christ’s second coming also will be fulfilled.

Summary: The promise of Christ’s return is sure. The Lord has given many signs of His return. As we see—and have already seen—the fulfillment of these things, we know that His coming is near.

TE-2Q-2008-13-Learning Cycle

STEP 1—Motivate!					
											
George Sweeting once estimated that “more than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy. . . . Both the Old and New Testaments are full of promises about the return of Jesus Christ. Over 1,800 references appear in the Old Testament, and seventeen Old Testament books give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in the New Testament, there are more than 300 references to the Lord’s return—one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. . . . For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ's second coming.”—Today in the Word, the Moody Bible Institute, December, 1989, p. 40.
		
Consider This: Why are you looking forward to the Second Coming? Why is that so crucial to our faith?
STEP 2—Explore!
	
Bible Commentary
Read John 14:2, 3; 2 Peter 3:11, 12.

	I. State of Anxiousness
Since the ascension of Jesus to heaven, there have been numerous speculations of His Second Coming. And      Seventh-day Adventist Christians have contributed a      fair amount of drama to the speculations! However, in    spite of the bad publicity and disappointment of 1844,   the church has stood firm in upholding its belief that   Jesus is coming again.
After all, even our name entails the hope and      promise of His return.		

Consider This: Evaluate your church’s approach to the Second Coming. Is the Second Coming consistently emphasized? Do you regularly hear sermons about Jesus’ return? Are the children in your congregation excited about seeing Jesus soon? Or is the Second Coming shelved for a time in the future as something that we know is coming but are not necessarily excited about enough to talk about that often? In other words, is your church truly and actively an “Adventist” church?
		
	II. State of Preparedness
Being prepared for the Second Coming is nourished by our relationship with Jesus. “We should make Jesus the object of our thought, our meditation, and communicate with Him moment after moment. Those who have experienced that fellowship can bear witness to the fact that in times of trouble the greatest and sweetest consolation is found in keeping in touch with our Lord. We should always keep our eyes on Him and entertain the vision of walking side by side with Jesus on the golden streets of the New Jerusalem.
     Any Christian who constantly dwells on such thoughts will surely experience genuine Christian joy (1 Thess. 5:16). We ought to cherish that wonderful hope. It gives sense to our existence. Someone has said that without this hope we shall be like a ship without a sail on the high sea.”—Lucile Sabas, “United in Witnessing to the Second Coming,” The Adventist Review, Nov. 25, 2005.

Consider This: Why is it so easy to get hardened and
apathetic even about the Second Coming? Did Jesus ever   warn us about this danger?

III. Immigration Papers
Every year thousands of people wait for their number to be called by the U.S. Immigration Office—so that they may legally enter into and live in the United States. Oftentimes they wait 15 years or more before the paperwork is processed. Yet, for many people the idea of living in the country is worth the wait. 
	In a sense our paperwork for entry into heaven has
already been processed. We have more than a green card; we have citizenship (Phil. 3:20). We just have to claim it for ourselves.
		
Consider This: The cross removes all questions about our eligibility to enter into heaven if we claim Jesus for ourselves. Why then do we often succumb to the negative perspective of not being good enough? What practical, specific things can we do individually and corporately as a church to focus on what Christ has done for us and His promises to us, instead of on our own unworthiness? 

STEP 3—Practice!
	
	Thought Questions: 
ì Can the human tendency to procrastinate affect one’s preparedness for the Second Coming? Explain (see Matt. 24:42, Luke 21:34–36).

í You are saved by the cross—by the death of your Savior for your sins. In other words, salvation can be yours today. With that in mind, would you still be a Christian if there were no Second Coming? What is the importance of the Second Coming in relation to the story of salvation? Does not the story of salvation end at the cross? Explain.
	
	Application Questions:

ì The Seventh-day Adventist Church calls the Second Coming the “grand climax” of the gospel. Why is that so?http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html

í Identify political, environmental, and cultural elements in today’s world that make the average logical person skeptical of the Second Coming. What can you as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian do to address this skepticism?

Witnessing
 	“During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives: On May 19, 1780 the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, ‘The day of judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.’ Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we’re to be lights as we watch and wait.”—Harry Heintz (http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/second_coming.htm). How can you make the Second Coming truly REAL in your church community?

STEP 4—Apply!

Is your church excited enough about the Second Coming to make it in the local news? The Elgin, Illinois, Seventh-day Adventist Church was! In an interview to the Courier News, Pastor Gabriel Bardan said: “We are not as much a church as we are a movement. . . . We base our message in Revelation 14:6-12. .  . . The hour of His judgment has come, and the second coming is imminent. We need to fear God. This fear is not a trembling fear, but one of fearing sin and giving respect to God in His presence. . . . We have a message, that people have to follow the Lord and know Him, trust Him, and obey Him. . . . The whole church is a family. . . . a place to grow, to heal the wounds, to know the Lord, and to understand the times we live in.”—Mike Murschel, “Elgin Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Elgin Courier News, Nov. 2, 2006. 
	
Consider This: When was the last time you talked about the Second Coming? What are ways that you can make the hope of the Second Advent more a part of your life?

P How do you answer the common retort of “You Christians have been talking about the Second Coming for centuries.  Yet where is He? Why is it taking so long?”