Inside Story for Friday 18th of September 2026

By Office of Adventist Mission

Rob and Bethany are church planters in Copenhagen, Denmark. But before this, they learned principles of relationship-based ministry while they started a church in Squamish, British Columbia.

There, they made a friend who had grown up in an Adventist home but whose experiences had left him skeptical and jaded. The Christian path he had been shown was unbalanced, with prophecy studies intermingled with conspiracy theories and anxiety replacing the peace of salvation. As an adult, he distanced himself entirely.

But over time, something about Rob and Bethany’s way of living began to break down his defenses. They invited him into their lives—meals, conversations, shared routines.

He watched them. He listened. “He could sense that what we were doing was real,” Rob said. “We weren’t just going through motions. We were trying to live like Jesus. We really cared about him and wanted to be his friend.”

When a personal crisis hit, the man reached out—not to a church, but to the family he’d grown to trust. He began to ask questions. And eventually, he chose to believe again—but this time, in a Jesus he’d never known before.

Now he’s a passionate Christian, committed and transformed.

And it started with simple things: listening, serving, and living the gospel through daily life.

“There’s nothing more exciting than being part of someone’s spiritual journey,” Rob reflected. “Start with the basics—begin with prayer, listen, eat, serve, and when the time comes, share. That’s how Jesus did it. And that’s how hearts are still changed today.”

Now in Copenhagen, Rob and Bethany meet new friends in their neighborhood and through local events. Their home is open for fellowship and shared meals on a regular basis. They are always on the lookout for who they can invest in—listening, serving, supporting, sharing. From their past experience, they know that this is the most effective way to love people today. And they pray daily that God will bless them with real friendships along this church-planting journey.

Please pray for our missionaries who serve in the Post-Christian Window, one of the greatest mission challenges our church faces today. To learn more, visit GMsda.org/refocus.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-12-inside-story-bless-you-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-12-inside-story-bless-you-part-2

Daily Lesson for Friday 18th of September 2026
Further Thought:

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

Read Elllen G. White, “The Laodicean Church,” p. 125, in The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, September 30, 1873.

“The Lord is guarding his people against a repetition of the errors and mistakes of the past. There have always abounded false teachers who, advocating erroneous doctrines and unholy practices, and working upon false principles in a most specious, covered, deceptive manner, have endeavored to deceive, if possible, the very elect.”—Ellen G. White, in The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 7, 1904.

“The Lord designs that our opinions shall be put to the test, that we may see the necessity of closely examining the living oracles to see whether or not we are in the faith. Many who claim to believe the truth have settled down at their ease, saying, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.’ ”—Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 36.

“Men entertain errors, when the truth is clearly marked out; and if they would but bring their doctrines to the word of God, and not read the word of God in the light of their doctrines, to prove their ideas right, they would not walk in darkness and blindness, or cherish error. Many give the words of Scripture a meaning that suits their own opinions, and they mislead themselves and deceive others by their misinterpretations of God’s word. As we take up the study of God’s word, we should do so with humble hearts. All selfishness, all love of originality, should be laid aside. Long-cherished opinions must not be regarded as ­infallible.”—Ellen G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, Pages 36, 37.

Discussion Questions

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-12-further-thought-dealing-with-false-teachers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-12-further-thought-dealing-with-false-teachers