Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class on May 2, 2026.

Photograph by William Earnhardt

Central Theme: Whether you experience a thriving daily Bible study time or your Bible sits mostly closed on a bookshelf, the reality is that we can all develop stronger Bible study times with God. This week, we’ll explore some practical ways to study the Word of God better.

Read in Class: John 15:1-8 and Mark 1:35.

Study: What do these passages tell us about the importance of time spent with God? Why should we also find a good place to spend time with God in prayer and Bible study?

Apply: During the past week, how much time have you spent in prayer and Bible reading? What does your answer tell you about changes you might have to make in your priorities?

Share: Some people have a goal of how many chapters they should read a day, while others may have a goal for how many minutes they spend in God’s Word. Please share your thoughts with the class on measuring our Bible study by time or by chapters. Can we become legalistic by measuring our time? Should we just look for new revelations that may come sooner on some days than on others? What about meditating on a verse instead of hastily reading a bunch of verses? Please share your thoughts.

Read in Class: Psalm 119:15-16, 105.

Study: Even if you don’t have to be a scholar to study the Bible, how can you study the Bible deeply?

Apply: What are some ways you get the most out of your Bible study time? How do you decide which passages to read? Do you meditate on those passages, or even journal, or share your thoughts on a passage on social media? Do you highlight certain passages? Do you pray over certain passages?

Share: The Holy Spirit gives all of us fresh revelations from our study in God’s Word. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve given a Bible study to someone and they’ve taught me something new I hadn’t seen before. It’s always good to reinforce what we have learned by sharing it with others. Can you share with the class something you have learned in your personal Bible study lately?

Read in Class: Isaiah 50:4.

Study: What is this verse telling us about having a relationship with God and how it can impact our relationship with others?

Apply: Read Isaiah 55:11 and consider its meaning. What are you studying at the moment? With whom could you share this?

Share: Which Bible translations have you found to be the most helpful in your Bible study? Do you use multiple versions? See why it’s good to use multiple Bible translations.

Read in Class: Psalm 119:103-104 and Isaiah 55:1-13.

Study: What does it mean that “through your precepts I get understanding?” Why is this idea important in grasping what Bible study does for us? What does the Lord give to those who come to Him, to “eat” from His Word? What is His invitation to you here? What is His challenge? What is His promise?

Apply: What are concrete ways you can “seek the LORD while He may be found” (Isa. 55:6, NKJV)?

Share: How do we make sure our own ways or opinions are not blocking our growth and progress in Bible Study?

Mission: Have you ever thought about hosting a small growth group Bible study in your home? Would now be a good time to start?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/5-how-to-study-the-bible-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-how-to-study-the-bible-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 26th of April 2026

Have you ever set your alarm a little earlier than usual in order to wake and read your Bible? Have you ever struggled to drag yourself out of bed and then looked at the clock and thought, I have 15 minutes before I need to begin the day. I better hurry! Have you ever gone through the motions of having a brief prayer or skimming a chapter, only to find your conscience appeased but your heart unsatis­fied with the result before you rushed into the day?

“There is but little benefit derived from a hasty reading of the Scriptures. One may read the whole Bible through and yet fail to see its beauty or comprehend its deep and hidden meaning.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 90.

Image © Pacific Press at Goodsalt.com

While there are indeed blessings that come from reading the Bible—like drinking from a fire hydrant (lots and fast)—it is possible to read the Bible through quickly and miss so much. God gave us His inspired, precious Word so that we would come to know more about Him (and, in the process, more about ourselves, too). When we take time to see the indescribable, beautiful character of God and the ways He has interacted with humanity throughout history, we can only love Him more. The record of His interactions is right there in our hands—but we must find time, and take time, to know God through reading His Word (Acts 17:11). Consider the following suggestions:

Ask God to place a desire in your heart for Him. Claim the promises in Jeremiah 29:13 and Psalms 37:4. Invite Him to wake you up earlier than usual or to free up some time in your day to do so.

Surrender your time to God. Yes, you’re busy, and there are so many urgent things to do. But time with God is invaluable. Go to a quiet place by yourself and read Psalms 46:10. Read the words or sing to God the hymn “I Surrender All.” Think about the areas of your life that may not be surrendered and offer them to God.

Spend time with God even when you may not feel like it. Just as it takes a conscious choice and an action plan to be healthy (exercise, eat well), it takes a conscious choice to have a close relationship with God. Remember that new habits can take at least 21 days to form, and we can never succeed without the Holy Spirit’s help.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-05-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-05-time

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 25th of April 2026

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study:

John 15:1-8, Mark 1:35, 1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalms 119:105, Isaiah 50:4, Isaiah 55:1-13.

Memory Text:

“ ‘So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it’ ” (Isaiah 55:11, NKJV).

Think back to when you received your first Bible. Perhaps you were a child, and it was given to you by a Christian relative. Or perhaps you purchased it yourself as an adult. However long you’ve had your Bible for (perhaps you have more than one copy), consider the value that you place on this Book. Is it one of your most precious, treasured possessions, or do you take for granted that you have the Living Word of God at your very fingertips? Do you struggle to be consistent in reading it? Have you ever wondered: Where do I start? How do I read this Book to grow closer to God?

Martin Luther said, “For a number of years I have now annually read through the Bible twice. If the Bible were a large, mighty tree and all its words were little branches, I would have tapped at all the branches, eager to know what was there and what it had to offer.”

Whether you experience a thriving, daily Bible study time, or whether your Bible mostly sits closed on a bookshelf, the reality is that we can all develop stronger Bible study times with God. This week we’ll explore some practical ways to study the Word of God better.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 2.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-05-how-to-study-the-bible/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-05-how-to-study-the-bible

Our Sabbath School program has always been linked to the support of the Seventh-day Adventist Mission program. This video provides a little insight into this important work.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-april-18-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mission-spotlight-for-april-18-2

Inside Story for Friday 24th of April 2026

By Carol de Oliveira

Photo by Dilara Albamya on Pexels(Not from story location.)

Can you imagine being thrust into a prison cell for sharing Jesus? This is a common occurrence for Global Mission pioneers serving in a veiled country in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. A country is called “veiled” to protect the lives and ministry of frontline workers. Global Mission pioneers are laypeople sent to start new groups of believers among unreached people groups.

Recently, Chong,* a pioneer, and Peter, the director of the local conference office, went to the northern part of this country to meet with members of a church plant.

While Chong and Peter had dinner with the members, they heard about three families who wanted to give their lives to Jesus. When Chong learned they were ready to burn their spirit-worship items, he decided to visit them that night.

As Chong, Peter, and some church members traveled to the three families’ homes, a church member said he wanted his family to hear about Jesus. So, before the group reached the families, they visited the member’s home to share the good news with his relatives.

Finally, the group arrived at the homes of the three families. It was late, but the people’s beaming faces warmed Chong’s heart, and their zeal energized his spirit. As they huddled around a fire, Peter introduced Chong and told the people he was there to help them make a full surrender to Jesus.

But the families didn’t seem to need Chong’s help. “We are ready to give our hearts to Jesus,” the family elder said. “We will walk in the light with Jesus taking the lead; not the worldly spirits.”

While Chong was talking with the families, a man burst into the room, demanding that Chong accompany him to the clan leader’s home.

Later that evening, Peter and the church members returned to their place of worship to await news about Chong. As the hours dragged on, they became concerned about how long the meeting with the clan leader was taking. Finally, they learned that Chong was locked up in the clan leader’s home.

During the night, the members prayed for Chong while the leaders tried to negotiate his release. But nothing they tried was successful. He was taken to a detention center where he was kept during the initial investigation of the case.

Providentially, Chong was released four days later. Now, the village where he spent time in jail has more than 100 people who have become Seventh-day Adventist Christians! Rather than deterring Chong from sharing Jesus, jail time strengthened his resolve.

Despite fierce opposition, God’s work continues to flourish in this veiled country. Please pray for our Global Mission pioneers who risk their safety to establish new churches for Jesus. Your faithfulness sustains their ministry.

*Names have been changed.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-04-inside-story-jail-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-04-inside-story-jail-time