Closer To Heaven
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The Mission program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is an opportunity for us to understand the needs of others and share in supporting them. Please click on the image below to watch the Mission Spotlight presentation for this week:
(0)The post Mission Spotlight for February 17 appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-february-17/
What should be the effect of receiving God’s mercy in one’s heart? Join us as we discuss Lesson 7 – Your Mercy Reaches Unto the Heavens.
(0)The post Your Mercy Reaches Unto the Heavens – Hit the Mark Sabbath School appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/your-mercy-reaches-unto-the-heavens-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/
Inside Story for Friday 16th of February 2024
By Andrew McChesney
On a Friday evening, Sekule was waiting outside the boys’ dormitory at his high school in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was waiting for a boy who had insulted him, and he planned to beat him up.
As he waited, a friend offered him cognac. He drank and, after many more drinks, passed out in a drunken stupor. In the morning, he knew that his friends would tease him mercilessly for not getting revenge. He decided to hide for the day. But where? Then he remembered the invitation from his Adventist teacher to go to church. It was Sabbath morning.
Sekule’s hair was long and greasy. He hadn’t washed it for a month. His breath reeked. But he went to church. When he arrived, he looked carefully for a place to sit. He had heard that Adventists celebrated “Sweet Sabbath” orgies every week, and he didn’t want to be found sitting next to a grandmother. Spotting an attractive young woman, he sat down near her.
When the church pastor began to preach, Sekule’s mouth dropped open in surprise. The pastor was giving Bible answers to his questions about God and hell. A huge burden was lifted from his heart as he heard that God, indeed, is love (1 John 4:8), desires to save every sinner (Luke 19:10), and will cast no one into an eternal hell (Malachi 4:1,3; Psalms 37:10-11).
After the sermon, someone invited Sekule to evangelistic meetings, and he went. At the end of the meetings, he asked the church pastor, “Tell me, please, what am I allowed to do, and what am I not allowed to do?”
“You can do whatever you want,” the pastor said.
“Don’t talk that way,” Sekule said. “Tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“You cannot work on Sabbath anymore,” the pastor said.
“OK, done.”
“You cannot go to school on Sabbath anymore.”
“OK, done.”
“You cannot fight anymore.”
“OK, done.”
“You cannot eat unclean meat.”
“OK. I won’t eat unclean meat.”
“Actually, we suggest that you not eat any meat at all.”
“OK, I won’t eat meat anymore.”
From that day, Sekule never worked or went to school on Sabbath. He never fought, and he never ate meat. He was baptized six months later, at the age of 18. But he accepted Adventist teachings on the spot—all because his questions of God and hell had been answered from the Bible.
Sekule Sekuli´c is an affluent entrepreneur and faithful Seventh-day Adventist in Montenegro. Read more of his story next week. Thank you for your Sabbath School mission offerings that help spread the good news of Jesus’ soon coming in Montenegro and around the world.
(0)The post Inside Story: Burden Is Lifted: Part 3 appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-07-inside-story-burden-is-lifted-part-3/
Daily Lesson for Friday 16th of February 2024
Read Ellen G. White, “The Sinner’s Need of Christ,” pages 17–22, in Steps to Christ.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
In the Psalms, the voices of God’s people join as one in repeating the chorus “His mercy endures forever” in celebration of God’s eternal love (Psalms 106:1, NKJV; Psalms 107:1, NKJV; Psalms 118:1-4,29, NKJV; Psalms 136:1-26, NKJV). “Not to praise God would mean to forget all His benefits, not to appreciate God’s gifts. Only those who praise do not forget. Thinking and speaking about God is not yet praising Him. Praise begins when one acknowledges God’s majesty and works and responds with adoration of His goodness, mercy, and wisdom.”—Hans LaRondelle, Deliverance in the Psalms, p. 178.
The significance of the solemn confession of God’s enduring mercy gains even deeper significance when we remember that God’s khesed—namely His covenantal loving-kindness and faithfulness—stands firm and unchanging amid human sin and rebellion against God.
“We have sinned against Him, and are undeserving of His favor; yet He Himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas, ‘Do not abhor us, for Thy name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us.’ Jeremiah 14:21. When we come to Him confessing our unworthiness and sin, He has pledged Himself to give heed to our cry. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word unto us.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 148.
Experiencing God’s graciousness to him (Psalms 103:2) encourages the psalmist to say that “the Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed” (Psalms 103:6, NKJV; emphasis supplied). Thus, the final aim of the psalmist’s personal testimony, and praise of God’s mercy in his life, is to reassure others of God’s loving-kindness so that they, too, can open their hearts to God and receive His saving grace and praise God (Psalms 9:11-12; Psalms 22:22-27; Psalms 66:16).
Discussion Questions
(0)The post Friday: Further Thought – Your Mercy Reaches Unto the Heavens appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-07-further-thought-your-mercy-reaches-unto-the-heavens/
Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dragoslava Santrac, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson, “The Lord Reigns.”
(0)The post 7: Your Mercy Reaches Unto the Heavens – It is Written – Discussions with the Author appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
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