Image © Pacific Press

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 12:16-21, Eccles. 2:18-22, Proverbs 27:23-27, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Eccles. 5:10, Colossians 1:15-17.

Memory Text: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

As we near the end of our earning years, our financial focus turns toward preserving our assets in anticipation of the end of life. The transition from working to retirement can be a very traumatic experience. In terms of our finances, what is the best way to proceed?

As people get older, they almost naturally begin to worry about the future. The most common fears are: dying too soon (before the family is taken care of); living too long (outliving their assets or savings); catastrophic illness (all my resources could go at one time); and mental and/or physical disability (who will take care of me?).

When commenting on these fears, Ellen G. White wrote: “All these fears originate with Satan. … If they would take the position which God would have them, their last days might be their best and happiest. … They should lay aside anxiety and burdens, and occupy their time as happily as they can, and be ripening up for heaven.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 424.

This week we will review God’s counsel regarding our last years. What are things that we should do, what should we avoid doing, and what principles should we follow?

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 11.

Sunday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sabbath-giving-back/

Support for the mission activities of the Seventh-day Adventist church has always been part of the Sabbath School program. This video is Mission Spotlight for this week. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-bjxbVemJ0&w=560&h=315]

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-march-4/

Key Thought:  Covetousness is listed with many heinous sins like extortion, idolatry, fornication, and adultery. Let’s look at bad it is, and what we can to do to overcome it.
March 4, 2023

1. Have a volunteer read Joshua 7:21-25.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What reason did Achan give for taking the garment, silver, and gold?
3. Personal Application: What are the normal things that people covet? What is the real problem with coveting? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why is there inconsistency in the Bible about the spoils of war? When Jerusalem was surrounded by armies and God killed all the enemies in the camp, everyone was encouraged to take as much spoil as they wished, but here Achan took gold and silver and was cursed with a curse. What made the difference?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read John 12:3-8.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What did Mary do that attracted so much attention during the feast?
3. Personal Application: What is the difference between a legitimate desire and covetousness? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why did Judas respond to Mary’s act with the expensive perfume the way he did? Was he discontent with the misuse of that which could have been given to the poor, or did he have other motives?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Acts 5:1-11.

1. Ask class members to share a short
2. What were the results of the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira upon the church?
3. Personal Application: What was worse, holding back part of the money, or lying about it? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “What if they had agreed to give half their profit from selling the property to the church? Would they have been destroyed for not giving all their proceeds?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 10:13.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What promise is here, and why is it important to understand the context of covetouness?
3. Personal Application: What are other things, besides money, that we can covet? Share your thoughts?
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/9-beware-of-covetousness-teaching-plan/

Is this True, or False? As long as it doesn’t belong to someone else, there’s nothing wrong with strongly desiring more. Join us as we discuss Lesson 9, Beware of Covetousness.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/beware-of-covetousness-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/

Boldly Sharing Jesus

By Andrew McChesney

On an Easter Sunday, retired pastor Simo Vehkavuori stood in a packed train traveling home to the capital, Helsinki, from evangelistic meetings that he had conducted in central Finland. A 24-year-old university student boarded the train and looked around for a seat.

Image © Pacific Press

“Even though the train looks full, why don’t you walk through the cars and see whether you can find an empty seat?” Simo said to her.

She returned, smiling. “I found two free seats,” she said. “One for me and one for you. Come with me!” The two sat opposite each other. “Excuse me, but do you mind if I ask you how you feel about religion?” Simo asked.

“I’m quite far from spiritual things right now,” she said.

“Would you like to know how I became a believer?” Simo said.

She did, and Simo told her. As the train approached Helsinki, he said, “Would you mind if I remembered you in my prayers?”

The student burst into tears. The tears flowed down her cheeks, and she said, loudly, “That would be really great! Please do that.”

Before parting ways, Simo said something that he often tells new friends: “May you be encouraged to know that, even though you are very busy, you can serve a risen Jesus Christ, the One who atoned for our sins on the cross of Calvary. And that’s not all. This same Jesus has promised to come back and will take us to a heavenly home where eternity will start. So, dear friend, let us stay on the heaven-bound journey under the Father’s loving hand until we reach our destination. May the Lord bless you through His grace.”

On another train trip, Simo was surprised when a woman greeted him and even shook his hand as he boarded. “Hello, I’m a retired Seventh-day Adventist pastor,” he replied. “That’s interesting,” the woman said. “I have never heard about Adventists. I want to hear all about your church on this 500-kilometer [300-mile] trip. Here were two empty seats. Let’s sit together.”

Simo spoke about the Adventist Church for the whole trip. As they left the train, a man walked up behind them. “Thank you for the interesting train ride,” he said, eagerly grabbing Simo’s hand with both of his hands. “Thank you for being so brave to share God so loudly that all of us could hear.”

At 84, Simo seeks divine appointments on every train. “The older I get, the bolder I get in sharing Jesus,” he said.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-boldly-sharing-jesus/