Daily Lesson for Monday 30th of March 2026

“ ‘As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten,’ ” Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:19. “ ‘Therefore be zealous and repent’ ” (NKJV). None of us, for even a second, could justly say that Jesus doesn’t care about us or our future. How much easier it would have been for Jesus to give up on humanity and not travel the painful road He chose on this earth. It’s precisely because He loves us so deeply that He rebukes us in our current state. He wants a much stronger, deeper relationship with us. He’s not satisfied with our on-and-off attitudes, our “I’ll come to Him when I need Him” approach.

Instead, Jesus rebukes us for our own good. He tells us to repent. But we can’t repent unless we realize that there’s something wrong. Yet, He’s told us exactly what’s wrong with us: we think we’re rich, but we’re actually “ ‘wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked’ ” (Revelation 3:17, NKJV).

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

This is such a beautiful and extraordinary word picture. The God of the universe wants to sit down over a meal with you, with me. He desires mutual engagement and conversation over good food. He wants a close, abiding relationship, and Jesus invites us to have this with Him.

Jesus stands patiently waiting and knocking at the door of your heart. Perhaps you’ve seen pictures of this in children’s books—a tall, graceful Savior, knocking gently. He doesn’t barge in and force you to talk with Him. He doesn’t impose on your time or your busy life. Time is short; so, if you hear Him, open the door. He will be there to step into your life.

This metaphor illustrates the kind of relationship Jesus wants to have with each of us. But one day, when you meet Jesus face-to-face, when you cast your crown at His feet in adoration and praise with thousands upon ten thousands of others in worship to the Creator (Revelation 4:9-11, Revelation 5:11-14), when you think back to your earthly trials and see that they dim into insignificance—do you think at that point you’ll ever regret the time you spent with Jesus on earth?

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-01-rebuke-repent-and-reward/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-01-rebuke-repent-and-reward

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class on April 4, 2026.

Photograph by William Earnhardt

Central Theme: This week, let’s consider the current state of our relationship with God and what the Bible advises us. Indeed, we can’t move from where we are to some place better until we take an honest reality check of ourselves and listen to the solution that Jesus describes.

Read in Class: Revelation 3:14-19. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: where Jesus describes the spiritual condition of His people today. How well do these texts describe you personally? What solution does Jesus have for us?

Apply: If you find it painful to look at yourself and your own spiritual condition, what hope is offered you in these verses for today?

Share: Your friend says that we are children of the King and should always feel good about ourselves. We should never feel bad about ourselves, because we are God’s special people. What do you tell your friend? For a hint, see: Negative Feelings Play a Positive Role in Our Salvation.

Read in Class: Revelation 3:20-22. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are we promised here? But what must we do to receive that promise?

Apply: Right now, Jesus is knocking. He is calling. You, though, have to make the conscious choice to open your heart to Him. How can viewing the Cross and thinking about what it means inspire you to make that choice?

Share: Your friend suggests that the cares of this life and our accomplishments in life may keep us from “hearing” Jesus knocking at our heart’s door. How can we make sure we hear, actually open the door, and let Him in? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 15:1-11. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: What did Jesus say here,  and what does it mean?

Apply: Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. Branches don’t feed off one another. They feed off the vine. How do you know that you are being fed from the Vine (Jesus), and not just feeding off the other branches?

Share: Your friend asks, “What does it mean for God to prune us?” How does he do that? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 14:16-18, John 15:26, John 16:7-8, and John 16:13.

Study: What are various ways in which the Holy Spirit impacts our relationship with God?

Apply: In specific ways or areas of your life, have you seen the Holy Spirit leading you into a closer relationship with God lately?

Share: Your friend asks, if it is the Holy Spirit that leads people into all truth, what role do we play? What do you tell your friend?

Mission: Can you find a nice, quiet place to be alone with God this week and journal about your relationship with Him?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/1-reality-check-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=1-reality-check-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 29th of March 2026

Have you ever wondered what Jesus might say if He were to describe your relationship with Him right now? Perhaps He’d say it is strong or that it has been stronger in the past. Have you ever wondered what Jesus might say if He were to describe His people in these last days? In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus actually does describe them.

He begins by stating that He’s the “ ‘ “Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” ’ ” (Revelation 3:14, NKJV). A faithful and true witness doesn’t lie but speaks plainly and honestly.

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

Jesus tells us, Christian individuals who live in the last days, that He knows us. We’re neither hot nor cold, because, from our vantage point, we don’t need anything. The days and weeks pass by, and we spend a little time with God here and there, and we think that’s enough. But it’s not. Instead, we actually need Him far more desperately than we realize. If only we could love and live for Jesus wholeheartedly or not at all. That would be better from God’s perspective than being lukewarm. Jesus says that He’ll vomit us out of His mouth because we taste as bad as we are. But He hasn’t yet done this, and He asks us to make some bold choices right now.

In ancient times, “buying” something meant bartering or exchanging goods. Here, Jesus generously offers an exchange: our apathy for His gold, for His white garments, and for His eye salve. He wants to make us rich in His eyes; He wants to cover us with His perfect robe of righteousness; and He wants to open our eyes to see the truth of how an abiding relationship with Him will change absolutely everything. He offers us all that we need, especially because what we need, we can’t provide for ourselves. He alone can, and will, but only if we are willing.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-01-our-condition/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-01-our-condition

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 28th of March 2026

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: Revelation 3:14-22; Revelation 4:9-11; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:8-10; Jeremiah 31:3-4; John 15:1-11; Romans 8:9-11.

Memory Text:

“ ‘As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love’ ” (John 15:9, NKJV).

How would you describe your relationship with God today? Is it vibrant and strong? Do you spend time investing in this relationship, searching His inspired Word, and talking to Him as a Friend? If so, how much time do you spend doing it?

Also, are you compelled to share with others about your relationship with God because it’s the most wonderful relationship in your life? Or, instead, has your relationship with God waned over time? It’s there, yes, and you check in from time to time, but to be honest, it’s not as strong as it used to be. Or, perhaps, you’re somewhere in between, what the Bible calls “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:16).

Have you ever wondered if angels ponder why we don’t live in adoration of our Savior and Redeemer, with hungry hearts and eager minds to grow closer to God every day? But, truly, a relationship with God changes _everything_—both here and into eternity.

This week, let’s consider the current state of our relationship with God and what the Bible’s advice is for us. Indeed, we can’t move from where we are to someplace better until we take an honest reality check of ourselves and listen to the solution that Jesus describes.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for April 4.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-01-reality-check/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-01-reality-check

Whether you’ve grown up a Seventh-day Adventist or are new to the faith; whether you’ve read many or few Adult Bible Study Guides; and, finally, no matter where you find yourself spiritually today, the topic of how to grow in a meaningful relationship with God is crucial.

Image © Pacific Press

This topic affects all others. Your picture of God may have become tainted or blurred; if so, pray for greater clarity as you study. You might be wondering how to refresh your devotional life (prayer and Bible study), or you might be pondering other areas that impact your relationship with God, such as the role of pride and humility, faith and knowledge, sin and God’s law, repentance and forgiveness, how to overcome strongholds and setbacks, and how to encourage others in their walk with God.

     Your relationship with God is your single most important relationship. Don’t delay in building it, in fortifying it, in making it as strong as it can be. Now—not sometime in the future—is the time to work on this relationship, which will impact everything else: your marriage (if applicable), your parenting (if applicable), your friendships, your financial decisions, your leisure, your aspirations . . . and, of course, your eternal future.

     Because this topic—that of God’s desire to be in a relationship with humankind—encompasses the entire Bible, there are many different angles, stories, and Bible passages that could have been chosen to teach this important topic. Given the nature of the Adult Bible Study Guide, we can follow only a limited number.

     Whatever your relationship with God is like today, these lessons are written with you in mind. Ultimately, the desire is that these thirteen short, focused lessons will reawaken your love and commitment to Jesus Christ as you seek Him anew this quarter.

     Because the nature of this topic is about relationships, this Adult Bible Study Guide reads a little differently than previous ones. The lessons are written in a more personal style because they are about a personal God who wants to know you personally.

Image © Pacific Press

Ellen G. White says that “a consistent life in Christ is a great miracle.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 407. The Bible uses the metaphor of a race to describe the lifelong relationship with God. Our reward is an imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:24, 25) and eternal life with our God. Our spiritual race is a marathon, not a sprint. There may be times we stop running or even fall flat on our face. It happens, and when it does, we just get up and keep moving. We must stay the course, in spite of trials and hardships that inevitably come (Heb. 12:4-11). And we don’t run this race alone; other runners who love Jesus and His Word run with us. Most important, Jesus promised to give us the Helper. “ ‘And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you’ ” (John 14:16, 17, NKJV).

     We do not run life’s race alone—the Helper is not only with us but dwells in us in order to strengthen and sustain us as we run and as we fix our eyes on “Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2, NET).

     As I write, I am praying that the Holy Spirit will move upon us individually and as a worldwide church to draw us closer to God as never before. For surely there could be nothing more important than having a strong relationship with God.

     So, let’s study together, to learn, to love, and to abide in Him.

Nina Atcheson is the curriculum manager and senior editor of the Alive in Jesus Sabbath School Curriculum at the General Conference. She lives to inspire and equip others to know God deeply and personally through His inspired Word. Atcheson is married to Matt, and together they have three teenage children.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/introduction-growing-in-a-relationship-with-god/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introduction-growing-in-a-relationship-with-god