What does work out your own salvation mean? Join the Hit the Mark panel as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 5 – Shining as Lights in the Night. It’s the fastest hour of the week!

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/shining-as-lights-in-the-night-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shining-as-lights-in-the-night-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school

Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, Dr. Clinton Wahlen, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson,

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/5-shining-as-lights-in-the-night-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-shining-as-lights-in-the-night-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author

View an in-depth discussion of Shining as Lights in the Night in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 28th of January 2026

Timothy’s role as a co-sender of this epistle has already been mentioned (Philippians 1:1). Now Paul begins to detail how valuable Timothy is as one of his coworkers. He is described as an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5) whom Paul had sent to Macedonia (1 Thessalonians 3:2; compare Acts 18:5, Acts 19:22) and, on several occasions, to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 16:10). Previously he had worked with Paul and Silas in Corinth (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and later in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:2-3; compare Acts 19:22). Paul describes Timothy as being “like-minded” (Philippians 2:20, NKJV). The Greek word (lit. “equal in soul”) suggests he was like Paul in many ways, including his commitment to Christ, his energetic efforts to spread the gospel, and his concern for the Philippians specifically.

Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com

Another quality of Timothy’s mentioned by Paul is his “proven charac­ter” (Philippians 2:22, NKJV). The Greek word describes a person who has been thoroughly tested by trials (Romans 5:4) and whose character and service has proved to be genuine (2 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 9:13). Paul knows this to be true of Timothy because he has seen it demonstrated through the many occasions that they worked alongside each other in spreading the gospel.

It is the difficult experiences of life that test our mettle and demonstrate who we are on the inside. Ellen G. White puts it this way: “Life is disciplinary. . . . There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed. If injuries and insults are meekly borne, if insulting words are responded to by gentle answers, and oppressive acts by kindness, this is evidence that the Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 344. She goes on to say that if “the hardships and annoyances that we are called to bear” are “well endured, they develop the Christlike in the character and distinguish the Christian from the worldling.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 344.

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-05-proven-character/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-05-proven-character

Daily Lesson for Tuesday 27th of January 2026

Paul has already expressed a surprisingly ambivalent view toward whether he lives or dies in service to Christ (Philippians 1:20-23). Now he suggests the very real possibility of “being poured out as a drink offering” (Philippians 2:17, NKJV). This imagery is based on the ancient practice of libations, which involved pouring out a liquid (such as oil, wine, or water) as an offering to God (see, for example, Genesis 35:14, Exodus 29:40, 2 Samuel 23:15-17). The apparent “waste” of a valuable liquid in an act of devotion may remind us of Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ head and feet with the “very costly oil of spikenard” (Mark 14:3-9, NKJV; John 12:3, NKJV). While not a drink offering per se, it clearly represented an enormous sacrifice that fittingly illustrated the infinite sacrifice of Christ for our salvation.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Should Paul be executed for his work of spreading the gospel, he would rejoice because his life was being “poured out” as an offering to God. Because libations in the Hebrew Bible generally do not stand alone but accompany a sacrifice (see Numbers 15:1-10, Numbers 28:1-15), Paul would consider the giving of his life as the fitting complement to the “sacrifice and service” of believers in Philippi, who, through faith, have chosen to devote their lives to God as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).

The early Christians, including those in Philippi (Philippians 1:27-29), were active in sharing their faith. They went spreading the gospel from house to house (Acts 5:42). They opened their homes for the study of the Scriptures (Acts 12:12; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:1-2), and were able to give reasons from the Scriptures for what they believed (Acts 17:11, Acts 18:26, 1 Peter 3:15). Our Adventist pioneers did the same. Rather than relying on pastors to spread the message to their neighbors, they shared their faith, gave Bible studies, and prepared people so they would be ready for baptism when the minister returned.

In short, at great personal sacrifice to themselves, that is, as a “living sacrifice,” they worked to spread the gospel. Should we do any less?

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-05-a-living-sacrifice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-05-a-living-sacrifice