Rest. The word used most frequently in our Sabbath School Lesson pamphlet this quarter. “Thou shalt rest, Thou shalt rest!” These are words repeated each verse of
Hymn 387 – Come, O Sabbath Day, our theme hymn for this quarter.

We could add to the theme
Hymn 529 – Under His Wings. Each week of study this quarter, gives more and more of showing God’s deepest care for us, His children. As God’s children we find out about the Biblical family growing pains, and this still happens today. Yet, we are still “under His wings”.

The Memory Text opens our singing this week with
Hymn 515 – The Lord Is My Light.

It is in
Hymn 386 – The Scared Anthem we find “The Lord of Sabbaths wills renewal for the weary earth and healing for our ills” just as we are looking at the ‘Healing Rest’ we need in Sunday’s study time.

Our ‘Root Treatment’ is in the forgiveness for which we long –
Hymn 299 – Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive (Monday).

When we are ‘Too Tired to Run’ anymore, as was Elijah, the understanding comes to us of what our faith can give, as in
Hymn 163 – At The Cross. It is there that
I Must Tell Jesus – Hymn 485 all of my troubles. His compassion then gives us rest. After our rest, we can sing
Praise Ye the Father – Hymn 70 in which we praise the Saviour, as great is His compassion.

Blessings for a wonderful week ahead.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(0)

The post 8: Free to Rest – Singing with Inspiration first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/__wZWfYMvHQ/

Key Thought: In changes in our experiences, we are either elated or depressed. But changes in circumstances has no power to change God’s relationship to us.
August 21, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Mark 2:1-12.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Why did Jesus first forgive the paralytic’s sins before He healed him?
3. Personal Application: How can we find peace and rest even when our prayers for healing don’t seem to be answered? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Is understanding the cause of a sickness an important step to healing and recovery?” How would you respond to your friend?

2. Have a volunteer read I Kings 19:1-5.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why did Elijah run away when threatened by Jezebel?
3. Personal Application: Have you ever been so tired and worn out that you did or said the wrong thing? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why was Elijah feeling sorry for himself after gaining a great victory over the priests of Baal? What did God do to help him get back on the right track?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read I Kings 19:5-8..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What happened after Elijah got rest and nourishment?
3. Personal Application: Have you ever gotten to the point where you felt you’s had it? You’re ready to quit. You’ve had enough? What do you do to deal with that attitude? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “How can I do anything right now? I’m depressed and down. Nobody cares what I have done for them. Nothing seems to matter.“ How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read I Kings 19:15,16; 2 Kings 2:11…

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Is there any power in intercessory prayer for those too depressed to pray for themselves? How important is it to pray for others in need?
3. Personal Application: Does being depressed, fearful, or worried mean we lack faith in God? How can we learn to trust God no matter how difficult it is?” 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).

Amen!(0)

The post 8: Free To Rest – Teaching Plan first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/SzfinrJqRJE/

Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common illness worldwide, affecting more than three hundred million people each year, does not always have obvious visible symptoms. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease.

Image © Kim Justinen at Goodsalt.com

Unfortunately, often depression is not spoken about in Christianity because it can be seen as a sign of a lack of faith. After all, aren’t Christians always supposed to be filled with joy and happiness and the like? So, isn’t depression a sign that something is wrong with our relationship with God?

Most people know that this isn’t true. Even Christians, faithful Christians, can at times struggle with depression, especially after a traumatic event, and it is not a sign of lack of faith or trust in God. Again, one can read the Psalms and see the pain, suffering, and anguish that God’s faithful people suffered.

Sometimes a depression slowly and quietly takes hold of us, and we recognize it only when it tightens its grip. Sometimes it strikes quickly, after a particularly draining emotional or physical event. For example, God’s faithful prophet Elijah was completely drained, emotionally and physically, after Mount Carmel.

In 1 Kings 18:1-46, Elijah has just seen God’s miracle of fire coming down from heaven. In answer to his prayer, he has seen rain come and end a three-year drought. Why does Elijah react to Jezebel’s threat by running? Read 1 Kings 19:1-5.

Elijah has had a very grueling twenty-four hours. This experience, coupled with a rude awakening and a death threat, serves as a depression trigger for Elijah.

Also, Elijah was there when the prophets of Baal were slaughtered, perhaps even some of them by his own hand (1 Kings 18:40). Such an event, even for a righteous cause, can easily lead to traumatic stress in those who either watch or, even worse, take part.

So Elijah begins to run, to try to get away. Sometimes we run to the refrigerator and try to eat ourselves happy again. Sometimes we try to sleep our emotional exhaustion away. Sometimes we look for a new relationship, job, or location in our quest to run away. And sometimes we bury ourselves in more work, more deadlines, and appointments, as we try harder to run away from the nameless something that is draining our joy and rest. And of course, many people use “medications” of some sort or another, all in an attempt to dull the pain. In the end, though, these things only mask the symptoms; they don’t solve the problem, and often they can make it only worse.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(0)

The post Tuesday: Running Away first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/hztgfNeK8zA/

The paralytic had been lowered into Jesus’ presence, and all eyes were on Jesus. Would He choose to heal an obvious sinner? Would He speak a word to rebuke the illness?

How does Jesus go about healing the paralytic? What is the first thing Jesus does for him? Read Mark 2:5-12.

Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com

Because we are often unaware of a disease until we notice the symptoms, we often think of the disease as merely the symptoms. We think that getting rid of the symptoms means healing. Jesus approaches disease differently. He knows the root of all suffering and disease and wants to treat this first.

In the case of the paralytic, instead of immediately treating the obvious effects of his disease, Jesus goes straight to the root of what is bothering the man the most. The paralytic feels the weight of his guilt and separation from God more severely than he feels his disease. A person resting in God is able to endure whatever physical suffering may befall him in this sin-sick world. And so, Jesus goes straight to the root and offers forgiveness first.

The religious leaders are shocked when they hear Jesus pronounce forgiveness. In answer to their unspoken accusations, Jesus poses a question.

Read  Mark 2.8-9. What challenge is Jesus giving to the scribes there? What issue is He really dealing with?

Talk is generally cheap, but not when God speaks. By God’s powerful word, all things came into being (Genesis 1). Although forgiveness is not something that we can see, it is costly. Forgiveness cost the life of the Son of God on the cross. Everything else is secondary. To demonstrate the power and reality of forgiveness, Jesus then chooses to heal the paralytic.

God wants to cure us on the inside first. And then sometimes He chooses to bring us immediate physical healing, as with the paralytic, or sometimes we will have to wait for resurrection morning to experience physical healing. Either way, our Savior wants us to be able to rest in the assurance of His love and grace and forgiveness even now, even amid our suffering.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Amen!(0)

The post Monday: Root Treatment first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/Qg0qgN5ud-I/

If ever there is a time that we need rest, it is when we are sick. We need the physical rest so that our bodies can rally our immune system.

And we often need mental rest, too. Sometimes it is just something non-life-threatening like a cold or a migraine. We lie there and try not to think about all that we should be doing but simply can’t.

Sometimes, when it is something potentially life-threatening, we lie awake and worry about what the medical test results will be. And then often we start to wonder why. Has that unhealthy lifestyle finally caught up with us? Was it the drugs we took 20 years ago? Was it the extra weight we have been carrying for the past few years? Is God punishing us for that secret sin that no one else knows about?

Read Mark 2:1-4. What was happening here?

Image © Darrel Tank at Goodsalt.com

For the paralytic in this story, it was an obvious case. In The Desire of Ages (pages 267-271), we get the background. The paralytic had done some things that he was not very proud of. His sinful life caused this sickness, and the spiritual experts drew a straight line from cause to effect. He had brought this disease upon himself by his sins, and there was no cure.

This attitude can be very typical. We often seem to be obsessed with who did it. If some crime has been committed, someone must pay for it. If there is an accident somewhere, someone should be sued. But assigning blame does not bring healing or wholeness to the one who is sick.

God’s original design did not include pain, disease, and suffering. Sickness came to this planet only with the entrance of sin. That’s why God gives us health guidelines — so that we can enjoy a better quality of life now. But as long as we are in this sin-sick world, there will be no guarantees of health, no matter how diligently we follow healthful principles.

The good news is that God can give us rest whether we are sick or healthy; whether our sickness is a result of our own doing or someone else’s neglect, our genes, or just a byproduct of living in this sinful world. God knows how to give us rest.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Amen!(0)

The post Sunday: Healing Rest first appeared on Sabbath School Net.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/9vO3kblKO3A/