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.

Sunday teaches us to be worthy by choosing Jesus above everything else just as we find in
Worthy, Worthy Is the Lamb – Hymn 246 and in
Hymn 252 – Come, Let Us Sing “Worthy the Lamb, for he was slain!”.

Our inheritance is requested in verse two of
Hymn 191 – Love Divine to help us expand on the Monday study. We then pray for inheriting eternal life in
Hymn 658 – Heavenly Father Hear Our Prayer.

The greatest ambition (Tuesday) is to know that
Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Hymn 100 O God my Father. It is then that Jesus points us to
Only Trust Him – Hymn 279,
Hymn 590 – Trust and Obey and then we know that
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus – Hymn 524. We can then state
I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus – Hymn 535. The dialogue then asks why “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus” (our old hymnal number 618) had little effect on this disciples, and remains that way even today with us.

The question is asked in Hymn 113 – As Pants the Hart
that is resounded in Thursday’s lesson “Why restless, why cast down, my soul?”. We see in
Hymn 242 – Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts “our restless spirits yearn for Thee”. These sentiments are echoed in
Hymn 355 – Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life verse 4, and
Hymn 370 – Christ for the World verse 2. All will be better in our hearts and souls asking and knowing
Jesus, Guide Our Way – Hymn 553. We will be elevated to a higher plain when Jesus plants “my feet on higher ground” –
Hymn 625 – Higher Ground.

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.”

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As in the case of the aspen and its larger underground system, selfishness is part of the huge underground system called “sin,” which keeps us from finding true rest in Jesus. Of all the expressions of sin in our lives, selfishness seems to be the easiest to manifest, doesn’t it? For most of us, selfishness is as natural as breathing.

Read Luke 12:13-21. Describe the problem highlighted in Jesus’ parable. Is planning for the future, selfish and expressing disregard for God’s kingdom? If not, or at least not necessarily, then what is Jesus warning us against?

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This parable appears only in the Gospel of Luke and is told in response to an anonymous question from the audience. Asked about a question regarding an inheritance, Jesus responds by rejecting the role of the arbiter between brothers. Instead, He opts to put His finger on the bigger underlying problem, namely, selfishness. He digs deeper to show the root mass underneath our individual actions.

Think about expressions of selfishness in your life. How does selfishness affect our relationship with God, with our spouses and families, with our church family, with our neighbors and colleagues at work? What key is found in Philippians 2:5-8?

By focusing solely on his own needs and ambitions, the anonymous rich man of Jesus’ parable forgot to take into consideration unseen heavenly realities. Bigger, better, and more are not the foundational principles of God’s kingdom. Paul offers us a glimpse into what motivated Jesus as He decided to become our Substitute.

Philippians 2:5-8 describes the blueprint of unselfishness, humility, and love. If love for God and others does not drive our choices and priorities, we will continue to build more barns for ourselves here and put less treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Very few people enjoy conflict. We crave harmony and peace. We even teach seminars on peacemaking and conflict resolution in our churches or institutions.

Read Matthew 10:34-39. What does Jesus mean when He says that He did not come to bring peace but to bring a sword? What does this mean, considering that Jesus is “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)?

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Jesus’ statement in Matthew 10:34-39 is shockingly counterintuitive. The Savior, who came as a helpless babe instead of a powerful king surrounded by elite bodyguards, who preached love to both neighbors and enemies, now tells His followers that He brings division and struggles. His disciples and His audience may have wondered, as we are wondering: How can this be?

Matthew 10:35-39 is really about allegiances and loyalties. Quoting Micah 7:6, Jesus challenges His audience to make choices for eternity. A son should love and honor his parents. That was a legal requirement of the law that Moses had received on the mountain. It was part of God’s required mode of operation; and yet, if that love would trump the hearer’s commitment to Jesus, it required a tough decision. A father and a mother should love and care for their children. Yet, if that love would top the parents’ commitment to Jesus, it required a difficult decision. First things first, Jesus reminds us in this passage.

Jesus expresses this choice by formulating three sentences, each using the term worthy. Worthiness is not based on high moral standards or even overcoming sin. Worthiness is based on one’s relationship with Jesus. We are worthy when we choose Him above everything else — including mother, father, or children. We choose the suffering of the cross and follow Jesus.

“I have no higher wish than to see our youth imbued with that spirit of pure religion which will lead them to take up the cross and follow Jesus. Go forth, young disciples of Christ, controlled by principle, clad in the robes of purity and righteousness. Your Saviour will guide you into the position best suited to your talents and where you can be most useful.” — Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 87.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Matthew 10:34-39, Luke 12:13-21, Philippians 2:5-8, Luke 22:14-30, Matthew 23:1-13.

Memory Text: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16).

Aspens are beautiful trees, reaching 45-90 feet (15-30 meters) in height. They thrive in cold climates with cool summers. Their wood is used in furniture and also for making matches and paper. Deer and other animals often feed on young aspen trees during hard winters as their bark contains many nutrients. Aspens need lots of sunshine, and they grow all the time — even in winter, making them important winter food sources for different animals.

Aspens, however, are most notorious for the fact that they have one of the largest root systems in the plant world. The roots spread by underground suckers and form a colony that can spread relatively quickly, covering large areas. Individual aspen trees can live up to 150 years, but the larger organism below the ground can live for thousands of years.

In this week’s study, we want to discover some of the roots of our restlessness. There are many things that can prevent us from finding true rest in Jesus. Some of these are obvious and don’t require much attention. Others may be less obvious to us and, as with to the huge aspen organism unseen beneath the ground, we may not always be conscious of the attitudes and actions that separate us from our Savior.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 17.

Sunday–>

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Impact of a Mission School

By Diana Fish

What kind of impact can a mission school have on a family?

Shima, which means “mother” in the Navajo language, heard about Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School about 40 years ago.

An elderly friend spoke very highly of Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School, located on the Navajo Reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona. “The school provides an excellent education to our Navajo children,” he said.

Shima enrolled five of her seven children at Holbrook Indian School.

Her eldest son learned how to weld and do other metal work at Holbrook Indian School. He loved working with metal and became a metalworker.

Shima’s second-eldest child, a girl, decided to go to an Adventist college after graduating from Holbrook. She studied nursing at Pacific Union College in California and works today as a nurse on the Navajo Reservation.

Shima did not send her two youngest children to Holbrook. She decided against it because she became unhappy with the school. One of her daughters, Nabaa, had some difficulties at the school, and the school ended up asking her to leave. Shima felt hurt that her daughter was not allowed to stay.

Nabaa not only had difficulties at Holbrook but also at every school she attended. She eventually graduated, went to college, and became a teacher. Nabaa is still teaching and a member of the Adventist Church today.

Nabaa must have forgiven Holbrook for dismissing her because she enrolled all three of her children at the school. Nabaa’s children, who are now young adults, have graduated from Holbrook and are doing well. One is a teacher and another is about to become a teacher. The third child is the wife of an Adventist pastor and is studying to become a teacher, too.

What happened to Shima’s two youngest children who never attended Holbrook? The Adventist influence of Holbrook still permeated their family, and both became Adventists. One teaches at an Adventist school today.

What kind of impact can a mission school have on a family? Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School has had a major impact on Shima’s family and many others on the Navajo Reservation and beyond.

Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering three years ago that kickstarted plans on a new gym and health center called New Life Center at Holbrook Seventh-day Adventist Indian School. Your offering this quarter will help finish the second phase of the center, where the school will address high rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and suicide among Native American children and youth.

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

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