Key Thought: We are told to love one another and to live in peace and harmony. We are to be patient and kind. And yet this is a challenge even in our own families.

June 8, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 19:11, 17:14.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What are the principles here that can help us avoid conflict with others?
c. Personal Application: Have you ever had conflicts that now seem silly and insignificant? What can we learn from these experiences that could help prevent similar things from happening in the future? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “I have a relative that disagrees with everything I say. I’m beginning to think they just like to argue and disagree. What can I do with someone who always has a negative for whatever I say?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 4:26,27 Ecclessiastes 7:9.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What is the difference between anger as an emotion and anger as a sin?
b. Personal Application:: Has anyone ever made you angry? Or have you ever gotten angry with someone? How did you get over it? What if you don’t get over it? Share your thoughts.
c. Case Study : One of your friends states, “What does it mean not to let the sun go down upon your anger? What if we get angry at night? Some things naturally cause us to get angry. Does this mean we aren’t supposed to stay angry or carry a grudge?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read I John 4:7,8 Colossians 3:19.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does it mean not to be “bitter” against your spouse?
c. Personal Application: How would you deal with a spouse who is hostile, keeps a record of wrongs, and may be violent? Share your thoughts
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Is anger always a sin? My wife and I get angry with each other at times. We don’t always agree with each other on everything, and sometimes we have clashing personalities. We still love each other, but sometimes it’s hard to get along.” How would you reply to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Matthew 7:12

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why is trying to understand the other person and their position and feelings such a help in relationships and in dealing with conflicts?
b. Personal Application: Think of the way you treat others. Is it always the way you would want them to treat you? Share your thoughts.
d. 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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You can view an in-depth discussion of “Times of Loss” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

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

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Paying With Prayer

By Andrew McChesney

Choomba Simillah was being expelled from the University of Zambia.

He owed 9,000 Zambian kwacha (about U.S.$900), and he had no idea where to obtain the money.

Image © Pacific Press

But Choomba wasn’t going to give up. He was studying for a bachelor’s degree at the public university while teaching at Rusangu Secondary School, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding academy in Zambia.

Choomba approached various people to ask to borrow the money. He looked for a way to sell his car, a maroon Toyota Voltz. He prayed to God to intervene.

Then he went to a bank in Monze, the nearest town to Rusangu Secondary School, to apply for a loan. He learned, however, that the bank had stopped offering loans.

As he dejectedly left the bank, a friend called out on the street, “Can I hire your car for 21 days?”

Choomba looked up.

“There is a white man who has a daughter coming here for the holidays”, the friend said. “He wants to travel. He asked me to look for a sound car, and I think yours will do”.

“That sounds like an opportunity”, Choomba said. “What should I do?”

“Just take your car to the car wash”, the friend said.

Choomba gave his car a good wash and met with the white man, who was spending several months with a friend on a farm in Monze. He said he wanted to take his adult daughter on a tour of Zambia and offered 12,000 kwacha to borrow the car for 21 days. The amount was enough to buy a second-hand car.

“I couldn’t believe it”, Choomba said in an interview.

The man asked to take the car the following day, a Saturday. Although Choomba needed the money, he refused, not wanting to engage in a business transaction on the Sabbath.

“No, we can meet on Sunday”, he said, praying silently that the man wouldn’t change his mind.

The man agreed to pick up the car on Sunday and handed over 11,000 kwacha on the spot.

Choomba promptly returned tithe and went to the university to pay off his bill. He never was expelled and went on to graduate in 2016.

Now more than ever, he believes in the power of prayer.

“Be patient and trust in God”, said Choomba, 37. “You might struggle to do this or that, but He knows what you want. His appointed time always comes”.

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

All Rights Reserved. No part of the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide may be edited, altered, modified, adapted, translated, reproduced, or published by any person or entity without prior written authorization from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

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Further Thought: Little Times of Trouble

“Too often the parents are not united in their family government. The father, who is with his children but little, and is ignorant of their peculiarities of disposition and temperament, is harsh and severe. He does not control his temper, but corrects in passion. The child knows this, and instead of being subdued, the punishment fills him with anger.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

The mother allows misdemeanors to pass at one time for which she will severely punish at another. The children never know just what to expect, and are tempted to see how far they can transgress with impunity. Thus are sown seeds of evil that spring up and bear fruit”. – Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home, pages 314, 315.

“Home is to be the center of the purest and most elevated affection. Peace, harmony, affection, and happiness should be perseveringly cherished every day, until these precious things abide in the hearts of those who compose the family. The plant of love must be carefully nourished, else it will die. Every good principle must be cherished if we would have it thrive in the soul. That which Satan plants in the heart—envy, jealousy, evil surmising, evil speaking, impatience, prejudice, selfishness, covetousness, and vanity—must be uprooted. If these evil things are allowed to remain in the soul, they will bear fruit by which many shall be defiled. Oh, how many cultivate the poisonous plants that kill out the precious fruits of love and defile the soul!” – Pages 195, 196.

Discussion Questions:

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Little Times of Trouble show us that “In Times Like These” you need a Saviour, Hymn 593.

To help us on Sunday, in Conflict, we need “Love at Home”, Hymn 652and pray fervently “Lead Them, My God, to Thee, Hymn 653.

We continue our praying in Hymn 656, “O Perfect Love” as one of the Principles for Marriage (Monday) and in Hymn 658, “Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayer”. More forgiveness can be found in Hymn 299, “Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive”.

To help us overcome anger, we may come “Just as I Am”, Hymn 313/314 to our God for help. This will then have has singing “O God, Our Help”, Hymn 103.

Conflict, Abuse, Power and Control shows the human race needs rescue – “Rescue the Perishing”, Hymn 367.

We ask forgiveness in “Dear Lord and Father”, Hymn 480. What follows is “Peace, Perfect Peace”, Hymn 463. We are then able to fall at the feet of Jesus singing “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”, Hymn 187. Hallelujah!

Blessings to you for a wonderful Sabbath Day.

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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