By His ministry and His teaching, Jesus urged a radical inclusiveness. All who sought His attention with honest motives—whether women with bad reputations, tax collectors, lepers, Samaritans, Roman centurions, religious leaders, or children—He welcomed with genuine warmth and care. As the early church was to discover in transformative ways, this included the offer of the gift of salvation.

Humanity

As the first believers slowly recognized the inclusiveness of the gospel, they were not merely adding good works for others onto their faith as a “nice” thing to do. It was core to their understanding of the gospel, as they had experienced it in the life, ministry, and death of Jesus. As they wrestled with the issues and questions that arose, first individually for leaders such as Paul and Peter (see, for example, Acts 10:9-20), then as a church body at the Jerusalem council (see Acts 15), they began to realize the dramatic shift this good news had brought into their understanding of God’s love and inclusiveness and how that should be lived out in the lives of those who profess to follow Him.

What do each of the following texts teach us about our common humanity? How should each idea influence our attitude toward others?

Mal. 2:10

Acts 17:26

Rom. 3:23

Gal. 3:28

Galatians 3:28 is a theological summary of the practical story Jesus told about the good Samaritan. Rather than arguing about who we are obligated to serve, just go and serve, and perhaps even be prepared to be served by those we might not expect to serve us. The common element of the global human family is realized at a higher level in the common family of those who are bound together by the gospel, by the saving love of God that calls us to oneness in Him: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free” (1 Cor. 12:13, NIV).

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “Living the Gospel” 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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The memory verse give us our first hymn: 
“Marvelous Grace”, Hymn 109, ending with 
“My Faith Has Found a Resting Place”, Hymn 523. The introduction goes on speaking of grace, in
“Amazing Grace”, Hymn 108.

Sunday’s study is found in 
Hymn 78, “For God So Loved Us”, and
Hymn 341, “To God Be the Glory”.

There are a number of hymns that speak of the compassion of our Saviour for Monday’s study:
Hymn70, “Praise Ye the Father”, (verse 2)
Hymn 100, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, (verse 1)
Hymn 191, “Love Divine”, (verse 1)
Hymn 297, “God Be Merciful to Me”, (verse 1) to name a few, with repentance in 
Hymn 521, “Depth of Mercy”.

 ‘We were created to worship God’ says Tuesday’s study time: 
Hymn 6, “O Worship the Lord” and 
Hymn 83, “O Worship the King”. As sin-damaged humans, we are thankful for God’s grace in 
Hymn 109, “Marvelous Grace” and our reaction is 
“Working, O Christ, With Thee”, Hymn 582.

Our response to the ‘great and complete sacrifice done for us’ is Love: 
Hymn 236, “I Love Thee”, 
Hymn 248, “O, How I Love Jesus”, 
Hymn 406, “Love Consecrates the Humblest Act” and 
Hymn 579, “Tis Love That Makes Us Happy”.

Hymn 286, “Wonderful Words of Life” tell us of The Everlasting Gospel (Thursday’s study) in Revelation 14:6, 7.

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace”. Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)

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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1. Earning our salvation? Do you ever encounter Christians who honestly believe that we earn our way to heaven? If that is not your belief, how  do you explain the importance of obeying God’s commands if we want to join Him in heaven? Our lesson guide places the text from Ephesians (2:8-10) at the top of the lesson guide for the week. What fundamental teaching is clearly presented in these verses telling us exactly how we are saved? If you were writing that text today, would you at least think about saying, “By our works we show the world that we are saved”? Or would you think about saying, “Works don’t matter. Just believe”? Or do you have a better way of explaining how we become more like Jesus as we accept His plan for us?  
2. “For God so loved…” Interesting, isn’t it? that the word “kosmos” translated “world” from the Greek, includes much more than God’s created human beings. The world God loves goes beyond us humans and includes everything He created in nature. Birds, fish, animals of the jungle, butterflies and so much more are part of God’s world that is promising to restore to a perfect existence. Amazing, too, that God loves mean-spirited people and people who are grumpy or too sick and weak to enjoy life as His followers and friends. From sunny skies to rain-blessed gardens and so much more, He is the Creator of all that lives, including us, and the author and designer of everything that makes our “kosmos” so full of evidence that He is the Master of the sun and the stars as well as our Savior and Friend. 
3.  Compassion and repentance. Our good works help us earn heavenly points that qualify us for everlasting life. Is that true? Those who do plenty of helpful and good things are going to make it to heaven. Isn’t that true, too? If good works don’t earn our salvation, what’s the point of trying to live an unselfish and helpful life? It’s hard for many of us to think of the Christ, our eternal Friend and Savior, being battered and bruised and accused of horrible sinful deeds and then crucified on the cruel cross. Can our helpfulness and love to those around us help us handle the sadness we feel deep inside as we contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus for us?
4. Our common humanity. Our lesson uses the term, “radical inclusiveness” to describe God’s chosen people. What does that mean? How radical are you and I willing to be in our pursuit of the gospel commission in these tumultuous times? Or do you consider these times to be tumultous? Our lesson guide places a verbal halo around the theme of the Good Samaritan. How does that story illustrate for you and me people in the common element of humanity we are privileged to serve? Are you ready to put on your hiking shoes or lay out a supply of postage stamps or in some other way ready yourself to encounter people along life’s busy way who could be drawn closer to Jesus by your friendship and ministry to them?
5. The everlasting gospel.  Judgment. Worship. Creation. These three subjects are presented as themes highlighting the gospel message we have been invited to share with those around us.  Today we learn of horrible persecution of God’s followers around the world. We see evidence on every corner of life of hardship and suffering. We hear about circumstances changing for the worse in so many ways. But we hold on to the “everlasting gospel,” don’t we? God gives us a message of hope, and we rally to share that message wherever and however we can. Let’s carry on as friends of Christ and friends of others in Christ.

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Key Thought: God’s love in the life and sacrifice of Jesus offers us forgiveness, life, and hope. This gospel moves us to serve others especially those in need.

September 7, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Romans 8:20-23.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How does the whole creation groan under the bondage of corruption?
3. Personal Application: How should our attitude towards others and their circumstances be when we recognize them as being created and loved by God? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “I think that some people think that by helping others that they are gaining merit with God and that they are better than others.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 2:8-10.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Do these verses show us a relationship between faith and works, or do they show a division between faith and works?
3. Personal Application: What works do you think God has ordained you to walk in? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “We are saved by grace, not by good works. So we shouldn’t be trying to do good; that’s works. All we have to do is have faith in God.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Luke 19:41,42.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What moved Jesus to compassion in these verses?
3. Personal Application: How can we have more compassion that is softened to the pain around us? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “I don’t think that we need to look very far to find pain and sorrow and disobedience. I think we can find it in our own lives, our own homes, our own neighborhoods. I think we might be part of the problem. The question is, how do we become part of the solution?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 14:6,7.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What aspects of the gospel are found in the first angel’s message?
3. Personal Application: How can we find ways of ministering to those in need while also sharing with them the warning found in the three angel’s messages? 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).

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