While the original vision for the Sabbath and Sabbath keeping was broad and inclusive, the Sabbath had become something quite different for many of the religious leaders by the time Jesus came to earth. Instead of a day of freedom and equality, Sabbath had become a day of human, traditional rules and restrictions. In His day, Jesus stood up against such attitudes, especially as they were imposed on others.

Healing

How interesting that He did this most significantly by performing a number of healings on Sabbath. It seems that Jesus intentionally performed these miracles on Sabbath, as opposed to any other day, to demonstrate something important about what the Sabbath should be. Often in these stories, Jesus made comments about the appropriateness of healing on Sabbath, and often the Pharisees used His statements as an excuse to further their plots to have Jesus killed.

Read the stories of Jesus’ Sabbath healings in Matthew 12:9-13, Mark 1:21-26, Mark 3:1-6, and John 9:1-16. What are the most significant things you notice in these stories?

Jesus confirmed that the Sabbath is important. We need to put boundaries around Sabbath time to keep it special and to allow this weekly time to be an opportunity to grow our relationships with God, our families, our church, and our community. But Sabbath keeping should not be selfishly about just us. As Jesus said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:12, NKJV).

Many church members do much good work to care for others. But many of us also feel that we should do more to help. We know God cares about those who are hurting, oppressed, or forgotten, and that we should care, too. Because we are commanded not to pursue our regular work and are freed from the pressures of the week, on Sabbath we are given time to focus on this concern for others as one of the ways of true and active Sabbath keeping: “According to the fourth commandment the Sabbath was dedicated to rest and religious worship. All secular employment was to be suspended, but works of mercy and benevolence were in accordance with the purpose of the Lord … To relieve the afflicted, to comfort the sorrowing, is a labor of love that does honor to God’s holy day”. – Ellen G. White, Welfare Ministry, p. 77.

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/xRO8PXhlYfM/

You can view an in-depth discussion of “Sabbath: A Day of Freedom” 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.

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/9A1MBZPZK54/

Good morning to a wonderful Sabbath Day of rest: 
Hymn 40, “The Dawn of God’s Dear Sabbath”.

Here are just some of the hymns we have about the Sabbath:
Hymn 381, “Holy Sabbath Day of Rest”,
Hymn 387, “Come, O Sabbath Day”,
Hymn 388, “Don’t Forget the Sabbath”,
Hymn 390, “We Love Thy Sabbath, Lord”,
Hymn 393, “Lord of the Sabbath”.

We may add 
Hymn 384, “Safely Through Another Week” showing all the blessings we have received through the week leading to the Sabbath. Then, sing heartily, 
Hymn 385, “Crowning Jewel of Creation”.

On Sunday, the main word that stood out was “trust” – Trust in God – 
Hymn 590, “Trust and Obey”, or 
Hymn 535, “I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus”.

We are reminded again on Monday, 
“Don’t Forget the Sabbath”, Hymn 388.

If there are some hymns that you do not know, please do go to the SDAHymnals.com website and listen to the music there – https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/ You may be able to teach a new hymn to your congregation’s liking.

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)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/VH4R7Yd8hX4/

1. The main purpose for God’s creation of Sabbath.  Is it hard for you to believe that the Sabbath came into being to celebrate the creation of a day of rest? Did mankind need a special time to mingle with one another in praise to God? Why? or why not?   Sabbath is a time to celebrate freedom. Freedom from what? What effect does Sabbath observance have on those who take the Sabbath seriously? Or does being serious about the Sabbath make any difference in a Christian’s spiritual life? True or False: Knowing what we should or should not do on Sabbath is the most important aspect of Sabbath worship. 
2. Manna prevents starvation. Imagine wandering through the wilderness with the Israelites with hardly any food to carry with you. Or none at all. How long would your journey last? What makes the “manna story” so precious in re-living those many years of wandering through the desert? Explain the rhythm of the gift of manna. What impact did the manna miracle have on the trip to the promised land?  What impact would the extra manna provided on Friday have on God’s people? Why did God provide a double measure of manna every Friday? Imagine being an Israelite child. Would the repeated miracle have a special impact on you?
3. Two reasons for Sabbath. What are the two fundamental purposes of the Sabbath Day? Fill in the blanks: The first purpose (Exodus 16:16 -18) deals with the regular collection of manna for the Sabbath meal. What was the lesson learned by this purpose?  The second purpose (Deuteronomy 5:12-15) underscores the holiness of the seventh day Sabbath. What do those two purposes have to do with how God relates to His people? Is the Sabbath a memorial to our rescue? What else does the Sabbath help us remember? What fundamental principles of Sabbath-keeping guide us to a life of eternity with Jesus?
4. A day of equality. Why do you think the fourth commandment contains more words and a more detailed description than the other commandments?  In converse, why do you think most Christians, in general, pay less attention to the Sabbath commandment than to the other aspects of the Decalogue? Is it true that we can include the animals we care for in observing the Sabbath day?  Do you agree with this statement from your lesson for this week: “If you are an employer during the week, you have no authority to make your employees work on Sabbath,”  In what way(s) is this interpretation of the Sabbath commandment important today? Every now and then you may encounter someone who believes in the seventh day Sabbath, such as a member of the Church of God. What should be our attitude toward such Sabbath day worshipers?
5. A day of healing. If you believe that the Sabbath is a day to put work aside, what do you say about the pursuit of Jesus when He repeatedly performed miracles to heal people on the Sabbath? In your Christian experience, do you seek ways to minister to those who are sick or in pain on the Sabbath day? As Seventh-day Adventists, do you think we should spend more time and energy on the Sabbath seeking the sick and offering them comfort? How can we do that and keep the Sabbath commandment that does not allow for labor on that day? What are some ways we can follow Jesus’ example in ministering to the sick and afflicted on His holy day?

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/b7hHjekLNN8/

Key Thought: The Sabbath was used by Jesus to heal the sick and a day to benefit those in need. The Sabbath has many practical benefits.

July 20, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Exodus 16:16-18.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What can we learn from this gathering process of the manna that God set up?
3. Personal Application: How do fellowship meals and Dorcas centers help the church in following this procedure? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “How does the church play a role in this period of time in helping people in need when there are social welfare programs and help given through governmental programs? Has the government taken over a church responsibility, or is there a need for both?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Exodus 20:8-11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What are some positive reasons that Sabbath rest is a blessing to mankind?
3. Personal Application: In what ways should Sabbath-keeping make us better, kinder, compassionate, and more caring people? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What is the difference between being legalistic in Sabbath-keeping and the freedom from the law that Paul talks about? What is the difference between a rule and a principle?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Matthew 12:9-13.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Do we excuse ourselves too much when we do things we shouldn’t on the Sabbath?
3. Personal Application: Have you ever helped someone on the Sabbath that someone in the church might consider breaking the rule of law? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “What good things do you Adventists do for others on the Sabbath? Do you just have potluck and go home and nap on Sabbath, or do you do hospital visits, see shut-ins, help others?” How would you reply to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Leviticus 25:1-7.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. How does Sabbath-keeping affect the way we live the other six days of the week?
3. Personal Application: How could we incorporate the seventh year resting of land for the poor into our lives today? 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)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/PKrbc80rZ_w/