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A Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Juniors/Earliteens

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God’s Grace Off ers Us Hope

EDITOR ANDREA NAGY

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT KATHLEEN D. SOWARDS

WORLD SABBATH SCHOOL DIRECTORS DUANE MC KEYRAMON CANALS

GENERAL CONFERENCE ADVISOR TED N. C. WILSON

CONSULTING ED ITOR CLINTON WAHLEN

CREATIVE DIRECTORBRYAN GRAY

DESIGN REVIEW AND HERALD® DESIGN CENTER

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES REBECCA HILDE

ILLUSTRATIONS STEVE CREITZ, LARS JUSTINENJUSTINEN CREATIVE GROUP

THE POWERPOINTS WRITERS AUDREY BOYLE ANDERSSONKATHLEEN BEAGLESJACKIE BISHOPDEEANN BRAGAWLINDA CARLYLEDWAIN ESMONDRENÉ EVANSKATHY GODDARDLUANA GREULICHBECKY GRICE JUDI HEWESPAT HUMPHREYNANCY IRLANDNOELENE JOHNSSONJOHN KAKEMBO

VASANTH KHANDAGLETOYA KOCHLINDA KOHCAROL MABERLYVIKKI MONTGOMERYTANDA MOYERJONATHAN MUSVOSVIREBECCA O’FFILLVIRGINIA SMITHGARY SWANSONEILEEN DAHL VERMEERDEENA WAGNERMARY WONGRAY ZEEMAN

THE POWERPOINTS PUZZLISTSROSIE CENTRONENERILIE HUMPHRIESKEN STILESJOHN HUDSON TINER


contentscontents

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THE FUGITIVE HEIROCT. 1 12

DEATH BY DECEPTIONOCT. 8 20

FOUND OUT AND FORGIVENOCT. 15 26

TALENT TURNS TOXICOCT. 22 34

GRIEVING FATHER, VICTORIOUS KINGOCT. 29 40

IN PURSUIT OF PEACENOV. 5 48

SING IT, SAY IT, SHARE IT!NOV. 12 54

1 The Fugitive HeirKey References: 1 Samuel 20:12-15; 2 Samuel 9; Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 713; Our Beliefs, no. 3, no. 22, no. 101

Have you ever stayed out of someone’s way because you weren’t sure how they would accept you? Did you find out that your fears were well founded or not? In this story things turn out much better than the fearful person could ever have imagined.

OK,” Mr. Andrews said, “who can remind us what ‘grace’ is?”Trevor’s hand shot up. He didn’t even wait to be called on.

“Kindness given to someone who doesn’t deserve it,” he answered. He had studied the previous night, and it felt good to know the answer.

“You’re absolutely right,” Mr. Andrews answered. “And today’s Bible story gives us another example of grace so we can understand it a little bit better.

“One day King David was thinking. He was remembering his very best friend, Jonathan. Jonathan had been dead for a long time now. Probably 20 years or so. But David had never, ever had another friend who was so close. Suddenly he asked himself, ‘Is there anybody at all left from Saul’s family? If there is, I would like to show them kindness for Jonathan’s sake.’

“So David’s servants,” Mr. Andrews continued, “sent for a man named Ziba, who had been one of King Saul’s servants.

“Remember that life in Bible times was very different than it is

DO Do this week’s activity on page 75.

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power text“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

God’s gift of grace bypasses all barriers in

order to save us.

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Found Out and ForgivenKey References: 2 Samuel 12; Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 720-726; Seventh-day Adventists Believe, second edition, pp. 91-112

Have you ever asked God to forgive you—and still felt bad? Consider David’s experience—an adulterer and a murderer. Imagine how he felt.

King David and Israel had won the battle with the Ammonites. David had married the widowed Bath-

sheba, and they were going to have a baby. For a while David thought that he was still the same wise and powerful ruler he had always been. He had covered up his adultery with a murder. Nobody but Joab, Bath-sheba, and he seemed to know.

As time passed, however, gossip started to spread around the marketplace. “Did you know that the new queen Bathsheba is preg-nant already?” “You know, it was the strangest thing how her husband Uriah got sent to the thick of the battle.” “Oh yes, and right after he had been sent for by the king.” “Well, all I know is that I am not so worried about the back taxes I owe after I see what is going on with ‘good’ King David.” “If what I hear is true, David makes King Saul look like an angel.”

David’s attempt at covering up his sin was dishonoring God. And God loved David too much to let him continue on the evil path he was on. He sent a message to get David’s attention. God chose Nathan, a prophet, to take the message to the king. Nathan was brave to take a message of reprimand to a king, especially one who could have him killed. But he was also wise. He started with a story that he was sure would get David’s sympathy.


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power text“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5, NIV).

Because God has forgiven us, we

forgive ourselves and others.

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66 In Pursuit of PeaceKey Text: 2 Samuel 19; Patriarchs and Prophets, chap. 72, p. 745; Our Beliefs nos. 14, 11, 7

Is there a peacemaker in your family? Someone who steps in when people are having a great debate and things begin to get unpleasant? After Absalom’s death King David found himself in a situation in which he had to be the peacemaker, and it wasn’t easy.

What on earth is the king doing now?” thundered Joab. He and the rest of the large crowd at the city gate could

hear the awful weeping and crying coming from David’s apartment. The king’s rebellious son Absalom had just been slain in battle, and it had broken David’s heart.

“I can’t believe the king is sobbing at a time like this,” Joab com-plained. “His son was full of treachery. The king should be grateful that our soldiers saved the throne and defeated his son’s gang of traitors.” Joab rushed up the stairway to the king’s apartment, stomped inside, and scolded, “You’ve got to go down and greet your returning troops. This is a day for cheers, not tears. People will think you care more about the rebels than about those who have served you faithfully!”


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power text“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteous-ness” (James 3:18).

Peacefully solving problems in our

community is part of God’s purpose

for our lives.

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Death by DeceptionKey References: 2 Samuel 11; Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 717-720; Seventh-day Adventists Believe, second edition, pp. 281-297. Our Beliefs nos. 22, 5, 17

Did you ever want anything so badly that you were will-ing to lie to get it? When you got it, did you really enjoy it as much as you thought you would? Did anyone ever find out?

It was springtime, a time when kings went off to war. Israel was at war with the Ammonites. While the

army commander, Joab, and all the forces were laying siege to a city, King David returned to Jerusalem. One night David couldn’t sleep, so he got up and walked around on the roof of his palace. Across the way he saw a beautiful woman bathing on the roof of her home. He want-ed to know more about her, so he sent a servant to inquire.

The news came back that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David’s bravest and most faithful soldiers. David sent a mes-senger to get her. She came. The king slept with her and sent her back home.

Before long, Bathsheba sent a message to David. She was preg-nant. David was in trouble. He knew he had done wrong. But if he admitted it, there was no way to know what might happen. The law said that death was the punishment for a convicted adulterer. If Uriah found out, he might take the life of the king himself. Or even worse, he might lead the whole country in a revolt.


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power text“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful” (Proverbs 12:22, NIV).

We treat others with respect by

being honest and not taking advan-

tage of them.

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5 Grieving Father, Victorious KingKey Texts: 2 Samuel 16:15-18:33; Patriarchs and Prophets, chap. 72, pp. 744, 745; The Bible Story, vol. 4, pp. 109-111; Our Beliefs nos. 23, 11, 14.5 power text

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is . . . serving, let “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1, NIV). govern diligently . . .” (Romans 12:6-8, NIV).

Remember the last time you got lost? Did you stop and ask for directions? Most people do. But some people just don’t want to follow directions. They think they know a better way. A long time ago Joab, one of King David’s generals, thought he did. Was he right? What do you think?

Abishai, you take one third of the people. Ittai, you take a third. And Joab . . .” David looked straight at his lifelong friend. “You take the

rest.”The king of Israel was in exile. His son Absalom had rebelled and

was trying to kill him and rule in his place!David was tired. But more than that, he was bewildered and sad.

Even though Absalom had deceived David and now sought to kill him, the king could never stop loving his child.

Abishai, Ittai, and Joab were ready to take their men into battle. David stood by the gate watching as hundreds of men filed out. These men loved David enough to fight for him. “Abishai, Ittai, Joab,” David said, “please be gentle with Absalom.” As he spoke, all the soldiers heard. In spite of all that had happened, David wanted his son kept alive. He hoped that someday he and Absalom would be reunited.


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“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44, 45).

We reflect God’s love when we

are patient and accepting

with others.

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4 Talent Turns ToxicKey Text: 2 Samuel 14:25-15:37; Partiarchs and Prophets, chap. 72, pp. 727-745; The Bible Story, vol. 4, pp. 103-106; Our Beliefs nos. 7, 8, 14.4

When your whole family is seated around the dinner table and everyone seems to be talking at once and you want to say something, what do you do? How do you get their attention? If you thought you had something really important to say, would you pound on the table? Here’s a story about a young man who had been trying to get his father’s attention for two years!

Joab’s barley field is right next to mine,” Absalom told his servants. “Set it on fire!”Absalom had been waiting for two years to talk to his father, King

David, and still had not been called. He knew his father had been un-happy with him ever since he murdered Amnon, one of David’s other sons.

Absalom had run away for a time, but was now back in Jerusalem by the king’s permission. It was not like old times, though. He was not allowed to live in the palace with all the princely privileges he had once enjoyed.

So he called for Joab, David’s right-hand man. But Joab turned away and did not come when Absalom called, even when he called again. Finally Absalom decided to resort to drastic measures and set Joab’s field on fire in order to get his attention.


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power text“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV). to one another’” (Zech a riah 7:9, NIV).).

power text“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10).

We accomplish more by working

with, rather than against, one another.

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7 Sing It, Say It, Share ItKey References: Psalms 103; 107; The Bible Story, vol. 4, pp. 28-30; Our Beliefs, no. 22, no. 12, no. 7

Someday you may hear a guest speaker at your church or school who tells the story of how very bad he was at one time. Maybe he used drugs or was a thief. But then someone told him about Jesus, and he became a Chris-tian and changed his ways. While the person has the best of intentions and the message is certainly true—God’s love is enormous—you don’t have to use drugs or steal to experience how great God’s love is.

King David was one of those people who knew how important it is to choose to worship God with all his heart everyday. He knew the

darkness of trying to live without God, “who forgives all your sins and . . . redeems your life from the pit” (Psalm 103:3, 4). David appreciated God’s grace. He knew the Lord as “compassionate and gracious” and “slow to anger” (verse 8).


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“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:2-5).

Worshiping God involves

recognizing all He does for us.

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ELIJAH’S HAND-ME-DOWN COAT NOV. 19 62

OIL UNLIMITED NOV. 26 68

NO ROOM?DEC. 3 76

PRAISE EXPLOSION!DEC. 10 82

DEDICATEDDEC. 17 90

MAGI AND THE MESSIAHDEC. 24 96

THE GREAT GIFT EXCHANGEDEC. 31 104

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88 Elijah’s Hand-me-down CloakKey References: 2 Kings 2:1-15; Prophets and Kings, pp. 217-228; Our Beliefs, no. 5, no. 17, no. 18

Have you ever been sad or frightened by something you knew was going to happen? Did you want to talk about it? Did you do anything to prepare for what you knew was going to happen?

The early-morning sun warmed the heads and shoulders of the two travelers walking briskly along the dusty highway. The old man

who strode ahead so firmly was the famous prophet Elijah. Everybody, even those who did not worship the God of Israel, recognized Elijah—the fierce figure in a camel-hair cloak and thick leather belt. And they would then also recognize the younger man with him. He would be Elijah’s friend and companion, the prophet Elisha, of course.

Elisha glanced sideways at his master. He knew Elijah’s wondrous secret, but it wasn’t because Elijah had told him. God Himself had shared it. Elisha drew in a deep breath and looked around, memoriz-ing the moment. Elijah was going to heaven today! What an absolutely awesome thought!

Suddenly Elijah stopped. He looked at his friend. “Why don’t you stay here?” he suggested. “The Lord wants me to go to Bethel, but you don’t need to go.”

Elisha was shocked. There was no way he was going to leave Elijah on his very last day on earth! “As the Lord lives,” he exclaimed, “I will never leave you!”


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power text“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

God’s Spirit gives us the power

to live and work for Him.

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Do you recall an instance when you were expecting an event that was delayed for a very long time? Did you wait with growing anticipation? Or did you get distracted and lose interest in the expected event?

Let’s take a journey back in time to the beginning of our world’s history when God created the first

human beings. Adam and Eve were created in God’s image with free-dom to choose between good and evil. Sadly our first parents chose to listen to the tempter who led them to mistrust God’s warning and to disobey His instructions. The results of their sin were devastating for the entire human race. Sin caused separation from God’s presence and led to destruction and death.

Yet, in His infinite love for the human race God devised a plan to save and restore humankind to the family of God. The Creator Himself chose voluntarily to come to this sin-polluted world and sacrifice His life that the human race may once again be reunited with the family of God (see Romans 6:23).

The Creator promised that the Redeemer, “the woman’s offspring,” will crush the power of the enemy and gain victory over sin: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This promise along with other prophecies about the coming of the Messiah kept alive the faith of God’s chosen people from generation to generation. However, with the passing of time, people lost sight of the true meaning of the prophecies that were pointing to the coming of the Redeemer.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4, 5).

LEARN Begin learning the power text.

DO Do the activity on page 75.

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power text“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4, 5).

We worship God when we accept

the gift of His Son and make room for

Him in our lives.

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No Room?Key References: Luke 2:1-7; The Desire of Ages, chaps. 3 and 4, pp. 31-49; The Bible Story (1994), vol. 7, pp. 31-34; Our Beliefs, nos. 4, 11, 23.

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Have you ever gone sto an unknown place with only a few clues about how to get there? The Magi were in that kind of situation while searching for Jesus. About the only thing they knew was that He was a king. Even though their journey was going to be long, their ulti-mate goal was to find and worship Him.

During the time when Jesus was born in Bethlehem there lived in the East a group of wise, honorable, and educated men who

were awaiting the coming of the Messiah. They were not part of the Jewish nation, yet they were seekers after the truth. These men of noble character recognized that God as the Creator of the universe as they contemplated His works in nature. They also studied the Hebrew Scriptures and discovered with growing interest that the coming of the Messiah was near. In their sincere desire to know more about such a significant event they were alert to identify the signs of His coming.

Around the time when angels announced to the humble shep-herds in Bethlehem the news about the birth of Jesus, the men from the East also discovered what seemed to be an unusual star. Not knowing how to account for it, they looked for an explanation in the Scriptures and their attention was drawn to Balaam’s prophecy:

“A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17).

The wise men welcomed the light of God’s revelation with open hearts. They were receptive to follow the star and find the Messiah as the Lord told them in a dream. Soon the small group of wise men set out for the long journey. They travelled by night, following the star. During the day when they rested, the travelers eagerly studied the prophecies, being reassured of God’s leading.



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power text“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (1 Chronicles 16:8, 9).

We worship by giving gifts

to Jesus.

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Magi and the MessiahKey References: Matthew 2:1-12; The Desire of Ages, chap. 6, pp. 59-67; The Bible Story (1994), vol. 7, pp. 47-52; Our Beliefs, nos. 1, 4, 22.

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9 Oil UnlimitedKey References: 2 Kings 4:1-7; Our Beliefs, no. 11, no. 3, no. 5


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What birthday or Christmas present have you wanted that you were afraid you might not get? How did you feel when you considered asking your parents for that gift? Did you get it?

Elisha hastily ran his fingers through his hair to comb it. He won-dered who would be knocking so early in the morning. He pulled

the heavy door that opened onto the street, and there he saw the widow of a dear friend. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her face was stained with tears.

“Come in! Come in!” he said kindly, stepping to one side. “What’s the matter?”

“My husband was a good man. You know how much he loved the Lord!” the widow cried. “But now he is dead, and I can’t pay his bills. The man he owed is coming to take my two sons. He will take away my boys as slaves to pay my husband’s debt!” she sobbed. Tears flooded from her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

“How can I help you?” Elisha asked in great concern. “What do you have in your house?”

The widow wiped her face and took a deep, ragged breath. “I don’t have anything at all except a pot of olive oil,” she whispered.

power text“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The supply of God’s grace never ends.

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Have you ever watched history happen before your eyes? How did you feel? How did it change your life? Imagine this history-making event.

At the appointed time according to the law, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple in Jeru-

salem to dedicate Him to the Lord. The dedication of the first-born son was a symbolic act that brought to mind the promise of God to send His only Son into our world to be our Redeemer from sin.

The animal sacrifices offered during the child-dedication ceremony also had symbolic meaning, pointing to the sacrifice of the promised Messiah.

Wealthy families would offer a lamb and the poor who could not afford to buy a lamb would offer two turtledoves (a type of pigeon) for this special sacrifice.

As part of the dedication service, the priest would lift a firstborn child to the altar and would consecrate him to the Lord. After handing the baby back to the mother, the priest would record his name in the official records.

When Mary and Joseph placed the baby in the priest’s arms he performed the dedication ceremony in the same routinely manner as usual. Then he recorded the baby’s name, “JESUS,” in the register. What a privilege was given to the priest who officiated the ceremony of dedication to hold the Savior of the world in his arms! Yet he did



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power text“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).

When Jesus lives in our hearts, we

are inspired to worship Him.

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DedicatedKey References: Luke 2:21-40; The Desire of Ages, chap. 5, pp. 50-58; The Bible Story (1994), vol. 7, pp. 43-46; Our Beliefs, nos. 12, 4, 22.

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Shepherds usually begin herding sheep at a young age as David did before he became king. Raising sheep was a family business, but sheepherding was not a very exciting occupation. Aren’t you glad Jesus revealed Himself to ordinary people?

Pulling his cloak tighter around him, the young shepherd inched closer to the fire. The night air was chilly, and he was having trou-

ble staying awake. All the other shepherds had been talking about what it would be like when the Messiah came. But now they were asleep and it was his turn to take the first watch.

Something is making the sky over Bethlehem really bright tonight, he thought, looking up. I’ve never seen so much light at night before. I wonder what it is.

Walking through the flock of sheep, he checked to see if any lambs had wandered away from the group. Finding none missing, he returned to the fire. His father stirred and opened his eyes.

“Everything’s fine,” the young shepherd reported. “Did you notice that light over Bethlehem? The sky is brighter than it has ever been before.”

“I’ve been watching it too,” his father answered. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. I wish I knew what it was.”


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power text“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, prais-ing God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:13, 14, NIV).

Every day we can praise and worship God as the angels did.

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Praise Explosion!Key References: Luke 2:8-20; The Desire of Ages, pp. 43-45; Seventh-day Adventists Believe, second edition, pp. 79-90; The Bible Story, vol. 7, pp. 18-22; 97-99; Our Beliefs nos. 15, 10, 22

See the back of the book for a special Parents’ Page to go with each lesson.104

1414“What did you get for Christmas?” You’ve probably heard and asked that question hundreds of times by now. The next time someone asks you, ask yourself, “What did I give?”

W hat can I give Him, as poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I’d give Him a lamb.

If I were a Wise Man, I’d do my part.What can I give Him? I’ll give Him my heart,” Cinda read. “Christmas is over,” Jonathan whispered to Sunil. “Thank you, Cinda,” said Mrs. Barnabas, their Bible teacher. “Sunil,

Jonathan, did you have a question?”“No, Mrs. B,” said Sunil. “We just wondered about the poem. After

all, Christmas is over.”“And that’s why I’m sharing it with you,” said Mrs. B. “Thinking

about what we learned in the past few weeks, what is this poem saying?”

“That the writer didn’t save money for presents?” asked Sunil.“Could be,” said Mrs. B. “Anyone else?”


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power text“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15, NIV).

Jesus gave us the gift of salvation; we give Him the gift of ourselves.

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The Great Gift ExchangeKey References: John 3:16, 17; Luke 1; 2; Matthew 1; 2; Steps to Christ, pp. 67-75; The Desire of Ages, pp. 172-176; Seventh-day Adventists Believe, second edition, pp. 79-90; The Bible Story, vol. 7, pp. 18-22; 97-99; Our Beliefs nos. 15, 10, 22

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ourbeliefsourbeliefs

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1The Word of GodI believe that God inspired through the

Holy Spirit every writer of the Bible. Everything written in the Word of God is true, and can help me live a happy and healthy life.

2 The GodheadI believe that the God who loves me is

One God manifested in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each works hard to teach me how to live a better, more meaningful life.

3 God the FatherI believe that God the Father is the

power that keeps me—and every other creature in the universe—alive. He is kind and forgiving, and will never leave me.

4 God the SonI believe that Jesus, God the Son,

created this world and everything good in it. Two thousand years ago He came to this earth as a baby, grew up, and lived a sinless life. He then died on the cross so that I could someday live forever with Him in heaven.

5 God the Holy SpiritI believe that God the Holy Spirit speaks

to me through that still, small voice I hear in my thoughts whenever I feel afraid, sad, or lonely. He tells me that everything will be all right. The Holy Spirit also tries to teach me right from wrong by making me feel guilty when I sin and joyful each time I choose to obey God’s laws of love.

6 CreationI believe that God created the universe,

and in a recent six-day creation He made “the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” and rested on the seventh day. When He fi nished making the trees, animals, oceans, mountains, and people, God looked around at all that He had done and said joyfully, “This is very good!”

7 The Nature of HumanityI believe that Jesus made people in

the image of God. Each enjoys the freedom to think and act any way they choose. Even though sin and bad choices have brought pain and suff ering to many, we’re still children of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can care for each other just as God cares for each one of us.

8 The Great ControversyI believe that Satan is a real being who

wants to destroy us all. He works hard each day to bring sin into our lives. God wants us to live each day with joy, happiness, and love. God and Satan are fi ghting for control over our lives and our futures. To help us overcome sin, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit and loving angels to guide and protect us.

9 Th e Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus

I believe that Jesus lived a perfect life in order to show us that it’s possible to overcome sin. He died on the cross so I won’t have to lose my heavenly home because of my sins. Then God the Father raised Jesus from the dead to show how He’ll someday raise me from the dead if I die before Jesus returns.

10 The Experience of Salvation

I believe that when I allow Jesus into my heart, He helps me change from a sinner to a child of God, ready to live forever in heaven. He teaches me how to be like Him as I read my Bible and follow the loving guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because of Jesus, I can feel confi dent that I’m forgiven and that there’s a home waiting for me in heaven.

11 Growing in JesusI believe that when someone invites

Jesus into their heart, changes start to happen. What they read, watch on television or on the Internet, eat, and listen to, and the places they

go, even the words they say, will change. The pages of the Bible will become like a textbook for living, and they will talk to Jesus through-out each day. These changes keep happening, day after day, until Jesus comes. I also believe that we are called to follow Jesus’ example by compassionately ministering to the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of humanity.

12 The ChurchI believe that my church is a place

where people who love Jesus can praise Him together with joy and anticipation. It’s like attending a fun family reunion each week. Jesus loves His church and listens to every word spoken and every song sung.

13 The Remnant and Its Mission

I believe that before Jesus comes the second time, some people in my church will choose sin over salvation. Those who stay faithful to Jesus and to what the voice of the Holy Spirit tells them to do are called the remnant, and they will work extra hard to bring the love of God to the world. Though the remnant may be small in number, they will accomplish great things for God so that Jesus can return.

14 Unity in the Body of Christ

I believe that any church whose members worship God should welcome people from any nation, who speak any language, and whose skin is any color. We’re all equal in God’s sight. How we look and how we sound makes no diff erence. We’re all children of the same heavenly Father.

15 BaptismI believe that when I’m baptized,

I’m telling everyone that I love God and want to live my life in service to Him. Baptism is like being buried as a sinner and then rising up to live a new life for Jesus.


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Adapted from God Loves Me 28 Ways | By Charles Mills

16 The Lord’s SupperI believe that when Jesus ate

His last meal with His disciples right before He was crucifi ed, He taught us something wonderful. He said that the grape juice (wine) represented His spilled blood and that the bread represented His broken body. When I partake of “The Lord’s Supper” at church, it helps me remember the sacrifi ce Jesus made for me on the cross.

17 Spiritual Gifts and Ministries

I believe that God has given us special talents that we can use to serve Him. We each enjoy diff erent skills, such as music, preaching, teaching, art, giving Bible studies, visiting the sick, or making people feel welcome when they visit our church. Each spiritual gift is important to God’s work.

18 The Gift of ProphecyI believe that the people in God’s

church have needed help knowing how to live and what to look forward to in the future. So God appointed a woman named Ellen G. White to be His prophet and provide guidance, instruction, and correction for His people. Her writings also help us understand the important lessons found in the Bible.

19 The Law of GodI believe that God’s Ten Command-

ments contain the best rules for living. Each is designed to protect me from sin and help me love God and others better. Each represents how much God loves me and how He wants me to live a happy, healthy life. Obeying the Ten Commandments is like saying “I love You” to God and others.

20 The SabbathI believe that God created the

seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) to be a holy day. He commands me to rest, worship Him, and serve Him by doing acts of kindness

for others on that day as a way of showing Him—and others—that I believe He is the Creator of all good things. God’s holy Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday.

21StewardshipI believe that everything belongs to

God: the trees, the fl owers, the animals—even me. God has asked me to take care of what He created and to protect all things from harm—even me. So I will cherish God’s creatures and creation. To show Him how proud I am to be His steward, I’ll faithfully return a tithe (10 percent) of my time, talent, and money. I want God to bless this world and everything in it—even me.

22 Christian BehaviorI believe that anyone who loves

Jesus should talk, act, eat, work, and play diff erently from those who don’t love Jesus. As a child of God I need to think, feel, and act in harmony with the teachings of the Bible in all aspects of personal and social life. Everything I do should show others that Jesus lives in my heart and that I live by His rules of love.

23 Marriage and the Family

I believe that God designed marriage to be the lifelong union between a man and a woman. Our heavenly Father wants our earthly homes to be safe places where we learn about His love and forgiveness. When we love our brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, uncles and aunts, we’re experiencing a beautiful example of what it will be like to live in heaven with everyone who has chosen to love and obey God.

24 Jesus’ Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary

I believe that God instructed Moses and the children of Israel to build a temple in the wilderness to explain what Jesus is doing right

now in the heavenly sanctuary. Jesus is our high priest who speaks to the Father on our behalf in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. He forgives us, cleanses sin from our hearts, and prepares us for His kingdom.

25 The Second Coming of Jesus

I believe that very soon Jesus is going to return to this earth and take to heaven everyone who has chosen to love and obey Him. When He comes, those who hate Him will be destroyed. But everyone who has remained faithful to Jesus will leave this dark world and spend eternity with Him in His heavenly kingdom.

26 Death and ResurrectionI believe that Jesus can raise

people from the dead. He did it before, raising Lazarus and the widow’s son, and He will do it again when He comes the second time. So even though some of my family members are asleep in their graves, I’ll see them again because of the power of God over death.

27 The Millennium and the End of Sin

I believe that someday sin and sinners will be gone forever. Even those who died hating God will fully understand the lies that Satan told them, and will agree that God’s judgment is just. Without God’s presence to shield them from harm, Satan and every sinner will be completely destroyed by fi re.

28 The New EarthI believe that after Satan and

sinners are destroyed, my heavenly Father will create a brand-new world for us to enjoy. There will be no death, no tears, no pain, no suff ering. All will be peace and love. Best of all I will enjoy this wonderful world forever together with my family and all who love God.


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biblical time line

CREATION

Without it none of us would be here. That certainly changed everything forever!

THE FLOOD

The world is very di� erent now from what it was like before the Flood.

THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT

After God’s people were led out of Egypt, they became a nation. They were no longer just individual families and tribes.

THE CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON

God’s people wandered far from the friendship God wanted to have with them, so He sent them into captivity in Babylon. Eventually they were able to return home, but never again did they have their own king. They were always under the power of some other kingdom.

biblical time lineIs your life exciting and fun every

single day? Probably not! But everyone experiences certain events that are memorable and even life-changing. Being born is certainly one of those major events in life! Starting school, performing your fi rst music recital, learning to read, going on a mission trip, inventing a game that your friends love to play, or committing your life to Jesus by

being baptized may be other events you remember. Something terribly sad may also have happened that you can’t forget.

The Bible is a little bit like your life. Even though it contains many stories, and all of them can teach us something about God and His love for us, only a few of the Bible stories contain events that are both memo-rable and life-changing. Those events

were turning points in the history of God’s people. Once they took place, everything was diff erent afterward.

Six of those life-changing stories are illustrated in the six pictures you see below. Very likely you can look at them and fi gure out what Bible stories they represent. The six pictures form a Bible-picture time line that can help you make sense of the whole, big Bible story.

600YEARS

900YEARS900

YEARS1600YEARS


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biblical time line

THE FIRST COMING OF JESUS

At last the Messiah, Jesus, for whom God’s people had been waiting thousands of years, came to this earth to rescue us from the power of sin. From then on, the message about His love and salvation began to go to the whole world.

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

This is the last major event foretold in the Bible. When Jesus comes, He will take us to heaven and end sin and su� ering forever.

In your Bible study guide you will fi nd each weekly Sabbath School lesson marked as to where it fi ts in the big Bible story. Today we live between the fi rst coming and the second coming of Jesus. We live very close to the Second Coming!

As you become more familiar with fi tting the individual stories into the picture time line, you will better understand the Bible as one big story and become closer friends with Jesus. And when you see how the small stories fi t around the six bigger stories, then the Bible will become even more meaningful to you. Hopefully you will realize more than ever that you are part of the big Bible story!

1000YEARS2000

YEARS600YEARS

33

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Found Out and ForgivenKey References: 2 Samuel 12; Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 720-726; Seventh-day Adventists Believe, second

edition, pp. 91-112

Have you ever asked God to forgive you—and still felt

bad? Consider David’s experience—an adulterer and a

murderer. Imagine how he felt. K ing David and Israel had won the battle with the

Ammonites. David had married the widowed Bath-

sheba, and they were going to have a baby. For a while David thought

that he was still the same wise and powerful ruler he had always been.

He had covered up his adultery with a murder. Nobody but Joab, Bath-

sheba, and he seemed to know.As time passed, however, gossip started to spread around the

marketplace. “Did you know that the new queen Bathsheba is preg-

nant already?” “You know, it was the strangest thing how her husband

Uriah got sent to the thick of the battle.” “Oh yes, and right after he had

been sent for by the king.” “Well, all I know is that I am not so worried

about the back taxes I owe after I see what is going on with ‘good’ King

David.” “If what I hear is true, David makes King Saul look like an angel.”

David’s attempt at covering up his sin was dishonoring God.

And God loved David too much to let him continue on the evil path

he was on. He sent a message to get David’s attention. God chose

Nathan, a prophet, to take the message to the king. Nathan was brave

to take a message of reprimand to a king, especially one who could

have him killed. But he was also wise. He started with a story that he

was sure would get David’s sympathy.


Sabb

ath

power text“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my

iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’—and

you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5, NIV).

Because God has forgiven us, we forgive ourselves and others.

powerpoint

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dear studentdear studentYou are a gift from God, and He loves you very much!

If the Lord knows each star by name and makes sure that it is in the proper place each night (Isaiah 40: 26), how much more important are you?

Not every person is alike. Look around you. Everyone has diff erent color eyes, hair, skin, and build (tall, short, big-boned, and thin). We all learn diff erently. Some peo-ple learn by listening, others by sight, and still others by touch. Some people use all three ways to learn.

Regardless of how you learn, the Lord wants you to love Him and serve Him with all your heart. You do that when you pray, learn about Him (in your lesson study), talk about Him to others, and do what is right.

Here is a great truth you should know about the Lord: Jesus isn’t primarily concerned about how well you can read or write, or even how well you can speak. What Jesus cares about most is how much you love Him and want Him in your life. The greatest accom-plishment in your life will be to show others how much God has blessed your life.

In school you use diff erent ways to get the informa-tion that you want. Use those same ways to learn more about the Lord: Use your computer, iPod, or iPad to hear or study your lesson. Or have your parents read your lesson to you. Use the Bible on CD, or the audio podcast of your lesson at www.juniorpowerpoints.org/podcast.php?channel=1. It does not matter which way you get the information, as long as you are growing and maturing in the Lord.

Think about this when you meet Jesus face to face: He is not going to ask to see how well you write some-thing. He will not ask you to read anything. His only pursuit is to read your heart to see how much you love Him. He wants to spend eternity with you!

Having positive relationships We build community by being honest, humble, and patient.

Experiencing God’s grace We accept and extend to others God’s gift of grace.

Honoring God with our livesWe praise God for Jesus, Heaven’s greatest gift to us.

God’s transforming graceWe off er ourselves to God, whose grace changes us.

Welcome to PowerPoints about God’s grace. God’s grace is power. It’s the unlimit-ed, for-sure, forever power that fi nds you and fi lls you up with everything you need to live a full and wonderful life in Him.

This Bible study guide is about . . .


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The lessons and stories in this Bible study guide include principles that you can apply to your everyday life. They encourage you to communicate

with God through prayer, reading from your Bible, and refl ecting on what you read. That is how to grow in your relationship with Jesus. You will study the Bible lesson during the week, and in Sabbath School you will review it with your teacher and peers. This review process will help you gain a deeper spiritual understanding of the lessons. A big part of your Sabbath School lesson is the study you do from the Bible and the discussions you have with your teachers and peers on Sabbath. Learn and review the power text during the week as you prepare for Sabbath School. As you memorize passages from the Bible you will become famil-iarized with the truths found in God’s Word and you will learn to apply them to your life. As you study your Sabbath School lesson, engage your family members in discussion and share with them what you learned. Most important, please take time to read, pray, and refl ect on Jesus every day. Ask Him to help you apply what you study to what you do in real life. It isn’t only what you know with your head, but it’s also what you know with your heart, that helps you be a strong, growing Christian.

Happy growing in Jesus!—The Editor

PS: Write and tell us how you’re growing in Jesus.

Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Department12501 Old Columbia PikeSilver Spring, MD 20904

How to use this Bible study guide

COMMUNITYWe build positive relationships.(LESSONS 1 THROUGH 5)

■ David � nds Mephibosheth■ David covets Bathsheba■ Nathan confronts David■ Absalom plots evil■ David mourns Absalom’s death

GRACEWe extend God’s grace to others.(LESSONS 6 THROUGH 9)

■ David brings reconciliation■ Psalms of praise■ Elisha receives double portion■ Widow pays her debts with oil

WORSHIPWe praise God for His greatest gift.(LESSONS 10 THROUGH 13)

■ Jesus is born■ Angels sing to shepherds■ Jesus is dedicated■ The Magi visit Jesus

GRACE IN ACTIONWe o� er ourselves to God.(LESSON 14)

■ We o� er ourselves to Jesus


a sabbath school bible study guide for juniors/earliteens · 2016. 8. 11. · a sabbath school...

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