![]() These study guides, as well as the time set aside during Sabbath School, are such an integral part of the Sabbath experience that many don’t even ask about the purposes and objectives the lessons and discussions were meant to serve.īefore going further, I would like to mention that I strongly support the idea of having these study guides, and congregations’ using them to engage with the Bible on Sabbath. The Bible study lesson time generally forms part of the broader Sabbath School program in the Adventist Church, and there are Bible study guides for all age groups in the church, with the adult study guide’s just being one of them. This was the genesis of what is today the Sabbath School Quarterly, although the concept of a weekly approach to Bible study-most commonly known as “Sunday School”-began almost a century before among Christian churches. James White was a certified teacher, and one would assume he had the training to write a lesson guide that could be used to teach Bible doctrine. James took out a pen, ink, and paper, and using his lunch box as a desk he wrote some of the initial Sabbath School lessons. In 1852, while James and Ellen White were traveling by horse-drawn carriage from Rochester, New York, to Bangor, Maine, they stopped along a dusty country road for lunch. It might be worthwhile to take a look at the origin of the Sabbath School study guide in the Adventist church and the main purposes it is meant to serve. The manuscript from the principal contributor then goes through an editorial process and through committees to ensure it is aligned with the teachings of the church. He has published widely on the topic of financial stewardship and therefore this is familiar terrain for him. Reid is an ordained minister, a licensed attorney, and has served as the Stewardship Director for the North American Division. If the very passionate conversations among Adventists on the many social media platforms are anything to go by, this topic has raised questions among many members.Īs with all the quarterly Sabbath School Lessons, there is a principal contributor/writer, who in this case is G. It is very clear that the objective is to teach, educate, or remind members about stewardship as taught in the Adventist Church, especially concerning money. The theme of the lessons for the quarter is “Managing for the Master Till He Comes” and the focus is on wealth, money, assets, the returning of tithe, giving offerings, etc. Each congregation is unique, and it would be difficult to know exactly how various church members across the world are relating to the Adult Sabbath School Bible study guide of the first quarter of 2023. According to the General Conference Statistics, the over 20 million members of the Seventh-day Adventist in over 200 countries worship in over 52,000 congregations.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |