Junior and/or Earliteen Sabbath School September 6, 2008

This Quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering is going to the North American Division Information adapted from Adventist Mission, Youth and Adult Magazine and the SDA Encyclopedia.

This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help:  Place rebroadcast radio stations in communities across Canada  Expand the reach and effectiveness of Life Talk Radio across the United States

The division is made up of two of the world’s largest countries—the United States and Canada—and the island nation of Bermuda.

Like many other parts of the world, North America has become a largely secular society. People spend their time focusing on science, technology, and personal income rather than on Bible study and prayer.

One of the greatest challenges the Church faces is reaching a secular population that is largely unresponsive to traditional methods of religious outreach.

From the early days of the Church, Adventists have spread the good news through the printed word. Other media also bring the truth of God’s love to millions. Ellen White’s home in Battle Creek, Michigan, where the first edition of the Great Controversy was written in 1858.

H. M. S. Richards used what could be called the “cutting edge of technology” when he pioneered radio evangelism. The Voice of Prophecy was first broadcast in 1929 on one radio station in Los Angeles, California. The program now is broadcast on over 400 stations in North America.

Today, satellites, the Internet, and other technological advances have created new avenues through which we can share God’s love with people in ways that our forefathers could never have imagined. Media can reach people who might hesitate to enter a church or attend evangelistic meetings.

In spite of modern strides in technology, radio continues to be a powerful force in people’s lives. Christian programming can reach significant numbers of people who might never be reached by other means. This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will focus on broadening our reach to people across the North American Division via radio.

LifeTalk Radio is a network of more than 70 radio stations across the United States. These stations have generated up to 5,000 telephone inquiries a day. People are listening.

By the end of 2008, LifeTalk programming will be heard on more than 100 radio stations. In addition, LifeTalk operates three Internet-based radio channels that serve a specific audience of listeners. LifeTalk strives to provide God’s truth through as many electronic avenues as possible. Part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help expand the reach of LifeTalk Radio. Please give generously and help others hear the gospel of good news.

Collect Offering

Exploring God’s World In this section we study one of the countries in the division where our Thirteenth Sabbath offering is going.

Today we are going to learn about Texas.

Where is Texas

Country Flag United States State Flag Texas

Time for the Mission Story We are taking the good news to the entire world. Read the Mission Story on pages 22 and 23 of the Third Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine while slowly progressing through the next 3 slides.

The name of the person in the story is “Zeke.”

This story is from the United States.

The title of the story is “Mission in My Backyard.”

Lesson Study Time

Today we will read about: SPREADING THE WORD

How would you feel if you had to leave the only home you’ve ever known because of something you didn’t even do?

We often read about people who were driven from a place because of persecution.

This story is about how a teen living at the time of the early church may have reacted. Photo by Neva MacPhee

Romans 8:28, NIV P O W E R T E X T

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God’s love unites us and brings us joy. P O W E R P O I N T

The teenage girl was sure she was going to erupt. Standing outside the gate of Jerusalem, she leaned against a cart. Her stomach felt like a rope that had been tied and soaked in water.

The hot sun, the sight of Stephen’s body, and the women wailing in grief—all of it was too much.

Her eyes frantically searched for her father. Spying him with a group of believers surrounding Philip, she just wanted to be near him.

The group split up. “Abba,” she cried, clutching her stomach. “Daughter, I’m so sorry. I forgot you were with me,” he said, rushing toward her. “You’re sick. I knew I shouldn’t have let you come.”

“I want to go home,” she whimpered. Her father whipped off his outer robe and laid it in the cart.

He gently helped her in and draped canvas over the top to shield her from the sun.

Her father knew he’d get very little rest that night. He couldn’t believe what he had seen today. It was definitely a turning point for the young church.

He was beginning to understand how much of a threat the priests thought the believers were.

And that man Saul made him shudder. Although he hadn’t picked up so much as a pebble, Saul seemed to enjoy what the others did to Stephen.

When they reached home, the father walked around to the back of the cart to help his daughter.

“Feeling better?” he asked. She just smiled at him. Her head and stomach felt like her own again. Suddenly she heard someone call her father’s name.

Whoever it was sounded upset and out of breath. She felt her stomach tighten again.

“Daughter,” her father called. “Yes, Father,” she said, addressing her father formally since he had a guest.

“Bring our guest some water. We will be meeting here instead of at Philip’s.”

When everyone had arrived, Father introduced the man whom she had heard speaking earlier.

“Saul is on the warpath. Already he’s going from house to house throwing believers into prison,” the speaker said.

“He has sworn to wipe us out. Philip has already gone. He thinks it’s time for us to go to other places where we can spread the gospel freely.”

“Is Samaria one of those places?” the father asked. The speaker smiled. “Before He left, our Lord said we would be His witnesses in Samaria. Remember?” Everyone nodded. “Philip—and I—think the time has come.”

The girl’s head ached again. Leave Jerusalem and their home? The tears that she had held back streamed down her face.

She waited to talk with her father until everyone had left. “Abba,” she said.

“You’re still awake?” he asked. “How soon are we going to leave Jerusalem?” she asked. “Probably in the next couple weeks.”

“Oh,” the girl moaned. “I know it’s not easy, but we must go,” he said. “It’s not safe for us here any longer.”

Two weeks later they were traveling north from Jerusalem. They had packed only what they could take in the cart.

News of Philip in Samaria had already reached the believers. The Samaritans had swarmed to hear Philip preach.

Philip had impressed them not only with his words, but also with signs. He had healed the sick and cast out evil spirits, convincing the Samaritans that his message about Jesus was true.

And now the girl and her father were moving to Phoenicia. It was so far away. It seemed like the end of the earth to her. “You know,” her father said, “your mother would have been so happy.”

The girl nodded yes. Before her mother had died, she had made her husband promise to take the good news to her family in Phoenicia.

“We probably should have moved to Tyre long ago,” Father continued.

The girl thought about the house she had lived in all her life. She pictured the faces of her friends, whom she would never see again. Then her thoughts turned to mother’s family, to bringing them the news of the risen Christ. Photo by Neva MacPhee

“You know, Father,” she said. Her father turned around from his place walking beside their donkey and looked at her.

“It’s strange, isn’t it?” she continued. “This persecution that’s been so terrible has brought something good. Hasn’t it?” His smile said yes.

Everybody in class number off one, two, one, two, etc. We are going to read some scenarios.

I want those of you who are “ones” to think about how you would handle the situation as if it were happening to you. I want the “twos” to think about how you could help a fellow Christian having the experience.

1. Someone in your neighborhood steals items from an elderly woman’s home and blames it on you.

Although you tell her you’re a Christian and wouldn’t do such a thing, she doesn’t believe you and calls the police.

“Ones”, what will you do? “Twos”, how will you help them?

2. Your school requires you to be in class on Sabbath morning. You ask to be excused, but your request is denied because other Seventh-day Adventists attend on Saturday.

You get a zero for your schoolwork for every Saturday. Your chance of getting into a good school for advanced studies is dwindling.

“Ones”, what will you do? “Twos”, how can you help them?

3. You and another Pathfinder are out collecting food for a family in your church who have recently lost their father. The local constable says you need to have a permit. You explain that you are just trying to help another believer. It’s nothing official.

He insists on detaining you until your parents get home. That won’t be for another three hours. You and the other Pathfinder are so upset you can’t remember the Pathfinder director’s or pastor’s phone numbers.

“Ones”, what will you do? “Twos”, how can you help them?

4. Your uncle, who is raising you, forbids you to go to the Adventist church. He beats you when he finds that you have gone in spite of his command.

The church has scheduled a baptism. Your uncle has sworn he will kill you if you are baptized.

“Ones”, what will you do? “Twos”, how can you help them?

5. Your friend Tom asks you questions about God. But when you invite him to church, Tom hesitates. He asks you to give him three reasons why he should come with you. “Ones”, what will you do? “Twos”, how can you help them?

What can God do for us even in negative situations?

How can we find joy in difficult situations? Let’s say the power point...

God’s love unites us and brings us joy.

Important Information PowerPoints® art copyrighted © 2003 by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Text and illustrations from Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine is copyright © by the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. Scriptures quoted from NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1980, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. ClickArt Infinity by Broderbund, © 1999 TLC Multimedia Inc.

You will want to have a hard copy of the Mission Story ready to read during the Mission Story section. You can find the story on pages 22 and 23 of the Third Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine. The title of the story is “Mission in My Backyard.” You can go to the website and find the link titled “Publications” to download the Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine. You will want to have a hard copy of the Mission Story ready to read during the Mission Story section. You can find the story on pages 22 and 23 of the Third Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine. The title of the story is “Mission in My Backyard.” You can go to the website and find the link titled “Publications” to download the Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine. Notes to Teachers Please let your friends at other churches know about these Sabbath School programs. You can download a PDF version of a slide show brochure for ing or printing at: ide%20Shows.pdfhttp:// ide%20Shows.pdf.

Copyright Grants Pass Seventh-day Adventist School Art and graphics copyrighted by the General Conference and the Review and Herald® are included on slides 46, 48-51, 53, 55-61, 63-68, 71, 72, 75 and 76. Images and artwork are copyrighted by the Pacific Press Publishing Assoc., Review and Herald Publishing Assoc., It Is Written and others. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Copyright Notices