Further Study

FRIDAY December 7

Further Study:

Read Ellen G. White, "Seeking True Knowledge," pp. 453, 454, in The Ministry of Healing; "The Sermon on the Mount," pp. 298-314, in The Desire of Ages; "The Worker and His Qualifications," p. 630, in Evangelism.
"The difficulties we have to encounter may be very much lessened by that meekness which hides itself in Christ. If we possess the humility of our Master, we shall rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a gloom over the spirit. The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control. He who under abuse or cruelty fails to maintain a calm and trustful spirit robs God of His right to reveal in him His own perfection of character. Lowliness of heart is the strength that gives victory to the followers of Christ; it is the token of their connection with the courts above."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 301.

Discussion Questions:

How does humility allow us to "rise above" hurts and annoyances? What do you think is the most important characteristic of humility that allows us to do this?
In your own particular culture, how are the characteristics of humility and meekness viewed? Are they respected, despised, or what? What kind of pressures do you face in your culture that work against your cultivating these characteristics?

Are there any great examples of meekness and humility from people alive today? If so, who are they, how have they expressed these traits, and what can you learn from them?

Why is it that we so often equate meekness and humility with weakness?

We saw how David sought the Lord as a refuge. But how does that work, how is that refuge always manifested? In other words, how can we, as a church, be a refuge for those who need a refuge? What kind of refuge does your own local church provide? What can you do to help make it a place of refuge for those who need it?

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I N S I D E Story



A Teen With a Mission
Ariane de Melo Felipe is a 14-year-old Brazilian girl with dreams—two very big dreams. They are not the dreams of most teenage girls. Ariane dreams of building a church in the Novo Barrio (neighborhood) of the city of Sao Jose do Mipibu, near her home. Her second dream is to study theology. To Ariane her dreams are concrete, for already she has led hundreds of people to Christ.

When Ariane was still quite young, her parents, Romario and Lourdes, noticed that Ariane had a heart for God that few others of any age possess. She joined her church's Pathfinder Club, began to study the Bible in depth, and took part in lay training sessions sponsored by her local mission. Then she organized her own Bible class. As a result of her efforts, six people gave their lives to Jesus.

Her pastor recommended that Ariane take part in an intensive union-wide lay training session with adults three or four times her age. After returning home, she organized a series of meetings and preached 13 times. As a result, eight people decided to follow Jesus.

Ariane focused on an area four miles (seven kilometers) from her home. She had to walk along a busy highway to reach the neighborhood, but she was not afraid. She visited people, gave Bible studies, and organized a Bible class with 15 participants. And eight more precious souls came to the Master. When her local mission learned of her continuing dedication to evangelism, they bought her a bicycle, so she could make the trip more quickly and safely. Ariane uses her new bicycle to hold more meetings, organize more Bible study groups, and lead more people to Jesus.

Because of Ariane's dedication to evangelism, more than one hundred people in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, have been baptized. Evangelism takes many forms. Some, such as Ariane, have the gift of evangelism. But we all can have a part when we give our mission offerings every week.



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ARIANE DE MELO FELIPE (left) shares her faith in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission
Web site: www.adventistmission.org