Are You Sure?

February 8

Further Study:

Read The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, pp. 626, 627, 1021-1025; Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 315-318, 399-403, 621-623; John 12:20-33, Acts 9:1-31, 22:1-21, 26:2-18. "He [the Centurion] had not seen the Saviour, but the reports he heard had inspired him with faith. Notwithstanding the formalism of the Jews, this Roman was convinced that their religion was superior to his own. Already he had broken through the barriers of national prejudice and hatred that separated the conquerors from the conquered people. He had manifested respect for the service of God, and had shown kindness to the Jews as His worshipers. In the teaching of Christ, as it had been reported to him, he found that which met the need of the soul. All that was spiritual within him responded to the Saviour's words."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 315.

Discussion Questions:

Look more closely at the Antioch model. What things could your local church learn from this model that could make it a more effective witness for Christ? As a church, the Adventists are very good at getting people to join, as our growing numbers of baptisms prove. We are, though, struggling with the question of discipleship, the question of what to do with these people after we baptize them. As we know, far too many who join soon leave. What are your own thoughts on this problem? What has been your experience with being discipled after you were baptized and joined the church? What do you wish might have been done differently with you? What do you think your local church could do, must do, to disciple new members better? Be prepared to talk about this issue in your Sabbath School class. The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53. Go over the chapter and review what it tells us about the death of Jesus on our behalf. What does the text tell us that Jesus did for us? What hope does it offer? Why is it so important to keep His death for us at the forefront of all our witnessing? Why is it so important that we keep the Cross at the front and center of all our discipling, as well?

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		I N S I D E Story
		Are You Sure? by HOMER TRECARTIN Raquel's parents are church planters for their denomination in Brazil. Their first church plant has 10,000 members, and their second numbered 2,000 when Raquel moved to the United States to study. Raquel missed home and yearned to hear her native Portuguese. She met a Brazilian Adventist couple who befriended her and invited her to church. She went once, but she loved her own church. A year later the Adventist couple told Raquel that they were planting a new church and invited her to visit. Raquel went and felt drawn to this I group. She began studying the Bible and shared what she was learning with her parents. Raquel's worried mother pleaded, "Those Adventists are a cult. They will brainwash you." Raquel explained that no one was brainwashing her, she was just studying the Bible. But her mother worried even more. Then her brother came to visit. Raquel knew that her parents had sent him to "straighten her out," but she was glad to have family nearby. David insisted that they attend their family church on Sunday, and Raquel agreed-provided David attended the Adventist church with her on Sabbath. David thought he would see how this cult was misleading her. Three months later David and Raquel were still attending the Adventist church on Sabbath and their family's church on Sunday. David studied the Bible, too, trying to prove Raquel wrong. When Raquel decided to be baptized, David asked her, "Are you sure you want to do this? You know what it is going to do to Mother and Father." "Yes, David," Raquel replied. "It will break their hearts, but I have to follow Jesus." She noticed tears on David's cheeks. Then David said, "Raquel, I want to be baptized with you." When they told their parents the news, their 'mother cried. But their father said simply, "Be faithful to what you believe God wants you to do." Raquel's parents came to the United States for her wedding. They visited the Adventist church with their children. It seemed strange to them, but they saw the deep love Raquel and David have for Jesus. They still attend the church they planted in Brazil, but they are studying the things Raquel and David are sharing with them. Your mission offerings help plant new churches such as the one Raquel and David attend. HOMER TRECARTIN is special projects coordinator for the Office ofAdventist Mission in the General Conference.
		Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org