Further Study:
"It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit"—Ellen G. White, "The Passover Visit," p. 83, in The Desire of Ages, p. 83."In every possible way Satan sought to prevent Jesus from developing a perfect childhood, a faultless manhood, a holy ministry, and an unblemished sacrifice. But he was defeated. He could not lead Jesus into sin. He could not discourage Him, or drive Him from the work He had come to this earth to do. From the desert to Calvary the storm of Satan's wrath beat upon Him, but the more merciless it fell, the more firmly did the Son of God cling to the hand of His Father, and press on in the bloodstained path"—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1130.
Discussion Questions:
The grudging compliments paid to Jesus in Matthew 22:15, 16 speak of Him as a person of integrity and truth, as unswayed by people's office or power. What would people say about you? Could they offer you a similar kind of compliment? What about on a larger level, the level of your local church? Is it as willing to help the lower stratum of society as it is to try to impress the higher-ups? What does your answer tell you about changes that need to be made, if any? 
As a class, go over what you wrote down in Thursday's lesson regarding the things that can hamper your walk with the Lord. Compare notes with other class members. What did you list in common? What were the differences? Even more important, how can you work together to help each other get past these challenges? What practical help can you give each other?
In Matthew, Jesus frequently is mentioned as spending time on mountains and teaching on mountainsides. Finally, He is transfigured on a mountain (Matt. 17:1-9). This association with higher ground is meant, perhaps, to signify the daily closeness Jesus experienced with the higher realms of reality. What are the ways that we, as a church, can work together to reach, in a sense, the upper regions, even while intensely engaged in the valley below?
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| The Drenkard and the Tailor by FULGENCIO CHALUFOIA I was a drunkard, and my drinking robbed me of everything. But a humble tailor helped me find my way back from the edge of hell. I live in Mozambique. I kept my drinking a secret until my wife and I were married. I hoped to stop drinking, but I was powerless, to stop. The harder I tried to stop, the worse my drinking became. My wife threatened to leave me if I did not get help. I went to a witch doctor, but he could not help me conquer my addiction. Sometimes I was so drunk I beat my wife. Finally she left me. Desperate to stop drinking, I bought a Bible and began attending church. One Sunday on my way to church, I met a tailor working in his roadside shop. "Where are you going?" he asked. "To church," I replied. "Why are you going today?" he asked. "Yesterday was God's Sabbath day." Curious, I stopped to talk. The tailor told me that God has the answer to my problems and offered to teach me from the Bible. The tailor could not read, but he knew the Bible. He sat down beside me, opened a notebook filled with Bible references, and pointed to one. "Look this one up," he said. I found the Bible verses and read them. Then he explained to me what they meant. We read many Bible texts, and the tailor explained each one to me. Finally he told me to read Exodus 20. I read the Ten Commandments and suddenly I realized that I was finding truths I had never known. I asked the tailor what church he belonged to, and he said he belonged to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He told me where the church was located and invited me to visit. I thanked him and promised to be in church the next Sabbath. I then continued on to the Protestant church to tell my friends what I had just learned and to invite them to come to the Adventist church on Sabbath. The next Sabbath I found the Adventist church and worshiped there. In that church I found God's peace and the power to overcome alcohol and tobacco. It took some time, but with God's help, I never smoked or drank again. My drinking cost me everything-my job, my wife, my home. But God has given me my life back. I am happy in Jesus, and I have invited my friends to find Jesus as well. At least 15 have come to know God's truth and joined the Adventist church because I shared with them what God has done for me. Your mission offerings help bring the gospel to thirsty souls everywhere.
FULGENCIO CHALUFOIA shares his faith in Chimoio, Mozambique. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Web site: www.adventistmission.org |
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