SDA Sabbath School Lessons

#5 Love: The Universal Gift

• Sabbath 1/25 - The Framework of Love
• Sunday 1/26 - What Is Love All About
• Monday 1/27- The Fruit of the Spirit
• Tuesday 1/28- Peter's Ladder
• Wednesday 1/29 - The Right Attitude
• Thursday 1/30- Spiritual Gifts and Church Unity
• Friday 1/31- Further Study
• Inside Story - Her Name Means "Shining Everywhere

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THE FRAMEWORK OF LOVE

A church member who was not reelected to church office, even though he had done a good job, had the locks on the doors to the church changed and refused to unlock them until he was reelected. In office, this brother apparently used his spiritual gifts effectively. But something was lacking.

Paul discusses spiritual gifts in the context of the right kind of Christian personality and attitude. "Follow the way of love," he writes, "and eagerly desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor. 14:11 Cor. 14: 1, NIV).

Spiritual gifts are given for two purposes: to do the work of the church and to do it within a framework of unity. Love is a power that is essential to unity.

WHAT IS LOVE ALL ABOUT? (1 Corinthians 13).

Love may be one of the most misunderstood and misused words in any language.  It is supposed to be a universal language, but it has so many meanings that people may be confused by it.  You may say you love to eat, love to go on picnics, love your dog, and in the same breath say you love your husband or wife.  Is loving God the same as loving to go on a picnic?  How about loving the people in your church?  On the other hand, in spite of all this abstractness, when love happens, you know it.

The kind of love we are talking about in this lesson, called agape in Greek, originates in the character of God Himself (1 John 4:8).   It is the epitome of Christian character (1 John 4:16) and the highest attainment of the Christian lifestyle (1 Cor. 13:13).

How does Paul emphasize the importance of love in the Christian church setting?  1 Cor. 13:1-3.  What does John say about the importance of love?  1 John 3:11-24.

"Pure, sanctified love, expressed by Christ's lifework, is as sacred perfume.  Like an opened bottle of perfume, it fills the whole house with fragrance.  Eloquence, an extended knowledge of the truth, outward devotion, rare talents, if mingled with sacred, humble love, will become as fragrant as the, opened box of ointment.  But gifts alone, ability alone, the choicest endowments alone, cannot take the place of love.... [1 Cor. 13:1-3 quoted]."-Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1137.

"[1 Cor. 13:4, 5 quoted.] Troubles exist between brethren in the church because they fail to understand what constitutes true Christian charity, brotherly affection, and Christlike love.  Self-love and self-esteem lead professed Christians to measure themselves by themselves. They take for granted that all their surmisings and suspicions of others are correct. But it is because of suspicions and judging of one another that there is discord, strife, and an unhealthy condition of the church." - Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, p. 261.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (1 Gal. 5:22, 23).

Acceptance of the call to discipleship initiates the development of a Christian personality.  One of the key Scripture passages outlining the elements involved in this kind of personality is Paul's list of the Spirit's fruit in Galatians 5:22, 23.   Galatians 5 discusses the meaning of freedom in Christ as opposed to the oppression engendered by legalism.  To ensure that there is no misunderstanding, Paul builds his case on a framework of love:  "You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself "'   (Gal. 5:13, 14, NIV).

What does Paul say regarding the way Christians should live once they have left the old life of sin?  Gal. 5:16,17

"The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit." - The Desire of Ages, p. 172.

Characteristic	Restate in your own words	How would you apply it in everyday life?
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

Notice that the singular word fruit is used in Galatians 5:22. The point is that all these characteristics should be apparent in a Christian's life all the time.

PETER'S LADDER
(2 Peter 1:3-11).

Peter presents another set of criteria for developing and measuring a Christian personality.  Most of his criteria match Paul's list in Galatians 5.  But because Peter builds his list around the words "add to," it is sometimes called "Peter's ladder."

Peter's list	Paul's list	Restate in your own words	Application in everyday life?
Faith	Faithfulness
Goodness	Goodness
Knowledge
Self-control	Self-control
Perseverance	Patience
Godliness	Gentleness
Brotherly kindness	Kindness
Love	Love
	Peace
	Joy

There is a connection here with spiritual gifts.  Peter points out that developing these traits of character makes one's ministry effective and productive.  That is achieved by using our spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10).

What does it mean to make one's "calling and election sure"?   2 Peter 1:10.

"If we are Christ's, our title to the heavenly inheritance is without a flaw, and in harmony with the provisions of the covenant of grace.   Through grace we shall be able to make our calling and election sure, putting on the excellency of Christ in spirit and character." - Ellen G. White, The Messenger, May 10, 1893.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE (Rom. 12:1-5).

Attitude counts a great deal in the work of the church.  Each individual member of a group has his or her own personality, attitudes, and agenda.  We are not in heaven yet, and the pull of the societies and cultures in which we live is strong.  The pull of innate selfishness is even stronger.  The golden rule (Luke 6:31) does not shine as brightly as it should.

Yet the life of the church is built around ethical standards based as much on attitude as on actual overt actions.  Finding ways to be unified while recognizing individual differences in members of the group is one of the Holy Spirit's purposes in assigning spiritual gifts.

How did Jesus state the essence of God's law?   Matt. 22:37-40.

"ike the first is the second commandment, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' Mark 12:31.  The law of love calls for the devotion of body, mind, and soul to the service of God and our fellow men.  And this service, while making us a blessing to others, brings the greatest blessing to ourselves.  Unselfishness underlies all true development.  Through unselfish service we receive the highest culture of every faculty."-Counsels to Teachers, p. 32.

In these verses Paul combines his analogy of the human body with Peter's concept of a "measure of faith."  He states that a renewed mind can override "the pattern of this world" and can understand God's will.  This process, however, demands "sober judgment."

There is no hierarchy of value attached to spiritual gifts.  They are all of equal importance.  Other than the overarching value placed on love, all other gifts are equally important for the accomplishment of the work of the kingdom.   This perspective places all people on the same level and focuses them on accomplishing the will of God.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND CHURCH UNITY
(1 Corinthians 12; Eph. 2:11-22; 4:3).

Unity is a much abused and misunderstood word.  To some people, unity means "everyone agrees with me."  To others, it means that everyone will believe and behave exactly the same way, a perspective called uniformity.  To yet others, it means that even if we don't agree on everything, we still get along and learn to live with one another as fellow travelers on the road to heaven.  Many evidences of disunity in the church don't have to do with doctrinal differences; they involve differences over procedures and personal likes and dislikes.  It is precisely in this realm of procedure, ways of doing things, that spiritual gifts apply.

Trace through Paul's concept of "one Spirit" in 1 Corinthians 12.  What pattern emerges?  What does he mean by "bond of peace" in Ephesians 4:3?  The Greek word for unity really means "agreement."

Ellen White puts it this way:  "What kind of unity is spoken of in these words?   [John 17:20-23]-Unity in diversity.  Our minds do not all run in the same channel, and we have not all been given the same work.  God has given to every man his work according to his several ability.  There are different kinds of work to be done, and workers of varied capabilities are needed." - Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1148.

There are all kinds of implications here.  In early church times, many Jews considered non-Jews unworthy of salvation.  Greeks believed they "sprang from the earth," and everyone else on earth was a barbarian." People who have common blood lines and cultures often tend to classify themselves as superior to everyone else.

On the other hand, God is no respecter of persons, nor does He show favoritism (Acts 10:34, 35).  The Holy Spirit assigns gifts for service to all born-again believers, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or former lifestyle (Acts 10:44-46).

FURTHER STUDY:

Read John 17.  Go through the chapter and outline the way Jesus used the concept of unity.  This is the prayer in which Jesus turns over His mission to His disciples and, by extension, to us.  The New International Version translates verse 23: "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."  The Greek word for "unity" here is simply the word for the numeral 1.  Because of the gospel's power, diverse personalities function together as if they were the numeral 1.  The unity is seen in the common denominators of purpose, dedication, and discipleship.  Paul calls it glorifying God with one heart and mouth (Rom. 15:5,6).

The Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White has 46 columns of references to the word love and seven columns on the word unity.  This should be enough information for all of us to understand the concepts.  The common denominator as she sees it is as follows:  "Through the diversity of the gifts and governments that He [Jesus] has placed in the church, they will all come to the unity of the faith." - Testimonies to Ministers, p. 29.

For some practical examples of how love and unity work in the church, see Jerry Cook and Stanley C. Baldwin, Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness (Ventura, Calif.: Regal Books, 1979).

1. Is it possible to devise ways of measuring the extent to which the fruit of the Spirit is manifest in your church?
2. Select a number of the "one another" statements in the New Testament, and discuss them with your class.  To what extent are these statements being applied in your church?  See lesson 13 for more information and a chart of these statements.
3. Is the unity of which Jesus, Paul, and Ellen White talk really possible?  What would it take for your church to achieve it?

Jesus in Her Heart, Part I

Eric Monnier

Eight-year-old Margarita was eager to attend the Vacation Bible School at the local Adventist church.  Her friend had invited her and told her about the fun she would have singing songs, learning Bible verses, and making crafts.  Although her parents were not religious, they thought it would be good for her to have something special to do during vacation, so they gave her permission to attend the program.

Margarita loved Vacation Bible School, and the teachers loved her.  Eagerly she learned the songs and memorized the Bible verses.  And she especially enjoyed making the crafts.  Although Margarita had never had religious training at home, she absorbed everything the teachers presented during the week-long program.

At the closing program, the pastor spoke to the children and their parents about God's love.  He invited the people to give their hearts to Jesus.  Those children who wanted to give their heart to Jesus signified their decision by putting a little felt heart on a felt picture of Jesus.  Solemnly Margarita walked to the front of the church holding her felt heart.   But instead of placing the heart on the picture of Jesus, she carefully lifted the felt figure of Jesus and placed her little heart underneath, where Jesus' heart would be.

After the program Margarita's teacher asked her why she had placed her heart under Jesus rather than beside Him.  Margarita answered simply, "I want to put my heart into the heart of Jesus.  I want Jesus to live in my heart forever and make me a different girl."

Margarita told her parents about her decision to follow Jesus.  She was so excited.  Her parents smiled at her decision, but they not think too much about it because they did not attend church.  But Margarita kept talking about it.  "Do you know that I will be a different girl from now on?" she told them.  Margarita told her parents that her VBS teacher had invited her to come to Sabbath School, on Saturday, and Margarita's parents said she could come.

On Sabbath morning Margarita's teacher looked for the girl, but no one had seen her.  She was not at Sabbath School.

(continued next week)

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