Sabbath School Teaching Tip: Look to develop additional group leaders. Ask a member to co-lead with you one Sabbath; then ask them to lead sometime when you are not there. Rotate this across multiple group members. You might be surprised at their gratitude at being asked, their willingness to try, and the spiritually transformative experience it is for them. For in trying to teach, we learn.

1. Confusion can arise based on different meanings of the words “prophet.” In Scripture, “prophet”  sometimes refers to a person who has been raised up by God to speak to the whole people of God at a particular period of time; such a one may also have written a canonical book of Scripture (e.g., Isaiah). Similar prophets also spoke to the whole people of God at a particular period of time but did not write a book of Scripture (e.g., noncanonical prophets like John the Baptist). A second meaning of “prophet” refers to the more widely exercised prophetic gifts in the local church of equipping and edifying each other through the Spirit (e.g. Philip’s four daughters mentioned in Acts 21:9, or Paul’s local church member prophets  mentioned in 1Cor 14:29, Eph 4:11-13). Some people distinguish the two types as the “Office of Prophecy”  vs the “gift of prophecy;” others call it “capital P” prophecy vs. “small p” prophecy, with the main distinction being whether the message is public and for the whole people of God or more localized and meant for the building up of an individual or a few individuals within the context of  interpersonal relationships.     
          A.   What do you think about this distinction? 
          B   Does it make sense to you? Raise questions for you?
          C.   Do you feel you can recognize examples of both types of prophetic activity?     
          D.   What’s your emotional reaction to each proposed “type”? Why?

2. In Acts 2:17-18, Peter says that Joel’s prophecy has come true at Pentecost: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”  Are you included in the “all people?”  Explain your answer. How might your answer affect how you approach the call to ministry?

3. Adventists see Ellen White as the first type described above, that is, a “Capital P” (noncanonical) prophet sent by God to speak to the whole people of God at a particular period of time. What about her ministry fits this conceptualization?

4. Our author states that the main work of false prophets is deception.

1. 1. What are some of the most startling “deceptions” of Christians that are recorded in the annals of history?
   2. What strikes you as a surprisingly effective “deception” of some Christians today?

     5.  “Apostles” are “those sent forth with a message.” Prophets are “those who speak for another.” Our author notes that, in the New Testament, apostles have the same “level of inspiration” as prophets. Paul says that “God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers….”(1 Cor 12:28). Clearly apostles and prophets work closely together.

1. 1. Why did the ministry of the “apostles” become primary only with the coming of Christ? How does that reflect some of the unique historicity of the Christian revelation?
   2. In what sense is the work of apostles “first” in the Christian church?
   3. How do prophets and teachers help build on the same foundation as apostles (Eph 2:20)?
   4. How does this Christ-centered image of a building in Eph 2 help us avoid being deceived by false prophets?

     6.  Scripture contains all that is necessary for salvation. Yet, time and again, God has raised up transformational leaders who can speak Scriptural truth into the specific needs of that moment. Uriah Smith called this the “Pilot and the Map.” A Shipowner tells the captain & crew (Church) to follow a comprehensive map (Scripture), and that same Shipowner provides an experienced pilot (prophet) for the most challenging parts of the journey. Does it make sense for the captain and crew to reject the pilot given by the very same Shipowner who gave the map, all in the name of the “sufficiency of the map? ” What do you think of this analogy in defense of prophecy?

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