Rest In Christ: 2021 Q 3 Sabbath School Lessons:

Cover of 21c Kindle lesson - Rest in Christ

Cover of 12c Bible Bookshelf Resting in Christ You may download the full lesson quarterly for studying Rest in Christ  from Amazon in Kindle format.  The study guide has been prepared by the authors, Gerald A. Klingbeil  and Gerald A. Klingbeil and a committee representing the various world divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

You can order a paper copy of the lesson quarterly as well as resource books from the Adventist Book Center

The Bible Bookshelf companion book, Rest in Christ, by Gerald A. Kingbeil and Chantal J. Klingbeil is also available on Amazon in Kindle format. Chantal and Gerald Klingbeil enjoy a cross-cultural marriage and working as a team. Chantal, an associate director of the Ellen G. White Estate, hails from South Africa, while Gerald, an associate editor of Adventist Review Ministries and research professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at Andrews University, was born and raised in Germany.

Other Resources for Rest in Christ

Humble Hero Desire of Ages in modern English.Reading Ellen White’s classic volume on the life of Christ, The Desire of Ages, will certainly promote “Rest in Christ” in the reader. Available in various formats, including Kindle format on Amazon. It is frequently referenced by the authors of Rest in Christ. 

If you’ve read the full volume before, you will probably enjoy the condensed modern-language version, Humble Hero,  as much as I do. It is an excellent condensation and draws the reader into the story. It is a great introduction to the life of Christ. Although I have this book in Kindle format, that format is inexplicably not currently available, but you can order it in paperback format from the Adventist Book Center for less than the Amazon price. 

Man of Peace: A Contemporary Adaptation of the Classic Work on Jesus’ Life the Desire of Ages is the work of Jerry D. Thomas.  It is  a great gift and a good review for those familiar with the original version. (222 pages, paperback.)

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, Ellen White Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, by Ellen White, focuses on the Sermon on the Mount, beginning with the peaceful setting of eager listeners sitting on the hillside, waiting to hear Jesus speak. You may also enjoy Blessings: A Contemporary Adaptation of Ellen White’s Classic Work Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing by Jerry D. Thomas. It currently only appears to be available in paperback format.. 

Patriarchs and Prophets by Ellen WhiteSteps to Christ, by Ellen WhitePatriarchs and Prophets traces the story of God’s interaction with His people from Creation to the time of the kings of Israel.  He was continually inviting them to enter into His rest. 

Steps to Christ, by Ellen White, is generally more appreciated by those who know the Lord than those who don’t. It is eminently re-readable with its many comforting and encouraging passages. The last chapters are especially conducive to rest in Christ. 
 
13 Weeks to Peace by Jennifer Jill Schwirzer Are you stressed out? Have you ever struggled with issues of low self-worth, guilt, depression and other mental or emotional issues? If so, you may find Jennifer Jill Schwirzer’s course on 13 Weeks to Peace liberating and healing. Jennifer Jill is a level-headed Seventh-day Adventist mental health counselor who occasionally contributes to this blog, and in her book she brings together truths from God’s word as well as insights from psychology. The book can be used for personal devotions and journaling or a small-group study. Just keep in mind that it is directed at those who feel in need of emotional or mental healing. 
The thirteen chapters deal with topics such as guilt, forgiveness, self-image, and habits. Questions at the end of each chapter provide topics for individual reflection or group discussion. The second half of the book, the “Toolbox,” offers a series of supplements  allowing a reader to investigate each topic introduced and apply the author’s practical insights
Peace Above the Storm is a compilation from the writings of Ellen White in a magazine-style format of 8 x 10.25″ kind of like a coffee table book. It addresses topics such as 
Peace Above the Storm:Freedom From Worry, Guilt and Fear is compiled from the writings of Ellen White and published in magazine format of 8×10.25″ suitable for coffee table display. If you need encouragement in this uncertain world, you will find it in this volume  which addresses topics from the unconditional love of God to the ways we might take to be more joyful. You will also find subjects such freedom from guilt, developing a clear conscience, God’s promises in fulfilling our needs, personal growth in faith and positive attitude, the power we have in prayer, encountering opposition and trials and overcoming doubt. Most subjects include “Precious Promises” of  Scripture, such as from John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)  Satan constantly tries to divert our attention from our Savior. Satan causes us to dwell on our faults and weaknesses. But Jesus has provided the means for forgiveness and a “clean slate.”

Love Under Fire - Condensation of The Great Controversy by Ellen WhiteAnother great resource for this quarter is Love Under Fire a condensation of The Great Controversy by Ellen White in modern English. The title itself casts the plot in a new light as a demonstration of the great conflict between God’s mode of government through self-sacrificing love and Satan’s various attacks on this love through selfishness and forceful subjugation of God’s followers. Because the volume is considerably shorter than the original it is possible to read from beginning to end in a much shorter time and thus get a good overview. The conclusion of the book shows how God will bring the war to conclusion, which will allow peace and harmony to reign in all of God’s creation.
 
A correct understanding of the character of God is crucial to our experiencing peace in this world even amidst all the chaos and possible trials. Three books by Ty Gibson exude the love of God and thus bring calm to the soul:
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These  three books by Ty Gibson communicate some of his enthusiasm about God that he exudes in person after having gone through the experience of being a very idealistic but also somewhat legalistic convert and then discovering what God is really like. Not only did his picture of God change, but his whole way of talking about God and relating to others changed.  All three books are available only in paperback format. See With New Eyes was published in January 2000. An Endless Falling in Love was published in January 2003, and A God Named Desire was published in January 2014. If you are a little bit afraid of God, reading these books will help dispel that fear. 

Other Books by the Klingbeils

Illuminating Shadow Figures in Scripture. by >Chantal J. Klingbeil Gerald A. Klingbeil  Kindle Edition

If you’ve ever felt unimportant—that your life’s work hasn’t made even the tiniest ripple in the grand scheme of things—you’re not alone. Meet a few of the shadow figures in Scripture who probably felt the exact same way, people who lived out their lives in anonymity except for a few words recorded in the Bible.

The authors focus on 12 Bible characters who are often deemed unimportant, people like Hannah,  Caleb,  Jonathan, Abigail, Uriah, Abiathar, Joa, Rizpah, a nameless prophet, the widow of Zarephath, Gehazi, Baruch.   Discover that even those who are nameless in Scripture had a definite place in God’s overarching plan.

He Spoke and It Was: Divine Creation in the Old Testament Ed. Gerald A. Klingbeil, Paperback only. (2016)

The Bible’s opening  statement that God created the heavens and the earth forms the basis of our faith.  This is the foundation of all biblical theology, because it tells us that life began when a Creator spoke it into existence. 

He Spoke and It Was: Divine Creation in the Old Testament is the result of an interaction between Seventh-day Adventist Bible scholars, scientists, and educators. The book is the first volume in a series characterized by engagement with the biblical text itself with the aim of helping both scientists and interested non-specialists to grasp the significance of biblical Creation, its terminology, and theology. At its core, Creation is all about who we are, what our destiny is, and how God chooses to save a world that is in direct rebellion with its Creator. 

28 Ways to Spell Your Faith. Edited by Gerald Klingbeil28 Ways to Spell Your Faith: The Fundamental Belief of Seventh-day Adventist Explained Ed. Gerald A. Klingbeil, 

A collection of reflections from a wide range of authors from around the globe originally published in Adventist World. Women and men, theologians and non-theologians, young and old and in between—each one shares their interactions with a particular Bible belief. As they spell out their personal faith, you may be challenged to examine your own spiritual journey. As you read these engaging chapters about the Seventh-day Adventist fundamental beliefs, you will discover not only spiritual nourishment, encouragement, and truth but also joy. It’s the joy of spending time with God’s personal message for humanity. 

This page was prepared by Inge Anderson.
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