Sabbath: The Apostolic Example
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Thess. 2:1-12, Acts 16:1-40, Deut. 10:16, Ps. 51:1-10, 2 Cor. 8:1-5, Luke 11:11-13.
Memory Text: “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, ESV).
Key Thought: By revealing what the true motive in ministry must be, Paul can help us all examine our hearts and lives in light of the gospel.
This week’s lesson marks a major transition from the arguments of the first letter to the Thessalonians. Paul moves from a focus on the church (1 Thess. 1:2-10) to a focus on the apostles and their experience in Thessalonica (2:1-12).In the previous chapter Paul gives thanks to God because the believers in Thessalonica modeled their lives on Paul and, in turn, became models of faithfulness themselves. Now, in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul probes more deeply into the kind of life that enables the apostles to function as role models.
While there are many possible motivations for teaching, preaching, and service, Paul puts his finger on the one that matters most: that ministry will be pleasing to God. Paul was less concerned with growing the church in numbers than with its growing, through God’s grace, in the right spiritual principles.
In this lesson we glimpse Paul’s innermost life. Paul bares his soul in a way that challenges us to align our own spiritual hopes, dreams, and motivations so that we will please God and have the right influence on others.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 4.
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Since Christ is our role model, we have to be role model of those whom we are leading to Christ, just like Paul, we must be committed and faithfully in our ministry, our life must reflect the life of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Yes thats good to be role model but let's all beware of pride.
The bible clearly states that we, as Christ followers are 'instructed' to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8), hence, this is our 'calling'. In addition, we are also the "salt" and "light" of the world (Mat 5:13-14). With this in mind, we can not deny our role in this world but to "role model" our Lord Jesus in every spect of our lives, in this sin-filled world where we are living right now. And to those who do otherwise, i pray, would find time to read the bible and the Holy Spirit to guide them to this very 'truth'.
Thank You All for making it so plain.
Paul is very articulate. In all pragmatism, no one is less unwelcoming to hypocrisy (preaching water and drinking wine). Perfect we may not be, but that does not permit imperfection in the sight of God. Let us labor all we can to defeat the enemy not just with word, but also with all we are, remembering that we have already made the sacrifice to God. Rom.12:1,2; Malachi 1:6-13; 2 Peter 3:14; Ephesians 4:22-24. Finally, let us hinge all of our being on The Tender Shepherd. Remember the line "...by looking to Jesus like, him thou shalt be" from the hymn song "Take Time to be Holy." God bless us.
The memory text says a lot, to please God and not men is more of what Christ said, "you are not of this world..."
We all have chosen and called to the ministry of soul saving. And such we must exemplify our Christian characters for we know that He who is inside of us is greater than who is outside. When we allow Christ to dwell inside of us, an ambassador role will not be a problem. We will carry out His bidding without fear, always lifting up His name and will also have a sense to care for others because we are called to salvation so as to call others also. In this journey, we will face opposition, critics, varied philosophies, etc, our safety is standby 'Thus says the Lord' and have unflinching faith in Him. Inspiration says 'the messengers of God are never to fear the face of man, but are to stand unflinchingly for the right, so long as they put their trust in God, they need not fear for He who gives them their commission gives them also the assurance of His protection' Brethren, this is exactly what Paul did. It's worthy to model after him as ambassadors of God.
Renford,
Very well said. You can't deny it, I do believe you have read God's Word and God's Spirit of Prophecy. This year at campmeeting the Sabbath morning 11 O'Clock preacher asked all the ministers to stand, he did not lead into it. Well many stood, and without prompting the whole congregation stood. Praise God the Seventh-day-Adventists in the Oregon Conference know what you are talking about, I am sure also around the world, we all have the same belief. That is why if I were to fly into Zimbabwe next week I would be treated as a fellow brother by my brothers and sisters of SDA faith. I agree we need not be fearful of imitating Paul because he is not Christ. We can imitate Paul because he imitates Christ. I do understand that Paul spent 3 years before his misistry being instructed by the Holy Spirit before he started his ministry. From what I understand of his writings he maintained his relationship with the Holy Spirit through out his ministry, even unto death. We certainly have a high calling. God bless!
As Christians we have to walk the talk such that those people whom we are preaching to can follow us as role models. But bearing in mind that Christ is the best role model in our lives.
We are called out of the world to live holy as He is holy, not to please ourselves but Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light so that by our conduct we may proclaim praises to Him and all men may be drawn unto Him.
Fellow saints if we all gave glory to God the church will have successfully advanced
the gospel. Pride is killing us. God help us to give glory to you.
What the bible say never be removed.