Sabbath: A Community of Servants
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Cor. 2:14-16, Exod. 32:1-14, 1 Pet. 2:12, Phil. 2:15, Eph. 2:19, Heb. 10:23-25.
Memory Text: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:23-24, NKJV).
In seeking to fulfil the Christian mission, we should not underestimate the potential of the church as an organized community of believers. We have already noted the challenges that we can face when seeking to deal with injustice and poverty. But by working with fellow believers in a community of faith, we can be a blessing to those around us.
The temptation is that when we get together as a church we become distracted with keeping the church itself going, forgetting that the church exists to serve the world in which God has placed it. As a church body, we must not ignore the suffering and evil that exists all around us. If Christ didn’t ignore it, we must not either. We must be faithful to our mandate to preach the gospel, and along with that preaching comes the work of helping the oppressed, the hungry, the naked, and the helpless.
Together as a church community and organization, we are the body of Christ (see 1 Cor. 12:12-20). As such, we as a community should walk as Jesus walked, reach out as Jesus did, and serve as the hands, feet, voice, and heart of Jesus in the world today.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 28.
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As Seventh-day Adventists, we are used to arguing our doctrines and defending our faith. There is nothing wrong with that and we like the description that we are "People of the Book". But we need to ask ourselves, are we living the Gospel? James challenges us:
When I think of the people most influential in my Christian journey, it is not the argumentative ones, but the patient enduring ones who have lived kindness, forbearance and understanding that stand out.
I have athiest friends who are never going to listen to a an argument by a Christian. They have been deeply hurt by "Christians" in the past and any argument is met with vitriolic criticism. But they do understand love and patience, the sort of friend that stands by then when things get tough in their lives. Perhaps, this is what is meant in Rev 14:12
It would be great, if, when people describe us as "People of the Book" they are describing how we live, not how we argue.
Hi Maurice,
You mentioned twice in the above post “People of the Book”, as well as few more times in past postings, referring SDAs are known as “People of the Book”, meaning, people of the Bible.
Finally my curiosity got the best of me and decided to find out about it, that’s because I haven’t heard such expression before used referring to SDAs.
Here are some of the data found:
The reading of the Bible and the study of it by SDAs its about around 20%, reflecting the same data from any other church or denomination, and churchgoers. (The data shows that among millennials it is even lower: 9%).
I also found out that the “People of the Book” expression is use to refer to Muslim, Jews and other religious groups.
In addition, “People of the Book” was a “self-claimed” subtitled by SDAs in the past and also twisted as an expression that non-SDA tagged to SDAs. ...And such “impression” still lingering mainly in an older demographic of SDAs.
I also found that SDAs open SDAs’ books and other non-SDA books more often than opening the Bible as well as reading time on them vs the Bible.
So, that’s what I found ... and sharing with you 🙂
Blessings.
Hi Eli,
I am sure that in a world wide context there are many applications of the expression, both inside and outside Christianity. And what you say about current Seventh-day Adventists is largely true. Irrespective of its usage in other contexts, it is useful for us to consider what it really means to make Biblical principles live in our own journey and interaction with others. The Bible has much to say about helping the needy, loving one another, showing respect, serving others and so on, and if we live by those principles we may be called "People of the Book". Anything else is hypocrisy.
Thank you Maurice. I have seen more people driven from the church by doctrine than brought to it. It is compassion, kindness and empathy that draws people.
Churches have become self supporting not reaching out because of lack of commitment.
As a people, we don't take ownership of the vision of the church.
Sure we all have visions but they are so fragmented, right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.
A church would fail if it does not have a clear mission, focus and purpose.
Also it would continue to fail if it does not equip it's members with leadership skills.
The great commission of Jesus: go make disciples of all nations.
The calling of Christ for all to be capable of serving in the house of God.
Leaders:
How can you equip someone else to take your position of leadership?
Members:
What would it take you to be equipped to serve in the body of Christ?
How can the church help?
If one part of the body is not willing to function, the whole body will suffer.
One aspect of the churches mission can be found in the story of Saul's conversion. Saul said, "Lord what will you have me do?" Christ gave revelation and conviction, then He turned Saul over to His organized church, to show the repentant sinner the way of life, and to be instructed of the knowledge of his duty.