SDA Sabbath School Lessons
Friday October 11, 1996


Further Study

FURTHER STUDY: Abraham's consecration and faith qualified him to be the spiritual forefather of the faithful in all ages to come. Scripture repeatedly presents his example as worthy of following because he lived with a conscientious desire to glorify God. One of Abraham's distinguishing characteristics was that he taught and spiritually guided his entire household (Gen. 18:19). His own reverence for God was a convincing example to them.

Furthermore, he was a missionary for Christ to unbelievers. "Wherever he pitched his tent, he set up beside it the altar for sacrifice and worship. When the tent was removed, the altar remained; and many a roving Canaanite, whose knowledge of God had been gained from the life of Abraham His servant, tarried at that altar to offer sacrifice to Jehovah."--Education, p. 187.

Read "Abraham in Canaan and "The Test of Faith" in Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 132-155. Compare Romans 4 with Galatians 3 and 4 and James 2.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. After studying this week's lesson, how would you answer the Key Qeustion in Sabbath Afternoon's lesson, "How did the church begin?"
  2. When disagreement broke out between Lot's household and Abraham's, Abraham said, "Please let there be no strife beatween you and me ... for we are brethren" (Gen. 13:8, NKJV). What can we learn as a church from this spirit of love and conciliation?
  3. What can we learn about our mission from Abraham's coming to the rescue of Lot and the captured people of Sodom and Gomorrah? (Compare Genesis 14 with Revelation 18.)
  4. How does the Influence of a well-ordered Christian household affect the world and the church?

SUMMARY: Abraham's faith was based on his personal knowledge of God and on love for Him. He obeyed God by faith and guided his household into a pure and godly way of life. Women, men, and children who are part of God's household, His true church, will through fai h partake of the same virtues Abraham possessed and will exert the same influence for good on others that he did.