SDA Sabbath School Lessons

#3 Spiritual Gifts
and the Church

• Sabbath 1/11 - Organizing The Church
• Sunday 1/12 - Organizing The Church For Action
• Monday 1/13- The Ministry of All Believers
• Tuesday 1/14- Spiritual Gifts and Church Authority
• Wednesday 1/15 - Spiritual Gifts and the Adventist Church
• Thursday 1/16- Spiritual Gifts in Action
• Friday 1/17- Further Study
• Inside Story - Her Name Means "Shining Everywhere

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ORGANIZING THE CHURCH

The Bible presents a number of models of church organization.   There are also different ways to organize the outreach of the church.  In Old Testament times, Israelites seldom went out to other people as missionaries.  The Lord used a "centripetal" system of soul winning.  Centripetal means that something starts at the edges and moves to the center.  Nations would observe Israel's prosperity and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people" (Deut. 4:6).  The queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon is an example.  (See 1 Kings 10.)  The New Testament indicates that the church is now called to go out rather than wait for people to come to it.  (See Acts 1:8.)  "The disciples were to work earnestly for souls, giving to all the invitation of mercy.  They were not to wait for the people to come to them; they were to go to the people with their message."-The Acts of the Apostles, p. 28.

ORGANIZING THE CHURCH FOR ACTION
(Exod. 18:13-27).

Some congregations are beautifully organized.  Seldom is anything out of place, overlooked, or unprepared.  Others are so disorganized that almost everyone and everything are in a state of more or less constant bewilderment and chaos.   Some find a happy medium and manage to get most things done with a minimum of confusion.  Many don't really know whether they have an organizational pattern.  They limp along and assume that everything will be all right.  Some churches have aggressive outreach ministries, some have none.

What does the Bible have to say about church organizational patterns?  How did Moses' father-in-law suggest Moses reduce his workload and delegate his authority?   Exod. 18:13-27.

Israel's organizational system is one that works well in a setting that involves circles of influence spread out over large areas.  Each level is responsible to the next higher level, and the communication flows from one level to the next.  The Adventist system, consisting of local church, conference/mission, union, division, and General Conference, is an example of this kind of organizational pattern.

This is a different kind of organizational pattern.   Here "wheels" work within wheels, move back and forth, up and down, all sustained by the power of God and managed by the Holy Spirit.   "There is at work a wheel within a wheel.  Apparently the complication of machinery is so intricate that man can see only a complete entanglement.   But the divine hand, as seen by the prophet Ezekiel, is placed upon the wheels, and every part moves in complete harmony, each doing its specified work, yet with individual freedom of action."-SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1161.

This type of organizational pattern is applicable to a local church. In many ways it corresponds to the concept of spiritual gifts outlined by Paul, each doing its specified work, yet with individual freedom of action.  (See Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:4-7.)

THE MINISTRY OF ALL BELIEVERS (1 Peter 2:9, 10).

During the Middle Ages, the clergy claimed that there should be a division between laity and clergy.  The clergy enjoyed a higher status than the laity.  Out of this concept and practice grew the idea that clergy are the authority in the church and that the work of the church is done by them.  Members are mostly spectators who observe whatever the clergy does, and they do whatever the clergy mandates.

What does Peter say about the Christian church and-its members?  1 Peter 2:9, 10 (compare Exod. 19:5, 6).

The word laity comes from the Latin laicus, which in turn comes from the Greek word laos, which simply means "people."  In medieval times it came to be used in contrast to "clericus," referring to the official priesthood.   A writer named Stephen of Toumai, for instance, said that there were "lower" people and "higher" people, each with a different reward in heaven.  (See Gottfried Oosterwal, Mission: Possible [Nashville: Southern Publishing Association, 1972], p. 105.)  But in God's sight all church members are part of "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" (1 Peter 2:9, NIV).

Members of this royal priesthood dignify it by living lives in accordance with its precepts.  They recognize the lordship of Jesus (1 Peter 2:4-8) and focus on declaring His glory (verse 9).  They become "living stones" in a church built by the Master Architect, who is Himself the cornerstone sustaining the entire operation (verse 7).

Read Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8; and Ephesians 4:12.  If there is any difference at all between clergy and laity, what is it?

The ministry of all believers is often equated today with the word discipleship.  All Christians are called to discipleship.  "If we are Christians, this work will be our delight.  No sooner is one converted than there is born within him a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus."-The Desire of Ages, p. 141.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND CHURCH AUTHORITY
(1 Timothy 3).

In a large organization like the church, some kind of authority system is needed.  Someone has to take the initiative and make decisions.  Under Jethro's system, Moses had the final word (Exod. 18:26).  In Ezekiel's vision of the wheels, the entire mechanism was managed by the Holy Spirit (Ezek. 1:20).

In the early Christian church, the Holy Spirit played an active and recognized role in the decision-making processes, but usually in combination with the church body.  For instance, at the first council of the Christian church, James, the chairperson, announced the decision as seeming "good to the Holy Spirit and to us" (Acts 15:28, NIV).

Read the following texts, and outline the various leadership elements of the early church organizational system:  Acts 6:1-7; 1 Tim. 3:1-10; 5:17; Titus 1:6, 7.

How did someone attain any of these positions in the New Testament church?  Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 4:14; Titus 1:5.  Besides guiding these officers, how else did the Holy Spirit administer the early church?  Acts 13:1-3.

There is a close connection-between the assignment of spiritual gifts and the assignment of officers.  Paul and Bamabas were directly called by the Holy Spirit through the prophetic office (Acts 13:1-3) and given the missionary gift, as well as other gifts.  But the decision was confirmed by the church body (Acts 13:3).   Timothy's experience was the same.  He was called through a prophetic message, which was confirmed by the church body (1 Tim. 4:14).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND THE ADVENTIST CHURCH
(1 Cor. 12:1).

Many Christian denominations believe that spiritual gifts, especially those called "power gifts," or "sign gifts," ceased with the last of the apostles.   Seventh-day Adventists do not accept this view.   In fact, we are among the leading proponents of the belief that spiritual gifts still function in today's church.

What does Joel 2:28, 29 say about spiritual gifts in the last days, especially the gift of prophecy?

J.N. Andrews, Adventist pioneer, wrote:  "Those who reject the work of the Spirit of God under plea that the Scriptures are sufficient, do deny and reject all that part of the Bible which reveals the office and work of the Holy Spirit."--Review and Herald, Feb. 15, 1970.

Ellen White specifically indicated the importance of this topic for the Adventist Church:  "God has put men and women in possession of precious gifts.  To different ones He gives different gifts.  Not all have the same strength of character or the same depth of knowledge.  But each one is to use his gifts in the Master's service, however small this gift may seem to be.  The faithful steward trades wisely on the goods entrusted to him."--The Signs of the Times, Feb. 24, 1904.

Read Ephesians 4.  What principles of spiritual gifts and church organization are laid out in this chapter?

"There is need for a variety of gifts in the Lord's work. Read carefully the fourth chapter of Ephesians.  The entire chapter is a description of the Lord's manner of working. . . . [Ephesians 4:11 quoted.]  Every gift is to be acknowledged as essential to the success of the work." -- Ellen G. White, Letter 8, 1899, p. 6 (Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, p. 276).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN ACTION: PAUL AND BARNABAS (2 Tim.1:11; Acts 9:27).

Paul and Bamabas worked together for many years.  They had different gifts that complemented one another.

What were Paul's principal spiritual gifts?  2 Tim. 1:11; 2:2; Rom. 11:13; Acts 22:21.  How did he describe his missionary gift?  1 Cor. 9:19-23.

The missionary gift (Acts 22:21) involves the ability to use other spiritual gifts in a multicultural context.  Paul's ministry made possible the fulfillment of the mandate in Acts 1:8.  Notice how the Lord used various gifts:

Person	People Group	Gifts	Texts
Peter	Palestinian Jews	Evangelist	Gal. 2:7
Peter, Stephen	Diaspora Jews	Evangelists	Acts 2; 4:31; 6
Philip	Samaritans	Evangelist, miracles	Acts 8
Paul	Gentiles	Missionary, evangelist, teacher	2 Tim. 1:11
Barnabas	Gentiles	Missionary, teacher, helps, prophecy	Acts 9:26, 27; 13:1

Barnabas had the gifts of prophecy and teaching (Acts 13:1), but he also had the gift of helps.  He took Paul under his wing (Acts 9:27), went to Tarsus to find him, initiated him into ministry, went with him on his missionary ventures, and eventually took second place to Paul.  (Notice the change in the order of names between Acts 13:2, 7 and verses 42, 43.)  Barnabas supported John Mark and eventually restored him to Paul's good graces (2 Tim. 4:11).

FURTHER STUDY:

Review 1 Timothy 3 for an overview of early church organization.   Read The Acts of the Apostles, chapters 3, 11, and 16, for more information on early church organizational systems and the use of spiritual gifts.

Wheels Within Wheels.   "The striking feature of divine operations is the accomplishment of the greatest work that can be done in our world by very simple means.  It is God's plan that every part of His government shall depend on every other part, the whole as a wheel within a wheel, working with entire harmony.  He moves upon human forces, causing His Spirit to touch invisible chords, and the vibration rings to the extremity of the universe." -- Evangelism, p. 93.

"Perfect order is brought out of the confusion.  Every wheel works in its right place, in perfect harmony with every other part of the machinery."--Christian Leadership, p. 26.

Her Name Means "Shining Everywhere"

Eugene Hsu

In the Chinese Bible Psalm 68:11 is translated, "The Lord gave the word:  great was the company of women that published it."  When the communists took over China in the early 1950s, pastors were arrested and church schools were closed.  Women stepped in to fill the needs.   Zhou Hui Ying, a local church-school teacher, had lost her job, and the church had lost its pastor.   So she bravely took up the work of leading the local congregation.

Because she was neither licensed nor ordained to preach, Sister Zhou was not recognized by the government as a pastor and received no pay.   But she continued to work as a Bible worker, suffering indignities and material losses.   Then her husband left her to rear their three children alone, on the meager gifts and support from believers.  But the Lord stood by her, and she gained strength from prayer.   She nurtured her small group of faithful Adventists who met Sabbath by Sabbath in her home or theirs.   She encouraged and supported them through government house searches and church closures.   Fearful that her Bible and Spirit of Prophecy books would be confiscated, she wrapped them in plastic bags and buried them in her yard.

When the government finally reopened churches, Sister Zhou was not permitted to conduct religious services openly unless she agreed to allow Sundaykeeping ministers to speak every other week.  This she refused to do, and it was many years before the Chinese government withdrew their accusations against her.

For the past 13 years Sister Zhou has served as Bible worker for her church.  Under her leadership the church has grown from a handful to 200 in 1986, and to more than 1,000 today.

Eugene Hsu is president of the East Asia Association, headqurtered in Hong Kong.

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