A Reform-minded Seventh-day Adventist forum In our aim to exalt everything important, first and foremost, we seek to promote a clear understanding of Daniel, Revelation, the three angels' messages and the alpha and omega of apostasy.
Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Location: New Zealand
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:47 am Post subject: Why Sabbath School? Whose idea was it anyway?
Who thought up the concept of Sabbath School Bible studies? Is it just some churches, or do they all have the same or similar program? All the SDA churches I have visited (not many), where I live, have the same routine of breaking off into groups for Bible study, partway through the meeting. If you want to be present for the first part and the last part of the meeting, you are (sort of) forced to take part in Bible study.
I like the FIRST part of the meeting and I like the LAST part (if we have a sermon), but I am SO fed up with "compulsory" bible study in the middle of it all, it has seriously put me off attending church.
I have very much enjoyed Bible studies over the years and still do, but I don't like the Sabbath School studies. Year after year, it's an endless procession of Old Testament studies. Some of it IS interesting, but really, I'd rather choose what Bible studies I want to take part in, at times that suit me best. And frankly, I'd MUCH rather be learning about Jesus and the gospel, than endlessly going over and over the OT.
I know for a fact that others also don't like it, and would rather not have compulsory Bible study. Some non Adventists visiting our church find it peculiar to be pushed into a Bible study halfway through the service!
So is it just me? Or do others have an opinion about this too? Part of it is maybe that I am not as young as I was and I find the studies tax my mind somewhat! Sometimes it is not easy to concentrate and often the studies seem dry and tedious and overly complex.
I really need to talk about this, it's getting me down.
The importance of Sunday school is widely recognized in many Sunday churches. [1]. Not surprisingly, Ellen G. White believed in the importance of Sabbath school for Seventh-day Adventists.
Ellen G. White wrote:
The Sabbath school should be one of the greatest instrumentalities, and the most effectual, in bringing souls to Christ.-- TSS 20.
The Sabbath school is an important branch of the missionary work, not only because it gives to young and old a knowledge of God's word, but because it awakens in them a love for its sacred truths, and a desire to study them for themselves; above all, it teaches them to regulate their lives by its holy teachings.-- TSS 109, 110.
The Sabbath school work is important, and all who are interested in the truth should endeavor to make it prosperous.-- TSS 109.
Our Sabbath schools are nothing less than Bible societies, and in the sacred work of teaching the truths of God's word, they can accomplish far more than they have hitherto accomplished. The Sabbath school, when rightly managed, possesses marvelous power, and is adapted to doing a great work, but it is not now [* WRITTEN IN 1889.] what it may and should be. The influence growing out of Sabbath school work should improve and enlarge the church; but in no case should it ever be allowed to divert from the interests of the church. There is a most precious missionary field in the Sabbath school, and if there are now omens of good, they are only indications and beginnings of what may be done.-- TSS 29.
Note that Ellen White agreed with you and thought that Sabbath school should have a gospel emphasis.
Ellen G. White wrote:
The Sabbath school should be a place where the jewels of truth are searched for and rescued from their environment of error, and placed in their true setting in the framework of the gospel. Precious gems of truth, long lost sight of, are now to be restored to the children of God. The themes of justification by faith, the righteousness of Christ, should be presented in our schools, that the youth and children may understand these important subjects, and teachers and scholars may know the way of salvation. Sacred and eternal principles connected with the plan of salvation have long been lost from sight, but they must be restored to their proper place in the plan of salvation, and made to appear in their heavenly light, and penetrate the moral darkness in which the world is enshrouded. Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pp. 12-13.
The reason you don't see powerful Sabbath school lessons on the gospel in the Adventist church is that Seventh-day Adventists don't understand the gospel. Their lessons, if they have any salvation-based testing truth at all, have to be watered down so as not to offend the many different factions in the church that all teach a different gospel. My advice to you is to get the book, "The Gospel According to Jesus" by John F. MacArthur. John MacArthur is not a Seventh-day Adventist but his book is the clearest and best exposition on the true Adventist gospel that you can find. Take his book with you to church. When the church breaks up for Sabbath school, find a place at the church where you'll be alone so you can read the book. It will be your own Sabbath school and silent witness against the church administration that is too cowardly, too compromising and too tolerant of error—or simply too confused—to teach the true gospel.
Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Location: New Zealand
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:27 pm Post subject:
Thanks Eugene, I'll try to get the book you recommend. And thanks for the suggestions. However, I still don't think Sabbath School should be foisted upon adults. Even the term "Sabbath School" is juvenile. As far as I know, Sunday Schools in the Sunday worshiping churches are for youngsters, and the adults attend Bible studies if and as they wish, separate from the main service.
When I read the book of Acts I see the true, progressive Adventists giving a lot of scriptural studies in the temple on essential Bible doctrine and the peace-and-safety Adventists being strongly against it.
Acts 17:1-12
When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:37 am Post subject: SDB Sabbath schook
James White wrote the first Sabbath School (question and answer style) lessons.
We got the concept of Sabbath School from the Seventh Day Baptist Church (orginally from the Ephrata Congregation) who were using it before Sunday Schools began in First Day Churches.
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