Who are you voting for?

Welcome:

Opening Song:

Hymn # 609: Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

Scripture Readings: 

2 Peter 1: 4 – 10

Whereby are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises……brethren, give the diligence to make your calling and election sure

1 John 2: 15 – 17 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world

Matthew 22: 21 

Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.

1 Timothy 2: 1 – 2 

Supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for kings ….. that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Prayer: 

Individually, for all prayer points in the scripture readings. for example, diligence, have no love for the world, peace

Superintendents Opening Remarks: 

During elections, do you go out campaigning for your party? Do you go out to vote? 

I’m hearing some persons saying  Yes and some saying No. Do you know that the SDA church has a position on its members’ involvement in political parties and the political process? 

Do you want to know what the church’s position is or you would do as you please anyway? 

The church’s position is, that this decision is a personal decision. “If you vote, keep your voting to yourself. Do not feel it your duty to urge everyone to do as you do.” Selected Messages Book 2, page 337.

Could someone tell us, what is the best way to make a personal decision? 

Answer: Go to the Lord in earnest prayer and supplication… Amen.

Today we will discuss how to vote for the winning side by looking at the symbols and listening to the promises.

Mission Story: 

Secretary’s Report:

Main Feature:

Political parties perform an important role in the political process of governance in democratic countries. We know that each political party offers many promises to sway the electorate to elect them. Some of these promises are fulfilled while some are not.

 As was said earlier, your decision to participate in the process is a personal one; you may choose to vote for your party symbol of choice or to refrain from voting altogether.

Our topic for today has two main questions:

 1. Are you on the best team in the election race? 

2. Which symbol has your support; is it the one that gave us the most, (exceedingly great and precious) promises? 

Which book do you know has the most symbols and promises within its writings? 

Answer: The Bible, of course! From online research, I saw that the Bible has over 1670 symbols and over 3000 promises. 

*Share your favorite bible promise and symbol that adds to your understanding of life.*

Today, we would look at a few symbols and what they should mean to us. 

According to the book – Discipleship Handbook – a resource for Seventh-day-Adventist church members, published by Review and Herald, The Bible refers to the church as “the body of Christ” 1 Corinthians 12: 27. This symbol helps us understand the vital importance of being united with our church family. (Is uniting with the church family important?) 

Likening church members to different parts of a physical body, the apostle Paul writes that “the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you. Said simply, we need one another. The church needs every one of its members, and every member needs the church. It is spiritually fatal for any Christian to attempt to live independent from the life of the church.

Another symbol in the Bible is the bridegroom. Who does this symbol refer to? Jesus Christ, and who is His bride? The church…. (Bear with me, we’re going somewhere with this, don’t get lost because you would miss an important theology).

The Handbook continues, very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church- He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves a connection with the church….. I hope we all understand this connection.

We continue, the church is organized for service; and in a life of service to Christ, connection to the church is the first step. Further, loyalty to Christ demands the faithful performance of church duties” (Education page 268, 269).

Let’s think about these things as we go into the Lesson Study for today.

Lesson Study

Superintendent Closing Remarks

One of the most straightforward “church duties” and yet one of the most neglected is attending church…… This voluntary sacrifice of personal time not only conveys an interest in the cause of God, but it also increases the interest, providing necessary preparation for any line of service. 

The importance of attendance is so great that it may rightly be called the “ministry of attendance.” Develop the habit of regularly attending church, and you will forever be an invaluable blessing to your local church. Even if others begin to lag in their attendance, it should only increase your commitment.

The question of members’ involvement in the political process has been discussed even before the SDA church was officially organized. An article in the Review and Herald of September 11, 1856, reported a response given to the question by one David Hewett, a thoughtful and solid lay member in the Battle Creek congregation. He said,

“My brethren, shall we spend our time in political campaigns….when we so soon expect Christ in all the glory of His Father and all the holy angels with Him?

That response is more relevant now than it was in 1856 because the end is nearer now than when we first believed. 

In closing, let us stay true to the one who has given us exceeding great and precious promises because He cannot fail, nor is He a man that He should lie. Brethren, give the diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if we do these things, we shall never fall, even during this hectic election season. May God bless us.

*Thank Participants*

Sabbath School is now adjourned until next Sabbath