“Being Real – Trans-European Division”
Burnt Mills Sabbath School
Dear Friend,
Welcome to Burnt Mills Sabbath School !
Our Sabbath School Program at 10:30 am on September 18, 2010 takes a final look at the mission emphasis this quarter - Trans-European Division.
"Poignant," "Life-changing," "Brimming with hope." These are just a few of the things viewers have said about the Adventist Mission DVD – a tool we have used to promote the work of missions around the world. The touching stories take us deep into the heart of each quarter's featured division to explore the sobering challenges and thrilling opportunities it faces. Along the way, we have met "ordinary" missionaries doing extraordinary things to build up the kingdom of God.
This 3rd quarter our emphasis has been the Trans-European Division. This Sabbath we present the last segment entitled “Being Real – Trans-European Division”. We hope this will prepare your heart to give liberally next Sabbath – September 25th when we take up the 13th Sabbath offering for the Trans-European Division. Thank You for the role you play in helping missions go forward around the world.
We hope the weekly comments on the lesson from Contemporary Comments has been a blessing and it leads you into studying further the lesson for the week. We are grateful to the folks at Contemporary Comments for the use their ministry. Feel free to print out or share it with members of your class and friends.
Love and Law | September 18, 2010 | Adapted from Contemporary Comments
Romans 12 (New International Version)
Living Sacrifices
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13:8-10
Love, for the Day is Near
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
“Have you received yours yet? Are you even planning on getting one? You may have already heard that it is never too early to get a flu shot.
Flu season starts in the fall with most outbreaks peaking in January and February. Since you can’t read the medication insert it may be helpful to know what is contained in the flu shot serum this year.
The Center for Disease Control on their web page explains that “The seasonal flu vaccine is usually a trivalent vaccine (a three component vaccine) with each component selected to protect against one of the three groups of influenza viruses circulating most commonly in humans… the WHO [World Health Organization] recommends specific vaccine viruses for vaccine production, but then each individual country makes their own decision for licensing of vaccines in their country. In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines what viruses will be used in U.S.–licensed vaccines
“For the 2010-2011 flu season, both the FDA and WHO have recommended that the vaccine contain the following three vaccine viruses:
an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)–like virus,
an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)–like virus, and a
B/Brisbane/60/2008–like virus.”
What you can’t do this year is avoid the H1N1 vaccine. This has caused some debate as to whether or not the threat last year of a world-wide pandemic was an unjustified scare and a waste of public money. Therefore the decision to get inoculated this year may mean you need to trust your gut or the government.
The church in Rome during Paul’s time was dealing with many viruses threatening to split the church. There was a pandemic in Judaism and the pagan religions of Paul’s day in that they relied on the sacrificial system of worship. For the first 11 chapters of the book of Romans, Paul chooses to use logical argument and examples of why Christ’s sacrifice of mercy and love would now replace animal sacrifice.
In our study for this week Paul moves from theory to show the practical ways we should live every day. He uses the word “therefore” to show the connection. “God has done a lot for us, therefore, this is how we should live”
In Chapter 12 Paul’s vaccine for self-giving and unselfish concern for others includes several ingredients. He tells them to use God-given talents to build up the church. Do good and run from evil. When life gets tough, pray. Be hospitable. Bless don’t curse your enemies. Laugh with others who are happy and share tears with them when they are sad. Get along with one another. Don’t insist in having it your way. God will be the judge. Feed the hungry even if one is an enemy. If the enemy is thirsty give him or her a drink. Get the best of evil by doing good.
In Chapter 13 Paul injects some thoughts on daily living as a good citizen then suggests that when the Holy Spirit puts love within, it is natural to want to express it to everyone. We too can live a life that is a living sacrifice to God.
As we dig into these two chapters this week, let’s see if Paul’s advice to his church might be timely to our own. We might ask, Is our church healthy? Or does it need a vaccine of love to prevent the evil viruses that seek to destroy the well-being of the body of Christ in my community? “
Wishing you a blessed Sabbath !
Regards,
Joseph Pakkianathan
Burnt Mills Sabbath School