FRIDAY November 30

Further Study

Read The Ministerial Association of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, chapters 15-18, in Seventh-day Adventists Believe.

"Baptism is a most sacred and important ordinance, and there should be a thorough understanding as to its meaning. It means repentance for sin, and the entrance upon a new life in Christ Jesus. There should be no undue haste to receive the ordinance. Let both parents and children count the cost." – Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 93.

"The Passover pointed backward to the deliverance of the children of Israel, and was also typical, pointing forward to Christ, the Lamb of God, slain for the redemption of fallen man. The blood sprinkled upon the door-posts prefigured the atoning blood of Christ, and also the continual dependence of sinful man upon the merits of that blood for safety from the power of Satan, and for final redemption." – Ellen G. White, The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 201.

Discussion Questions

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"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:26). What great hope is presented here?

The wonderful thing about Jesus Christ is that He not only came but He is coming back for us. When we celebrate the Lords supper we do so in anticipation of the second advent. The Lords supper points toward the first advent and the great second advent as well. We have this hope that burns within our hearts!

What good would the first coming of Christ be without the Second?

At the cross Jesus Christ took away the punishment of sin. Even though He has taken away the punishment of sin we still have to live with the effects of sin. We still have to live in a sinful world corrupted by sin, we are constantly reminded of the damaging effects of sin. The purpose of Jesus coming back is to wipe away every trace of sin that ever existed. We will get new bodies, and He will recreate the earth. In the second coming of Christ Jesus will restore the earth to it’s perfect state. We have a lot to look forward to. If Jesus never planned on coming back for us He never never had to come the first time.

Read Matthew 26:29. What is Jesus saying in this one verse?

What Jesus is saying that He will not be able to celebrate communion until the work of salvation is fully complete. Jesus’ work will not be complete until He come back for us at the second coming.

Discouraged? Downtrodden? Welcome to a fallen world. Why, amid all that you may be going through, is it so important to look at the Cross, what it means for you now, and what it means for your ultimate future?

God has something better than this world planed for us. We must accept Jesus as our personal savior and yield our will to Him and we will be ready when He comes back.

Prayer: Lord help us to be ready for your second coming. Thank you. In Jesus name amen.

Read Matthew 26:26-28. What meaning is evident in what Jesus is telling us to do here? Why is it important to see this in terms of symbols?

The words of Jesus caused some confusion as to what He really meant when He spoke these words.  What Jesus is simply saying is that the Lords Supper is a symbol of what I will do for you. The blood of Jesus ratifies the covenant which He made with His people.  Jesus directs His words to explaining that His blood will be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus is pointing toward this event and not the literal consumption of His body and blood in the Lords Supper.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:24-26. What important doctrinal truth about the Cross is revealed here?

When we partake of the Lords supper we remember what Jesus has done for us on the Cross. This service reveals a new dispensation. Where we can be saved by the merits of Jesus Christ , and there is no longer a need to sacrifice animals. Each time we celebrate communion we remember what Jesus Christ has done for us.

With the Cross so vividly symbolized through the partaking of the bread and wine, we are reminded that whatever earthly things divide us, we are all sinners in constant need of grace. The Communion service should help us all to realize our obligations, not just to the Lord but to one another, as well.

Prayer: Lord please help make us one. In Jesus name amen.

Read Luke 22:24-27 (see also Matt. 18:1, 20:21). What crucial truth had the disciples still not learned?

The disciples were fighting over who was the greatest. The disciples had not learned what it meant to be great in the eyes of God. True greatness was not measured by your power and authority over others but by hos much of a servant you were. The disciples did not get this and Jesus sought to demonstrate this important truth to them.

What does John 13:1-17 teach us about foot-washing as a part of the communion service?

The passage shows hot the foot-washing happened with the communion service. As we look at Jesus as our example we should continue the ordinance of humility as  He first instituted it.

Whose feet might it do you some immense spiritual good to wash?

As we yield ourselves to serve others it crucifies our flesh and helps us to be more like Christ.

Prayer: Lord God almighty, help us to be your servants. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

If you have been baptized, think back upon the experience. When you understand what it means, why (in a sense) do we need to be ‘baptized’ every day? How can this be accomplished?

When we read the bible Paul says that I have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20). What Paul is saying here is that I have been crucified once through my baptism in the past but I must also be continually baptized daily. Paul clearly links the connection with crucifixion and baptism in Romans 6. Baptism is how we join in the death of Jesus Christ. We are not only to join in the death of Jesus Christ at our baptism but each day as we crucify our flesh. The question is how do we crucify the flesh?  The process of crucifying the flesh is the process of sanctification.  We understanding that sanctification is a work of a lifetime.

Jesus is the source of our sanctification.  As we look at the perfect character of Jesus Christ we recognize how much we need a savior. In the contemplation of the character of Jesus we recognize our great need.  In recognizing our need then we supplied with a fresh baptism of the Spirit of God. We must also remember the the Holy Spirit is not only provided for sanctification but it is also provided for evangelism. The Spirit is given to those who are making us of it for the fulfillment of the mission of the Church.

We we expend ourselves on behalf of the gospel the very work we engage in will cause us to yearn for more of God’s Spirit. There is no way we can work for God authentically  and not have His Spirit. God is the one who supplies our every need, those who thirst and hunger for righteousness will be filled.

Prayer: Father we thank you for the baptism that you provide us from our sins. Please baptize us a fresh daily. Grant us forgiveness of our sins and make us acceptable in your sight. Thank you in Jesus name amen.