As the
author of the visitor’s book used in a number of churches (at least seven that
I know of), I am happy for others to utilise the text for your own church. I
have removed most formatting so that you may use it in your own word processing
or page layout program.
I would
request that somewhere in small type something along the lines of “Original
text by Lionel Hartley, PhD www.hartleyonline.blogspot.com” be printed in the
publication.
Cheers,
Lionel
><>
Welcome
to the [name of your] Church &
Sabbath School
Thank you for visiting us.
We are a Christian
faith community of diverse individuals that reflect the diversity and strength
of our surrounding communities.
Whoever
you are—rich or poor, young or older, tall or short, liberal or conservative
(or anywhere in between), and no matter the colour of your skin or any
difference in your speech—you are very welcome here!
This
church is not a building, an organization, a name, or a day. It is the people
you see around you here today, a family of believers, a population of diverse
individuals united by love for each other and a common relationship with Jesus
Christ.
We are
a church, to be precise, a Seventh-day Adventist Church. We realize that the
word “church” may be intimidating to some people; maybe it is to you. If so, we
regret that, because we’re just a group of regular folks doing the best we can
for God with what He has given us.
Our
goal is simply to follow Jesus so that we can become more like him, and we’d be
delighted if you chose to join us in that goal. We are the first to admit we’re
not perfect; but we are in the process of being changed by Jesus who is
perfect.
We’re glad you have been interested
enough to visit our church today. Our aim in all that we do is to bring glory
to God. Please take your time to get to know us, as it is our sincere desire to
greet you warmly and help you feel at home. We won’t pressure or judge you. We
wouldn’t want someone to do that to us, so we won’t do it to you.
If you have any questions, or want
to know more about us, please don’t hesitate to ask.
— Lionel Hartley, (Author responsible for this booklet - www.hartleyonline.blogspot.com)
What is Sabbath School?
Sabbath School is the Seventh-day Adventist
equivalent, in general, of the Sunday School of other denominations, but
designed for people of all ages, rather than for only children and youth.
The goal of the Sabbath School is the
discipling of people for Christ.
The four basic objectives of the Sabbath
School are faith development, fellowship, community outreach, and world
mission.
Adventist Sabbath School work began in 1852
when Seventh-day Adventist pioneer James White wrote the first Sabbath School
lessons, a series of 19 for children and youth published in the magazine
‘Youth’s Instructor’. The first regular Sabbath School was probably the one
organized in 1853 by James White in Rochester, New York.
Early Sabbath Schools had only two divisions,
one for children and one for adults (the latter called the Bible Class).
Teachers placed much emphasis on the memorization of Scripture.
In 1952, the centennial of James White’s
first Sabbath School lessons, there were 17,993 Sabbath Schools, with 1,120,998
members.
In 1992 organized Sabbath Schools were
operating in 204 of the 233 countries recognized by the United Nations and the Sabbath School lessons were being taught
in 687 languages.
The Sabbath School today is divided by age
groups: adults, young adults, youth (or high school), earliteen, junior, primary, kindergarten, and cradle
roll (beginners).
— From the SDA Encyclopedia.
What Seventh-day Adventists believe...
Seventh-day Adventists believe salvation
is a free gift of God's grace, made possible through the sinless life and the
atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and is accepted by faith on
the part of the believer. We believe that we can have victory over sin by the
power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but that if we sin, forgiveness is
available through Jesus Christ.
Seventh-day Adventists believe in one
God, a unity of three co-eternal beings, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This
loving God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, an He has revealed
Himself to humanity in His inspired Word, the Bible. We believe that the Bible
is the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian. We urge its daily
study, aided by prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Seventh-day Adventists believe the Ten
commandments are a loving transcript of the character of God and a revelation
of His will. We believe that we should keep His commandments (including the
fourth, which enjoins the observance of the seventh day of the week as God's
Sabbath), not as a means to salvation, but as a loving response to His loving
gift of salvation.
Seventh-day Adventists believe that Jesus
is presently ministering in our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary, and we
believe in the soon return of Jesus to bring full redemption to His people. We
believe that the faithful who die prior to the Second Coming of Jesus will rest
in the grave until the resurrection at that time. We believe in the final
annihilation of the wicked by the fire that purges the earth during the
executive phase of the judgment.
Seventh-day Adventists believe in
spiritual gifts, including the spirit of prophecy. We believe that our bodies
are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and proper care of our bodies is part of
true spiritual living.
Where to Look in the Bible
When
Anxious
for dear ones Psalms 121; Luke 17
Business
is poor – Psalms; 37, 92 Ecclesiastes 5
Discouraged
– Psalms 23,42,43
Everything
seems going from bad to worse – II Timothy 3; Hebrews 13
Friends
seem to go back on you – Matthew 5; I Corinthians 13
Sorrow
overtakes you – Psalms 46; Matthew 28
Tempted
to do wrong – Psalms 15, 19,139; Matthew 4; James 4
Things
look “blue” – Psalms 34, 7; Isaiah 40
You seem
too busy – Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
You can’t
go to sleep – Psalms 4, 56, 130
You have
quarrelled – Matthew 18; Ephesians 4; James 4
You are
weary – Psalms 95:1-7; Matthew 11
Worries
oppress you – Psalms 46; Matthew 6
If You
Are
challenged by opposing forces - Ephesians 6; Philippians 4
Are
facing a crisis – Job 28: 12-28; Proverbs 8; Isaiah 55
Are
jealous – Psalms 49; James 3
Are
impatient – Psalms 40, 90; Hebrews 12
Are
bereaved – I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:13-5:28; Revelation 21, 22
Are bored
– II Kings 5; Job 38; Psalms 103, 104; Ephesians 3
When
Desiring
inward peace – John 14; Romans 8
Everything
is going well - Psalms 33: 12-22; 100; I Timothy 6, James 2: 1-17
Satisfied
with yourself – Proverbs 11; Luke 16
Seeking
the best investment – Matthew 7
Starting
a new job – Psalms 1; Proverbs 16; Philippians 3:7-21
You have
been places in a position of responsibility – Joshua 1:1-9
Proverbs 2; II
Corinthians 8:1-15
Making a
new home – Psalms 127; Proverbs 17; Ephesians 5; Colossians 3; I Peter 3:1-17;
I John 4
You are
out for a good time – Matthew 15:1-20; II Corinthians 3; Galatians 5
Wanting
to live successfully with your fellowman – Romans 12
Where
to Find
The Ten
Commandments – Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5
The
Shepherd Psalm – Psalm 23
The Birth
of Jesus – Matthew 1, 2; Luke 2
The
Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12
The
Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13
The
Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5, 6, 7
The Great
Commandments – Matthew 22:34-40
The Great
Commission – Matthew 29:16-20
The
Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10
The Parable
of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15
The
Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8
The Last
Judgment – Matthew 25
The
Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus – Matthew 26, 27, 28;
Mark 14, 15, 16; Luke 22, 23, 24; John
13-21
The
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2
If You
Bear a
grudge – Luke 6; II Corinthians 4; Ephesians 4
Have
experienced severe losses – Colossians 1; I Peter 1
Have been
disobedient – Isaiah 6; Mark 12; Luke 5
Need
forgiveness – Matthew 23; Luke 15; Philemon
Are sick
or in pain – Psalms 6, 29, 41, 67; Isaiah 26
When
You
Feel your
faith is weak – Psalms 126; 146; Hebrews 11
Think God
seems far away – Psalm 25; 125; 138; Luke 10
Are
leaving home – Psalms 119; Proverbs 3, 4
Are
planning your budget – Mark 4: Luke 19
Are
becoming lax and indifferent – Matthew 25; Revelation 3
Are
lonely or fearful – Psalm 27; 91; Luke 8; I John 3; Revelation 14
Want to
know the way of prayer – I Kings 8:12-61; Luke 11, 18
Why Read the Bible?
The Bible
sheds light on God’s plans and how to walk your path.
Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:130
The Bible
is a mirror. You see your hidden motives and what needs to change
in your attitude and behaviour.
Anyone
who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at
his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately
forgets what he looks like. James 1:23-24
The Bible
is food. If you read it and do what it says, you’ve eaten it. If
you eat it, you grow to become a person of integrity, insight, and enduring
courage.
Jesus
answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
The Bible
is a weapon. The truth in the Bible destroys misconceptions you
believe about yourself, how life has treated you, and how to find happiness.
The
word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
The Bible
is a comforter, laden with promises ready for the claiming.
Not
one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one
was fulfilled.
Joshua 21:45
“Praise
be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised.
Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant
Moses. 1 Kings
8:56
He has
given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may
participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused
by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:4
Want a
worshipful mood – Psalms 24, 84, 116; Isaiah 1:10-20; John 4:1-45
Are
concerned with God in national life – Deuteronomy 8; Psalms 85, 118, 124;
Isaiah 41:8-20; Micah 4, 6:6-16
Where
did the Bible come from?
The Bible
is somewhat like a library because it is actually a collection of books. Those
books were written over many centuries, and they were only gradually brought
together into their present form.
The first
“collection” was probably the first five books of the Bible (often called the “Torah,”
which is the Hebrew word for God’s Law). As time went on, other books were
added, including some that told about God’s dealings with His people, as well
as the prophets and other writings.
The whole
Old Testament was finished about four centuries before the time of Jesus. Only
a few decades after His ministry, the books of the New Testament were written
and then accepted by Christians.
The most
important fact about the Bible, however, is that God watched over its writing
and He has preserved it down to the present time.
The Bible
isn’t just another ancient book of human wisdom—it is God’s Word, given to us
to tell us how we can know God.
The Bible
says, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from
God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21).
What
place does the Bible have in your life? God wants to speak to you through its
pages—are you listening?
Most of
all, He wants you to come to know Him by discovering Jesus Christ, who is the
centre of Bible’s message.
Would
you like to know more? Would you like free Bible studies?
Ask today
to be introduced to an Elder or Pastor. We would be happy to help, we can even
study with you in your own home if you wish.
