The Undercover Adventist

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Lesson 3 - Thursday  The King Who Serves Scripture Focus: Luke 22:27 , Philippians 2:3–8 , Psalm 138 Jesus asks a question in Luke 22:27 that flips our natural thinking upside down: Who is greater—the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? In the world’s eyes, greatness is tied to status, recognition, and power. But Jesus immediately redefines greatness by His own example: “I am among you as one who serves.” That’s the core message for every follower of Christ—true greatness is found in humility and service. Not in being noticed, but in lowering ourselves for the good of others. This truth becomes even clearer in Philippians 2:3–8 . We are told to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility to consider others better than ourselves. That’s not natural—it goes against our instincts. But then comes the reason: because this is exactly what Jesus did. Though He was fully God, He di...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Lesson 3 - Wednesday  Greatness Turned Upside Down Scripture: Gospel of Luke 22:24–27 The disciples were arguing—again—about who among them was the greatest. It’s almost uncomfortable to read because it feels so familiar. Ambition, comparison, the quiet need to be seen as more important than others… it hasn’t changed much. But Jesus didn’t just correct them—He redefined greatness entirely. He pointed out how the world operates: rulers dominate, leaders exercise authority, and people chase status. Then He flipped it: “Not so with you.” In God’s kingdom, greatness isn’t about climbing higher—it’s about going lower. It’s not about being served, but about serving. And then Jesus did something powerful—He pointed to Himself. The One who truly is the greatest chose the position of a servant. The Creator washed feet. The King humbled Himself. The heart of Jesus’ message is this: True greatness is measured by humility...

Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Lesson 3 - Tuesday  Trading Egypt for Eternity Scripture Focus: Hebrews 11:24–26 Moses had everything the world could offer—status, power, wealth, and the privilege of being raised in Pharaoh’s household. Yet Hebrews tells us that he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Instead, he chose to identify with God’s people, even though it meant suffering. Why? Because he saw something greater. He valued “the reproach of Christ” more than the treasures of Egypt, fixing his eyes on an eternal reward rather than temporary gain. That kind of decision doesn’t come from comfort—it comes from humility. Moses understood that who he was before God mattered more than who he appeared to be before people. He let go of pride, position, and personal advantage to follow God’s calling. That’s not weakness—that’s strength under control. Now bring it closer to home. If someone described your life, would “humble” or “meek” make th...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Lesson 3 - Monday  Two Prayers, Two Hearts Scripture: Gospel of Luke 18:9–14 Jesus tells a striking story: two men go to the temple to pray. One is a Pharisee—respected, disciplined, outwardly righteous. The other is a tax collector—despised, known for corruption. On the surface, you’d expect the Pharisee to be the “good guy.” But Jesus flips that expectation completely. The Pharisee stands confidently and prays about himself: his fasting, his giving, his morality. His words sound spiritual, but his heart is full of comparison and pride. He doesn’t really need God—he’s impressed with himself. The tax collector, on the other hand, won’t even lift his eyes. He beats his chest and simply says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” No performance. No comparison. Just honesty. And Jesus delivers the verdict: it’s the tax collector—not the Pharisee—who goes home justified before God. That cuts deeper than it first app...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Lesson 3 - Sunday  Clinging to Dust or Living for Eternity Scripture: First Epistle of John 2:15–17 There’s something revealing about the way pride works—it clings. Like tight fingers wrapped around something it refuses to release, pride holds on to status, control, recognition, and self-importance. And the harder it grips, the harder it becomes to receive anything from God. In this passage, John lays out three clear warnings about pride and loving the world: 1. Love for the world crowds out love for God. You can’t fully love both. When your heart is set on gaining approval, possessions, or power, your affection for God gets pushed to the margins. Pride subtly shifts your focus from God-centered to self-centered living. 2. Pride expresses itself in three ways: desire, sight, and status. John describes “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” In plain terms: craving what feels good, ...

Seeing God Clearly, Showing Him Faithfully Many people carry a distorted view of God—harsh, distant, or indifferent. Yet Jesus came to reveal the truth: a God who is loving, just, patient, and near. In John 14:9 , Jesus says, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” If we want to understand God’s character, we must look at how Jesus lived, loved, forgave, and served. But this truth isn’t meant to stay with us—it’s meant to be shown through us. People often won’t read the Bible first; they’ll read your life. In Matthew 5:16 , we’re told to let our light shine so others may see and glorify God. That means our daily choices either clarify or distort who God is. Practical ways to reflect God accurately: Live with consistency – Let your actions match your beliefs ( Titus 2:7 ). Show grace, not just truth – Speak honestly, but with kindness and patience ( Colossians 4:6 ). Be quick to forgive – Reflect God’s mercy in how you treat others ( Ephesians 4:32 ). Stay close to Chr...

  Growing in a Relationship With God Lesson 3  Pride Verses Humility   You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Lesson 2 - Friday Further Thought  Knowing God to Reflect Him Scripture Focus: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39 God does not simply call His people to believe in Him—He calls them to represent Him. That’s a serious responsibility. You can’t reflect a character you don’t truly know. And too often, we rely on secondhand knowledge—what others say about God—while neglecting the one place He has clearly revealed Himself: His Word. The Bible is not just information; it is revelation. It corrects our distorted views, challenges our assumptions, and steadily reshapes how we see God. The truth is, our human perspective is flawed. Sin clouds our understanding. Left to ourselves, we misunderstand His justice, question His love, and sometimes even doubt His intentions. But when you open Scripture with humility, something changes. You begin t...

Worship the Creator—Not the Idea Revelation 14:7 calls us to “fear God and give glory to Him… and worship Him who made heaven and earth.” This is not a vague, distant spirituality—it is a direct call to respond to the God of Creation Himself . The question is simple but searching: How do you respond to Him? Not just with words, but with your life, your priorities, your obedience. Notice the clarity of the verse— “worship Him.” That single word, Him , changes everything. Worship is not about a feeling, a routine, or even a religious setting. It is about a Person. True worship is focused, intentional, and directed toward God Himself—not a version of Him we imagine, and not just the benefits He gives. If your worship loses Him , it loses its meaning. So ask yourself honestly: Is it possible to worship without Him? The answer is no. You can go through motions, sing songs, and say prayers—but without a real focus on God, it becomes empty. Today, strip away distractions. Refocus your h...

  Adonai: The Lord Who Reigns and Provides Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself through names that show us who He truly is. One of those names is Adonai —“The Lord of all.” This name reminds us that God is not distant or passive. He reigns. He rules. He holds authority over every circumstance, every detail, and every moment of our lives. From the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:2 to the declarations in Psalm 97:5 , we see a God who is both sovereign and faithful to His promises. Another powerful name is Yahweh-Yireh —“The Lord Will Provide” ( Genesis 22:13–14 ). When Abraham stood on the mountain, not knowing how God would fulfill His promise, God provided exactly what was needed at exactly the right time. This name reminds us that God doesn’t just rule—He cares. He sees ahead. He provides in ways we often don’t expect, but always in ways that are perfectly aligned with His will. But God’s character goes even deeper. In 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 , we are given a clear pictu...

  The God Who Is Both Near and Mighty Scripture Focus: Genesis 1–2 The Bible does not begin by arguing for God’s existence—it simply reveals Him. And in the very first two chapters of Genesis, we are given a rich, layered picture of who God is. These chapters are not repetitive; they are complementary. Together, they reveal a profound truth: the God of creation is also the God of salvation—both infinitely powerful and deeply personal. In Genesis 1, God is introduced as Elohim . This name emphasizes His greatness, authority, and unmatched power. With nothing but His word, He speaks the universe into existence. Light, sky, land, stars, animals—everything responds instantly to His command. There is order, structure, and majesty in every verse. God is clearly above all things, sovereign and unchallenged. Humanity itself is created in His image, a reflection of His glory, yet still clearly under His authority. In this account, God speaks, and creation obeys. There is little dialogue...