The Undercover Adventist

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Sin, the Gospel, and the Law  Lesson 9 - Thursday  Hearing and Doing the Words of Jesus The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most powerful teachings ever given. In it, Jesus spoke about anger, lust, forgiveness, love for enemies, prayer, worry, judging others, and true righteousness. But as He came to the end of the sermon, He did not simply leave His listeners with inspiring ideas. He gave them a serious and deeply personal challenge. In Matthew 7:21–29, Jesus makes it clear that hearing truth is not enough. What matters is whether we truly surrender to Him and live according to His words. Jesus begins with a sobering warning: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). These are some of the most startling words in Scripture. Jesus describes people who appear outwardly religious. They call Him “Lord.” Some even p...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Sin, the Gospel, and the Law  Lesson 9 - Wednesday  Christ, the Law, and the Freedom of Faith When Jesus came to earth, many people misunderstood His mission. Some thought He came to remove the law entirely. Others believed righteousness could only come through strict rule-keeping. Jesus corrected both extremes. In one of the clearest statements He ever made, He said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17–18, NKJV). Jesus did not abolish God’s law. He fulfilled it perfectly. He lived the life humanity failed to live. He showed the true spirit of the law—not cold legalism, but love flowing from a transformed heart. Throughout His ministry, Jesus exposed how the religious leaders had turned obedie...

  “Not My Will, but Yours Be Done” Before the cross, before the nails, before the crowds mocked Him, Jesus faced another battle in the garden of Gethsemane. In The Gospel of Matthew 26:36–42, we see one of the clearest pictures of the faith of Jesus. It is not a picture of easy confidence or emotionless strength. It is faith under crushing pressure. Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him into the garden. He told them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” He knew what was coming. He knew the betrayal, the abandonment, the false accusations, the beating, and the cross. More than physical suffering, He knew He would bear the weight of the sins of the world. The sinless Son of God was about to drink the cup of human guilt and separation caused by sin. Jesus then prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” This prayer reveals something important about biblical faith. Faith is not pretending pain...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Sin, the Gospel, and the Law  Lesson 9 - Tuesday    Sin, Love, and the Freedom of God’s Law If you asked many non-Christians to define sin, you would probably hear answers like “breaking religious rules,” “being judgmental,” or “doing bad things.” But the Bible describes sin as something deeper and far more serious. Sin is not merely the violation of arbitrary rules. Sin is rebellion against God’s character and ways. It is living outside the love, truth, and order He created us for. Romans 3:20 says, “Through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” God’s law acts like a mirror. A mirror does not create dirt on your face—it simply reveals what is already there. In the same way, God’s law reveals where our hearts, attitudes, and actions are out of harmony with Him. Then 1 John 3:4 gives a direct definition: “Sin is lawlessness.” Sin is not simply weakness or mistakes; it is choosing our own way over God’s way. I...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Sin, the Gospel, and the Law  Lesson 9 - Monday  Removing the Barriers to God A healthy relationship with God doesn’t drift into maturity on its own. It grows when barriers are removed—especially the subtle ones we don’t always notice in ourselves. Scripture repeatedly shows that spiritual failure rarely starts with a dramatic moment. It starts with attitudes of the heart: pride, hidden sin, judgment of others, and unchecked anger. Paul gives a blunt warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” In other words, overconfidence is dangerous. One of the first barriers to a strong walk with God is self-reliance—the quiet belief that “I’ve got this.” Samson’s story fits this pattern. Strength without humility becomes vulnerability. Jesus then addresses another barrier in Matthew 6:2—religious pride. Doing good things for the wrong reasons. When faith becomes a performance for oth...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Sin, the Gospel, and the Law  Lesson 9 - Sunday  Strong but Weak: The Tragedy of Samson Samson’s story is one of the most tragic and relatable stories in the Bible. God called him before he was even born to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:5). He was gifted with supernatural strength, set apart for a holy purpose, and empowered by God’s Spirit. Yet despite all of that, Samson continually played with temptation. In Judges 14, Samson desired a Philistine woman even though his parents warned him against it. Instead of guarding his heart, he followed his impulses. Later, in Judges 16:1, Samson went to Gaza and visited a prostitute. Then in Judges 16:4, he fell in love with Delilah, a woman who would eventually betray him. Verse 16 says that Delilah “pressed him daily with her words.” Samson kept entertaining danger instead of fleeing from it. Finally, in verse 17, he revealed the secret connected to his N...

  “The Faith of Jesus” — A Devotional on Revelation 14:12 One of the most powerful descriptions of God’s end-time people is found in The Book of Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (KJV) This verse describes believers who remain faithful to God in difficult times. They obey Him, endure hardship, and possess “the faith of Jesus.” But what exactly does that phrase mean? “The faith of Jesus” is more than simply believing in Jesus. It also points to having the kind of faith Jesus Himself had —a deep, trusting dependence upon the Father even in suffering, uncertainty, and pain. Jesus trusted God completely, even when He could not see immediate deliverance. When Jesus hung on the cross, circumstances looked hopeless. Darkness surrounded Him. Yet He still cried out to the Father and entrusted Himself into God’s hands (Luke 23:46). That is the faith of Jesus: trusting God when feelings, ci...

  Growing in a Relationship With God Lesson 9  Sin, the Gospel, and the Law  You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.

  Rahab: A Faith That Chose God Rahab’s story is one of the most surprising examples of faith in the Bible. She was not an Israelite. She lived in the wicked city of Jericho. She even had a sinful background as a harlot. Yet God transformed her life because she believed Him when others refused to. Her story reminds us that faith is not about having a perfect past. It is about choosing to trust God and act upon that trust. Rahab’s Story Rahab appears in Book of Joshua 2. As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. The king of Jericho learned they were there and sent men to arrest them. Rahab hid the spies on her roof under stalks of flax and protected them from capture. She then explained why she helped them: “For the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” — Book of Joshua 2:11 Rahab had heard about how God delivered Israel from Egypt and defeated their enemies. While the people of Jericho hardened ...

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Having Faith Lesson 8 - Friday Further Thought Faith in the Battle Against Evil Every person is in a spiritual battle whether they recognize it or not. The Bible describes a conflict between good and evil, between Christ and Satan, between truth and deception. This battle is not only happening in the world around us—it also takes place in the human heart. The encouraging news is that God has not left us defenseless. Faith is one of the greatest weapons He gives His people. What Role Does Faith Play in the Battle Against Evil? Faith is not merely believing that God exists. Biblical faith is trusting God enough to depend on Him, obey Him, and cling to Him even when life becomes difficult. The apostle Paul describes faith as protective armor in the Christian life: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” — The Epistle to the Ephesians 6:16 Satan a...

45-Minute Sabbath School Plan Lesson 8 — “Having Faith”  A good 45-minute Sabbath School class on “Having Faith” is not about trying to cover every paragraph in the lesson. Most teachers fail because they try to “finish the lesson” instead of helping people actually wrestle with faith in real life. For a topic like faith, people need: practical application, honest discussion, Scripture, and personal reflection. Here’s a simple structure that keeps participation high while still teaching the lesson well. Main Goal Help the class understand: What biblical faith really is, Why faith grows weak, How faith grows stronger, What faith looks like in everyday life. 1. Opening Hook (5 minutes) Start with a question people can answer immediately. Try something like: “What is one situation where trusting God was difficult for you?” OR “Why do you think faith can feel strong one week and weak the next?” Do not lecture yet. Let 3–5 people answer briefly. Th...