The Undercover Adventist

  Sabbath School Growing in a Relationship with God  Lesson 1 - Thursday  Linked to the Vine Jesus’ words in John 15 are simple, but living them out can feel anything but easy. “Abide in Me,” He says. Stay connected. Remain. Depend. But real life has a way of pulling you in a hundred directions. You wake up with good intentions—maybe a prayer, maybe a few moments in Scripture—but before long, the day takes over. Responsibilities, stress, distractions. And somewhere along the way, that sense of connection fades. You might still be doing the right things—going to church, praying, trying to live faithfully—but inwardly, something feels off. Dry. Weak. Like a branch that hasn’t fully disconnected… but isn’t thriving either. Jesus knew this struggle. That’s why He didn’t just tell us to abide—He gave us the means to do it. The life of the vine flows through the branch as sap. And spiritually, that “sap” is the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:13 , Jesus makes a powerful promise: ...

  The Proper Use of Ellen White Within the Christian life, God has often used faithful messengers to encourage, guide, and call His people back to Him. One of those voices was Ellen G. White , whose writings have blessed many by pointing hearts toward Christ and toward a deeper study of Scripture. Yet with such a large body of writing, an important question arises: What is the proper way to use her writings? First and foremost, Ellen White consistently emphasized that her role was not to replace the Bible but to direct people back to it. She described her work as a “lesser light” leading men and women to the “greater light”—the Word of God. The foundation of faith must always remain the Scriptures. Her writings were meant to awaken interest in the Bible, clarify its principles, and encourage believers to study it more deeply. When her writings are used in a way that overshadows or substitutes for the Bible, they are being used contrary to her own intention. Another issue arises ...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 7 - Friday: Afterthought Seeking First the Kingdom of God To seek first the kingdom of God means giving God the first place in our hearts, decisions, and priorities. It means allowing His will to shape our goals and His righteousness to guide our behavior. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). When we live by this principle, we learn to trust God’s timing and provision rather than worry about our own needs. Our focus shifts from building our own comfort to advancing His purpose in our lives and in the world around us. Joshua’s life is a strong example of what it means to live this way. Before leading Israel into the Promised Land, Joshua continually sought God’s presence and direction. When he faced challenges—from crossing the Jordan to conquering Jericho—he waited on the Lord’s instruction before taking action (Joshua 1:7–9; 3:7–8; 6:...

Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 3 -  Sunday  “Preparing for God’s Presence” Joshua 3:1–5; Numbers 14:41–44 When the Israelites camped by the Jordan River , ready to enter the Promised Land , God gave them a command through Joshua: “ Consecrate yourselves , for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5). This moment was sacred—God was about to reveal His power in a new way. But before they could witness His mighty act, the people had to prepare themselves spiritually. The ark of the covenant , carried by the priests, symbolized the very presence of God among His people. It was to go before them, showing that the Lord Himself would lead the way into the unknown. The people were not to move ahead of the ark, nor to act on their own wisdom. They were to follow at a distance, watching and waiting on God’s direction. This was a test of faith and obedience—a reminder that spiritual victory comes only when we move in step with God’s presenc...

  The Cry for God’s Presence Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:12–17 Every believer comes to a point where the greatest need is not simply God’s blessings, but God Himself. In Exodus 33, Moses had already seen God’s mighty power—the burning bush, the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, water from the rock. Yet, in this passage, Moses pleads with God: “Teach me Your ways… If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” This was not a request for miracles or signs, but for a deeper relationship with God. Moses’ Request: Teach Me Your Ways (vv. 12–13) Moses understood that leading Israel was an impossible task without God’s wisdom. He did not just want to know what God was doing, but why He was doing it. He asked, “Teach me Your ways, so I may know You and continue to find favor with You.” At the burning bush (Exodus 3), Moses first learned who God was—the great I AM . In Egypt, he saw God’s power to deliver. At the Red Sea, ...

  Trusting God to Fight Our Battles Text: Exodus 23:20–33 In Exodus 23:20–33, God gave His people specific promises about entering and conquering the Promised Land. He reminded them that the victory was not about their own power or cleverness, but about His presence, His guidance, and His faithfulness. The Israelites were to trust, obey, and move forward in faith, because the Lord Himself had already gone ahead of them. God Promised to Go Before Them God told Israel: “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” (Exod. 23:20, NIV). This “messenger” or angel has often been understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ Himself—the One who guided them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God was making it clear: “I will fight for you. I will protect you. I will lead you.” The Israelites didn’t need to figure everything out; they simply needed to follow in obedience and tr...

  The Law That Leads Us to Christ Text: Romans 3:20–24; Romans 10:4 In Romans 3:20–24 Paul writes, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known… This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” This passage raises an important question: if the Ten Commandments and the law cannot save us, then what role do they play in our lives today? And when Paul says in Romans 10:4 that “Christ is the end of the law,” what does that mean? The Law Reveals Our Need Paul is very clear: the law was never meant to be a ladder by which we climb into heaven. Instead, it is like a mirror. In Romans 3:20 he says the law makes us “conscious of sin.” When we look into God’s commandments, we see His holiness—and at the same time, our failures. The law exposes our brokenness, showing us that we fall short ...

  The Different Functions of God’s Law Scripture Reading: James 1:23–25 "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." God’s law is often misunderstood. Some see it as a burden, others as something harsh or outdated. But when we look at the Ten Commandments and the rest of God’s moral law, we discover it is not a chain to bind us, but a gift of grace that serves several purposes. The law is like a fence around a garden—keeping us safe from destruction, guiding us to righteousness, and ultimately pointing us to Jesus Christ, our Savior. The Law as a Guide for Life The Ten Commandments are not merely rules to restrict us. They are God’s blueprint for ...

  “Led by God Even When the Way Seems Impossible” Text: Exodus 13:17–14:12 Introduction: When God delivered Israel from Egypt, their journey didn’t begin with an easy road. It began with a wilderness. In Exodus 13:17–14:12, we see how God not only led them, but prepared their hearts for faith in the middle of fear. Their story teaches us that God never abandons His people—even when the path looks like a dead end. God’s Guidance Is Not Always the Straightest Path (Exodus 13:17–18) “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter…” (13:17). God chose the long way on purpose. Why? Because the Israelites weren’t ready for war. They had just come out of slavery; they needed to learn trust, not go straight into battle. Sometimes the longer road is God’s mercy, not a mistake. Lesson: God's detours are divine protection. Trust Him even when the journey feels longer than it should. Marching Forward in F...