The Undercover Adventist

  It is easy to think of the church as being divided by distance. A church member in one country may know very little about the struggles of believers in another country. Different languages, cultures, traditions, and circumstances can make us feel separated from one another. Yet the gospel reminds us that we are part of one family, and giving is one practical way God helps us experience that unity. Paul addressed this very idea in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. The believers in Macedonia were experiencing difficult circumstances, yet they generously gave to help other Christians. Paul wrote, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12, NKJV). Notice that Paul did not focus simply on the amount they gave. He focused on their willingness. Their gifts became an expression of love for people they may never have met personally. This is especially meaningful when we give to churches and missions...

  Sabbath School First and Second Corinthians  Dealing With False Teachers Lesson 12 - Monday When Competition Gets in the Way of the Gospel Paul had an important message for the believers in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 10:13–17. He was concerned that some people were measuring themselves against one another and taking credit for work that did not belong to them. Instead of focusing on Christ and the gospel, they were becoming concerned about who was more important, who had greater influence, and who could claim more success. Paul refused to play that game. He explained that he would not boast beyond the limits God had given him. His ministry was to preach the gospel where God had called him. He was not interested in taking credit for someone else’s work just to make himself look successful. Then Paul gives a powerful principle: “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10:17, NKJV). That principle still speaks to the church today. Competition can be extremely d...

Sabbath School First and Second Corinthians  Dealing With False Teachers Lesson 12 - Sunday Gentle, Yet Bold for Christ Paul’s relationship with the believers in Corinth was complicated. He loved them, but he also knew that some serious problems had entered the church. False teachers were questioning Paul’s authority, criticizing his ministry, and trying to turn the believers away from the truth about Christ. What makes 2 Corinthians 10:1–11 especially interesting is that Paul’s critics apparently considered his meekness to be weakness. They saw his gentle approach as evidence that he lacked courage. But Paul was about to make something very clear: meekness is not weakness. Paul writes, “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:1, NKJV). Notice that he does not begin with insults, anger, or threats. He appeals to them through the character of Christ. Yet just a few verses later, we see how courageous he really is. Paul spe...

  Sabbath School First and Second Corinthians  Stewardship and Mission Lesson 11 - Friday Further Thought “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9, NKJV When we think about stewardship, we often think about money. We may think about tithes, offerings, budgets, or how we use our possessions. But Christian stewardship is much bigger than money. It is about recognizing that everything we have ultimately comes from God and asking how we can use it for Him. Paul points us directly to Jesus as the greatest example of stewardship. Jesus was rich, yet He willingly became poor for our sake. He left the glory of heaven, took upon Himself humanity, and gave His life on the cross so that we could receive the riches of salvation. He did not give because He had to. He gave because He loved us. Philippians 2:5–8 gives us another picture of this incredib...

  Sabbath School First and Second Corinthians  Lesson 12: Dealing With False Teachers You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson. > Download the Notes for Lesson 12: Video Dealing With False Teachers Here (Video is Below) Lesson 12 Daily Devotionals: Sunday: Spiritual War    Monday: Boasting in the LORD   Tuesday: False Teachers Identified    Wednesday: Sufferings for the Sake of the Gospel    Thursday: Appeal to the Unrepentant    Friday Further Thought: How the Church can Stand Against Deception     More on Lesson 12:    Gentle in Spirit, BOLD in Truth    When Ministry Becomes a Competition    Guarding the Bride of Christ   Sabbath School 3rd Quarter Online: First and Second Corinthians Quarterly  

They Gave More Than Money—They Gave Themselves  Read 2 Corinthians 8:1–5 Paul points to the churches in Macedonia as an example of remarkable generosity. Their circumstances were not easy. They experienced severe trials and deep poverty. Yet, somehow, their hardship did not stop them from giving. In fact, Paul says that their “deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” What was behind such generosity? The answer may be found in verse 5: “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord.” Before they gave their money, they gave themselves to God. That is the key. The Macedonians understood that giving was not simply about money. It was about their relationship with God. They had experienced His grace, and that grace changed their attitude toward what they possessed. They did not see their resources as belonging entirely to themselves. They saw themselves as stewards of what God had placed in their hands. Notice something else: T...

  What Does Your Giving Say About Your Faith? “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul’s words challenge us to look beyond the amount we give and examine the heart behind our giving. God is not simply interested in our money. He is interested in our trust, our priorities, and our willingness to put Him first. Notice that Paul says we should give according to what we have decided in our hearts. Giving should not be something we do because someone pressured us or made us feel guilty. It should be a response to God’s goodness toward us. This becomes especially important when we think about tithes and offerings. It is easy to be faithful when we have plenty. But what happens when money is tight? Do we still trust God? Do we still put Him first? Sometimes we have very reasonable-sounding excuses. “I have too many bills.” “I can't afford it right now.” “I'll give whe...