Sabbath School for Adults: How To Interpret Scripture: Lesson 5:By Scripture Alone— Sola Scriptura

Friday May 1

Further Thought: In the chapter “Biblical Interpretation” in the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, read the sections The Analogy of Scripture: “Scripture Is Its Own Interpreter,” The Consistency of Scripture, and The Clarity of Scripture, pp. 64–66. Read chapter 20, “Bible Teaching and Study,” in the book Education, pp. 185–192; “The Primacy of the Word” in Selected Messages, book 3, pp. 29–33.

“The student of the Bible should be taught to approach it in the spirit of a learner. We are to search its pages, not for proof to sustain our opinions, but in order to know what God says. A true knowledge of the Bible can be gained only through the aid of that Spirit by whom the word was given. And in order to gain this knowledge we must live by it. All that God’s word commands, we are to obey. . . . The study of the Bible demands our most diligent effort and persevering thought. As the miner digs for the golden treasure in the earth, so earnestly, persistently, must we seek for the treasure of God’s word.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 189.

“When you make the Bible your food, your meat, and your drink, when you make its principles the elements of your character, you will know better how to receive counsel from God. I exalt the precious word before you today. Do not repeat what I have said, saying, ‘Sister White said this,’ and ‘Sister White said that.’ Find out what the Lord God of Israel says, and then do what He commands.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 33.

Discussion Questions:

•  What erroneous beliefs do people hold because they have looked at only a few select texts rather than at all that the Bible says about a topic?

•  In Matthew 11:11, Jesus said of John the Baptist: “ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’ ” (NKJV). Jesus points to a prophet here who has no writings in the Bible and yet said such things about Him. What should this tell us about why a true prophet does not have to have a book in the Bible and can still be a true prophet? What message can we Seventh-day Adventists take away from this fact?

•  As Adventists, we’re not alone in claiming the Bible as our final authority. Other churches do so, as well. How, then, do we explain the contradictory doctrines that other Christians claim to find in the Bible, as well?

Inside Story

Road to Jesus

By Antonis MAtsoukAros

I grew up in Cyprus, a Christian country. But my family was only nominally Christian.

When I was 12, I became sick, and no doctor could make me well. So, I began to seek God. I visited various churches in the hope of finding healing. I bowed before images and lit candles, thinking my actions would convince God to help me. But it didn’t work.

Many years later, when I was 30, I found a leaflet under my door advertising a series of lectures on archaeological and spiritual matters in a public hall. The topic for each night was listed. Although I didn’t know it at the time, the meetings were organized by the Seventh-day Adventist church.

I began attending regularly and eventually became convicted about the Advent message. But I hesitated about baptism. Nicosia is a fairly small city, and the society is fairly close knit, so I wondered how my friends and family would react if they discovered that I had abandoned my childhood church to become a Seventh-day Adventist.

For 10 years, I pondered whether it was important to be baptized. Would it make me a better person? Was I ready to follow this church and its lifestyle?

The pastor was very patient. Over time we became good friends. After some gentle encouragement, I was baptized.

I have never regretted that decision.Several years have passed since that beautiful day. Today I am 55 and active in our small church family. I teach the Sabbath School and have worked with a new pastor to build a website to reach the people of Cyprus.

Jesus is coming soon, and when He does, I will finally be healed of my lingering illness. Even more important, we want the people of Cyprus and around the world to know and be ready.

Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will help construct a new church building and community center in Nicosia for Matsoukaros’s congregation and two other congregations. Thank you for planning a generous offering.