Transcript PowerPoint Junior Teen

Junior and/or
Earliteen
Sabbath School
October 25, 2008
This Quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath
Offering is going to the
Northern Asia-Pacific Division
China
Mongolia
Information adapted from
Adventist Mission, Youth and
Adult Magazine and the SDA
Encyclopedia.
North Korea
This quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering
will be used to help:



build a dormitory for Adventist
students in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
fund Chinese-language television
and Internet broadcasts from
Taiwan
plant a Chinese-language church in
the heart of Tokyo, Japan
Almost 1.5 billion people live in the countries that make up the
Northern Asia-Pacific Division. Among this huge population 97% are
Buddhists, Shintoists, Muslims, Shamans, and Atheists while only 3% are
Christians (nearly 563,000 or one in every 2,600 are Seventh-day
Adventists). Challenges are everywhere in this area.
Focus on Japan
Encarta
Shinto Ceremony in Kyoto
The islands of Japan are
located in the North Pacific
just east of Korea and
China. Japan currently
boasts the third strongest
economy in the world and
is at the forefront of the
modern technological age.
Shinto is the traditional
Japanese religion and until
the end of World War II it
was the official state
religion.
Young women in
traditional kimonos
Osaka Shoman Castle
The Japanese people are a study in contrast. While the
older generation still cherishes the traditions of
ancestor worship, hard work, and loyalty, young people
reach out and grasp modern materialism and embrace
technology.
Japanese who do not claim to be Christian do
not seem interested in learning that Jesus loves
them. When Adventist missionaries first
entered Japan more than 100 years ago, the
people responded and the church grew rapidly.
But as the Japanese economy prospered after
World War II, interest in religion waned.
Materialism became the god of the Japanese.
Business
district in
Tokyo
Christians remain a very small
percentage of the population and
there are only some 15,000
Seventh-day Adventist members
scattered among the islands.
Several new initiatives, such as
Hope for Big Cities, have been
started to help reach the millions
of Japanese people with the
saving grace of Jesus. Pray that
soon all of Japan will hear of the
God whose love is the same in
every language.
Japanese girl paints banner for Vacation Bible
School
Most of the new believers in
Japan learn about the church
through one of the Adventist
schools in the country. That
makes Adventist schools truly
mission schools. Pray that the
teachers and Adventist students
in the Adventist schools in Japan
will share their faith with students
who are not Christians. Pray that
the children from non-Christian
homes will give their hearts to
God and share what they are
learning with their families. This
will help the church in Japan to
grow.
Toshimichi Wakui
Bo Gao
Growth is occurring among the nonJapanese in Japan. Churches have
been planted among the 450,000
ethnic Japanese from Brazil and Peru
who now speak Portuguese or Spanish
as their first language. Two Korean
congregations and several English
speaking congregations also are
thriving But the largest ethnic minority
in Japan, the Mandarin Chinesespeaking people, are virtually
unreached. Part of this quarter’s
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help
establish the first Chinese-language
Adventist church in Tokyo, Japan.
Please give generously this Thirteenth
Sabbath.
Collect Offering
Exploring God’s World
In this section we study one of the countries in the division where our Thirteenth Sabbath offering is going.
Today we are going to
learn about Japan.
Where is Japan
Japan’s Flag
Time for the Mission
Story
We are taking the good
news to the entire world.
Read the Mission Story on pages 10 and 11 of the Fourth Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult
Magazine while slowly progressing through the next 3 slides.
The name of
the person
in the story
is “Erica.”
This story is from Taiwan.
The title of the story is “Compelled by Christ.”
Lesson Study
Time
Today we will discuss:
The Contented Prisoner
Have you ever wondered, How
much worse can things get?
And then you decided you
would just make the best of it.
Were you able to see God
at work, even in your bad
circumstances?
Continue reading Luke’s
account of how Paul chose
to serve God while still a
prisoner, and the wonderful
results.
Photo by Neva MacPhee
POWER TEXT
“I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances. . . .
I can do everything through him
who gives me strength”
(Philippians 4:11-13, NIV).
POWER POINT
Photo by Neva MacPhee
We can choose to serve God in
the most difficult circumstances.
On arriving
in Rome
I overheard Julius, the Roman
centurion escorting us, tell Paul
that he would release him if he
could.
Paul told him he wouldn’t change
anything because God had a work
for him to do in Rome. He said he
was content with that. His
positive attitude continues to
amaze me.
Once we were in
the city, Julius made
arrangements for
Paul to live in his
own house with one
guard rather than
stay at the imperial
prison with the
other prisoners.
He found us a
furnished house.
At last Paul can
live in a little
comfort. He will
be under house
arrest.
That means he
will be constantly
chained to a
soldier. But he can
freely preach to all
who come through
the door.
Three days later
Paul had inquired about the
Jewish community here in
Rome when he arrived.
He discovered that there was
once again a large population of
Jews. He sat reminiscing about
his friends Priscilla and Aquila,
whom he had met when they
were banished from Rome years
before.
He repeated his
belief that you
can serve Christ
anywhere under
any circumstances.
I had to agree
with him.
Today Paul decided it was time
to meet with the Jewish leaders.
He wanted to make sure they
got the truth about what had
happened in Jerusalem.
When they arrived, he stated
carefully and simply the reason
for his imprisonment. He was
surprised that they hadn’t
already heard the details from
the Jews in Jerusalem.
They were curious
about his belief
that the Messiah
had come. Instead
of having to
answer questions
about his arrest,
he was asked to
explain to them
why he thought
Jesus was the
Messiah. Paul
asked them to
meet with him
again in two days.
Two days later
Paul stated boldly
to the Jews that
Jesus Christ of
Nazareth was the
Messiah whom the
prophets wrote
about.
The Roman Jews asked
thoughtful questions.
Some believed, but in the
end, most were unconvinced.
Paul reminded them of Isaiah’s
prophecy* about their unbelief.
Finally he said, with a frustration
that has become familiar to me,
that salvation would go to the
Gentiles.
*Isaiah 6:9, 10
It didn’t seem to matter to most
of these people listening to him.
I could tell Paul was disappointed,
but he said it didn’t matter. What
mattered was that he had to use
every opportunity to tell what he
knew. “Even though you can’t
leave this house?” I asked him.
I’ll never forget his reply. As he
sat there in chains, he said that
regardless of the circumstances,
he would preach Christ because it
was He who gave him strength.
I glanced at the soldier
guarding him and saw that
even he was moved by Paul’s
testimony.
Two years later
The Jews from
Jerusalem arrived
today. It almost
doesn’t matter that
they are here. Their
delay in coming has
allowed the work to
blossom everywhere.
Paul has had time to write letters
of encouragement to the churches
he established. He has sent
workers to these churches as well
as to places he was not able to go.
A leader in chains. I now understand
why Paul said two years ago that he
was content in any circumstance, no
matter how difficult. I have seen our
Lord strengthen him for the work, even
though his health is never good.
Timothy, Mark, Demas,
and Tychicus have
been staying with us.
Mark has made a
dramatic turnaround.
He has matured in
the Lord very well.
And he is completely
devoted to Paul. He
understands how
Paul thinks and tries
to stay one step
ahead of him.
We have had a
steady stream of
visitors to this
house. I chuckle
sometimes at
how often they
come—and the
numbers.
Heads of state probably don’t
receive as many people! If I
didn’t insist that he stop and rest,
Paul would talk with people all
night, every night!
He grumbles and says he’s not
an invalid. I remind him that he
will be if he doesn’t follow the
advice of his physician!
After I repeated it once again
today, he looked at me as if he
wanted to argue. Instead he
said, “You’ve been more than a
physician, you’ve been a faithful
friend.”
Lately he’s been
introducing me
as “my beloved
physician.” I’ve
been grateful for
the time with him
these past years.
I’ve learned so
much about
trusting God and
continuing to
serve Him in
spite of the
difficulties.
Let’s read Acts 28:16-20 together
Acts 28:16, NIV
“When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier
to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they
had assembled, Paul said to them: ‘My brothers, although I have done
nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was
arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined
me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime
deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to
appeal to Caesar--not that I had any charge to bring against my own
people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is
because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’ ”
Think what it must have
been like to be falsely
accused as Paul was.
Paul was under house arrest during the
time of our story, and probably chained to
a Roman guard.
Imagine what it would be
like to be chained to
someone else, day and
night, day after day.
Did you feel like doing
things for others while
you were “chained” during
today’s lesson?
Do you think Paul could
have used being chained as
an excuse not to serve
others?
Are there any situations in your life that
make it seem impossible to serve others?
Praise God that He will help you serve
Him in all circumstances.
Think of something nice
you can do for someone
who has falsely accused
you.
Listen to what Paul the prisoner could say:
Philippians 4:11, NIV
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for
I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in
need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I
have learned the secret of being content in any
and every situation, whether well fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13
I can do everything through him who gives
me strength.”
Important Information
PowerPoints® art copyrighted © 2003 by the
Review and Herald® Publishing Association.
Text and illustrations from Adventist Mission Youth
and Adult Magazine is copyright © by the General
Conference Corporation of Seventh-day
Adventists.
Scriptures quoted from NIV are from the Holy Bible,
New International Version, copyright © 1973,
1980, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
ClickArt Infinity by Broderbund, © 1999 TLC
Multimedia Inc.
Notes to Teachers
You will want to have a hard copy of the Mission Story
ready to read during the Mission Story section. You
can find the story on pages 10 and 11 of the Fourth
Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.
The title of the story is “Compelled by Christ.” You can
go to the website http://www.adventistmission.org/ and find
the link titled “Publications” to download the Adventist
Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.
Copyright Notices
Art and graphics copyrighted by the General Conference and
the Review and Herald® are included on slides 48, 52-55, 57,
59-64, 66, 67 and 70-73.
Images and artwork are copyrighted by the Pacific Press
Publishing Assoc., Review and Herald Publishing Assoc., It Is
Written and others. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Copyright Grants Pass Seventh-day Adventist School