Real Time Faith Lessons: L3-4Q

Sabbath Afternoon

The Gifts That Get in “The Way”

(What connection do you tink the following illustration has with the Bible texts in Wednesday’s section?)

The story is told about a man who owned a Christmas tree farm. Toward the end of the season the quality trees were picked over, leaving trees that had one good side, but whose other side was bare of greenery, or which were too tall or too short. The owner typically would send the odd-shaped trees away to be destroyed. Rarely would anyone need a partially green Christmas tree.
Only a day before Christmas Eve several families arrived just before closing and began to scour the yard for discounted Christmas trees. The owner noticed their clothes and their cars and their frustrated glances at the price tags on the few trees left that were whole and undamaged. The families gathered together in a circle and were having an animated discussion, pointing at the trees that were less than perfect. A ruddy man of middle years emerged from the group and humbly walked toward the owner while the others waited anxiously. “Would you be willing to take $10 for those trees over there?“ he said, pointing to a small pile of less-than-perfect trees.
The owner was going to burn them but sensed that this group would be grateful and possibly put them to good use, so he agreed, and the families gathered up the trees. Curious, the owner asked one of the men, “What are you going to do with these trees that are damaged?“ The middle-aged man replied with a mischievous grin, “We are going to dress them up and decorate them for a family in our neighborhood who couldn’t afford a tree this year.“
The owner asked where this would take place, and later that night he ventured down the hill and found the house where the families were frantically stringing lights, bulbs, and various ribbons. As he walked up the steps of the old farmhouse he heard a cheer that sounded like an army. Peering inside the window, he saw the group of people who had come to his tree farm cheering the Christmas display in the corner of the room. The scene of the trees caught his breath. All the misfit, badly shaped trees were artfully placed together, wrapped in lights and ribbons glowing with the beauty of Christmas. He noticed that they had placed the bare spots together and organized the damaged trees into a beautiful, rich green forest aglow with a surprising display of color.
As he left the porch and made his way back home, he vowed to never look at an incomplete tree the same way again.

Sunday

HERE’S WHAT I THINK

Devin feels that he isn’t very good at any one thing. Some of his friends can sing, or speak, or are techies. Some are likable and friendly; everyone seems to contribute in some way. He just doesn’t feel as if he is needed or useful. As a result, he tends to be cynical about any service project or activity that meets the needs of people. How would you and your friends find a way to integrate him into the action? What are some of the reasons you think he acts the way he does?
Log on to www.guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your responses. Be upfront and honest. Say what you think.

Monday

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO SAY?

Different people, different opinions. Some of the quotations below represent the views of true kingdom citizens; others may not. Can you tell the difference? How do these statements compare with what God is saying in His Word? After reviewing the texts in the God Says . . . section of the lesson, write a statement that captures your belief. Be prepared to quote yourself at Sabbath School.

“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.“ —Babe Ruth, 20th-century U.S. baseball player.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.“ —John Donne, 17th-century British poet.
“Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.“—Alexander the Great, 4th-century B.C. Greek military leader.
“Build for your team a feeling of oneness, of dependence on one another and of strength to be derived by unity.“ —Vince Lombardi, 20th-century U.S. football coach.
“It’s a way people see how heaven’s gonna be when we live in unity together.“ —Newsboys, Australian Christian band.
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.“ —Stephen Covey, U.S. writer and businessman.
“We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.“ —Martin Luther King, Jr., 20th-century African-American civil rights leader.
“Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.“—Kenyan proverb.

Write your own quotation.

What I say is . . .

Tuesday

SO WHAT?

Some of the violinists in a German orchestra actually tried to sue the orchestra for a pay raise, claiming that they played more notes than the other members of the orchestra. The director of the orchestra argued that while it was an interesting legal discussion, from a musical point of view it was pretty clear to everyone that they had no case. The New Testament church, before the members were called Christians, was called The Way (Acts 9:2; 19:23; 24:14; 24:22). God gave spiritual gifts to The Way so that the kingdom of God could grow. Every time the church adds a new believer, a new set of gifts is given to make the church grow stronger, faster, and better. All these gifts come from God, but God needs people to use them for His purpose. Have you had a conversation with God about the gift/gifts He has given you?
It’s not a question of whether you received a gift God has empowered you with. You could be a good teacher and make an excellent mentor teacher for a children’s Sabbath School or even deliver a sermon or children’s story. If you are a great organizer, there are plenty of activities and service projects to complete. If you have the gift of mercy or compassion, you’ll see those who are left out or are struggling—practice listening and letting them know you are there. Some might end up being up-front more than others, but unlike the violinists mentioned earlier, everyone who gets in The Way has the same value.

Wednesday

GOD SAYS . . .

Romans 12:4-8 (NIV) “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give enerously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NLT) “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.”
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.“
Romans 1:11, 12 (NIV) “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.“
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NIV) “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.“

(More: 1 Timothy 4:11-14; 2 Timothy 1:6, 7; 1 Peter 4:8-11)

Thursday

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

After the Exodus, God told Moses to build a sanctuary so that God could dwell with His people. Thousands of years later Christ promised the Holy Spirit to dwell in people. No tents, just you. There is no greater honor than to be a channel for God’s grace to the world. The channel—you—is wired up with various qualities that can help someone else experience God’s grace. The more we allow our gifts and talents to be used as channels for God’s grace, the more God’s grace gets into us. There is no need for a tent. But God does need you.

Friday

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Review the building tools shown below, and answer the questions for each one. All of these tools have different functions, as do the gifts that God has given each of us.

Take this activity to Sabbath School tomorrow.

Hammer