The Acronym Defined

L—Leadership:

Darlene Reimche is Sabbath School director for the British Columbia Conference.

            Live, vibrant, and thriving Sabbath Schools are the result of a dedicated and committed leadership who are with God’s help spreading His last-day message through their Sabbath Schools. These leaders have caught a vision of our Lord’s last command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).

The first duty of Sabbath School leaders is to ensure they have a strong, committed, and loving relationship with God. Only then can God use them as His mouthpiece to speak to and reach out to His earthly children. The study of teaching methods that Jesus used will  enhance the ministry of each leader. 

Leaders who design Sabbath School to be warm and accepting, a place where spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs are met will have success. Members and their needs cannot be separated.

What an awesome challenge it is to be God’s servant in Sabbath School leadership in these last days of this world’s history!

E—Education:

Leslie D. Louis is Sabbath School director for the Gulf States Conference.

A glimpse into the future is vividly painted against the canopy of an iridescent sky as three angels symbolically appear in swift flight to usher in the scenes of earth’s closing chapter. Each bears a unique message of urgency and divine intelligence. Education is the fundamental key to unfurl the banner of  Heaven’s wisdom through the messages borne by these celestial beings.

Their intervention comes to reverse and transform the charge against mankind echoed down through the ages by the voice of the prophet Hosea: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The Scriptures have been preserved and protected for us to reveal who God is and how He acts and thinks. They help us to discern between right and wrong. They provide us with practical guidelines for living a life of genuine happiness. Proverbs 1:7 says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Education for eternity must be the goal of every Sabbath School lesson study. “Let the Sabbath School lesson be learned, not by a hasty glance at the lesson scripture on Sabbath morning, but by careful study for the next week on Sabbath afternoon, with daily review or illustration during the week. Thus the lesson will become fixed in the memory, a treasure never to be wholly lost” (Education, pp. 251-252). This is the foundation on which we can stand firm with holy courage at the sound of alarm signaled by God’s special messengers.

 A—Advent:

Ken Weibe is Sabbath School director for the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference.

After he heard William Miller preach, Hiram Edson (1806-1882) was convicted regarding the imminence of the Second Advent. By the eve of October 22, 1844, the believers who gathered at the Edson home had completed deep soul-searching and confession of sin in preparation for this momentous event.

“With diligent searching of heart and humble confessions, we came prayerfully up to the time of expectation. Every morning we felt it was our first work to secure the evidence that our lives were right before God” (Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 60).

Granted, the early Advent believers initially misunderstood the October 22 event, but they recognized the importance of sincere heartfelt preparation for the Second Advent. Although we don’t know the day or hour of Christ’s return, the Second Advent is still imminent—so is the need for preparation. John the rev­elator wrote: “I saw another angel . . . having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth . . . saying . . . ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come’” (Rev. 14:6, 7).

The third angel’s message is a solemn appeal to recognize God as Sovereign King and to prepare our hearts for the Second Advent.

D—Discipleship:

Roy L. Patterson is Sabbath School director for the Southeastern Conference.

The New Century Dictionary defines a disciple as “a person who is learning from someone else.” Discipleship is a concept that was born when Jesus Christ selected His first followers who used His methods of sharing the good news.

The primary purposes of Sabbath School are to make disciples who study the Word of God and witness to others, carrying the gospel to the world, as instructed in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19, 20.

Our members have made a decision for Christ: so just like Peter, James, and John, they must become His disciples who follow His model. Their discipleship demands more than just being fans of Christ who participate in class discussions and enjoy the Sabbath sermons. Each disciple must fertilize the world with the gospel all week long.

On resurrection morning each

disciple will hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. . . . Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matt. 25:23).