Junior and/or Junior and/or Earliteen Earliteen

Sabbath SchoolSabbath School

October 25, 2008October 25, 2008

This Quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath This Quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering is going to the Offering is going to the

Northern Asia-Pacific DivisionNorthern Asia-Pacific Division

Information adapted from Adventist Mission, Youth and Adult Magazine and the SDA Encyclopedia.

Mongolia

China

North Korea

This quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering This quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will be used to help:will be used to help:

build a dormitory for Adventist build a dormitory for Adventist students in Ulaanbaatar, Mongoliastudents in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

fund Chinese-language television fund Chinese-language television and Internet broadcasts from Taiwan and Internet broadcasts from Taiwan

plant a Chinese-language church in plant a Chinese-language church in the heart of Tokyo, Japanthe 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.

Shinto Ceremony in Kyoto

Encarta

Focus on JapanThe islands of Japan are The islands of Japan are located in the North Pacific located in the North Pacific just east of Korea and China. just east of Korea and China. Japan currently boasts the Japan currently boasts the third strongest economy in the third strongest economy in the world and is at the forefront of world and is at the forefront of the modern technological age. the modern technological age. Shinto is the traditional Shinto is the traditional Japanese religion and until the Japanese religion and until the end of World War II it was the end of World War II it was the official state religion.official state religion.

The Japanese people are a study in contrast. While the The Japanese people are a study in contrast. While the older generation still cherishes the traditions of older generation still cherishes the traditions of ancestor worship, hard work, and loyalty, young people ancestor worship, hard work, and loyalty, young people reach out and grasp modern materialism and embrace reach out and grasp modern materialism and embrace technology. technology.

Young women in traditional kimonos

Osaka Shoman Castle

Japanese who do not claim to be Christian do Japanese who do not claim to be Christian do not seem interested in learning that Jesus loves not seem interested in learning that Jesus loves them. When Adventist missionaries first entered them. When Adventist missionaries first entered Japan more than 100 years ago, the people Japan more than 100 years ago, the people responded and the church grew rapidly. But as responded and the church grew rapidly. But as the Japanese economy prospered after World the Japanese economy prospered after World War II, interest in religion waned. Materialism War II, interest in religion waned. Materialism became the god of the Japanese. became the god of the Japanese.

Business district in Tokyo

Christians remain a very small Christians remain a very small percentage of the population and percentage of the population and there are only some 15,000 there are only some 15,000 Seventh-day Adventist members Seventh-day Adventist members scattered among the islands. scattered among the islands. Several new initiatives, such as Several new initiatives, such as Hope for Big Cities, have been Hope for Big Cities, have been started to help reach the millions of started to help reach the millions of Japanese people with the saving Japanese people with the saving grace of Jesus. Pray that soon all of grace of Jesus. Pray that soon all of Japan will hear of the God whose Japan will hear of the God whose love is the same in every language.love is the same in every language.

Japanese girl paints banner for Vacation Bible School

Most of the new believers in Most of the new believers in Japan learn about the church Japan learn about the church through one of the Adventist through one of the Adventist schools in the country. That schools in the country. That makes Adventist schools truly makes Adventist schools truly mission schools. Pray that the mission schools. Pray that the teachers and Adventist students teachers and Adventist students in the Adventist schools in Japan in the Adventist schools in Japan will share their faith with students will share their faith with students who are not Christians. Pray that who are not Christians. Pray that the children from non-Christian the children from non-Christian homes will give their hearts to homes will give their hearts to God and share what they are God and share what they are learning with their families. This learning with their families. This will help the church in Japan to will help the church in Japan to grow. grow.

Toshimichi Wakui

Growth is occurring among the non-Growth is occurring among the non-Japanese in Japan. Churches have Japanese in Japan. Churches have been planted among the 450,000 been planted among the 450,000 ethnic Japanese from Brazil and Peru ethnic Japanese from Brazil and Peru who now speak Portuguese or Spanish who now speak Portuguese or Spanish as their first language. Two Korean as their first language. Two Korean congregations and several English congregations and several English speaking congregations also are speaking congregations also are thriving But the largest ethnic minority thriving But the largest ethnic minority in Japan, the Mandarin Chinese-in Japan, the Mandarin Chinese-speaking people, are virtually speaking people, are virtually unreached. Part of this quarter’s unreached. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help establish the first Chinese-language establish the first Chinese-language Adventist church in Tokyo, Japan. Adventist church in Tokyo, Japan. Please give generously this Thirteenth Please give generously this Thirteenth Sabbath.Sabbath.

Bo Gao

Collect OfferingCollect Offering

Exploring God’s WorldExploring 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 Today we are going to learn about Japan.learn about Japan.

Where is JapanWhere is Japan

Japan’s FlagJapan’s Flag

Time for the Mission Time for the Mission StoryStory

We are taking the good We are taking the good news to the entire world.news to the entire world.

Read the Mission Story on pages 10 and 11 of the Fourth Quarter Read the Mission Story on pages 10 and 11 of the Fourth Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Adventist Mission Youth and Adult MagazineMagazine while slowly progressing through the next 3 slides. while slowly progressing through the next 3 slides.

The name of The name of the person the person in the story in the story is “Erica.”is “Erica.”

This story is from Taiwan.This story is from Taiwan.

The title of the story is “Compelled by Christ.”The title of the story is “Compelled by Christ.”

Lesson Study Lesson Study TimeTime

The Contented The Contented PrisonerPrisoner

Today we will discuss:Today we will discuss:

Have you ever wondered, Have you ever wondered, How much worse can How much worse can things get?things get?

And then you decided you And then you decided you would just make the best of would just make the best of

it. it.

Were you able to see Were you able to see GodGodat work, even in your at work, even in your badbadcircumstances? circumstances?

Continue reading Luke’s Continue reading Luke’s account of how Paul chose account of how Paul chose to serve God while still a to serve God while still a prisoner, and the prisoner, and the wonderful results.wonderful results. Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

““I have learned to be content I have learned to be content whatever the whatever the circumstances. . . . I can do circumstances. . . . I can do everything through him who everything through him who gives me strength”gives me strength”

(Philippians 4:11-13, NIV).(Philippians 4:11-13, NIV).

P O W E R T E X TP O W E R T E X T

We can choose to serve God We can choose to serve God ininthe most difficult the most difficult circumstances.circumstances.

P O W E R P O I N TP O W E R P O I N T

Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

I overheard Julius, the Roman I overheard Julius, the Roman centurion escorting us, tell centurion escorting us, tell Paul that he would release Paul that he would release him if he could. him if he could.

On arriving On arriving in Romein Rome

Paul told him he wouldn’t Paul told him he wouldn’t change anything because change anything because God had a work for him to do God had a work for him to do in Rome. He said he was in Rome. He said he was content content with that. His positivewith that. His positive attitude continues to amaze attitude continues to amaze me. me.

Once we were in Once we were in the city, Julius the city, Julius made made arrangements for arrangements for Paul to live in his Paul to live in his own house with own house with one guard rather one guard rather than stay at the than stay at the imperial prison imperial prison with the other with the other prisoners. prisoners.

He found us a He found us a furnished furnished house. house. At last Paul At last Paul can can live in a little live in a little comfort. He comfort. He will will be under be under house arrest.house arrest.

That means he That means he will be will be constantly constantly chained to a chained to a soldier. But he soldier. But he can freely can freely preach to all preach to all who come who come through the through the door.door.

Three days Three days laterlater

Paul had inquired about Paul had inquired about the Jewish community the Jewish community here inhere inRome when he arrived.Rome when he arrived.

He discovered that there was He discovered that there was once again a large population once again a large population of Jews. He sat reminiscing of Jews. He sat reminiscing about his friends Priscilla and about his friends Priscilla and Aquila, whom he had met Aquila, whom he had met when theywhen theywere banished from Rome were banished from Rome years before. years before.

He repeated his He repeated his belief that youbelief that youcan serve Christ can serve Christ anywhere under anywhere under any any circumstances. circumstances. I had to agree I had to agree with him. with him.

Today Paul decided it was Today Paul decided it was time to meet with the Jewish time to meet with the Jewish leaders. He wanted to make leaders. He wanted to make sure they got the truth sure they got the truth about what had happened about what had happened in Jerusalem.in Jerusalem.

When they arrived, he When they arrived, he stated carefully and simply stated carefully and simply the reason for his the reason for his imprisonment. He was imprisonment. He was surprised that they hadn’tsurprised that they hadn’talready heard the details already heard the details from the Jews in Jerusalem.from the Jews in Jerusalem.

They were They were curious about curious about his belief that his belief that the Messiah had the Messiah had come. Instead of come. Instead of having to having to answer answer questions about questions about his arrest,his arrest,

he was asked to he was asked to explain to them explain to them why he thought why he thought Jesus was the Jesus was the Messiah. Paul Messiah. Paul asked them to asked them to meet with him meet with him again in two again in two days.days.

Two days laterTwo days later

Paul stated Paul stated boldly to the boldly to the Jews that Jesus Jews that Jesus Christ of Christ of Nazareth was the Nazareth was the Messiah whom Messiah whom the prophets the prophets wrote about.wrote about.

The Roman Jews asked The Roman Jews asked thoughtful questions.thoughtful questions.Some believed, but in theSome believed, but in theend, most were end, most were unconvinced. unconvinced.

Paul reminded them of Paul reminded them of Isaiah’s prophecy* about Isaiah’s prophecy* about their unbelief.their unbelief.Finally he said, with a Finally he said, with a frustration that has become frustration that has become familiar to me, that salvation familiar to me, that salvation would go to the Gentiles. would go to the Gentiles.

*Isaiah 6:9, 10

It didn’t seem to matter to It didn’t seem to matter to most of these people most of these people listening to him.listening to him.

I could tell Paul was I could tell Paul was disappointed, but he said it disappointed, but he said it didn’t matter. What mattered didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had to use every was that he had to use every opportunity to tell what he opportunity to tell what he knew. “Even though you can’t knew. “Even though you can’t leave this house?” I asked leave this house?” I asked him.him.

I’ll never forget his reply. As I’ll never forget his reply. As he sat there in chains, he said he sat there in chains, he said that regardless of the that regardless of the circumstances, he would circumstances, he would preach Christ because it was preach Christ because it was He who gave him strength.He who gave him strength.

I glanced at the soldier I glanced at the soldier guarding him and saw that guarding him and saw that even he was moved by even he was moved by Paul’s testimony.Paul’s testimony.

Two years Two years laterlaterThe Jews from The Jews from

Jerusalem arrived Jerusalem arrived today. It almost today. It almost doesn’t matter that doesn’t matter that they are here. Their they are here. Their delay in coming has delay in coming has allowed the work to allowed the work to blossom blossom everywhere.everywhere.

Paul has had time to write Paul has had time to write letters of encouragement to letters of encouragement to the churches he established. the churches he established. He has sent workers to these He has sent workers to these churches as well as to places churches as well as to places he was not able to go.he was not able to go.

A leader in chains. I now A leader in chains. I now understand why Paul said two understand why Paul said two years ago that he was content in years ago that he was content in any circumstance, no matter how any circumstance, no matter how difficult. I have seen our Lord difficult. I have seen our Lord strengthen him for the work, even strengthen him for the work, even though his health is never good. though his health is never good.

Timothy, Mark, Timothy, Mark, Demas, and Demas, and Tychicus have been Tychicus have been staying with us. staying with us. Mark has made a Mark has made a dramatic dramatic turnaround. turnaround.

He has matured in He has matured in the Lord very well. the Lord very well. And he is And he is completely completely devoted to Paul. devoted to Paul. He understands He understands how Paul thinks how Paul thinks and tries to stay and tries to stay one step ahead of one step ahead of him.him.

We have had a We have had a steady stream steady stream of visitors to of visitors to this house. I this house. I chuckle chuckle sometimes atsometimes athow often they how often they come—and the come—and the numbers.numbers.

Heads of state probably don’t Heads of state probably don’t receive as many people! If I receive as many people! If I didn’t insist that he stop and didn’t insist that he stop and rest, Paul would talk with rest, Paul would talk with people allpeople allnight, every night! night, every night!

He grumbles and says he’s He grumbles and says he’s not an invalid. I remind him not an invalid. I remind him that hethat hewill be if he doesn’t follow will be if he doesn’t follow the advice of his physician!the advice of his physician!

After I repeated it once again After I repeated it once again today, he looked at me as if today, he looked at me as if he wanted to argue. Instead he wanted to argue. Instead he said, “You’ve been more he said, “You’ve been more than a physician, you’ve than a physician, you’ve been a faithful friend.”been a faithful friend.”

Lately he’s Lately he’s been been introducing me introducing me as “my beloved as “my beloved physician.” physician.” I’ve been I’ve been grateful for the grateful for the time with him time with him these past these past years. years.

I’ve learned so I’ve learned so much about much about trusting God trusting God and and continuing to continuing to serve Him in serve Him in spite of the spite of the difficulties.difficulties.

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.’ ”

Let’s read Acts 28:16-20 together

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.

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.”

Listen to what Paul the prisoner could say:

Important InformationImportant Information

PowerPointsPowerPoints® art copyrighted © 2003 by the ® art copyrighted © 2003 by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association.Review and Herald® Publishing Association.

Text and illustrations from Text and illustrations from Adventist Mission Youth Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazineand Adult Magazine is copyright © by the General is copyright © by the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.Adventists.

Scriptures quoted from NIV are from the Scriptures quoted from NIV are from the Holy Bible, Holy Bible, New International VersionNew International Version, copyright © 1973, , copyright © 1973, 1980, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by 1980, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

ClickArt Infinity by Broderbund, © 1999 TLC ClickArt Infinity by Broderbund, © 1999 TLC Multimedia Inc.Multimedia Inc.

You will want to have a hard copy of the Mission Story ready You will want to have a hard copy of the Mission Story ready to read during the Mission Story section. You can find the to read during the Mission Story section. You can find the story on pages 10 and 11 of the Fourth Quarter story on pages 10 and 11 of the Fourth Quarter Adventist Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.Mission Youth and Adult Magazine. The title of the story is The title of the story is “Compelled by Christ.” You can go to the website “Compelled by Christ.” You can go to the website http://www.adventistmission.org/http://www.adventistmission.org/ and find the link titled and find the link titled “Publications” to download the “Publications” to download the Adventist Mission Youth and Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.Adult Magazine.

Notes to TeachersNotes to Teachers

Copyright Grants Pass Seventh-day Copyright Grants Pass Seventh-day Adventist SchoolAdventist School

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.

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