junior and/or earliteen sabbath school december 27, 2008

Junior and/or Junior and/or Earliteen Earliteen Sabbath Sabbath SchoolSchool

December 27, 2008December 27, 2008

This Quarter the Thirteenth This Quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Sabbath

Offering is going to the Offering is going to the Northern Asia-Pacific Northern Asia-Pacific

DivisionDivision

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

Mongolia

China

North Korea

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

help:help:

build a dormitory for Adventist build a dormitory for Adventist students in Ulaanbaatar, students in Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaMongolia

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

plant a Chinese-language church plant a Chinese-language church in the heart of Tokyo, Japanin the heart of Tokyo, Japan

The Northern Asia-Pacific Division consists of China, Japan, Mongolia, North and South Korea, and Taiwan. With 1.5 billion people, roughly a quarter of the world’s population, the Northern Asia-Pacific Division is the most populous division in the world.

Focus on Republic of Focus on Republic of China, TaiwanChina, Taiwan

The first known Adventist The first known Adventist to enter Taiwan was a to enter Taiwan was a colporteur from south colporteur from south Fujian, China, who went Fujian, China, who went there in 1907. In spite of there in 1907. In spite of persecution and persecution and occasional imprisonment, occasional imprisonment, he faithfully carried on he faithfully carried on his work. Others his work. Others followed, but the work followed, but the work progressed slowly and progressed slowly and then came to a standstill then came to a standstill during World War II. during World War II.

The Adventist work was reorganized and the The Adventist work was reorganized and the first Seventh-day Adventist church on the first Seventh-day Adventist church on the island was started in Taipei in 1949. Many island was started in Taipei in 1949. Many members were refugees from the war and members were refugees from the war and communist takeover of mainland China. In communist takeover of mainland China. In the early 1950s a Thirteenth Sabbath offering the early 1950s a Thirteenth Sabbath offering helped to build seven new churches on helped to build seven new churches on Taiwan. Efforts continue, but the numbers of Taiwan. Efforts continue, but the numbers of Adventists on Taiwan are still relatively few.Adventists on Taiwan are still relatively few.

Developed countries Developed countries often pose the often pose the greatest challenges to greatest challenges to spreading the gospel. spreading the gospel. In Taiwan, 93 percent In Taiwan, 93 percent of the people follow of the people follow Eastern religions, Eastern religions, such as Buddhism, such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Taoism, and Confucianism, or Confucianism, or profess no religion. profess no religion. Only about 6 percent Only about 6 percent claim to be Christian, claim to be Christian, and slightly more than and slightly more than 4,700 are Adventists. 4,700 are Adventists.

Taiwan Buddhist Center

Taiwan combines the modern Taiwan combines the modern and the ancient. Cars, trucks, and the ancient. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles clog the busy and motorcycles clog the busy streets of Taiwan’s cities, but streets of Taiwan’s cities, but along residential streets one along residential streets one finds evidence of ancient rituals finds evidence of ancient rituals and religions.and religions.

Taipei Traffic, Encarta Encyclopedia

A month-long A month-long festival honors festival honors the dead. People the dead. People place plates of place plates of food for the gods food for the gods they believe they believe wander the island wander the island until the gates of until the gates of Hades are once Hades are once again closed.again closed.

Taiwan Buddhist Center

Our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will help Our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will help build up the church in Taiwan, an island that still teems build up the church in Taiwan, an island that still teems with idol worship. The people of Taiwan need to know with idol worship. The people of Taiwan need to know that the dead do not wander the streets searching for that the dead do not wander the streets searching for food or for help reaching the next reincarnation. food or for help reaching the next reincarnation.

They need to be They need to be freed from the devil’s freed from the devil’s lies and pointed to lies and pointed to the Savior.the Savior.

In Taiwan, most Adventists In Taiwan, most Adventists are from tribal groups. are from tribal groups. While the tribal peoples While the tribal peoples living in the mountains of living in the mountains of Taiwan have accepted Taiwan have accepted Christianity, the Christian Christianity, the Christian faith has struggled to gain faith has struggled to gain a foothold among the a foothold among the ethnic Chinese. Only one ethnic Chinese. Only one in 25,000 ethnic Chinese in in 25,000 ethnic Chinese in Taiwan is a Seventh-day Taiwan is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. Adventist Christian.

Three years ago part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Three years ago part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering helped to establish three church plants Offering helped to establish three church plants among the ethnic Chinese people of Taiwan. This among the ethnic Chinese people of Taiwan. This quarter part of the offering will help produce Hope TV quarter part of the offering will help produce Hope TV programs in Mandarin Chinese to serve the more than programs in Mandarin Chinese to serve the more than one billion Chinese-speaking people in Asia and one billion Chinese-speaking people in Asia and around the world. Please give generously and pray around the world. Please give generously and pray that these broadcasts will share God’s love with that these broadcasts will share God’s love with Chinese-speaking people, leading them to the Savior Chinese-speaking people, leading them to the Savior who created and redeemed them. who created and redeemed them.

Naomi Wang

Believers in Japan, in Taiwan and in Believers in Japan, in Taiwan and in Mongolia want to share Jesus’ love Mongolia want to share Jesus’ love with their neighbors, but they need with their neighbors, but they need your help. Please be generous with your help. Please be generous with your offering this Thirteenth Sabbath. your offering this Thirteenth Sabbath. Let’s do our part to share God’s love Let’s do our part to share God’s love with our family members in the with our family members in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division.Northern Asia-Pacific Division.

Collect Collect OfferingOffering

Exploring God’s Exploring God’s WorldWorld

In this section we study one of the countries in the division where our Thirteenth Sabbath offering is going.

Today we are going Today we are going to learn about to learn about

Japan.Japan.

Where is JapanWhere is Japan

Japan’s FlagJapan’s Flag

Time for the Time for the Mission StoryMission Story

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

Use the Thirteenth Sabbath materials on pages 28 and 29 of the Third Quarter Use the Thirteenth Sabbath materials on pages 28 and 29 of the Third Quarter Adventist Mission Adventist Mission Youth and Adult MagazineYouth and Adult Magazine

Special Thirteenth Special Thirteenth Sabbath ProgramSabbath Program

Lesson Study Lesson Study TimeTime

The Great Gift The Great Gift ExchangeExchange

Our story today is about:Our story today is about:

““What did you get for What did you get for Christmas?”Christmas?”

You’ve probably heard and You’ve probably heard and asked that question hundredsasked that question hundredsof times by now. of times by now.

The next time someone asks The next time someone asks you, ask yourself, “What did you, ask yourself, “What did I give?”I give?”

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

John 3:16, John 3:16, NIVNIV

HebrewsHebrews13:15, NIV13:15, NIV

““For God so loved the worldFor God so loved the worldthat he gave his one and onlythat he gave his one and onlySon, that whoever believes inSon, that whoever believes inhim shall not perish but havehim shall not perish but haveeternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).

““Through Jesus, Through Jesus, therefore, let us therefore, let us continually offer to continually offer to God a sacrifice of God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of praise—the fruit of lips that confess lips that confess his name”his name”

(Hebrews 13:15, NIV.)(Hebrews 13:15, NIV.)

Jesus gave us the gift ofJesus gave us the gift ofsalvation; we give Himsalvation; we give Himthe gift of ourselves.the gift of ourselves.

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

““What can I What can I give Him, as give Him, as poor as I am? poor as I am? If I were a If I were a shepherd, I’d shepherd, I’d give Him a give Him a lamb. lamb.

If I were a Wise Man, I’d do my If I were a Wise Man, I’d do my part. What can I give Him? I’ll part. What can I give Him? I’ll give Him my heart,” Cinda read.give Him my heart,” Cinda read.

““Christmas is over,” Jonathan Christmas is over,” Jonathan whispered to Sunil. “Thank whispered to Sunil. “Thank you, Cinda,” said Mrs.you, Cinda,” said Mrs.Barnabas, their Bible teacher. Barnabas, their Bible teacher. “Sunil, Jonathan, did you “Sunil, Jonathan, did you have a question?”have a question?”

““No, Mrs. B,” said Sunil. “We No, Mrs. B,” said Sunil. “We just wondered about the just wondered about the poem. After all, Christmas poem. After all, Christmas is over.”is over.”

““And that’s why And that’s why I’m sharing it with I’m sharing it with you,” said Mrs. B. you,” said Mrs. B. “Thinking about “Thinking about what we learned what we learned in the past few in the past few weeks, what is weeks, what is this poem this poem saying?”saying?”

““That the writer didn’t save That the writer didn’t save money for presents?” asked money for presents?” asked Sunil. “Could be,” said Mrs. B. Sunil. “Could be,” said Mrs. B. “Anyone else?”“Anyone else?”

Cinda raised her hand. Cinda raised her hand. ““Yes, Cinda.” Yes, Cinda.” ““The ‘Him’ is Jesus,” The ‘Him’ is Jesus,” explained Cinda. explained Cinda.

““The shepherd in the poem The shepherd in the poem represents the ones who represents the ones who visited Jesus on the night Hevisited Jesus on the night Hewas born.” was born.”

““The Wise The Wise Men are the Men are the Magi.”Magi.”

““Thank you, Thank you, Cinda. Can Cinda. Can someone tell someone tell me about me about what these what these visitors visitors brought?”brought?”

Cinda raised her hand again. Cinda raised her hand again. “The Bible doesn’t say “The Bible doesn’t say anything about the shepherds anything about the shepherds bringing gifts to the baby bringing gifts to the baby Jesus,” protested Cinda.Jesus,” protested Cinda.

Jonathan raised Jonathan raised his hand. his hand. “Everybody “Everybody knows that the knows that the Wise Men Wise Men brought threebrought threegifts,” said gifts,” said Jonathan.Jonathan.

Sunil spoke out, “But they Sunil spoke out, “But they still brought the same thing still brought the same thing the shepherds did.”the shepherds did.”““Could you explain how?” Could you explain how?” asked Mrs. B.asked Mrs. B.

““The shepherds are like the The shepherds are like the person who wrote the poem. person who wrote the poem. They were so poor they They were so poor they couldn’t even afford to give couldn’t even afford to give away a little away a little wool—forget thewool—forget thelamb.” The classlamb.” The classchuckled.chuckled.

Sunil continued, “But they Sunil continued, “But they gave God their attention. gave God their attention. When the angels told them When the angels told them to go, they went.” to go, they went.”

““They had faith They had faith that the baby that the baby was was the Baby!”the Baby!”

““Even though Even though the Wise Men the Wise Men brought gifts brought gifts that Mary and that Mary and Joseph could Joseph could use to take use to take care of Jesus, care of Jesus,

their real gift their real gift was thatwas thatthey came all they came all that way to that way to worship Him,”worship Him,”Jonathan said Jonathan said in one breath.in one breath.

““That was a mouthful, That was a mouthful, Jonathan,” beamed Mrs. B. Jonathan,” beamed Mrs. B. “Thank you.” Jonathan“Thank you.” Jonathanexhaled loudly and put his exhaled loudly and put his head down. head down. Everyone Everyone laughed andlaughed andapplauded.applauded.

““Back to the poem . . .” Back to the poem . . .” Mrs. B continued. Sunil’s Mrs. B continued. Sunil’s hand shot up.hand shot up.

““I know! Even I know! Even if we don’t if we don’t have a lot of have a lot of money and money and other things, other things, we can still we can still give give ourselves ourselves to Jesus.”to Jesus.”

““And even if And even if we we do do have a have a lot to givelot to give to to Jesus, we still Jesus, we still need to give need to give ourselves,” ourselves,” agreed Cinda, agreed Cinda, nodding.nodding.

““And nothing we And nothing we do do can changecan change that,” said Sunil.that,” said Sunil.““Sunil and Sunil and Cinda,” said Mrs. Cinda,” said Mrs. B, her eyes B, her eyes shining. “You shining. “You have just have just described grace.”described grace.”

Jonathan raised Jonathan raised his hand. “Yes, his hand. “Yes, Jonathan?” she Jonathan?” she said. said. ““But how do you But how do you give yourself? give yourself? Are you supposed Are you supposed to wrap yourself to wrap yourself up in a gift bag or up in a gift bag or something?”something?”

Mrs. B smiled. Mrs. B smiled. “Any ideas, class?” “Any ideas, class?” “I guess it’s like “I guess it’s like eating,” grinned eating,” grinned Jonathan. “You’ve Jonathan. “You’ve got to do it every got to do it every day to stay alive.”day to stay alive.”

““Right, Jonathan. Giving Right, Jonathan. Giving yourself to Jesus isn’t justyourself to Jesus isn’t justa onetime occurrence. It’sa onetime occurrence. It’ssomething that has to something that has to happen happen daily.”daily.”

““Sunil, could you read this Sunil, could you read this for me?” said Mrs. B, for me?” said Mrs. B, handing him a card from a handing him a card from a stack she held in her hand.stack she held in her hand.

““Sure, Mrs. B,” said Sunil. He Sure, Mrs. B,” said Sunil. He read: read: “Morning Prayer. Dear “Morning Prayer. Dear Lord, today take me asLord, today take me astotally Yours. I give You all totally Yours. I give You all my plans.” my plans.”

““Use me to Use me to serve others. serve others. Stay with me Stay with me and show me and show me how to do how to do everything in everything in Your power. Your power. Amen.”Amen.”

Mrs. B started passing cards Mrs. B started passing cards down the rows for those who down the rows for those who wanted one.wanted one.

““That sounds That sounds like a good like a good prayer for prayer for every day of every day of the new year!”the new year!”exclaimed exclaimed Jonathan, Jonathan, taking one.taking one.

This week we are going to do a review of our last four lessons.

First let’s do a quick quiz.

(Can be oral or written.)

1. How did Mary find out she was to be the mother of Jesus?

(God sent the angel Gabriel to tell her in person: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18.)

2. How did Joseph find out that he should not break his engagement to Mary?

(An angel of the Lord told him in a dream; Matthew 1:20.)

3. Why did the Magi come to Jerusalem?

(They saw the star; Matthew 2:2, second part.)

Why did they not go back to Herod?

(God warned them in a dream not to; verse 12.)

4. How did the shepherds find out about the birth of Jesus?

(An angel of the Lord appeared to them; Luke 2:8-12.)

5. How did Simeon and Anna know that Baby Jesus was the Christ?

(The Holy Spirit told Simeon, and Anna knew because she opened herself for God’s leading; Luke 2:26, 27, 37, 38.)

What did all these people have in common?(God took the initiative, spoke to them.)

(For general discussion.)

What were their responses?

(They accepted what God told them and acted on it.)

What was God’s part?(To inform people, to offer them a chance to participate in salvation.)

What was each person’s part?

(To accept the offer, to follow the instructions, to surrender themselves to Him.)

In what way can we do what the people involved in Christ’s birth did?

(When God offers to give us life, grace, salvation, we accept it and give ourselves to Him.)

Jesus gave us the gift of salvation; we give Him the

gift of ourselves.

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 is copyright © by the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.Adventists.

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

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Determine how you will integrate the Thirteenth Determine how you will integrate the Thirteenth Sabbath materials into the mission section of the Sabbath materials into the mission section of the PowerPoint Sabbath School program. You can find the PowerPoint Sabbath School program. You can find the Thirteenth Sabbath materials on pages 28 and 29 of the Thirteenth Sabbath materials on pages 28 and 29 of the Fourth Quarter Fourth Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.Magazine. You can go to the website 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 Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.and Adult Magazine.

Notes to TeachersNotes to Teachers

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