visionary for kids magazine

Ellen White Visionary for Kids | 1

Happy Sabbath Jesus! :-D

2 | Ellen White Visionary for Kids

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Captain Joseph Bates read and reread the small tract he had been given. He could hardly believe it. The author claimed that the seventh day was the true Sabbath and that those who kept the first day of the week were Sabbath breakers. Could this be true? Had he really been worshipping on the wrong day? There was only one way to find out. Captain Bates picked up his Bible and began to search for the truth. As he looked up text after text, he became more and more convinced that the Sabbath was, indeed, the seventh day.

Captain Bates felt a strong desire to talk this over with Frederick Wheeler, who had initially learned about the Sabbath truth from a Mrs. Oakes, a Seventh Day Baptist. Frederick Wheeler had shared the news with Thomas Preble, and Thomas Preble had written the tract that Captain Bates had read.

Captain Bates began the long trip to Mr. Wheeler’s home. It was 140 miles away, and he may have walked the entire way. It was late at night when Captain Bates finally arrived, but he knocked on the door anyway, waking up everyone inside. They invited him to come in, and together they stayed up the rest of the night, studying the Bible. On his way back home to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Captain Bates thought

about what the Sabbath truth would mean in his own life. If he kept the seventh day as the Sabbath, what would happen to his family, friends, and neighbors? Would they join him in worshipping on God’s day? Or would they ridicule him? Whatever happened, Captain Bates knew that he had to keep the seventh-day Sabbath as God had commanded. As he was crossing the bridge between New Bedford and Fairhaven, Captain Bates met one of his friends. “What’s the news, Captain Bates?” the man asked. Captain Bates boldly replied, “The news is that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, our God.” Captain Bates was eager to share this new truth with others. He traveled long distances to tell his friends about the Sabbath. He also wrote a tract called The Seventh-day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign. Among those who read the tract and became Sabbath keepers were James and Ellen White. To Captain Bates, the Sabbath was a special day, and he wanted to keep the Sabbath on the day God had set aside.


The Sabbath—oh!—make it the sweetest and happiest day of the week!

Both the Sabbath and the family were first made in the Garden of Eden—and it is God’s ideal that the Sabbath and the family be linked together forever. On Sabbath—more than any other day of the week—it is possible for us to live the life of Eden. God loves and cares for us—and doesn’t want us to work constantly! He puts His hand over the Sabbath, giving families a chance to communicate with Him, to enjoy nature and to enjoy friends and family.

Make the Sabbath a delight, yet holy and sacred.


Everyone who loves Jesus should do what they can to make the Sabbath a delight, yet holy and sacred. They cannot keep the Sabbath while just trying to have self-centered fun. We should try to make the Sabbath the most interesting day of the week. Families can take walks together outdoors. They can enjoy the woods and the bright sunshine, and they

can talk together about the wonders of God’s creation. This will help children understand that God is tender and loving, not stern and severe. The Sabbath should be made so interesting to our families that everyone will look forward to it.

adapted from Child Guidance, pp. 532, 535, 536


You’ve Got Issues

Did You Know?

Jesus intended that honoring the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) be a joy and delight! It is the Lord’s Day (Isaiah 58:13; Mark 2:27-28), not ours. Because it is His special day, God tells us quite clearly how we can keep it sacred in His honor.

In fact, the Bible even specifically mentions shopping! In Nehemiah 13:15-22, we find that Nehemiah honored God’s Sabbath by not allowing

the merchants to come into the city gates on the Sabbath day. Nehemiah was God’s agent to help God’s people understand how important it was to keep the Sabbath holy. The Sabbath commandment (#4) also reminds us to not do unnecessary work on the

Sabbath. And in Isaiah 58:13-14 we find that God has special promises for those who honor the Sabbath by not engaging in recreation or

conversation that is not God-centered. After all, even the word Sabbath means rest from ordinary work!

But the Sabbath is not to be a burden or to be composed of just a bunch of rules. We can make it a delight by thinking especially of

God and how much He loves us on that day. We can go to church to worship God on the day that Jesus honored when He was on earth (Luke 4:16). We can spend time with our families—maybe taking a walk in God’s beautiful creation or visiting a shut-in or playing/singing praise music.

Yesterday my three-year-old friend Roderic told me, “I sing on Sabbath because it’s Jesus Day!” He ‘nailed it’, don’t you think? The Sabbath is Jesus Day—and that’s good enough reason to sing, and even shout!

Is it wrong to go shopping on the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is a blessing to us when we lay aside our regular activities and center

our thoughts on God and heaven on His holy day.

Adapted from: Child Guidance, p. 528.

“The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty.” The Great Controversy, pp. 604-605

So where did keeping Sunday instead of Saturday (Sabbath) as a holy day of worship come from? Well, check this out! The Catholic Church says they changed it!

“We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” ~ Peter Geierman. The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50. But if God blesses one day and makes it holy, no one else has the right to change it to another day instead!



Break out your Bible and dig deep! Match the questions below with the Bible text answers at the bottom of the page. Memorize these texts to defend your observance of God’s holy day—the Sabbath!

1. According to the New Testament, what day immediately precedes the first day of the week? _____

2. After the crucifixion, what day was kept holy by the women who followed Jesus? _____

3. What day is the Sabbath according to the commandment? _____

4. What was Christ’s custom concerning the Sabbath? _____

5. In what instruction to His disciples did Christ recognize that the Sabbath would still exist long after His ascension? _____

6. On what day was John in the Spirit? _____

7. Who is the Lord of the Sabbath? _____

8. Through the prophet Isaiah, what does the Lord call the Sabbath? _____

9. Why does the Lord call the Sabbath His day? _____

10. How long is the Sabbath to be a sign of loyalty to God? _____

11. According to the Bible, when does the Sabbath begin? _____

12. When does the “evening” begin? _____

13. Just how are we to keep the Sabbath? _____

14. Will the Sabbath be observed as a day of worship in the new earth? _____

A. Mark 1:32B. Luke 23:56C. Matthew 24:20D. Isaiah 66:22, 23E. Mark 2:28F. Exodus 20:11G. Matthew 28:1H. Exodus 20:8-11, and Isaiah 58:13, 14

I. Exodus 31:17J. Luke 4:16K. Isaiah 58:13L. Exodus 20:10M. Revelation 1:10N. Leviticus 23:32



Rules, rules, rules. They were

everywhere, dictating how the Jewish

people should live every little detail of

their lives. Even young children were

surrounded by numerous dos and

don’ts. These rules had been made by

the Jewish rulers, known as the rabbis.

The rules had not been commanded by

God.

As a boy, Jesus did not follow the

laws set up by the Jewish rulers. Instead,

He studied the Scriptures and obeyed

the laws of God. He grew to realize that

the rules created by the rabbis were

not in tune with God’s Word. Their rules

had no virtue. Their ceremonies were

meaningless.

The Jewish rulers tried to get

Jesus to follow their rules. Jesus did not

speak disrespectfully to them, but He

tried to explain what the Scriptures

taught. When Jesus talked to them

about the Scriptures, the rabbis

became angry. They knew that their

rules were contrary to the Scriptures.

The rabbis complained about

Jesus to His parents. Joseph and Mary

thought the rabbis were good men,

so they scolded Jesus for not following

their ways. Jesus’ brothers took sides

with the rabbis, too. They believed a

person should do what the Jewish rulers

taught, since only the Jewish rulers

could understand the Word of God.

The rabbis thought they

were better than everyone else.

They despised the poor and the

uneducated. They offered no hope

or comfort to those who were sick

or suffering. In contrast, Jesus loved



Adapted fromThe Story of Jesus

everyone He met. He helped every

suffering person. He fed the hungry and

later when He was older, He healed the

sick, the lame, the blind, and the leper.

When His brothers spoke harshly to the

poor, Jesus would go to those same

people and speak kind and encouraging

words. He would take water to the thirsty

and sometimes give his own meal to

the hungry. Jesus’ kindness to others

displeased His brothers.

During His life, Jesus faced many

trials and temptations. Satan was always

watching for a chance to overcome

Him. If Jesus had done one wrong act or

spoken one impatient word, He could not

have been our Savior and the whole world

would have been lost forever. Satan knew

this, so his only goal was to make Jesus fail

His earthly mission. Satan tried everything

to lead Jesus into sin. Not one of us will

ever have to meet such fierce temptations

as He did.

The other children called Jesus a

coward because He would not join them

in doing wrong. He enjoyed being outside

in nature with God, and He loved to sing

and pray and study the Scriptures.

Artwork by



why we

CHOOSE to keep the

SABBATH(Find out why in God’s word — the Bible!)

Genesis 2:1-3The Sabbath was given as a memorial of Creation (long before there were Jews).

Exodus 16Double miracle of manna gave a weekly reminder of how God wants the Sabbath to be kept. Pretty explicit instructions in verse 23!

Exodus 20:8-11The Sabbath commandment is the heart of The Ten. It reminds us that God created the earth in six literal days—not in millions of years.

Nehemiah 13:15-22We should not buy or sell on the Sabbath.

Isaiah 58:13, 14God gives His best promise to those who make even their conversation Christ-centered on the Sabbath.

Isaiah 66:22, 23This promise to the ancient Jews is now for us. (See Galatians 3:28, 29.) We will keep the Sabbath in heaven!

Ezekiel 20:12, 20True Sabbath-keeping sets us apart as God’s special people.

Matthew 24:20God intended the Sabbath to be kept years after Jesus’ resurrection.

John 14:15We will keep the Sabbath because we love Jesus, not just from habit.

Acts 13:26-44The disciples continued to keep the Sabbath after Jesus’resurrection.

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Give a Bible Study



Genesis 2:2, 3God Himself set the 7th day apart as the Sabbath, His holy day.

Deuteronomy 4:13God Himself wrote the Ten Commandments, including the 4th, on tablets of stone to show that the commandments are unchangeable.

Matthew 5:17, 18Jesus upheld God’s Law.

Acts 18:4, 11Jesus’ disciples kept the Sabbath.

Daniel 7:25Daniel foretold that a power would arise who would attempt to change God’s law.

2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 Paul also predicted that someone would arise who would claim to have the rights of God.

Matthew 15:9God hasn’t had a change of mind about the 7th day Sabbath: men and women have.

Mark 7:6-8If God blesses one day, people don’t have the authority to bless another day instead.

Revelation 22:14Obedience to God’s commandments is a test of our loyalty to Him. But obeying God doesn’t save us—only Jesus can do that!

These are 2 of 41 Bible studies made especially for young people. You can find these studies, 41 Bible Studies by Cindy Tutsch, at AdventSource.com.

how the

SABBATH was

CHANGED

NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE

DOES THE BIBLE MENTION A

CHANGE FROM THE 7TH DAY SABBATH TO

SUNDAY

So who said people should

worship on Sunday?(see p. 4 -

Did You Know?)

The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is

the seal of God. —Great Controversy, p. 640.



Ask Cindy!Does it really matter what day of the week you keep holy?

Good question! Suppose you send an invitation to

your friends to celebrate your birthday on Tuesday.

You spend a lot of time and effort to make the party fun and

happy. The decorations are up. The food is ready. Your

entertainment arrives. But your

friends decide to come on

Wednesday, instead. Would you

care? I suspect you would be hurt. The

flowers would have wilted. The food wouldn’t be

fresh. The band would no longer be there. Your

friends showed up a day late, and they missed

the party.


Ask youth minister Cindy Tutsch any question about Ellen White, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, or even Bible questions on next quarter’s topic—JESUS’ 2ND COMING! Just send your e-mail to [email protected]. All of your questions will be answered—and we’ll even put some of them in the next Ve.Z for Kids! So what do you want to know?

Every seventh-day Sabbath is a party—a celebration of the creation of our world (Genesis 2:1-3). We are reminded again in the 4th Commandment that the Sabbath is the anniversary of God’s creation of Planet Earth. The Sabbath commandment is the heart of the Ten (Exodus 20:8-11). When we honor the day that God honors, we are brought especially close to His heart. Keeping Sabbath is a sign to God that we have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary’s cross as our only way to heaven (Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Acts 4:12). Soon there will be a global

battle over who controls our hearts and deserves our loyalty. The Sabbath will be at the center of that war. Those who believe that Jesus is Lord of the 7th Day Sabbath will stand bravely for the Sabbath when it seems the whole world has rejected it. After that war, Jesus will return for His loyal family and we will celebrate the Sabbath with Him in heaven (Isaiah 66:22-23). So, does it matter which day I keep or honor? Remember that you or I do not have the power to make a day holy. The Scripture

says that it is God that blesses, honors and sanctifies* the seventh day. We are asked to keep it holy, not make it holy. Therefore, the only day that can be kept holy is the day that God made holy—the 7th day.

*sanctifies – to make holy

mailto:[email protected]


YOURCORNER

This is your bulletin board, so please share your talents and expressions. Our next topic will be on JESUS’ 2ND COMING. E-mail us your creations relating to this theme, such as artwork, a poem, or a short paragraph about JESUS’ 2ND COMING and what it means to you. But hurry, we’re already working on next quarter’s e•Zine!


Things I like about Sabbath1. I love that my Mama always makes something sweet to eat and a special dinner.2. I like spending time with the God of Heaven.3. Reading the Bible with my parents.4. Telling my little brother Bible stories and praying with him.5. Singing

6. Taking nature walks with my Mama or Daddy and praying outside in our special prayer spot.7. Going to Sabbath School, Church and Bible Study.

By: CeciliaAge: 5From: Florida

Cecilia with little brother, Anton (3)

Artwork by: Adrian

Age: 15From: Tobago

Artwork by: HannahAge: 8From: DenmarkArtwork by: Hannah

Age: 8From: Denmark



S a b b a t h D e l i g h t


Honor the Sabbath by coming together with the family to sing and pray as the Sabbath begins.

- Adapted from Child Guidance, p. 529

M H A K E T S H E S A B R B AT T H A D E I L I G E H E T AN A D A A J N O Y U H U H U MA B K N J L G X O R T N T F IN B D T H C Z E J A E Q E B BJ A R I O B D J V N P B G K QR S P M J E A L O S R Q O Z WE O I F Q G H H E Y A Y T Q UD N N Q U I Z T L B Y Y D L OG B C O Q N W I I Q X V T X ZL N X Z H S M M T W N Q I T XJ V S Z N A K U P O T M I W MQ H F E F Z H F P T E H I V OS K N R X M R M A X Q D R J XM I R T D F Q B M F N V E P K

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ ! Adapted from Child Guidance, p. 531.

DIRECTIONS

Find the red words from the quote in the puzzle above and circle them. After you have circled all the words, you will discover a hidden message within the left-over letters in the puzzle describing what the Sabbath should be for you. Write the letters from left to right, starting at the top, on the blank lines below.

Ellen White Visionary for Kids | 13Ellen White Visionary for Kids | 13

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ .

Use the cryptogram code below to discover how we show God we are loyal to Him.

(Quote adapted from The Great Controversy, p. 437.)

Loyalty God2


God’s Hug to MeGod’s Hug to Me


SABBATH IS THE HUG THAT UNITES GOD AND HIS PEOPLE.

Adapted from The Faith I Live By, p. 33.

Fit each word from the quote below into the squares by counting the number of letters in the word and the number of squares on the puzzle. One word is already put into place for you.

IS


Not Peeking, Are You?

E llen White was born in 1827 in Maine, U.S.A. Seventh-day Adventists believe that God called her to be a prophet and gave her messages through dreams and visions, as foretold by

the Bible (Joel 2:28-29; Ephesians 4:11-13). Ellen White’s writings bring messages of hope that express the love of Jesus for every person. She proclaimed that the Ten Commandments are based on God’s great love and that God will help His children keep His commandments as a response to that love. Ellen White dedicated her entire life to serving others.

The editors of Visionary invite you to read Ellen White’s writings for yourself. You could start with Messiah, Steps to Jesus, or A Call to Stand Apart, all rewritten in youth-friendly language and available through adventistbookcenter.com. Discover, enjoy, and build a stronger friendship with Jesus!

Sabbath Delight

Make the Sabbath a delight and a joy!

God’s Hug to Me

COME ON! You can figure this one out!


Loyalty 2 God

Keeping Sabbath is the sign that we are loyal to God.


Next Time in Ve.Z for Kids

Our next issue focuses on Jesus’ 2nd Coming. Send via e-mail your letters, questions, photos, drawings, and poetry about Jesus’ 2nd Coming before June 1, 2009. Don’t forget to send us your picture with your submission. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! E-mail your submissions to: [email protected] (Not all

submissions may be published, but all questions will be answered!)

Jesus’ 2nd Coming

Director: James R. NixVice Director: Tim PoirierAssociate Directors: William Fagal, Cindy Tutsch, Ivan Leigh WardenEditor: Cindy TutschAssociate Editors: Joy Sorensen, Darryl ThompsonContract Writer: Helen Lee Robinson Artwork and Design: Joy Sorensen, Darryl ThompsonWriter-Researchers: Joy Sorensen, Darryl Thompson, Cindy TutschOnline: Joy Sorensen, Darryl ThompsonConsultants: Larry Blackmer, Linda Koh, Kimberly Luste Maran, Baraka Muganda

Ellen White Visionary for Kids (Ve.Z) is produced and published online by the

Ellen G. White® Estate, Inc.

WhiteEstate.org/VEZ

Other Resources100 Creative Activities for Sabbath—Karen Holford52 Sabbath Activities for Teen Groups—Don Pate 52 Things to Do on the Sabbath—Glen RobinsonBible Treasures - Sabbath - Primary Treasure pkg. of 25Guide Thematic Unit Issue Pack: Sabbath—Stephen’s Sabbath Odyssey - Guide Magazine pkg. of 10Guide’s Greatest Sabbath Stories—Helen Lee Robinson, editor

These great resources and more are available at anyAdventist Book Center:phone: 1.800.765.6955

web: www.adventistbookcenter.com

Contact Usaddress: Ellen G. White Estate, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904e-mail: [email protected] web: www.whiteestate.orgphone: 1.301.680.6540fax: 1.301.680.6559

Ve.Z WebsiteOur online interactive version of Ve.Z can be found at

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sabbath truth

true sabbath

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sabbath breakers

day god

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