1. A FOLD FOR CHRIST’S FLOCK Sunday August 23

a. Why does God have a church on earth? 1 Peter 2:5, 9. The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places’ (Ephesians 3:10), the final and full display of the love of God.–The Acts of the Apostles, p. 9. b. What characteristics are essential in God’s true church? Revelation 14:12; Ephesians 4:4–6. How did Christ lead His disciples to achieve this goal? [The twelve apostles] were brought together, with their different faults, all with inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil; but in and through Christ they were to dwell in the family of God, learning to become one in faith, in doctrine, in spirit. They would have their tests, their grievances, their differences of opinion; but while Christ was abiding in the heart, there could be no dissension. His love would lead to love for one another; the lessons of the Master would lead to the harmonizing of all differences, bringing the disciples into unity, till they would be of one mind and one judgment.–The Desire of Ages, p. 296.

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2. A SAFE HAVEN Monday August 24

a. What responsibility comes to each one of us when we commit our lives to Christ? Philippians 1:20; 1 Timothy 3:15. [An] obligation, too often lightly regarded–one that to the youth awakened to the claims of Christ needs to be made plain–is the obligation of church relationship.Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church–He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church.The church is organized for service; and in a life of service to Christ, connection with the church is one of the first steps. Loyalty to Christ demands the faithful performance of church duties. This is an important part of one’s training; and in a church imbued with the Master’s life, it will lead directly to effort for the world without.–Education, pp. 268, 269. b. What privilege is extended to every member of God’s true church? 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 10:25. Preaching is a small part of the work to be done for the salvation of souls. God’s Spirit convicts sinners of the truth, and He places them in the arms of the church. The ministers may do their part, but they can never perform the work that the church should do. God requires His church to nurse those who are young in faith and experience, to go to them, not for the purpose of gossiping with them, but to pray, to speak unto them words that are ‘like apples of gold in pictures of silver’ (Proverbs 25:11).–Evangelism, p. 352.

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3. CALLED TO SERVE Tuesday August 25

a. What did the psalmist acknowledge about God, affirming the duty of His people? Psalm 60:4. How is this duty often neglected? In many of our organized churches the banner of truth is trailing in the dust because the members are not doing service to God, but are serving their own pleasure. They work through the influences that surround the soul. By precept and example, in self-indulgence, in their worldly habits of dress, in their words and actions, they testify against the truth, against self-denial, against the meekness of Christ. They are cold spiritually, and far separated from Christ. If they followed in the footsteps of Christ, they would be partakers of His self-denial, of His self-sacrifice, that they might lift up and save the souls that are ready to perish.–Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, p. 173. b. What is the calling of every follower of Christ? 2 Timothy 2:1–4. The church of Christ is organized for service. Its watchword is ministry. Its members are soldiers, to be trained for conflict under the Captain of their salvation. Christian ministers, physicians, teachers, have a broader work than many have recognized. They are not only to minister to the people, but to teach them to minister. They should not only give instruction in right principles, but educate their hearers to impart these principles. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessing can be retained only as it is shared.–The Ministry of Healing, pp. 148, 149.

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4. GROWING AND DEVELOPING Wednesday August 26

a. What promotes both unity and strength in God’s church? Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:1–3. Never can the church reach the position that God desires it to reach until it is bound up in sympathy with its missionary workers. Never can the unity for which Christ prayed exist until spirituality is brought into missionary service, and until the church becomes an agency for the support of missions. The efforts of the missionaries will not accomplish what they should until the church members in the home field show, not only in word, but in deed, that they realize the obligation resting on them to give these missionaries their hearty support.–Counsels on Stewardship, pp. 47, 48. b. How does Inspiration depict the spiritual growth of the believer and his work for God? Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Corinthians 3:9–13. God is testing every soul that claims to believe in Him. All are entrusted with talents. The Lord has given men His goods upon which to trade. He has made them His stewards, and has placed in their possession money, houses, and lands. All these are to be regarded as the Lord’s goods and used to advance His work, to build up His kingdom in the world. In trading with the Lord’s goods, we are to seek Him for wisdom, that we may not use His sacred trust to glorify ourselves or to indulge selfish impulses. The amount entrusted varies, but those who have the smallest gifts must not feel that because their talent of means is small, they can do nothing with it.–Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 245, 246.

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5. OPTIMUM SERVICE Thursday August 27

a. What enables talents and funds to be utilized most efficiently? 1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:20; 14:40. On the other hand, what causes much to be lost among many Sabbathkeepers? ‘The church must flee to God’s Word and become established upon gospel order, which has been overlooked and neglected.’ This is indispensably necessary in order to bring the church into the unity of the faith.–Early Writings, p. 100.Oh, how Satan would rejoice to get in among this people and disorganize the work at a time when thorough organization is essential and will be the greatest power to keep out spurious uprisings and to refute claims not endorsed by the word of God! We want to hold the lines evenly, that there shall be no breaking down of the system of regulation and order. In this way license shall not be given to disorderly elements to control the work at this time. We are living in a time when order, system, and unity of action are most essential.–Testimonies to Ministers, p. 228. b. What condition should exist among Christ’s followers to ensure success in our missionary endeavours? John 10:16; 13:35; 17:18–23. The unity, the harmony, that should exist among the disciples of Christ, is described in these words: ‘That they may be one, as we are’ (John 17:11). But how many there are who draw off, and seem to think that they have learned all they need to learn. Brethren, where is your burden for these? Have you been to them to invite them to come and seek God, and hear the word that has been precious to you? Are you enjoying light, and still willing to let others remain in darkness? We want all our brethren to have the same blessing that we have. Those who choose to stand on the outskirts of the camp, cannot know what is going on in the inner circle. They must come right into the inner courts, for as a people we must be united in faith and purpose. Jesus has prayed that His disciples all might be one–’As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me’ (John 17:21). It is through this unity that we are to convince the world of the mission of Christ, and bear our divine credentials to the world. ‘And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one’ (John 17:22). This is what we want. This is what we are waiting for–more of the glory of Christ to lighten our pathway, that we may go forth with that glory shining in our countenances, that we may make an impression upon those with whom we shall come in contact.–The Review and Herald, March 11, 1890.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday August 28

1. How can we identify God’s true church? 2. Why is church membership important for the individual believer? 3. In what way may we be in danger of testifying against the truth? 4. Name one factor which fosters unity in the church. 5. How are we to bear our divine credentials to the world?