AY Program Idea: Standing for Religious Liberty

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John4:6)

Our Beliefs, no. 22, Christian Behavior: “We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with biblical principles in all aspects of personal and social life.”

As Seventh-day Adventists, we place a high value on our religious freedom. We believe that every individual has the right to worship God according to their conscience, free from coercion or persecution. This belief is rooted in the understanding of the Bible and is also supported by the teachings of Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Ellen G. White believed that religious freedom was essential for the growth and flourishing of Christianity. In her book, “The Great Controversy,” she wrote that “God never forces the will or the conscience; but Satan’s constant resort–to gain control of those whom he cannot otherwise seduce–is compulsion by cruelty.” She argued that true faith can only come from a sincere and willing heart, and that attempts to force people to believe a certain way are ultimately counterproductive.

Seventh-day Adventists have a long history of advocating for religious freedom. We believe that this freedom is not just important for ourselves, but for all people. In 1893, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists issued a statement in support of religious liberty, declaring that “liberty of conscience is an inalienable right of every human being, and should be guaranteed to all without restraint or hindrance.”

GRATEFUL FOR FREEDOM

A number of years ago, religious freedom was severely restricted in some countries that today enjoy freedom. Students who worshiped on the seventh-day Sabbath often faced serious challenges in their academic journey. Sometimes they were threatened with being expelled from school. Many families knelt in prayer, asking for God’s intervention and direction.

It was a time of great joy for many Christians when religious freedom was finally granted and there was no longer instruction in schools on Saturday. God answered in marvelous ways the prayers of His faithful children!

Discrimination against people because of their religious beliefs can be minor, serious, or even life-threatening. It can happen across the world or here at home.

It can happen to Christians as well as to people who hold different beliefs. We need to show our gratitude to God for the freedoms we enjoy, and pray for those who do not enjoy these freedoms. We also need to utilize these privileges to share the hope we found in Jesus.

Questions for Group Discussions:

1. When religious freedoms are restricted, what should be the Christian’s response? Read Acts 5:29.
2. How can we be Christ’s witnesses when political or religious authorities restrict religious freedom?
3. How can we hold firm to God’s great commission to share Jesus with everyone?
4. What are some ways we can show God’s love to unbelievers?
5. How can you show respect to others who believe differently and also share Jesus?
6. Give an example of religious persecution in the Bible and what can we learn from the story.

Highlights and Conclusion:

Part of being a follower of Jesus is showing His love to everyone— especially the person who does not know Him. Jesus has called us to share the “good news” with everyone—those close to home and those far away. We are to love our neighbor. There are no conditions to us loving others. We are to stand for what is right and love others—regardless of how they respond. God’s message is a message of love.

“It is no part of Christ’s mission to compel men to receive Him. . . . But Christ is ever showing mercy, ever seeking to win by the revealing of His love” (Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 541).

Pray for your friends and ask God to impress their hearts with His truth. Ask Jesus for wisdom to know how you can share Him with your friends.

“Doing, not saying merely, is expected of the followers of Christ” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 149).

In a world that says that “there are many different truths for different people,” can you believe in “the truth” anymore?

Seventh-day Adventist Christians say yes!

But in a world with more diversity, more different views and opinions than ever before, we have to think carefully about how to share that truth.

While we have to stand firm on what we believe, we also have to respect and love others whose beliefs are different. In fact, love is the key here. Bible doctrines have their place, but the best way to share Jesus with our world is to live His love in everything we do. When people see our love in action, they’ll be ready to hear our message of God’s love.

“When those who profess the name of Christ shall practice the principles of the golden rule, the same power will attend the gospel as in apostolic times” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 137).

As a Seventh-day Adventist youth, there are several ways you can stand for religious liberty:

1. Educate yourself: One of the best ways to stand for religious liberty is to educate yourself about the issue. Read books and articles about religious freedom and learn about the different ways it is being threatened around the world.
2. Advocate for religious freedom: Speak out against any form of religious persecution or discrimination that you come across. This could be in your school, community, or even on social media. Use your voice to advocate for the rights of religious minorities.
3. Support organizations that promote religious freedom: There are many organizations that work to promote religious freedom around the world. Consider supporting these organizations through donations or volunteer work.
4. Pray: As a Seventh-day Adventist, prayer is an important part of our faith. Pray for those who are facing religious persecution and for the protection of religious freedom around the world.
5. Be an example: Finally, be an example of what it means to stand for religious freedom. Live out your faith in a way that shows respect for others and their beliefs. Be willing to engage in respectful dialogue with those who hold different beliefs than you do.

In all of these things, it’s important to remember that standing for religious liberty is not just about protecting our own rights as Seventh-day Adventists. It’s about protecting the rights of all people to worship according to their own conscience, free from coercion or persecution. By standing for religious liberty, we can make a positive impact on the world around us and help to promote peace and understanding between people of different faiths.

When religious freedoms are restricted, an SDA’s response should be guided by the principles of their faith and the teachings of the Bible. Here are some possible responses:

1. Speak out: As a Seventh-day Adventist, we have a responsibility to speak out against any form of religious persecution or discrimination that you come across. This could involve writing letters to elected officials, participating in peaceful demonstrations, or using social media to raise awareness of the issue.
2. Pray: Prayer is a powerful tool for bringing about change, and as a Seventh-day Adventist, it is an important part of our faith. Pray for those who are facing religious persecution, for the protection of religious freedom around the world, and for wisdom and guidance as you seek to respond to the issue.
3. Work with others: Join SDA groups in your school or campus, such as the MAS-AMICUS. Religious freedom is not just an issue for Seventh-day Adventists, but for people of all faiths. Consider working with other faith-based organizations or advocacy groups to promote religious freedom and protect the rights of all individuals to worship according to their conscience.
4. Educate others: Share your faith. This may be an opportunity to be able to share what SDA’s believe. Many people are not aware of the threats to religious freedom that exist around the world. Consider using your knowledge and expertise to educate others about the issue, and to help them understand why it is important to protect religious freedom.
5. Advocate for policy change: In some cases, religious freedom may be threatened by government policies or laws. As a Seventh-day Adventist, you can advocate for policy change by working with elected officials or by participating in the democratic process.

Overall, the key to responding to restrictions on religious freedom is to do so with a spirit of love, compassion, and respect for others, while standing firmly for the principles of your faith.

AY Program Idea: Standing on SOLID Ground

Memory Text: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Our Beliefs, no. 1, The Holy Scriptures: “In this Word, God has committed to humanity the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the definitive revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history.”

In a life or death situation, most people would accept the doctor’s word that there’s only one available treatment. But many people reject the message that there’s only one way to eternal salvation—through Jesus—and only one guide to living life: the Bible. How are you relying on God’s Word when the enemy attacks your soul?

God knows our hearts. He knows when someone is searching for truth, even if they may think they believe differently. His Word will cut through all our misunderstandings and will put us on the right path to salvation through Jesus.

Group Discussion Questions:

1. As an SDA youth, how do you respond when someone says: “I believe Jesus was a good man, but I don’t think He was God. I think God is in all of us; God is whatever you want Him to be. And I don’t think I’m a sinner, so why do I need to be saved?”
2. How can we get a deep understanding of God’s Word?
3. The Bible is the Word of God and can be trusted as the authentic record that reveals God’s character, His law, and His will for our lives. How do you make time each day to prayerfully read, study, and memorize the Scriptures?
4. How do you use the Holy Scriptures to make decisions about what is right and wrong?
5. How would you help someone else who is searching for answers to life’s difficult questions to find solutions in the Bible?
6. What does “stand on solid ground in the scriptures” mean?

Highlights and Conclusion:

The children of God are those who are partakers of His nature. It is not earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor religious privilege, which proves that we are members of the family of God; it is love, a love that embraces all humanity. Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to God’s Spirit, will respond to kindness” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 75).

The Bible leads us to a knowledge of Jesus, and it is only through Jesus that we can be saved. After His death, Jesus used the Scriptures to help His followers understand the meaning of His life and death. He shows us through Scriptures that salvation
comes only through Him (see John 3:16).

“None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 593, 594)

As Christian young people, we need to stand firm on the Bible as our authority. The Word of God doesn’t change. Basing your beliefs and your actions on God’s Word will give you solid ground to stand firm in a world with shifting values.

We face choices every day. Whom do we trust to give us guidance with those choices? The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and in it, you can find guidance, comfort, encouragement, moral compass, and the faith of Jesus that you need for salvation. Ask God to answer your questions through the Holy Scriptures. Wait for Him to answer, and listen to His voice as you study His Word.

“The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness.” “So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony, every statement and every miracle must be tested” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 593).

God’s message of love and the Bible is for everyone. We live in a world today that offers more diversity in terms of people’s beliefs and cultures than ever before. Even though, we need to respect others and remember that they have the same right to their beliefs as we do to ours, we can share Jesus with them by actions, and when asked, we can open to them the Words of Life as Jesus has revealed to us. For our witness to be effective, we need to spend time with Jesus daily and to immerse ourselves in the prayerful study of the Holy Scriptures.

“To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 594).

How to stand on solid ground?

Sis Ellen G White’s writings emphasized the importance of studying and following the Bible as the foundation for a solid spiritual life. Here are a few key principles from her writings that can help us stand on solid ground in the Bible:

1. Approach the Bible with a humble and teachable spirit. According to Ellen White, the Bible is not just an intellectual exercise, but a spiritual one. We need to come to it with a heart that is open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, willing to be corrected and taught by God’s word.
2. Study the Bible systematically and thoroughly. Ellen White encouraged her readers to study the Bible in a structured way, going through it book by book and chapter by chapter, rather than simply reading isolated verses or passages. This helps to build a comprehensive understanding of the Bible’s message and themes.
3. Seek to understand the historical and cultural context of the Bible. Ellen White believed that understanding the social, political, and religious context in which the Bible was written is crucial for interpreting its message accurately. This involves studying the historical and cultural background of the Bible, as well as the original languages in which it was written.
4. Test our understanding of the Bible against the whole of Scripture. According to Ellen White, the Bible is its own best interpreter. Therefore, when we encounter difficult or unclear passages, we should seek to understand them in light of the broader message of the Bible as a whole. This means comparing scripture with scripture and seeking to discern the overall themes and principles of God’s word.
5. Apply the Bible’s teachings in our daily lives. Ellen White emphasized that the ultimate goal of Bible study is not simply to gain knowledge, but to apply the teachings of the Bible to our own lives and to live in harmony with God’s will. This requires a willingness to obey the Bible’s commands and to put its teachings into practice in our relationships, work, and personal habits.

AY Program Idea: Worldly Influences

Memory Text: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Our Beliefs, no. 5, The Holy Spirit: “He [the Holy Spirit] draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth.

How are you spending your time?

Are you filling your spare moments with wholesome activities?

What are your priorities?

Living with purpose is a God-given privilege. We can decide how we spend the time we have in this life.

The way we spend our precious moments now will have an impact on our future. We can choose to fill our time with positive relationships, activities, and events that will add quality to our lives.

Most important, we have the awesome privilege to live for Jesus, investing our energies, time, dreams, and plans into the lifework God has for us.

When we invite Jesus into our lives, He will guide our decisions, refine our characters, and help us live life to the fullest to His glory.

Jesus has promised to be with us—to never leave us. He has sent the Holy Spirit to guide and help us live our lives in accordance with God’s plan for us. We don’t have to fend for ourselves; the Holy Spirit will help us “flee” from the devil. Just as Jesus did in the wilderness of temptation, the Holy Spirit will bring to mind “It is written,” so we will know how to answer, and help us to stand for right.

Group Discussion/Questions:

1. How can we stand firm for God when Satan uses friends to blur the lines between right and wrong?
2. Aside from the common forms of addiction like cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, porn. What are other forms of addictive activities?
3. How do we handle gossiping about other people?
4. What must we do to end the addiction?
5. What recreational activities are for SDA youths like us?
6. Give a bible verse to remind you of how we should always keep a good influence.
7. How will you react/answer to the following scenarios:

a. A friend invites you to the mall to go shopping with her. You remember that you don’t really have money for shopping with your friend because you are saving your money for a special project. What do you say?

b. You are at your cousin’s house. He has opened a bottle of alcohol. He offers to pour some into your soda bottle. “Just a little bit won’t hurt,” he says. How do you respond? How can you help your cousin in a Christian manner to understand the harmful effects of alcohol consumption?

c. You have lots of homework and chores, but you are invited to play a video game. Your parents won’t be home for several more hours. What stories from the Bible could help you resist the temptation to play with your friends? What would Jesus do?

---

Highlights and Conclusion:

The answer is that as citizens of the kingdom, we are not our own. We and all that we are and have—including our time—belong to God. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have downtime to enjoy ourselves.

What it does mean is that we shouldn’t spend so much time on an activity that crowds out time and energy from serving others and building our relationship with God.

As citizens of the kingdom, we are called to be ready at all times. It’s like being soldiers in a war. We always have to be on the alert, because we never know when or how our enemy will approach us.

A lot of activities, even if they aren’t bad in themselves, distract from our mission in life, which is to serve God and other people. So we have to stay plugged in to God’s spirit so that we’ll recognize the enemy, be prepared for the enemy, and ultimately defeat the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“The only safeguard against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 118).

This can be the best and the worst time of your life. It can be the best because you are young and energetic and have your whole life ahead of you. At this point, you can choose to be whoever and do whatever you want to. It can be the worst time if you make bad choices, because decisions you make now can affect you for the rest of your life.

God invites you at this time in your life to choose Him, and He will be with you in your entire decision-making process. Also, if you have done something wrong, and you regret it, He is there ready to forgive you. He may not reverse the consequences of your unfortunate decision, but He will help you do the right thing next time. He will never leave you or abandon you.

AY Program Idea: Resisting Negative Peer Pressure

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Today more and more people today believe that the truth is something that comes from inside you. People question the authority of the Bible and of God, and look to other sources or to themselves for truth. A lot of the old standards of right and wrong don’t seem to apply anymore. How do you make decisions about what’s right and wrong when it seems there are more choices than ever before?

Activity/Group Discussions:

Questions:

1. What can you do to stay true to God and to His Word when someone entices you to do something wrong?
2. How can you set an example and help a friend who is heading down a wrong path?
3. As a group, build a wall of scriptures for every foreseeable temptation that may arise, a wall that the world cannot break down. List on one column the temptations that may arise, and on the opposite column the scripture verse that would help.(materials must be given beforehand)
4. Who was tempted? Write down the person’s name next to the items they were tempted with.

1. Bread _________________________
2. To doubt God ___________________
3. Idols ____________________________
4. Worldly riches __________________
5. Tree of knowledge of good and evil _
6. King’s food ______________________
7. To doubt God’s promise __________
8. Presumptuous protection _________
9. To follow his own will_________________________
10. To lie to God _____________________

Highlights and Conclusion:

Man was made in God’s image. Humanity was given free will and the ability to make decisions. When Adam and Eve sinned, they became subject to sin. Satan uses any means he can to get us to sin, and that sometimes includes our friends putting pressure on us to do something wrong. It is only through Christ that we are forgiven and reconciled back to God. It is necessary for us to study the Scripture and, like Jesus, be ready to say “It is written” when tempted to do wrong.

Though we need to respect others who make different choices, as Christian young people we still need to stand firm on the Bible as our authority.

It doesn’t change. Basing your beliefs and your actions on God’s Word will give you solid ground to stand on in a world in which everything seems to be changing so fast, it’s almost impossible to keep up with it.

“Yielding to temptation begins in permitting the mind to waver, to be inconstant in your trust in God. If we do not choose to give ourselves fully to God then we are in darkness” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 92).

A group’s influence along with the desire to belong can lead young people to yield to negative peer pressure. However, some decisions made to go along with the group can result in a lifetime of regret. It is very important to be constantly aware that as a son or daughter of God, you are His representative. If you take a firm stand for God and the teachings of His Word, the Holy Spirit will help you to resist negative peer pressure. Remember God’s promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 and pray for His help to remain faithful to Jesus.

Peer pressure is a fact of life. Even adults have to deal with it. It never really goes away. The important thing is to know whose you are. You are a child of God and an agent of the kingdom. As such, you have to adhere to a high standard and be faithful to God.

Surround yourself with people who know Jesus personally, who put their beliefs into practice and encourage you to do the same. Practice resisting peer pressure. It’s easier to say “No” when you’ve done it a number of times!

“God calls for strong, brave Christians, whose influence is always exerted for the right. His cause needs men and women whose every word and act draws those around them to Christ, binding them to Him by the persuasive force of loving service” (Ellen G. White, in Signs of the Times, October 21, 1903).

“There is not an impulse of our nature, not a faculty of the mind or an inclination of the heart, but needs to be, moment by moment, under the control of the Spirit of God” (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 421).