e bl Bi y ps n u a o h gr - C o m - p Ia t ni db il ve i- d w Ciu t oa l n st a oi r an ns s f wukleler y! Our Abiding Christ Bible Study Guide Copyright (C) 2011 by Merlin Beerman and Revelation Publications. All rights reserved world-wide. Conditions Allowing Distribution For the purpose of sharing with others, we make these study guides avail- able to everyone at wholesale prices. For more information, and to see our other products, visit our website listed below. In most circumstances the cost of photocopying exceeds our sharing prices and the quality is inferior. However, if due to prohibiting cost, transit time, or high international ship- ping expense you would not otherwise be able to share; then, we encourage you to photocopy and allow you to do so royalty-free under the following conditions. The material may be photocopied but not stored by any elec- tronic method, it cannot be altered in any way, it cannot be sold, and this copyright notice must remain in each successive copy. We would also like to encourage other publishers, conferences, church divisions, or organizations located outside the United States to consider the printing and distribution of this guide. To do so, prior approval must be obtained in writing from the publisher before translation or duplication of this guide is done. www.RevelationPublications.com United States 800-952-4457 International 541-747-9346 [email protected] Questions and compilation by Merlin Beerman Commentary text compiled from E.G. White publications Editor - V. C. Darmody Illustrations - (C) 2011 by Revelation Publications Printed in 2011 in the U.S.A. ISBN 978-1-934924-06-8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction An Invitation to the Reader ...................................................... 4 Suggestions for Individual Study .............................................. 5 Suggestions for Group Study .................................................... 6 Lessons 1. The Farmer and the True Vine ................................................... 7 2. The Fruit-bearing Branch ......................................................... 13 3. Abiding in the Cleansing Word ................................................ 18 4. Abiding in Faith ....................................................................... 25 5. The Source of Abiding ............................................................. 31 6. The Withered Branch ............................................................... 36 7. Abiding in Prayer ..................................................................... 41 8. Bearing Fruit to God’s Glory ................................................... 47 9. Abiding in Obedience .............................................................. 52 10. Abiding in Joy ......................................................................... 59 11. Abiding in Love ....................................................................... 65 12. An Abiding Friendship ............................................................ 73 13. Chosen and Ordained .............................................................. 80 Supporting Materials Answer Key ............................................................................. 87 Resource Abbreviations ........................................................... 91 Certificate of Excellence ........................................................ 93 Inspirational Material Ordering Information ........................... 95 AN INVITATION TO THE READER We are glad you have received Our Abiding Christ Bible Study Guide. It is our prayer that you will go through these lessons and draw closer to Christ; the One who offers you friendship, peace, and eternal life. If there is an address in the box below, this guide is offered to you as a gift from a Bible school. Your school may utilize this guide in one of two possible ways. The guide may or may not contain an answer section in the back. But when there is one, you may refer to it to verify your answers. Upon completion, if you wish to have your certificate validated, remove and send only your certificate to the address below for signature by an instructor. If an address is present but your guide does not contain an answer section; then, upon completion, you may send your entire completed guide for verification and have your certificate signed. In either situation, all you have mailed to us will be returned with additional free study materials. If at any time you have additional Bible questions, you may send them, and an instructor will respond. You may have been a Christian all your life, or this may be your first opportunity to learn about the wonderful love of Jesus. In either case, this time you spend in the Word of God will be a rich blessing. May the Lord fill you with peace as you seek to know Him better. FOR MORE STUDY MATERIALS WRITE: 5 SUGGESTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDY (1) PRAY FOR Each time you study, pray for discernment and GUIDANCE the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Approach your study with an open mind. Avoid preconceived ideas that may have a negative influence on your search for truth. (2) READ THE Read each question slowly taking extra time to QUESTION contemplate and understand it. This will result in the greatest benefit from your study. (3) FIND THE Use any Bible to look up the reference text listed ANSWER below the answer space. Read the reference and surrounding texts to gain an understanding of their context. Write a concise answer on the blanks provided in your study guide. If you want to confirm your answer you may look it up in the answer section located in the back. For a deeper understanding, read and compare the reference texts in multiple versions of Scripture. Use a concordance, column references, and a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words and search for other related texts. (4) CONTEMPLATE Reread the question and answer, then read the THE RESULTS commentary. Contemplate the significance of what you have just studied and ask for wisdom from the Lord to help you know how to apply it to your life. (5) CONTINUE It is our prayer that you will continue to study TO STUDY God’s Word. We encourage you to contact your source for this guide and obtain other inspirational materials that will aid in your spiritual growth. 6 SUGGESTIONS FOR GROUP STUDY (1) ASSIGN A It is important to appoint an individual to lead your LEADER study group. This may be a pastor, church leader, or a shared responsibility among the group members. This individual’s responsibility is to keep the discussion objective and encourage participation. (2) PREDETERMINE Make a group decision whether to include outside STUDY METHODS materials in your study sessions. As a rule, study time will be the most fruitful when the focus is on Biblical references. (3) PRE-STUDY Encourage each member of your group to study THE LESSON the lesson prior to meeting. This will result in the greatest benefit to each individual as well as enhancing his/her ability to participate in discussion. (4) BEGIN WITH Each time you meet always invite the Lord to be PRAYER present in your study session and the Holy Spirit to be your guide. (5) READ QUESTION The group leader may read or appoint another member of the group to read the questions. (6) READ ANSWER The group leader can ask for volunteers to give the & COMMENTARY answer and related commentary. When time allows, ask for answers derived from various translations to increase participation and understanding. (7) DISCUSSION The most benefit will be gained if the leader does not lecture the group but rather leads it. Each member of the group should be encouraged to participate in the capacity he/she is comfortable. One member of the group should not dominate the discussion. Encourage sensitivity to the feelings and opinions of others even in disagreement. (8) TESTIMONY Have a time at the beginning or end of your session for brief testimonies. This can be general or limited to the subject matter being studied. 7 The Farmer and the True Vine - 1 This lesson is based on John 15:1. Jesus and the disciples were on the way to Gethsemane, at the foot of John 15:1 Mount Olivet, a retired spot which He had often visited for meditation and Related Texts: John 15:5; Psalm 80:8; prayer. The Saviour had been explain- Genesis 49:10, 11; 1 Kings 4:25; 2 Cor- ing to His disciples His mission to inthians 3:5 the world, and the spiritual relation to Him which they were to sustain. Now “I am the true Vine,” He says. Instead He illustrates the lesson. The moon of choosing the graceful palm, the lofty is shining bright, and reveals to Him cedar, or the strong oak, Jesus takes the a flourishing grapevine. Drawing the vine with its clinging tendrils to repre- attention of the disciples to it, He em- sent Himself. The palm tree, the cedar, ploys it as a symbol. {DA 674.2} and the oak stand alone. They require no support. But the vine entwines about the (1) IN CHRIST’S ILLUSTRATION, trellis, and thus climbs heavenward. So WHO IS REPRESENTED BY THE Christ in His humanity was dependent “TRUE VINE”? upon divine power. “I can of Mine 8 Our Abiding Christ Bible Study Guide own self do nothing,” He declared. been obtained. There has been a harvest John 5:30. {DA 674.3, 675} which the passers-by have plucked. {DA 675.2} (2) WHO IS REPRESENTED BY THE “VINEDRESSER”? (3) WHAT IS ANOTHER TITLE THAT SCRIPTURE CALLS CHRIST THAT PROCLAIMS HIM AS “TRUE”? John 15:1 Related Texts: 1 Corinthians 3:9; James 5:7; Isaiah 61:3; Matthew 20:1 John 1:9 God claims the whole earth as His vine- Related Texts: 1 John 2:8; John 6:32; yard. Though now in the hands of the Jeremiah 10:10 usurper, it belongs to God. By redemp- tion no less than by creation it is His. For In the manifestation of God to His people, the world Christ’s sacrifice was made. light had ever been a symbol of His pres- “God so loved the world, that He gave ence. At the creative word in the begin- His only begotten Son.” John 3:16. It is ning, light had shone out of darkness. through that one gift that every other is Light had been enshrouded in the pil- imparted to men. Daily the whole world lar of cloud by day and the pillar of receives blessing from God. Every drop fire by night, leading the vast armies of rain, every ray of light shed on our un- of Israel. Light blazed with awful thankful race, every leaf and flower and grandeur about the Lord on Mount fruit, testifies to God’s long forbearance Sinai. Light rested over the mercy and His great love. {COL 301.3} seat in the tabernacle. Light filled the temple of Solomon at its dedication. On the hills of Palestine our heavenly Light shone on the hills of Bethlehem Father had planted this goodly Vine, and when the angels brought the message He Himself was the husbandman. Many of redemption to the watching shep- were attracted by the beauty of this herds. {DA 464.2} Vine, and declared its heavenly origin. But to the leaders in Israel it appeared God is light; and in the words, “I am as a root out of a dry ground. They took the light of the world,” Christ declared the plant, and bruised it, and trampled it His oneness with God, and His relation under their unholy feet. Their thought to the whole human family. It was He was to destroy it forever. But the heav- who at the beginning had caused “the enly Husbandman never lost sight of light to shine out of darkness.” 2 Cor. His plant. After men thought they had 4:6. He is the light of sun and moon killed it, He took it, and replanted it on and star. He was the spiritual light the other side of the wall. The vine stock that in symbol and type and prophecy was to be no longer visible. It was hid- had shone upon Israel. But not to the den from the rude assaults of men. But Jewish nation alone was the light the branches of the Vine hung over the given. As the sunbeams penetrate to the wall. They were to represent the Vine. remotest corners of the earth, so does Through them grafts might still be the light of the Sun of Righteousness united to the Vine. From them fruit has shine upon every soul. {DA 464.3} 9 The Farmer and the True Vine (4) WHO AND WHAT IS “TRUTH”? fullness of joy. When it is cherished in the heart, the love of Christ is preferred to the love of any human being. This is Christianity. This is the love of God in the soul. Thus pure, unadulterated truth occupies the citadel of the being. John 14:6 The words are fulfilled, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” There is a nobleness in the life of the one who lives and works under the vivifying Psalm 119:160 influence of the truth. . . . {RC 111.4} Related Texts: John 8:31, 32; 17:17; 2 Many are supposed to be converted Timothy 2:15; John 15:26; 16:13; Ephe- who will not stand the stress of trial and sians 5:9; 1 John 5:6 temptation. . . . They have no depth of spiritual experience. They do not apply The Word of God is to be our spiritual the truth to the heart and conscience. . . . food. “I am that bread of life” (John 6:48), There is a lack of pure-toned piety; and Christ said. . . . The world is perishing this lack makes them weaklings in the for want of pure, unadulterated truth. army of the Lord, when they might be Christ is the truth. His words are truth, giants if they were but willing to be truly and they have a deeper significance converted. . . . {RC 111.5} than appears on the surface, and a value beyond their unpretending appearance. We are living in perilous times. In the Minds that are quickened by the Holy fear of God I tell you that the true expo- Spirit will discern the value of these sition of the Scriptures is necessary for words. When our eyes are anointed with the correct moral development of our the holy eyesalve, we shall be able to characters. When mind and heart are detect the precious gems of truth, even controlled by the Holy Spirit, when self though they may be buried beneath the is dead, the truth is capable of constant surface. {RC 111.2} expansion and development. When the truth as it is in Jesus molds our charac- Truth is delicate, refined, elevated. When ters, it will be seen to be truth indeed. it molds the character, the soul grows As it is contemplated by the believer, under its divine influence. Every day the it will grow brighter, shining with its truth is to be received into the heart. Thus original beauty. It will increase in val- we eat Christ’s words, which He declares ue, quickening and vivifying the mind. are spirit and life. The acceptance of . . . It will elevate our aspirations, en- truth will make every receiver a child abling us to reach the perfect standard of God, an heir of heaven. Truth that is of holiness.-- Review and Herald, Feb. cherished in the heart is not a cold, dead 14, 1899. {RC 111.6} letter, but a living power. {RC 111.3} Truth is sacred, divine. It is stronger (5) HOW CAN WE APPLY THE and more powerful than anything else “TRUTH” TO OUR DAILY LIVES in the formation of a character after AND, AS A RESULT, ABIDE IN the likeness of Christ. In it there is CHRIST? 10