I just received another e-mail promoting an atheist author’s book for Christian readers. There’s been a splash of books by atheists with directions for how Christians should handle their faith. But I’m asking myself and you, “Why would Christians follow blind ’swimmers’, so to speak, when they can dive deeply into the treasure house of God’s Word with our own Christian leaders?”

I’m all for respectfully listening to what atheists and other non-believers have to say, but when it’s my time to speak in the conversation cycle, I want to be sure to reach their heart as well as their ears—and definitely influence their thinking. That’s why I’m so happy to have the Exegesis pages in LEAD that take me to depths I would not reach alone in my Sabbath School lesson study. Also the Exegesis and Hermaneutics section of LEAD teaches me how to troll the depths of Scripture in general. Authors for these sections, Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller and Dr. Kwabena Donkor not only know the fine points of theology, they are active in the “real world” so their answers connect with real questions.

Ekkehardt Mueller playing the harpsichord on a Sabbath afternoon

Pacific Press Publishing Association recently re-released an updated and expanded edition of Searching for a God to Love. This book helps direct the reader into a more in depth and personal understanding of God by drawing examples from the authors own experiences and key biblical principles that help give our finite minds a better understanding of God.

Not only is this book a great read on a personal level, it can also be used in small group study. I would also recommend sharing it with young adults, Adventist and non-Adventist alike that are dealing with life’s perplexities and are questioning whether or not God really exists and if he really cares about me with all of the other problems going on around the world.

Check it out, you wont be disappointed.

This year, 2009, is the  150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of  Species published November 25, 1859. A recent poll showed that 52 percent of American’s agreed that “the development of life was guided by intelligent design” as opposed to believing Darwin’s theory that life developed “through an unguided process of random mutations and natural selection.” Many entities worldwide are hailing this line of thinking as the collapse of Darwinism with various festivities. What is your Sabbath School doing to shed light on credible design to counteract this teaching still being given to school children? Facts worth knowing and sharing, even by our children can be found in resources like this one:

If you have other resources to help Sabbath Schools share intelligent design during this anniversary year of Darwinism, leave a comment below.

Community outreach is an important goal of the Sabbath School ministry supported by LEAD magazine. See how Matthew Gamble is spreading the gospel of Steps to Christ. We’re eager to learn your comments about his ministry. We’re eager to learn about what you’re doing. Your comments are important.

Join Matthew Gamble as he takes us on a journey through Steps to Christ and reminds us of how God reveals His love for us. Steps to Christ is a life changing book that helps readers better under stand the love and grace that God has for humanity, its also a great tool to share with others that are searching for God.

Unshakable Faith by Mark Finley

In his book, Unshakable Faith, Evangelist Mark Finley focuses on the bond of Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, and Hugh Latimer, the Oxford martyrs of the Reformation. He notes: “How did these men spearhead the Reformation in England? By studying God’s Word together, by praying together. They stood in a circle based on Scripture. They discovered truth in a circle. . . .  These men give us a glimpse of what God’s last day church, called the ‘remnant,’ will be like” (pp. 31, 36.

His closing on this subject that he calls, “Standing in a Circle” asks some important questions, including, “Are you making exciting discoveries with a group of believers?” (p. 36, emphasis supplied). I think that Sabbath School is so much more engaging when members and their friends meet not to review the lesson day by day but to share what they have learned and applied during the week. Then the lesson session becomes a time of discovery.

Are you having this experience in your Sabbath School? Please, share what’s happening.