Sunday
August 13
1. A SOWER WENT
a. The Bible speaks of the sower, the one who sowed the seed of the Word of God. Who is the sower and where did he do his sowing? Matthew 13:24, 37.
b. What does the field represent? Matthew 13:38 (first part).
c. How does Christ sow the seed of His truth in this world? John 20:21 (last part); Romans 10:15; Revelation 14:6.
“As faithful husbandmen in God’s great field, we must sow with tears and be patient and hopeful. We must meet troubles and sorrows. Temptations and wearisome toil will afflict the soul, but we must patiently wait in faith to reap with joy. In the final victory God will have no use for those persons who are nowhere to be found in time of peril and danger, when the strength, courage, and influence of all are required to make a charge upon the enemy.”–Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 327.
Monday
August 14
2. HE LOVES ALL
a. Where does Christ say that His followers should sow? Who does that include? Isaiah 32:20; Revelation 17:15.
b. Often the verse indicated in this question is thought of only in connection with money. Whom does it speak of that we must share out the “seed”? Matthew 19:21.
c. There is another class which should be reached. Who are they? Matthew 19:23, 24; Luke 19:23.
“Those who belong to the higher ranks of society are to be sought out with tender affection and brotherly regard. Men in business life, in high positions of trust, men with large inventive faculties and scientific insight, men of genius, teachers of the gospel whose minds have not been called to the special truths for this time–these should be the first to hear the call. To them the invitation must be given.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 230.
“Enter the large cities, and create an interest among the high and the low. Make it your work to preach the gospel to the poor, but do not stop there. Seek to reach the higher classes also. Study your location with a view to letting your light shine forth to others. This work should have been done long since.”–Testimonies to Ministers, p. 400.
“Students, go out into the highways and hedges. Endeavor to reach the higher as well as the lower classes. Enter the homes of the rich as well as the poor, and as you have opportunity, ask, ‘Would you be pleased to have us sing some gospel hymns?’ Then as hearts are softened, the way may open for you to offer a few words of prayer for the blessing of God. Not many will refuse to listen. Such ministry is genuine missionary work.”–Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 548.
Tuesday
August 15
3. REACHING THE WEALTHY
a. What does Jesus say of the rich in connection with how they can enter the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 19:25, 26.
b. What influence can the wealthy Christians have on their society? Matthew 27:57–60; Mark 15:43.
“We talk and write much of the neglected poor: should not some attention be given also to the neglected rich? Many look upon this class as hopeless, and they do little to open the eyes of those who, blinded and dazed by the power of Satan, have lost eternity out of their reckoning. Thousands of wealthy men have gone to their graves unwarned because they have been judged by appearance and passed by as hopeless subjects. But, indifferent as they may appear, I have been shown that most of this class are soul-burdened. There are thousands of rich men who are starving for spiritual food. Many in official life feel their need of something which they have not. Few among them go to church; for they feel that they receive no benefit. The teaching they hear does not touch the soul. Shall we make no personal effort in their behalf?”–Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 78.
c. What is needed to reach the higher classes? James 3:17; 1:5.
“Some are especially fitted to work for the higher classes. These should seek wisdom from God to know how to reach these persons, to have not merely a casual acquaintance with them, but by personal effort and living faith to awaken them to the needs of the soul, to lead them to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.”–The Ministry of Healing, p. 213.
“But in order to do this all the workers will have to keep themselves up to a high level of intelligence. They cannot do this work and sink down to a low, common level, feeling that it does not much matter how they labor or what they say, since they are working for the poor and ignorant classes. They will have to sharpen up, and be armed and equipped in order to present the truth intelligently and to reach the higher classes. Their minds must rise higher, and show greater strength and clearness.”–Evangelism, p. 556.
Wednesday
August 16
4. THE FOREIGN FIELDS
a. Is the field only the area in which we live? Mark 16:15.
“Our church members should feel a deep interest in home and foreign missions. Great blessings will come to them as they make self-sacrificing efforts to plant the standard of truth in new territory. The money invested in this work will bring rich returns. New converts, rejoicing in the light received from the word, will in their turn give of their means to carry the light of truth to others.”–Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 49.
“To show a liberal, self-denying spirit for the success of foreign missions is a sure way to advance home missionary work; for the prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off. It is in working to supply the necessities of others that we bring our souls into touch with the Source of all power. The Lord has marked every phase of missionary zeal that has been shown by His people in behalf of foreign fields. He designs that in every home, in every church, and at all the centers of the work, a spirit of liberality shall be shown in sending help to foreign fields, where the workers are struggling against great odds to give the light to those who sit in darkness. That which is given to start the work in one field will result in strengthening the work in other places.”–Gospel Workers, pp. 465, 466.
b. How can we prepare to work in foreign lands? Matthew 11:29; Romans 10:15.
“Great benefits would come to the cause of God in the regions beyond, if faithful effort were put forth in behalf of the foreigners in the cities of our homeland. Among these men and women are some who, upon accepting the truth, could soon be fitted to labor for their own people in this country and in other countries. Many might return to the places from which they came, in the hope of winning their friends to the truth. They could search out their kinsfolk and neighbors, and communicate to them a knowledge of the third angel’s message.”–The Review and Herald, October 29, 1914.
“There has been a slothful neglect and a criminal unbelief among us as a people, which has kept us back from doing the work God has left us to do in letting our light shine forth to those of other nations.”–Life Sketches, p. 213.
Thursday
August 17
5. NOT ALL CAN GO
a. Is everyone called to leave his or her home as a missionary? Mark 5:18, 19.
b. How can we help foreign missions while living on the home ground? 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18, 19.
c. What is another very practical way to help others in the work? 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7.
“From every church, prayers should ascend to God for an increase of devotion and liberality. My brethren and sisters, do not plead for retrenchment in evangelical work. So long as there are souls to save, our interest in the work of soulsaving is to know no abating. The church cannot abridge her task without denying her Master. Not all can go as missionaries to foreign lands, but all can give of their means for the carrying forward of foreign missions.”–Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 55, 56.
d. What will be the results as we serve God in these various ways? 2 Corinthians 9:8–13.
“Will you not, dear youth, become missionaries for God? Will you, as you have never done before, learn the precious lesson of making gifts to the Lord by putting into the treasury of that which He has freely given you to enjoy? Whatever you have received, let a portion be returned to the Giver as a gratitude offering. A part should also be put into the treasury for the missionary work to be done both at home and abroad.”–The Youth’s Instructor, August 26, 1897.
“We have but few missionaries. From home and abroad are coming urgent calls for workers. Young men and young women, the middle-aged, and in fact all who are able to engage in the Master’s service, should be putting their minds to the stretch in an effort to prepare to meet these calls.”–Pacific Union Recorder, August 13, 1914.
Friday
August 18
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How does Christ intend to reach the world with His truth?
2. How can I reach the poor in my area?
3. Is there anything that I need to develop in order to reach the wealthier classes? Am I willing to be used in this way?
4. How can I better help the gospel to be preached in every land?
5. How can I be a seed sower where I am?
Patient Toil. “Christ had come, not as a king, but as a sower; not for the overthrow of kingdoms, but for the scattering of seed; not to point His followers to earthly triumphs and national greatness, but to a harvest to be gathered after patient toil and through losses and disappointments.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 35.
Returning to the Giver. “Will you not, dear youth, become missionaries for God? Will you, as you have never done before, learn the precious lesson of making gifts to the Lord by putting into the treasury of that which He has freely given you to enjoy? Whatever you have received, let a portion be returned to the Giver as a gratitude offering. A part should also be put into the treasury for the missionary work to be done both at home and abroad.”–Messages to Young People, p. 306.
Minds Led to the Gospel. “By the parable of the sower, Christ illustrates the things of the kingdom of heaven, and the work of the great Husbandman for His people. Like a sower in the field, He came to scatter the heavenly grain of truth. And His parable teaching itself was the seed with which the most precious truths of His grace were sown. Because of its simplicity the parable of the sower has not been valued as it should be. From the natural seed cast into the soil, Christ desires to lead our minds to the gospel seed, the sowing of which results in bringing man back to his loyalty to God. He who gave the parable of the tiny seed is the Sovereign of heaven, and the same laws that govern earthly seed sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 33.
Leaving All to Follow Christ. “Those who are called to unite with Christ must leave all, in order to follow Him. Old associations must be broken up, plans of life relinquished, earthly hopes surrendered. In toil and tears, in solitude, and through sacrifice, must the seed be sown.”–Ibid., pp. 36, 37.