Junior and/or Earliteen Sabbath School December 13, 2008

Junior and/or Junior and/or Earliteen Earliteen Sabbath Sabbath SchoolSchool

December 13, 2008December 13, 2008

This Quarter the Thirteenth This Quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Sabbath

Offering is going to the Offering is going to the Northern Asia-Pacific DivisionNorthern Asia-Pacific Division

Information adapted from Adventist Mission, Youth and Adult Magazine and the SDA Encyclopedia.

Mongolia

China

North Korea

This quarter the Thirteenth This quarter the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will be used to Sabbath Offering will be used to

help:help:

build a dormitory for Adventist build a dormitory for Adventist students in Ulaanbaatar, students in Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaMongolia

fund Chinese-language television fund Chinese-language television and Internet broadcasts from and Internet broadcasts from Taiwan Taiwan

plant a Chinese-language church plant a Chinese-language church in the heart of Tokyo, Japanin the heart of Tokyo, Japan

The Northern Asia-Pacific Division consists of China, Japan, Mongolia, North and South Korea, and Taiwan. With 1.5 billion people, roughly a quarter of the world’s population, the Northern Asia-Pacific Division is the most populous division in the world.

Focus on MongoliaFocus on Mongolia

Mongolian culture dates back thousands of years. At Mongolian culture dates back thousands of years. At one time the Mongols, as the people of Mongolia are one time the Mongols, as the people of Mongolia are known, formed the largest empire in the world under known, formed the largest empire in the world under the leadership of Genghis Khan, a fierce warrior. For the leadership of Genghis Khan, a fierce warrior. For centuries Mongolians have been nomadic cattle centuries Mongolians have been nomadic cattle herders, raising sheep, horses, camels, and goats on herders, raising sheep, horses, camels, and goats on the grasslands that stretch across the country. These the grasslands that stretch across the country. These nomadic people live in portable felt-covered homes nomadic people live in portable felt-covered homes called called gers. gers. Their homes keep them from freezing in Their homes keep them from freezing in one of the coldest regions inhabited by humans.one of the coldest regions inhabited by humans.

Buddhist monastery in Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia is a hard-to-reach country, both physically and spiritually. Forty percent of Mongolia’s 3 million people claim no religion. The majority of young adults are atheists while many of the older generation have reconnected with their Buddhist roots. Mongolian culture makes it difficult for young people to share their faith with their elders, and there were no Adventists in the country until after 1991 when nearly 70 years of atheistic communist rule ended.

The first Seventh-day Adventist church The first Seventh-day Adventist church members in modern Mongolia were baptized in members in modern Mongolia were baptized in 1993 after a couple sent by Adventist Frontier 1993 after a couple sent by Adventist Frontier Mission, an Adventist lay ministry, went to Mission, an Adventist lay ministry, went to Mongolia. The first Adventist church was Mongolia. The first Adventist church was established in 1997 with 26 members.established in 1997 with 26 members.

Things are changing in Mongolia. These kids are getting to learn about Jesus.

Today there are some 1,200 Seventh-day Today there are some 1,200 Seventh-day Adventists, mostly in their 30s or younger, in Adventists, mostly in their 30s or younger, in Mongolia. One fifth of these Adventists are Mongolia. One fifth of these Adventists are college students who move to the capital college students who move to the capital city, Ulaanbaatar [OOH-lahn-BAH-tr], to city, Ulaanbaatar [OOH-lahn-BAH-tr], to study.study.

Tsolmontuya Nergui

Youth leave their villages Youth leave their villages to study in the universities to study in the universities of the capital city. But of the capital city. But living accommodations living accommodations are expensive and are expensive and difficult to find. Part of difficult to find. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help Sabbath Offering will help provide a dormitory for provide a dormitory for some of the 250 Adventist some of the 250 Adventist college-age students college-age students seeking an education in seeking an education in Ulaanbaatar. Ulaanbaatar.

The dormitory will provide leadership The dormitory will provide leadership training as well as living accommodations training as well as living accommodations for the next generation of leaders in the for the next generation of leaders in the still-young church in Mongolia. Please give still-young church in Mongolia. Please give a generous offering this Thirteenth Sabbath.a generous offering this Thirteenth Sabbath.

Collect Collect OfferingOffering

Exploring God’s Exploring God’s WorldWorld

In this section we study one of the countries in the division where our Thirteenth Sabbath offering is going.

Today we are going Today we are going to learn about to learn about

TaiwanTaiwan

Where is TaiwanWhere is Taiwan

Taiwan’s FlagTaiwan’s Flag

Time for the Time for the Mission StoryMission Story

We are taking the good We are taking the good news to the entire world.news to the entire world.

Read the Mission Story on pages 24 and 25 of the Fourth Quarter Read the Mission Story on pages 24 and 25 of the Fourth Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Adventist Mission Youth and Adult MagazineMagazine

while slowly progressing through the next 3 slides.while slowly progressing through the next 3 slides.

The name The name of the of the

person in person in the story the story is “Hyun is “Hyun Jung.”Jung.”

This story is from This story is from Korea.Korea.

The title of the story is “Stepping The title of the story is “Stepping Into the Sea.”Into the Sea.”

Lesson Study Lesson Study TimeTime

Magi and a MessiahMagi and a Messiah

Today we will read about:Today we will read about:

Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

Have you ever gone Have you ever gone somewhere that you had somewhere that you had only a few clues about?only a few clues about?

The Magi were in that The Magi were in that kind of situation while kind of situation while searching for Jesus. searching for Jesus.

Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

About the only thing they About the only thing they knew was that He was a knew was that He was a king. king. Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

Even though their journey Even though their journey was going to be long, their was going to be long, their ultimate goal was to find ultimate goal was to find and worship Him.and worship Him.

Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

Power TextPower Text

1 Chronicles 16:8, 9, 1 Chronicles 16:8, 9, NIVNIV

““Give thanksGive thanks to the Lord, call to the Lord, call on his name; make known on his name; make known among the nations what he among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”wonderful acts.”

Photo by Neva MacPheePhoto by Neva MacPhee

We worship by giving We worship by giving gifts to Jesus.gifts to Jesus.

Power PointPower Point

““That must be it!” said the That must be it!” said the chiefchiefphilosopher. philosopher. ““I’m sure it is,” replied one of I’m sure it is,” replied one of his traveling companions.his traveling companions.

““Finally,” sighed the other Finally,” sighed the other one. “I thought we’d never one. “I thought we’d never get here!”get here!”

The Magi from the East The Magi from the East had left their homes had left their homes several months ago in several months ago in search ofsearch ofthe new King. the new King.

Their study Their study had told them had told them He should be He should be almost a year almost a year old. Theyold. Theyhad traveled had traveled hundreds of hundreds of miles to get to miles to get to this strange this strange country. country.

Now Jerusalem lay before Now Jerusalem lay before them. Would they find the King them. Would they find the King here? here? The prophecies they had The prophecies they had studied and the signs they had studied and the signs they had seen in the skies for months seen in the skies for months seemed to say so.seemed to say so.

““I think we I think we shouldshouldgo directly to go directly to the Temple,” the Temple,” one said one said to the others. to the others. ““Surely the Surely the priests will be priests will be able to tell able to tell us where to find us where to find the King.”the King.”

Everything pointed to the Everything pointed to the birth of a King. And they birth of a King. And they intended to worship Him.intended to worship Him.

They emerged a short time They emerged a short time later, disappointed. “What a later, disappointed. “What a waste of time,” said one. waste of time,” said one. “How could they not know “How could they not know about their own King?” Life about their own King?” Life seemed to be carrying on seemed to be carrying on just as usual in this town.just as usual in this town.

The philosophers mounted The philosophers mounted theirtheircamels and ambled through camels and ambled through the streets asking everyone the streets asking everyone about the baby King. about the baby King. Everyone either shook their Everyone either shook their heads or hunched their heads or hunched their shoulders.shoulders.

Toward dusk a Toward dusk a Roman soldierRoman soldieron horseback on horseback galloped galloped toward them. toward them. “King“KingHerod wants to Herod wants to see you,” he see you,” he commanded.commanded.

Herod had heard about Herod had heard about their search. He had their search. He had secretly called together secretly called together the chief priests and the chief priests and teachers and asked where teachers and asked where the Christ was to be born.the Christ was to be born.

They had informed him They had informed him that Bethlehem was the that Bethlehem was the place.place.

When the Magi arrived, When the Magi arrived, HerodHerodseemed to ask them a seemed to ask them a hundred questions. Finally hundred questions. Finally he said, “Gohe said, “Goto Bethlehem and look for to Bethlehem and look for the Child. When you find the Child. When you find Him, tell Him, tell me so I can go worship Him me so I can go worship Him too.”too.”

They agreed and left that They agreed and left that night for Bethlehem. “It’s night for Bethlehem. “It’s just five miles from here,” just five miles from here,” said the leader. “If we hurry, said the leader. “If we hurry, we we can make it there can make it there before dark.”before dark.”

““According to the priests no According to the priests no one is talking about the birth one is talking about the birth of the King,” commented a of the King,” commented a companion. “I don’t companion. “I don’t understand these Jews. It’s understand these Jews. It’s odd that no one knowsodd that no one knowsthat their Deliverer has been that their Deliverer has been born.”born.”

““Could we have made a Could we have made a mistake?” “No!” the leader mistake?” “No!” the leader replied. “We’ve studied the replied. “We’ve studied the prophecies thoroughly. We prophecies thoroughly. We know that this Child has been know that this Child has been born. And when we find Him, born. And when we find Him, we we will will worship Him.”worship Him.”

““Look.” All heads turned to the Look.” All heads turned to the sky.sky.““There’s the star again!” There’s the star again!” The group quickened the The group quickened the camels’ pace. camels’ pace. ““There’s the house!”There’s the house!”““I can’t believe I can’t believe there are no there are no crowds!”crowds!”

A man stood at A man stood at the door the door preparing to preparing to close it. Once close it. Once the door was the door was closed, the group closed, the group would have to would have to wait until wait until morning to find morning to find thetheobject of their object of their search.search.

““Excuse me,” the leader Excuse me,” the leader said, dismounting from his said, dismounting from his camel. “We’ve come a very camel. “We’ve come a very long way looking for the newlong way looking for the newKing. Is He here? King. Is He here? If so, may weIf so, may weplease come in and please come in and worship Him?”worship Him?”

The man looked back into the The man looked back into the house, then turned to face house, then turned to face them. “Please come in,” he them. “Please come in,” he said. “My name is Joseph.”said. “My name is Joseph.”

““We are philosophers from the We are philosophers from the East,” the spokesman East,” the spokesman announced, as each one announced, as each one bowed. bowed. ““Bring the gifts,” they directed Bring the gifts,” they directed their servants.their servants.

Entering the Entering the house, the Magi house, the Magi could tell that could tell that Joseph and Mary Joseph and Mary were poor. were poor. How can a King How can a King live here? live here? they they thought to thought to themselves.themselves.

““This is my wife, Mary,” This is my wife, Mary,” Joseph said, laying his hand Joseph said, laying his hand on the shoulder of the on the shoulder of the young woman seated on a young woman seated on a chair with a young child chair with a young child beside her pulling up on beside her pulling up on her knee.her knee.

““And this is our son, Jesus,” And this is our son, Jesus,” said Mary. The Child looked said Mary. The Child looked at them with wide eyes. The at them with wide eyes. The Magi gasped and fell to their Magi gasped and fell to their knees in worship. This was knees in worship. This was the King!the King!

When the Wise Men set off to find Jesus, it was like going on a treasure hunt.

They had some clues but didn’t know where they would lead.

As Christians we are in a treasure hunt, but we know where our clues lead. Our clues are found in the Bible. By following them we will find the treasure—eternity with

Jesus.

Let’s look at some texts to see the two unusual gifts (most of us know about gold) that the Magi brought for their worship and how these were

generally used in biblical times.

Exodus 30:1, 6-8

Psalm 141:2

Luke 1:9, 10

Revelation 5:8

Genesis 37:25

Exodus 30:23-26

Esther 2:12

Mark 15:23

John 19:39, 40

From your reading, why do you think the Magi chose the gifts that they did to worship Christ?

What could we use, give, or do today to worship Him that would be similar?

Ben and Serena have just finished reading about the journey of the Wise Men and the gifts they brought Jesus. They really want to make this Christmas different and spend more time and attention on gifts for God than for each other and their friends.

They aren’t sure what to do, though. It isn’t as if they can take presents to a real baby Jesus. What would you suggest they do?

We worship by giving gifts

to Jesus.

Power Point

Important InformationImportant Information

PowerPointsPowerPoints® art copyrighted © 2003 by the ® art copyrighted © 2003 by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association.Review and Herald® Publishing Association.

Text and illustrations from Text and illustrations from Adventist Mission Youth Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazineand Adult Magazine is copyright © by the is copyright © by the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.Adventists.

Scriptures quoted from NIV are from the Scriptures quoted from NIV are from the Holy Holy Bible, New International VersionBible, New International Version, copyright © , copyright © 1973, 1980, 1984, International Bible Society. 1973, 1980, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.Publishers.

ClickArt Infinity by Broderbund, © 1999 TLC ClickArt Infinity by Broderbund, © 1999 TLC Multimedia Inc.Multimedia Inc.

You will want to have a hard copy of the Mission Story You will want to have a hard copy of the Mission Story ready to read during the Mission Story section. You can find ready to read during the Mission Story section. You can find the story on pages 24 and 25 of the Fourth Quarter the story on pages 24 and 25 of the Fourth Quarter Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine. The title of The title of the story is “Stepping Into the Sea.” You can go to the the story is “Stepping Into the Sea.” You can go to the website website http://www.adventistmission.org/http://www.adventistmission.org/ and find the link titled and find the link titled “Publications” to download the “Publications” to download the Adventist Mission Youth and Adventist Mission Youth and Adult Magazine.Adult Magazine.

Notes to TeachersNotes to Teachers

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