After a week of knowing and studying the Present Truth, this week we'll be stepping forward in Faith discovering the joy of being a part of God's family and bring others to Jesus.

The following will be considered in this SSL this week;

I. Setting the Pace: Jesus,

II. First Steps:

A. Peter,

B. John,

C. Matthew.

III. Reaching the Goal: Paul.

IV. Resetting the Pace: Do you love me?

V. Steps of Love: The Joy of Sharing

Memory Verse:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: {Phil. 2:5-7}

Prayer Thought:

These words are full of instruction, and strike the keynote of victory. The apostle presents before the believers the ladder of Christian progress, every step of which represents advancement in the knowledge of God, and in the climbing of which there is to be no standstill. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of the ladder. We are saved by climbing round after round, mounting step after step, to the height of Christ's ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. {AA 530.1}

I. Setting the pace: Jesus

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

• Jesus is God, but He decided to “leave” His dignity aside when He abandoned His place in Heaven as the King of the Universe and became human {Phil. 2:6-7}.

• He wasn’t born an eminent man, but a humble servant. He went even further: He was totally submitted to God’s will, being willing to die at a cross because He loves us {Phil. 2:8}.

• Because of that selfless love, God “has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” {Phil. 2:9}. However, His greatest joy wasn’t His recovered exaltation, but that “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.” {Isa. 53:11}

• As we follow the steps of faith of Jesus, our greatest joy will be seeing people surrendering their lives to our Savior, and living an eternal life with Jesus.

II. First Steps:

“They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” {Matthew 4:20}

• Andrew, Peter, John, and James had followed Jesus from some time. Then, they were called to do it “full-time.” Jesus encouraged them to stop fishing fish and become “fishers of men.” {Mt. 4:19}.

• Levi-Matthew was another person that Jesus called to leave everything. Jesus knew his heart desire and encouraged him to exchange a comfortable but unsatisfactory life for a life full of with purpose and satisfaction {Matthew 9:9}.

• We, too, want to live for something worthwhile, for a grander, nobler purpose. Hence, answer Christ’s call to follow Him.

A. Peter

B. John

C. Matthew

III. Reaching the Goal: Paul

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

• Saul (Paul) is an example of someone who we wouldn’t choose to preach the Gospel, but Jesus did. How could unexpected people became great evangelists (a demon-possessed man, a Samaritan woman, a prostitute, a tax collector, “uneducated” fishermen, a pursuer of Christians…)?

• The grace of God transformed their hearts. Then they devoted themselves to tell the wonders God had done in their lives.

IV. Resetting the pace: Do you love me?

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” {John 21:17}

• Jesus knew Peter’s heart. He knew that Peter still loved Him despite having denied Him earlier. That’s why He asked for a public confession of his love for Him three times.

• Jesus restored Peter’s self-confidence and gave him a mission: To tend His Church and to preach the Gospel. That is, to show His love in action.

• You may have denied Him by your actions more than once. The good news is that grace is still available, and God is not done with you yet. There is still a place in His work for you if you are willing.

V. Steps of Love: The Joy of Sharing

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” {1 John 3:16}

• Jesus restored Peter and let him feel the greatest joy in this life: To see souls being won for the Kingdom of God.

• Peter saw the first fruits of his sermon on Pentecost {Acts 2:14-41}. Peter put into practice the love he had confessed before Jesus and His disciples.

• Peter had to pay a price for that love and joy eventually, he lost his life {John 21:18-19}. Later John explained that love involves sacrifice, a selfless sacrifice that expects no reward.

• Actually, the day we’ll live with Jesus and the saved ones (including those who met Jesus through us), we won’t consider nothing we did in this old Earth as a sacrifice. Following Jesus till the end will be worth it.

From the Pen of Inspiration:

“After the descent of the Holy Spirit, when the disciples went forth to proclaim a living Saviour, their one desire was the salvation of souls. They rejoiced in the sweetness of communion with saints. They were tender, thoughtful, self-denying, willing to make any sacrifice for the truth’s sake. In their daily association with one another, they revealed the love that Christ had enjoined upon them. By unselfish words and deeds they strove to kindle this love in other hearts.” {AA 547}