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SS25-Q1-L3-To Be Pleasing to God
January 11-17, 2024
Sabbath Afternoon–January 11, 2025
Scripture Reading for the Week:
Luke 15:11-32, Zeph. 3:17, Eph. 5:25-28, Isa. 43:4, Rom. 8:1, Rom. 5:8, Mark 9:17-29.
Thought for Meditation
God requires the body to be rendered a living sacrifice to him, not a dead or a dying sacrifice. The offerings of the ancient Hebrews were to be without blemish, and will it be pleasing to God to accept a human offering that is filled with disease and corruption? He tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; and he requires us to take care of this temple, that it may be a fit habitation for his Spirit. The apostle Paul gives us this admonition: “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] All should be very careful to preserve the body in the best condition of health, that they may render to God perfect service, and do their duty in the family and in society. {CTBH 52.3} Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene , 1890
Memory Verse
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. {Zephaniah 3:17}
a 14:4}
This week’s Sabbath School lesson will deepen our understanding of God’s immense love, explore His pleasure in His children, and reflect on how we can live lives that please Him. These lessons seek to inspire transformation through faith, obedience, and the joy of serving a loving Creator. They invite personal reflection, foster community discussion, and encourage practical application of God’s truths.
Key themes include:
Reinforce Our Value to God: Understanding our worth in God’s eyes strengthens our faith and transforms our perspective on His love.
Reveal God’s Joy in Us: Explore the delight and pleasure God experiences when we respond to His love and live in harmony with His will.
Inspire Lives that Please God: Provide practical guidance for aligning our lives with God's desires through faith, obedience, and righteousness.
Strengthen Faith: Encourage believers to grow in faith, knowing it is essential for pleasing God and fulfilling His purpose for us.
Through these themes, believers are called to develop a deeper understanding of God’s character and to live in harmony with His divine purposes.
Outline of the Study
Our Value in the Eyes of God
Sunday-January 12, 2025
How Valuable are we to God? More Valuable than you can Imagine
God's Pleasure
Monday-January 13, 2025
Can God Rejoice? Rejoicing with Gladness
Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 62:4; Ephesians 5:25-28.
Tuesday-January 14, 2025
How to please God? He Loves the Upright, Righteous, and Cheerful
Isaiah 43:4; Psalm 146:8; 149:4; Proverbs 15:8, 9.
Please God
Wednesday-January 15, 2025
How can we please God? Living Stones
Romans 8:1; 5:8; Jer. 31:3; 1 Peter 2:4-6; Hebrews 11:6; Heb. 13:21; Luke 20:35; 1 Cor. 15:51-57, 1 John 3:2.
Thursday-January 16, 2025
How much faith does it take to please God? A Worthy Goal
Mark 9:17-29; Heb. 11:6; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10; Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:1, Heb. 11:5; Rom. 12:10-13.
Friday-January 17, 2024
Insights and Further Study
From the Pen of Inspiration
Reflection Questions
Our Value in the Eyes of God
Sunday-January 12, 2025
How Valuable are we to God? More Valuable than you can Imagine
“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32)
The parable of the prodigal son powerfully illustrates our worth in God's eyes. Despite the son's rebellion, the father’s unconditional love, forgiveness, and celebration upon his return reflect God’s boundless grace.
Ellen G. White writes, "The value of a soul, who can estimate? Would you know its worth, go to Gethsemane, and there watch with Christ through those hours of anguish when He sweat as it were great drops of blood. Look upon the Saviour uplifted on the cross. Hear that despairing cry, 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?' Look upon the wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet. Remember that Christ risked all. For our redemption, heaven itself was imperiled" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 196).
“Christ would have died for one soul in order that that one might live through the eternal ages” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 73).
“Through all the ages and in every land, there are those who have gladly given all for Christ. Countless numbers have suffered imprisonment, torture, and death for His sake. They are heirs with Him of the exceeding and eternal weight of glory. These are they of whom the prophet wrote: ‘They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels’” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 118).
The inspiration emphasizes that God views every soul as precious, willing to risk all to redeem even one lost sheep. Humanity's value is magnified by Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
“God’s love for His church is such that He would have emptied all of heaven in order to save her. His efforts to reclaim sinners reveal how precious they are in His sight.” (Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 81).
Consider the Following
❖ How valuable are we to God?
— In Luke 15 we find God seeking out His wayward children (that is, us.)
— In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd, full of joy, invites his friends: “Rejoice with me” (Luke 15:4-6.) In the parable of the lost coin, the woman invites her friends: “Rejoice with me” (Luke 15:8-9.)
— In the parable of the prodigal son, the father explains: “It was right that we should make merry and be glad” (Luke 15:32.)
— From our point of view, the son was totally unworthy of being celebrated (Luke 15:30.) But I am the son, an unworthy sinner. What value has God seen in me?
— We are precious enough to Him to celebrate. His joy is to see us return to Him. Our past doesn't matter. He doesn't even wait for us to come to Him. He runs to welcome us home.
God's Pleasure
Monday-January 13, 2025
Can God Rejoice? Rejoicing with Gladness
Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 62:4; Ephesians 5:25-28.
“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17)
God rejoices in His people. Zephaniah 3:17 depicts God as a loving parent who delights in His children: “He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” Isaiah 62:4 further emphasizes the intimate relationship between God and His people, calling them His delight. This reflects His covenantal joy when His people live in harmony with His will.
EGW declares, "Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 69).
"The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Prophets and Kings, p. 725, quoting Zephaniah 3:17).
"When a sinner returns to God, heaven rejoices." (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 198).
“God desires His children to appreciate themselves as He values them” (Education, p. 18).
Understanding that God takes pleasure in His children empowers us to live joyfully in His grace.
“With Christ in the school of affliction, the Lord’s people will learn lessons precious and beautiful. And as they advance heavenward, step by step, heaven’s blessings will attend their pathway” (The Desire of Ages, p. 301).
God’s joy is kindled when His children walk faithfully in His ways, becoming living reflections of His love.
The inspiration highlights that God’s ultimate pleasure is the establishment of a purified church, a bride ready for the Bridegroom (Eph. 5:27). His joy is complete when His people reflect His character.
"The joy of God is complete only when His children walk in His statutes and keep His commandments. His rejoicing is but a reflection of their salvation." (Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 57).
Consider the Following
❖ Can God rejoice?
— If you have ever thought of God as a stern father, always angry at your bad behavior, Zephaniah 3:17 will change your perspective of God.
— In this text we find almost all the ways in which one can say, in Hebrew, “I am glad.” God feels immense joy when we allow Him to save us, when we let Him dwell with us (“in your midst.”)
— He calls us Hephzibah [my delight] (Isa. 62:4.) He rejoices with us, as a husband does with his wife, because he loves us (Eph. 5:25-27, 31-32.)
— When we are reconciled with God, we enter into a love relationship with Him, and we are assured of His presence with us.
Tuesday-January 14, 2025
How to please God? He Loves the Upright, Righteous, and Cheerful
Isaiah 43:4; Psalm 146:8; 149:4; Proverbs 15:8, 9.
“For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4)
God is pleased with the upright, the righteous, and the cheerful giver. Proverbs 15:8 declares, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.” Pleasing God requires a heart aligned with His will and a life of righteousness.
Righteousness, humility, and cheerful service bring joy to His heart.
Ellen G. White notes, "God takes men as they are and educates them for His service, if they will yield themselves to Him" (The Desire of Ages, p. 295).
“The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverence Him and who hope in His mercy.” (Education, p. 134).
"The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart." (The Desire of Ages, p. 300).
“It is the little things that test the character. It is the unpretending acts of daily self-denial, performed with a cheerful, willing heart, that God smiles upon” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 158).
“A consistent life, characterized by the meekness of Christ, is a power in the world. The spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Saviour” (Steps to Christ, p. 78).
The inspiration emphasizes that God's children are "living witnesses" who bring honor to Him through their daily lives. The love He has for us is demonstrated in His active role as a Potter, molding us into vessels of honor (Isa. 64:8).
It echoes this, stating that God’s pleasure is seen in the faithfulness of His people. He values those who reflect His love in their actions and who stand as a testament to His transforming power.
“It is not the magnitude of the offering, but the sincerity of the heart, that pleases God.” (Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 102).
"God desires worshipers who live uprightly, whose prayers ascend as sweet incense, accompanied by righteous living." (The Answerer, Vol. 2, p. 75).
Consider the Following
❖ How to please God?
— Is it possible that God takes pleasure in insignificant human beings, when He has a whole retinue of immaculate beings who adore him? What is there in us that can give him joy?
— God's love for us makes us highly esteemed before Him (Isa. 43:4.) But there are things in us that please Him, and others that displease Him (Prov. 15:8-9; 2Cor. 9:7.)
— The fact that God “loves the righteous” (Ps. 146:8) does not imply that He hates the wicked, but He cannot be pleased with them as He is pleased with the righteous.
— God delights in those who respond to his love.
Please God
Wednesday-January 15, 2025
How can we please God? Living Stones
Romans 8:1; 5:8; Jer. 31:3; 1 Peter 2:4-6; Hebrews 11:6; Heb. 13:21; Luke 20:35; 1 Cor. 15:51-57, 1 John 3:2.
“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5)
We please God by becoming “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5) built upon Christ as the chief cornerstone. Pleasing God requires faith (Hebrews 11:6) and a life that reflects His love and grace. Romans 5:8 reminds us that God’s love for us is the foundation of our ability to live for Him.
EGW explains, “Faith is not the ground of our salvation, but it is the great blessing—the eye that sees, the ear that hears, the feet that run, the hand that grasps” (Steps to Christ, p. 64).
"Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for faith lays hold upon the power of God." (Steps to Christ, p. 93).
“We are to be consecrated channels through whom the love of Christ flows to those ready to perish.” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 102).
"It is not the capabilities you now possess or ever will have that will give you success. It is that which the Lord can do for you" (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 146).
“In every true disciple this love, like sacred fire, burns on the altar of the heart. It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through Jesus. It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love through blameless lives” (Acts of the Apostles, p. 334).
The inspiration complements this by teaching that God’s people, as living stones, must align their lives with Christ’s mission, serving as a light to the world and preparing for His soon return.
"The living stones, as referred to by Peter, are those who are fitly framed together in the building of the church, showing that their faith and works harmonize to glorify God." (Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 86).
“Faith without works is dead, and it is through living obedience that believers become pleasing in His sight.” (The Answerer, Vol. 1, p. 112).
The Shepherd's Rod literatures parallel this with the vision of God’s end-time church, a purified body where each member plays a role in advancing His kingdom. Pleasing God involves obedience, surrender, and a heart aligned with His purposes.
Please check and visit the links for the complete studies:
Meat In Due Season - 5. Mighty Stone and the Great Image of Daniel 2 - Christ in His People - the living stones in Christ unified.
Meat In Due Season - 6. The Establishment of the Kingdom of Glory - The Stone Kingdom of Christ with the living stones (144,000) as His subjects TM 422
Prophetic Insights on the Present Truth - 30. Is the Stone in Daniel 2 the 2nd Coming of Christ? - Part 1 - The Living Stones cut out of the mountain (SDA Church) to gather the Great Multitude - the STONE became a GREAT Mountain and filled the whole earth.
Consider the Following
❖ How can we please God?
— God always makes the first move, offering us His love and salvation (Rom. 5:8.) From there, He leaves us free to choose whether we will respond to His love.
— If so, we can respond with a simple “thank you, see you in Heaven,” or we can look for a way to better please the one who has loved us so much.
— Our response can only be pleasing to God when it is motivated “through Jesus Christ” (1Pet. 2:5.) It is the work of Jesus and his intercession that makes our actions pleasing to God.
— Only through His mediation can we be considered worthy to be transformed into His likeness (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 John 3:2.)
Thursday-January 16, 2025
How much faith does it take to please God? A Worthy Goal
Mark 9:17-29; Heb. 11:6; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10; Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:1, Heb. 11:5; Rom. 12:10-13.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6a)
Faith is essential to pleasing God. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please Him. The story in Mark 9:17-29 demonstrates that even faith mingled with doubt, when brought to Jesus, can yield miraculous results.
EGW notes, “Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way” (Education, p. 253).
"If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move." (The Desire of Ages, p. 431).
“The just shall live by faith. It is this faith that works by love and purifies the soul.” (Steps to Christ, p. 63).
The SRod reminds us that the strength of our faith is tested in trials, which refine us and prepare us for the Kingdom. Pleasing God requires a persistent faith that looks beyond current challenges to eternal promises (2 Corinthians 5:7).
"True faith in God’s word leads to unwavering trust and obedience. This is the kind of faith that pleases God." (Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p. 125).
"A mustard seed’s faith does not depend on quantity but on quality, showing a complete reliance on the power of God." (The Answerer, Vol. 3, p. 64).
Consider the Following
❖ How much faith does it take to please God?
— A basic ingredient to pleasing God is faith (Heb. 11:6.) But we can ask ourselves: Do I have enough faith to please God?
— Jesus spoke of faith the size of a mustard seed (Luke 17:6.) How much faith is that?
— On one occasion, a father brought his son to Jesus' disciples to be healed. They were unable to do so. So when Jesus arrived, the father asked Jesus to perform the miracle (Mark 9:14-18.)
— Discouraged, the father's request included the phrase “if You can do anything” (Mark 9:22,) to which Jesus replied, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23.)
— The father offered the little faith he had: “If you can do something with this, please do it” (Mark 9:24.) A little faith was enough. Jesus accepts even the smallest faith.
Friday-January 17, 2024
Insights and Further Study
Reflection on this week's lessons highlights God's infinite love and our role in glorifying Him. EGW writes, "Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children" (Education, p. 18). Reflecting on God’s love, His joy in us, and how we can please Him provides encouragement to walk more closely with Him.
Let the soul be uplifted in contemplation of the character of Christ. It is this that transforms the heart and pleases God." (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 329).
“In every age, the faithful have sought to live in harmony with God’s will, bringing joy to the heart of heaven.” (The Great Controversy, p. 471).
SRod literature urges believers to prepare for the final harvest by strengthening their faith and reflecting God’s character daily. The ultimate goal is to become vessels of honor in the great work of redemption.
"God’s pleasure lies in the faithfulness of His people to uphold the banner of truth in all aspects of their lives." (Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 145).
“Reflection on the revealed truths of the Scriptures should inspire a daily walk with God, pleasing Him in every deed.” (The Answerer, Vol. 4, p. 102).
From the Pen of Inspiration
“Be ambitious, for the Master's glory, to cultivate every grace of character. In every phase of your character building you are to please God. This you may do; for Enoch pleased Him though living in a degenerate age. And there are Enochs in this our day.” EGW (Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 332)
“Christ teaches us to address Him by a new name, a name entwined with the dearest associations of the human heart. He gives us the privilege of calling the infinite God our Father. This name, spoken to Him and of Him, is a sign of our love and trust toward Him, and a pledge of His regard and relationship to us. Spoken when asking His favor or blessing, it is as music in His ears.” EGW (Christ’s Object Lessons, pg. 141)
Reflection Questions
How does the parable of the prodigal son illustrate our value in the eyes of God?
How can recognizing our value to God affect the way we treat others and ourselves?
How does understanding God's delight in us motivate us to live faithfully?
What does it mean to you that God rejoices with gladness over His people?
What practical steps can you take to live in a way that pleases God?
What does it mean to be a "living stone" in the context of 1 Peter 2:4-6?
How does faith play a role in pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6)?
In Mark 9:17-29, what lesson about faith can we learn from the father of the demon-possessed boy?
How can understanding your worth in God’s eyes transform your relationship with Him
How can you bring God joy this week through your actions and attitudes?
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