Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing pp. 60, 61

Read the passage from The Mount of Blessing. As you read find the statements that match these questions, and fill in the blanks with your answer.

1. How does sin retain its hold on us?
   

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2. How is the surrender of the will represented in this passage?
   

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3. Do we have to go through life without a hand or foot if we fully surrender our will to God?
   

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4. How can we “overcome these hidden sins, which I [Jesus] have pointed out, to be overcome”?
   

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Philippians 4:8 (Amplified Bible)

“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”

“The apostle [Peter] sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness” (The Adventist Home, p. 403).

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 62

1. In the second paragraph of page 62, how is the surrender of our will described?
   

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2. “The will”—What is it?
   

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3. What do our wills have to do with reading books that may or may not be good for us?
   

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4. How can you tell if a book is good or bad for you to read?
   
   

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HERE’S WHAT I THINK

You see your friend reading and ask, “What are you reading?”

Your friend replies, “Oh, this is a great book! There’s this guy who comes back from the dead, like a zombie, and he goes into houses when people are asleep, and he kills people by stabbing them. And this girl is telling the story, but she’s in a mental hospital because she’s possessed by the devil, and you can’t tell if the zombie murders really happened or if she’s just imagining them because she’s crazy. It’s the most exciting book I’ve ever read—wanna borrow it when I’m finished?”

What do you think? Sound like something you’d like to read? Sound like something that will help you grow as a Christian? Do you really think it matters what you read? And what do you tell your friend?

Log on to http://www.guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your responses. Be up-front and honest. Say what you think. The lines below are provided as an alternative to posting. You may also wish to shares your thoughts with your class later.

“Instead of discussing erroneous theories, or seeking to combat the opponents of the gospel, follow the example of Christ. Let fresh truths from God's treasure house flash into life. ‘Preach the word.’ ‘Sow beside all waters.’ ‘Be instant in season, out of season.’ ‘He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.’ ‘Every word of God is pure. . . . Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.’ 2 Timothy 4:2; Isaiah 32:20; Jeremiah 23:28; Proverbs 30:5, 6. (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 40).

“Every seed brings forth fruit after its kind. Sow the seed under right conditions, and it will develop its own life in the plant. Receive into the soul by faith the incorruptible seed of the word, and it will bring forth a character and a life after the similitude of the character and the life of God” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 38)

Mark 4:1-20 (New International Version)

“Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: ‘Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.’

“Then Jesus said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’

When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,

“‘They may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”

Then Jesus said to them, ‘Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.’ ”

1. What is a parable?
   
   

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2. Is it true or fiction?
   
   

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3. How is a parable different from fiction that you might choose to read?
   
   

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4. You want to make a good choice in what to read. What steps should you take so that you make the best choice a young Christian can make?
   
   

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5. Is what you choose to read sowing seeds? Please explain.
   
   

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Galatians 5:19-23 (Contemporary English Version)

“People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom.

“God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.”

SO WHAT?

Some of us read only when we’re forced to read a book for school. If you’re one of those, you’re missing out on a world of information and adventure between the covers of a book. Try reading for fun—it may change your life!

But what if you’re the other kind of reader—the one who’s always got a book in hand and is always looking for a new book? If you’re like that, chances are you’ve read some of everything—the good, the bad and the ugly. How does a Christian young person who loves to read choose books that are good? Does it matter?

While some teachers will tell you that any book is good as long as it gets kids reading instead of watching TV, that theory doesn’t hold up for the Christian, We’re supposed to fill our minds with things that will bring us closer to Jesus. Will your romance novel, sci-fi thriller, fantasy, or murder mystery do that? Should we read only the Bible and “Christian books”? Can we learn anything from fiction, or should we avoid every form of it?

Tough questions. Reading—just like watching TV or movies, or listening to music—affects us. What we take into our brain shapes our brain. What shape do you want your mind to be in?

1. Should you be careful only of the books you read?
   
   

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2. What other things should be considered that you do?
   
   

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3. Are all “Christian books” good for us to read?
   
   

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4. Name some “Christian” books that we shouldn’t read.
   
   

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5. How do you choose a book?
   
   

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Look up the following texts and match them with the verses. When you have finished, choose your favorite text and memorize it.

1. Philippians 4:8 (CEV)
2. Galatians 5:19-23 (CEV)
3. Romans 12:1, 2 (The Message)
4. Colossians 3:1, 2 (CEV)
5. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

1. “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your. . . .” ________
2. “Finally, my friends keep your minds on . . . .” _________
3. “You have been raised to life. . . .”_________
4. “People’s desires make then give in. . . .” ________
5. “But we all, with unveiled face. . . .” ________

2 Peter 1:16 (New International Version)

“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

“What shall our children read? This is a serious question and one that demands a serious answer. It troubles me to see in Sabbathkeeping families periodicals and newspapers containing continued stories which leave no impressions for good on the minds of children and youth. I have watched those whose taste for fiction was thus cultivated. They have had the privilege of listening to the truth, of becoming acquainted with the reasons of our faith; but they have grown to maturer years destitute of true piety and practical godliness” (The Adventist Home, p. 412).

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

So, how do you choose what to read? Is an entertaining story line the most important thing? That’s usually what draws us into a book, but it’s not really the best way to choose your reading material. As a Christian, you need to choose books that will build you up rather than tear you down. A good story strengthens your faith in God rather than ignoring or downgrading holy things. Also, when we read only novels and stories for entertainment, we find it harder to focus on serious reading—like the Bible, or your textbooks at school. Find some quality non-fiction to exercise your brain. Try something different from what you usually read and stretch your mind in a new direction. Reading can introduce you to famous people, new countries, unknown scientific discoveries. Don’t limit what you can learn.

It’s so easy to read only what’s exciting, light, fun, and entertaining. But try applying biblical standards, especially those found in Philippians 4:8. Is this book filled with the kind of things you want to fill your mind with? Does it match the standards of God’s Word? Will reading it make you a better Christian, a more loving friend and family member?

Don’t be afraid to read! But don’t be afraid to question your reading, either—and to close the book if you see that it’s leading you away from God rather than closer to Him.

1. What makes you choose what to read?
   
   

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2. What is the best book you ever read?  Why?
   
   

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3. What is the worst book you ever read? Why?
   
   

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4. Do you spend as much time reading your books as you do reading the Bible?
   
   

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5. Do you spend as much time reading the Bible as you do watching TV or playing video games?
   
   

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HOW DOES IT WORK?

In the table below, try to list as many books as you can remember reading in the past year. (Some of you may fill only a couple of lines, while some may need extra pages. That’s OK!) Next to each one, check all the boxes that apply to it. Look over your list and think what you can add to your reading menu to build spiritual muscle—and what you might need to take away.