Sabbath School Lesson for March 28-April 3, 2026
Introduction to Lesson 1, Reality Check
Memory Text: ” ‘As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.’ ” John 15:9 NKJV
Our relationship with God impacts every area of our life. Our marriage, parenting, friendships, health and finances, but most of all, our eternal destination is determined by how we relate to our Creator.
Making the most of our opportunities to develop a strong, loving relationship with God must be our priority. Trials and other distractions will try to detour our journey of faith. But thankfully, we have a divine Helper in the Holy Spirit, who guides us into the kind of reality check and repentance we need to win the race of life.
A good place to start with such a reality check is the message Jesus gave to the Laodicean church through John in the highly-symbolic book of Revelation. Since this church is the seventh and last one in chapter three, many Bible scholars believe it refers to the final church era, just preceding Christ’s return to earth at the Second Coming. Much can thus be learned from this passage for gauging our spiritual life, both corporately and personally.
This week, we will explore…
- Sunday: Our Condition
- Monday: Rebuke, Repent, and Reward
- Tuesday: Everlasting Love
- Wednesday: Abide
- Thursday: Linked to the Vine
Sunday: Our Condition
Jesus introduced Himself at the beginning of each letter to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. To the Laodiceans, He called Himself…
- “the Amen” (appropriate for the end of this prophetic encounter),
- “the Faithful and True Witness” (One who is honest and forthright in His assessment of our spiritual needs), and
- “the Beginning of the creation of God” (the One who made us and, therefore, knows us inside and out).
The condition of the Laodiceans, as assessed by Jesus, was that they were lukewarm: neither hot nor cold in their relationship with Him. When we think of romantic relationships, the sparks of love burn very bright in the beginning, but as time goes on the relationship may cool and there may even be concern that the relationship will come to an end. As Jesus in Revelation describes such an ending, He says, “I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
Thinking they were rich, and had need of nothing, Jesus recommended they buy…
- refined gold (rather than the cheap, false gold they possessed),
- white garments (in exchange for their shameful, filthy, immodest ones), and
- eye salve (to correct their blindness and allow them to see the truth of their poverty-stricken condition).
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Revelation 3:14
- Why is this introduction of Jesus helpful in getting a reality check of their spiritual condition?
Revelation 3:15-17
- What points did Jesus make about their needs?
- How do you see the church today described in these verses?
Revelation 3:18, 19
- What do the gold, white garments, and eye salve represent?
- How would the treatment prescribed here change the direction of the last-day church?
- Which of these remedies do you find you are most in need of personally?
Monday: Rebuke, Repent, and Reward
Jesus tried to soften the blow to the Laodicean church by reminding them that it was His practice to chasten, or rebuke, those He loved. He recommended they turn back to their zealous, former ways and repent of those sins that had crept in to replace having fervor for the Lord (Revelation 3:20).
Instead of thinking they were rich and had need of nothing, this reality check informed them that they were actually “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). It was fortunate that there was a remedy for such a pitiful condition, however. There was a way for them to become close to God–so close that it would be like sitting down and enjoying a relaxing meal together. This tight-knit closeness of eating together is recognized in almost all cultures and time periods.
Jesus presented an image of Himself standing at the door of our heart and knocking–patiently waiting for us to open the door and invite Him in to eat. What a rewarding experience it is to make that choice and feel God’s presence in our innermost being. As long as He’s invited to be there, He’ll stay with us, causing our relationship with each other to grow stronger and stronger.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Revelation 3:19
- How and why does Jesus rebuke everyone–because we know He loves everyone?
- What did Jesus tell the Laodiceans to do about their lukewarmness, and how would that remedy make a difference in their relationship?
- Why is there an increased need of repentance in preparation for both Christ’s First and Second Comings?
Revelation 3:20
- Why does Jesus require that we invite Him into our lives?
- What thoughts about Jesus inspire you to make such a choice?
- How do you personally convey to God that you have a desire for Him to dwell in you?
Tuesday: Everlasting Love
Jesus not only comes into our hearts when we invite Him, but He has also promised the reward of someday sitting with Him on His throne (Revelation 3:21). We couldn’t be any closer to God than that. Sounds as inviting as sitting on His lap there. Only an everlasting love like His would offer such a glorious reward.
Truly, God has shown love differently to different people throughout the Bible. Whether He actually walked with them physically (like Adam and Eve and Enoch), or spoke to them audibly (like Noah, Abram, and Moses), it’s obvious that He wants very much to be close to us in some way.
Don’t overlook the fact that our overcoming is possible because Jesus also overcame, as it says in verse 21. This means that our Lord realizes the hard battles we have on earth, because He experienced them Himself (John 16:33).
God wants our relationship with Him to grow. If we aren’t getting closer to Him, the fault is clearly ours, not His.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Revelation 3:21
- What is it we humans have to overcome, and what specifically did Jesus overcome here on earth?
- How did Jesus overcome the world?
- What has helped you find success in overcoming sin and other obstacles in your life?
Wednesday: Abide
Jesus’ offer to come into our lives by knocking at our heart’s door reveals His intent to stay there, to dwell or abide with us as long as we’ll have Him. Following the last meal with His disciples in the upper room, Jesus expressed His desire for their close-knit abiding to continue.
In John 15:1-11, the Master compared their abiding relationship to the branches of a plant that stays connected with the vine so it can bear fruit. He, of course, calls Himself the “true vine”. The evidence of our abiding in Him will be in the fruit, or lack of it. Those branches that don’t bear fruit, causing them to wither and die, will be pruned and cast into a fire (John 15:6).
The word “abide” is repeated ten times in this passage. In order to abide in His love, we must keep His commandments (John 15:10, 11). The love that develops between God and us makes it a joy to obey Him. It is not a burdensome task at all (1 John 5:3). We want to please Him, just as we want to please our closest loved ones on earth, like our spouse and children. It makes us happy, when we make them happy.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
John 15:1-11
- What does it mean to abide in Christ?
- How do we know if we are abiding with Christ, and how can we encourage it?
Thursday: Linked to the Vine
God makes the first move toward developing a relationship with humans. This bonding with Him must be based on mutual love, and not just a set of rules we feel obliged to follow.
The vine imagery helps us appreciate the Holy Spirit’s role in our relationship with God. The Spirit brings growth through the life-giving sap that flows through the plant. The sap ensures that we stay connected to the Vine, and don’t wither and die.
Several verses in John, chapters 14 to 16, reveal what the Holy Spirit can do for us. He is our Comforter, revealing Jesus to us, convicting us of sin, and guiding us into God’s truth. It’s vitally important then for us to remain linked to the Vine through the Holy Spirit.
Verses for reflection and discussion:
Luke 11:13, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 4:19, and Romans 8:9-11
- What do these verses tell us about God’s love, and the role of the Holy Spirit in conveying that love to us?
John 14:16-18, John 15:26, and John 16:7, 8, 13
- What does the Holy Spirit do for our relationship with God?
- How can we get more of the Holy Spirit?
Friday: Final Thoughts
If our spiritual assessment determines that we are lukewarm and not flourishing in our walk with God, then steps can and must be taken to draw us closer to Him, closer to abiding in Christ. Here’s what that abiding looks like:
“Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character.” ~Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 676.
After pursuing a reality check for ourselves, let’s resolve to invest more in our spiritual relationship with God by searching His inspired Word and talking to Him as a Friend.
Next Week: To Know God
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