Series: The Reformation and the Remnant
Message: Why Listen to the Reformers?
Preacher: Nicholas Miller
Daily Walk: Elia King

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 73:21-23.

Read: Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT). As you read the New Living Translation, note 1-3 insights or questions that arise from the text.

Reflect:  In the second chapter of The Reformation and the Remnant, we learn that Ellen White drew heavily from the work of theologians from other faith backgrounds—some who were actually quite controversial.

“That any leader of the Adventist Church would find high value in the commentaries written by a scholar of the Presbyterian Church who once was tried for heresy, is somewhat paradoxical.… But these two Bible students, White and Barnes, were connected by their commitment to the powerful idea that God runs a moral government and that He is willing for His created beings to evaluate the fairness of that government.”

Miller contends that it was, in fact, a theological base that was both broad and deep that helped to shape the early Adventist church’s concept of God as a moral governor, even shaping our understanding of the cosmic conflict between good and evil—or what we often refer to as “The Great Controversy.”

In chapter 4, Miller draws on both history and logic to explain how the idea of creation relates to the character of God, and why it is so central to Adventism. Although proponents of views on either extreme end of the spectrum may not be satisfied with Miller’s explanation, he upholds that until our belief in creation changes the way we relate to those around us, “we are merely defending a cultural creed of Creation, rather than the living, spiritual, biblical teaching of Creation." Miller advises us to "listen to the chorus of Christian voices calling us to make a more faithful defense in word, spirit, and act of the biblical Creation story.

Recalibrate: ​ 

1. Can you think of examples of Israelites or Jews benefiting from the insights Bible writers or Gentiles gained from using non-biblical sources? Read Genesis 18:13–24, Acts 17:22–28, and Jude 14,15.
2. How are human freedom and God’s fairness connected? How do these concepts relate to our task of bringing fairness and justice to society?
3. Does your belief in Creation affect the way you act toward those outside of the church whose beliefs differ from yours? Does it affect how you act toward other Adventists whose beliefs differ from yours? In your conversations with others, what could you do to more fully reflect the Creator’s ethic?

Respond: Pray for an opportunity to demonstrate God’s character in an unexpected way.

Research: Read chapters 2-4 of The Reformation and the Remnant.