Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Tradition,” pp. 395–398;

“Barriers Broken Down,” pp. 399–403; “The True Sign,” pp. 404–409, in

The Desire of Ages.

“Among the followers of our Lord today, as of old, how widespread

is this subtle, deceptive sin! How often our service to Christ, our communion with one another, is marred by the secret desire to exalt self!

How ready the thought of self-gratulation, and the longing for human

approval! It is the love of self, the desire for an easier way than God

has appointed that leads to the substitution of human theories and

traditions for the divine precepts. To His own disciples the warning

words of Christ are spoken, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the

Pharisees.’

“The religion of Christ is sincerity itself. Zeal for God’s glory is the

motive implanted by the Holy Spirit; and only the effectual working of

the Spirit can implant this motive. Only the power of God can banish

self-seeking and hypocrisy. This change is the sign of His working.

When the faith we accept destroys selfishness and pretense, when it

leads us to seek God’s glory and not our own, we may know that it

is of the right order. ‘Father, glorify Thy name’ (John 12:28), was the

keynote of Christ’s life, and if we follow Him, this will be the keynote

of our life. He commands us to ‘walk, even as He walked;’ and ‘hereby

we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John

2:6, 3.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 409.

Discussion Questions:

Ê What Christian practices have you found that help to keep the

heart clean?

Ë Who are the “unclean” people in your community? What can

you do to help draw them to the gospel?

Ì Ponder, as a class, what you can do to foster sharing the gospel

in simple ways with your neighbors.

Í Read Mark 8:1–10, the feeding of the 4,000. What difference

does it make for the interpretation of this passage that the crowd

was likely Gentile? Why shouldn’t it make any difference?

Î How can we diligently protect ourselves from the innate desire

we all have, as fallen beings, to exalt ourselves?