Each year at The Chapel, I lead a new believer’s small group starting in the Fall. But this year I did something different. Back in July we hosted a conference with Dale Ratzlaff, a former Seventh Day Adventist Pastor and leader who left the SDA church, as well as Richard and Colleen Tinker who serve with Life Assurance Ministries. The Tinkers publish the great quarterly magazine called “Proclamation.” Also at the conference were several other apologists.

As a result of this conference, Lisa and I are hosting a Bible Study in our home for those who are transitioning out of Adventism. One couple from our church also comes, wanting to learn more about the differences between the SDA church and what we believe as evangelicals. Carolyn Macomber, who placed her faith in Christ alone for her salvation in July of 2008 and was baptized in the summer of 2009, leads the group. Carolyn had deep roots in the Adventist church, even serving as an associate pastor. My role is that of “resident theologian” which sounds bigger than it is. My purpose is to encourage those growing in their walk with the Lord with the truth in Scripture. We discuss doctrinal and other differences between Adventism and the evangelical position as we study Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Also in our group is a couple who has made the break from Adventism and is coming to the Chapel. The fourth member, who is also coming to The Chapel, recently made that same break from Adventism. The night of our second study she prayed, trusting the Lord as her Savior, knowing that He paid the full price for her sins through His death on the cross. One key difference with Adventism is the sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ’s atonement, that salvation is the work of Jesus and Him alone.

Each week a lot of unraveling takes place as God ministers in our midst. Those who have left Adventism need to take off what they have been taught, especially the false teachings of their prophetess Ellen G. White. In our group we have those “aha” moments when the truth of God’s Word clicks in. One week we looked at the doctrine of the Trinity. We talked about the purpose of Christ’s coming to earth as God in flesh. For one of our members, the “aha’ moment was, “Jesus Christ didn’t come JUST to be our example. He came to be our Redeemer.”

We hope our small group will grow in the months ahead. If you have Adventist friends who are questioning what they believe and would like to try our Bible Study group, my recommendation is for you to come with them to the study. If you think this is a possibility, please give me a call first.