God’s message, is the greatest message in the history of mankind. But unfortunately, it is also the world’s best kept secret. What is the sum and substance of the message?
God is love.
Paul said that he “determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). Ellen White wrote it beautifully, “Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel.” (6BC 1113)
Every Bible doctrine, rightly understood, tells us something about God’s wonderful character. Each Bible teaching is like a puzzle piece, which together makes up a portrait of a loving God that is worthy to be loved. It is important to know the truth. But more than that, we need to own the truth. AFCOE will help you see the truth as it is in Jesus. It will help you make the Advent faith, your faith – the Advent message, your message.
Moreover, even though God’s message is an everlasting message – which in essence has been the same throughout all of history – there is something called “present truth”. That is a part and an aspect of God’s truth that is especially relevant and important at a current time. For example, during the time of the Reformation, the book of Romans was central and crucial. In these last days, the God-given messages of Daniel and Revelation plays such a pivotal role. During AFCOE we will take a close look at those and other present truth messages.
“A religion which is not practical is not genuine.” (MYP, 72) “The Bible was given for practical purposes.” (1SM 20) “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
True Christianity is not so much about knowledge as about knowing. It is not so much about religious rites as about a real relationship! In the schools of the prophets, mentioned in the Bible, practical godliness was a central focus. Similarly, AFCOE will help you cultivate a personal, living, and dynamic relationship with Jesus. It is when such a relationship exists that Christianity really starts to get exciting!
And even if you already have a living relationship with Christ, could it be that there’s more? That Christ has greater dreams and desires for your Christian experience than you are currently experiencing? According to the Spirit of Prophecy “There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church.” (1SM 124) We are also told that “God is just as ready to give power to His servant’s today as He was to give power to Paul and Apollos, to Silas and Timothy, to Peter, James, and John.” (AA 278)
Would it not be nice if you could find seekers which you could start to study the Bible with? And that you could help to see the beauty of the gospel?
That’s in short what the AFCOE (Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism) training program is designed to do: to teach you how to find seekers and to empower you to effectively and comfortably share the gospel with them! This purpose is accomplished through a combination of classes, outreach, and mentoring.
“Long God has waited for the spirit of service to take possession of the whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according to his ability. When the members of the church of God do their appointed work in the needy fields at home and abroad, in fulfillment of the gospel commission, the whole world will soon be warned and the Lord Jesus will return to this earth with power and great glory. ‘This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ Matthew 24:14” (AA 111)
“It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.” (COL 69)