Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." The sermon this week is on health. Most people probably think of food and clothing as the "all these things" since they are mentioned directly before verse 33. I believe peace (not being anxious - verses 25-34), joy (giving or laying up treasure in heaven), and health (what shall we eat, drink, wear?) are included in "these things shall be added unto you." Seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness will ted to bring with it a healthy lifestyle, along with joy and peace through focusing on what is important—Jesus.

Jesus intentionally and persistently emphasized the meaning of the Sabbath. In His society, there was no question as to the validity of the Sabbath, but the meaning of the Sabbath had to a large degree been lost in the rules and regulations that were formulated by the rabbis in the inter-testament period. Christ went out of His way to "break" their rules and point them back to the central meaning of the day. We as Adventists have been very intentional and persistent in our support of the validity of the seventh-day Sabbath, but we have spend much less time and though on conveying the meaning of the Sabbath. This has been detrimental to our mission and has blunted our impact in the world.

A fear-based focus on hell and salvation was common in the time of the Reformation and carried forward through the Great Awakening sermons of Jonathan Edwards and are still found in some "hellfire and brimstone" sermons today. Being saved from eternal torment is a major focus in reformation theology. Although being saved has always been present in Christian teachings, the Protestant sects have developed new ideas about "finding salvation," and the doctrine of salvation has grown in import and emphasis. Clearly salvation (and escaping hell) is good news, but is it the Gospel?