Investiture Achievement/Guide/Spiritual Discovery

Standard Level

Requirement 1

Write and share your personal testimony.

Your personal testimony is the story of any event in your life that brought you closer to God. It could be your conversion story, or anything else that brings glory to God. After you write it out, you can share your testimony either orally or by posting it on the Internet (such as in a blog or on Facebook). It can be shared with a friend or with a group.

Requirement 2

Memorize one key text for each of the following Bible teachings: Second Coming of Christ Seventh-day Sabbath State of the dead Law & Grace Conversion Judgment Inspiration of the Bible Spirit of Prophecy The Saint’s Reward

These are only suggested texts and the Pathfinder may prefer to select other texts or translations. Accept anything on topic and that can be considered a key text. Check the Voyager Spiritual Discovery Section for a summary of each of the Fundamental Beliefs listed and supporting texts.

Second Coming of Christ

John 14:1-3

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
— John 14:1-3 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43, 44; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2 Thess.2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; Rev.19:11-21; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6

Seventh-day Sabbath

Exodus 20:10

But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
— Exodus 20:10 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isa. 56:5, 6; Isa.58:13, 14; Matt. 12:1-12; Ex. 31:13-17; Eze. 20:12, Eze 20:20; Deut. 5:12-15; Heb. 4:1-11; Lev. 23:32; Mark 1:32

State of the dead

Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they will die;

But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,

For the memory of them is forgotten.
— Ecclesiastes 9:5 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16; Eccl. 9:5, 6; Ps. 146:3, 4; John 11:11-14; Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; John 5:28, 29; Rev. 20:1-10

Law & Grace

Matthew 22:36-40

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
— Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)

Romans 8:3

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.
— Romans 8:3 (NKJV)

Conversion

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
— John 3:16 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: 2 Cor. 5:17-21; John 3:16; Gal.1:4; Gal.4:4-7; Titus 3:3-7; John 16:8; Gal. 3:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; Rom. 10:17; Luke 17:5; Mark 9:23, 24; Eph. 2:5-10; Rom. 3:21-26; Col. 1:13, 14; Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26; John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23; Rom. 12:2; Heb. 8:7-12; Eze. 36:25-27; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Rom. 8:1-4; Rom.5:6-10

Judgment

Heb 9:27

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment
— Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: Eccl 3:17 Psa 7:11 Acts 10:42 2 Cor 5:10 2 Tim 4:1

Inspiration of the Bible

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
— 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: 2 Peter 1:20, 21 Psalms 119:105 Proverbs 30:5, 6 Isaiah 8:20 John 17:17 1 Thess. 2:13 Hebrews 4:12

Spirit of Prophecy

Joel 2:28

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
— Joel 2:28 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; {{Bible link|Rev.19:10}

The Saint’s Reward

Revelation 21:1-4

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
— Revelation 21:1-4 (NKJV)

Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
— Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

Suggested alternative texts: 2 Peter 3:13; Isa. 35; Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 21:1-7; Rev.22:1-5; Rev.11:15

Techniques

There are several approaches to memorizing scripture.

Erase the words

Write the Bible verse on a white board and have everyone read it aloud together. Then erase a word and have them read it again, supplying the erased word. Continue erasing words and reading the verse aloud until all the words are gone. At this point, the entire class should know the verse.

Hand write the verse

Write the verses down several times by hand until you can do it from memory.

In song

Many passages of scripture have been set to music. Memorizing the lyrics to a song is a lot easier than memorizing raw text, and the memory will last for years. If the verse you are trying to memorize has already been set to music, switch to the version of the text that matches the song. If it has not been set to music, make up your own tune. Explore different translations of the text to see which one lends itself best to your song.

Say it aloud

Hearing it and saying it will reinforce it much better than just "thinking" it will.

Say it with rhythm

This is similar to the "in song" approach from above, but it is often easier to make up a rhythm than it is to make up a whole tune. Clap your hands and stomp your feet at various places in the verse if that helps. Turn it into a clapping game like "pat-a-cake" and learn it with a friend.

Add action

How many songs do you know that have motions associated with them? If you're making up hand claps and foot stomps, it will help even more if you add other actions such as casting a fishing line, or tracing the outline of a heart in the air.

Make a rebus

A rebus uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. For instance, the word "I" is represented with a graphic depiction of an eye. If you spend enough time coming up with a clever rebus for your verse, you will likely have memorized it by the time you are finished.

Find structure in the verse

Write the verse out so that it highlights the structure. Recall that Hebrew poetry works by repeating an idea using different words. Line them up! We also find structure in New Testament verses. For instance, 1 John 2:3 could be written like this:

Now by this
   we know that
   we know Him,
if we keep His commandments.

This approach lines up the common words "we know" and helps the brain to organize the verse more effectively. It also lines up the third "we" with the first two, so that it's possible to memorize a shorthand for this verse - "we know, we know, we keep". This forms a skeleton upon which we can hang the rest of the words. Look for other structure as well, such as that the word following "we" always starts with a 'k' and has four letters.

Use a Puzzlemaker Online

to create written activities for scripture such as:

• Crosswords
• Wordles
• Fill in the blanks/Missing letters
• Blank out (Similar to Hangman)
• Scripture Scrambles

Step On It

Print out each word of a passage on paper, one word per page in large print. Lay the paper on the floor and step down on each page as you say the text. Remove words from time to time.

Writers Block

Write each word of a passage on blocks of wood, one word per block. Mix up the blocks and put the text back together. Two block sets of the same verse makes for an exciting game!

Do you know some approaches? Click here to add them!

Requirement 3

Learn the principles of leading a person to Jesus.

This is the most important skill you will ever learn in Pathfinders or life. The value of learning to allow the Holy Spirit to use you to reach others is incalculable. There is no greater thrill than sharing how to find our friend Jesus. So let's learn how to bring our friends to heaven together.

Preparation

Approach: Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 NIV but there are many diverse paths to Jesus. Each person has macro and micro factors that impact how they will find God. Missiologists are trying to crack the puzzle of contextualizing the Gospel in a way that groups as diverse as Muslims, Hindus, Animists, and Post Moderns will find appealing. For those raised in a Christian home the path to Jesus will be different. On a micro level, even siblings in the same home will read different books, hear different speakers, and experience the tug of the Holy Spirit in diverse forms. So the first step is identifying the best approach given where the person is coming from.

Timing: Ideally the person you are working with is in a place where the want to lead to Jesus. You can not force a person against their will to love Jesus, but always be alert to God inspired openings. Often these openings will be close to some personal crisis.

Pick a path to follow: One of the greatest tools to lead someone to the Lord is called the Roman Road. The Roman Road is a path of verses to follow through the book of Romans that outline the primary principles of salvation.

The Roman Road

Step 1. Bible Authority: Remind or explain to our friend that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and get acceptance of this concept before moving forward. If required, do a Bible Study on this point.

Step 2. Preparation: If you are preplanning this effort, spend some time in prayer. Pray for strength. This is no easy task, but it is what all Pathfinders and Christians have been called by Jesus himself to do.

Matthew 28:19 “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Step 3. Recognize our Sin: The first step to salvation is recognizing that there is sin in your life. The following verses identify that there is sin in the lives of all men and women.

Romans 3:10 “There is no one righteous, not even one” Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Step 4. Penalty for Sin: Sin leads to death, and we must understand this concept to understand the need for salvation. Explain that the death caused by sin is not just the death of this world, but an eternal death meaning separation from God for eternity.

Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death”

Step 5. God’s Gift: While sin leads to death, God has a better plan for us. God’s gift to man is salvation and eternal life, through Jesus Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection. God's son died for us sinners! We do not deserve God's gift because we are sinners, but God gave salvation because of His love for us, his children.

Romans 6:23 “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

Step 6. - Claim your place in God's family: The existence of the gift is not the complete solution - we must claim the gift of salvation.

Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”

Romans 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” ().

Step 7. No Condemnation: Once you have prayed to accept Jesus Christ you no longer have any condemnation. That means that you will not be punished for your sins because you have received forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1 “We have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

Step 8. The Question: Once you have talked through all the verses, ask if they would like accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? If at this point they say yes move on to the next step.

If they say no, they may not be ready. Ask why they feel that way and then be quiet. You may be amazed at the responses you get since doubt, fear, and a feeling of unworthiness can stand in the way. Be ready to lead the person forward by studying the Bible together. You may need to get help from your pastor or elder.

Step 9. The Prayer: Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation! Have the person accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour pray to Him. Before the prayer, be sure they will cover the following key points.

• Recognize your sin.
• Recognize that you are deserving of punishment.
• Recognize that Jesus Christ took that punishment upon himself and provides forgiveness for your sins.
• Offer your life to God.
• Ask forgiveness for your sins.
• Thank God for his gift of grace and forgiveness, for eternal life.

If they want to pray for other things as well that is OK.

New Believer Care:

Once they have finished praying, get contact information if you don't already have it. Your friend is now a baby Christian and just like a baby needs care and nurturing, a process we often call discipleship. Get them integrated into your or a nearby Seventh-day Adventist Church. Include them in social and community service activities. Find them a job to do in the church community. Be sure they have a good, easy to understand translation of the Bible and offer to study toward baptism with them. Finally encourage them to share their new found faith with others. An excited new believer is often a more effective witness than the "heard it all before long time Christian.

Important Tips:

Follow up because you care and love your friend the new believer.

Know your scriptures (you are a Pathfinder after all) and make sure that you really understand the doctrine of Salvation. If you do not fully understand it, talk to a pastor or other church leader until you can explain it.

Consider marking the Roman Road verses in your Bible for future use, perhaps in a special color or by writing Roman Road in the margin. This will help complete the Bible Marking honor.

Don't get discouraged if you can't get your friend all the way to accepting Jesus. Just do your part and God will take care of the rest. Paul wrote "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field." 1 Cor. 3:5-9

Adapted partially from this source

Requirement 4

Tell a story of a church pioneer to a group.

This is a good research project that can lead to amazing discoveries. Here are some places to find good Adventist Church Pioneer story ideas:

• African American Adventist Heritage in the NAD The answers include some stories, and people mentioned in the honor would be good to research
• http://www.whiteestate.org/pathways/pioneers.asp has a selection of stories you can listen too, then relate in your own words
• http://www.adventistheritage.org/ Check out the many resources at Adventist Heritage Ministries including pioneer stories in the AHM Bulletins. They also have a video called Meet Hiram Edison.
• http://heritage.adventistconnect.org/ is a useful resource focused on the South Pacific housed at Avondale College, Australia
• History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Wikipedia.
• These Were the Courageous by James Joiner 1968 Southern Publishing Assn.
• Origin and History of Seventh-day Adventists by Author W. Spalding
• The Story of Our Church, Pacific Press
• Pioneering the Message in the Golden West by Harold O. McCumber
• The Great Second Advent Movement by J.N. Loughborough
• Story of the Advent Message by Matilda Erickson Andross
• Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
• Many books by George Knight

If you live or will travel near a historic Adventist site, go visit it and learn first hand about the pioneers. You can relate what you learned to meet this requirement. Some options include:

• Joseph Bates Home in Fairhaven, MA (Adventist Heritage Ministries operated)
  
• Adventist Historic Village in Battle Creek, MI (AHM operated)
  
• Dr. Kellogg Museum, Battle Creek, MI
  
• Hiram Edson Farm in Clifton Springs NY (AHM operated)
  
• William Miller Farm in Whitehall NY (AHM operated)
  
• Ellen G. White's last home Elmshaven offers tours in Napa Valley, Calf.
  
• Ellen G. White Estate Headquarters, in the GC Office, Silver Spring, Maryland offers free tours
  
• Sunnyside, Ellen White's home in Australia, 1895-1900
  
• Consider some of the older Adventist Colleges, Hospitals, and Churches wherever you are in the world for inspiration
  

You might also look for information about the early missionaries who first brought the truth to your part of the world, or some other part of the world that interests you.

Your church library or Adventist Book Center will have a selection of books about church pioneers that you could draw a story from.

Tell the story you discovered to your pathfinder club, for children's story at church, worship or any other appropriate place. Consider combining this requirement with the Christian Storytelling Honor (getting a jump on a required honor for Master Guides).

Frontier Guide

Requirement 5

Complete Guide requirements.

The requirements above this one on this page.

Requirement 6

Complete one of the following honors: Personal Evangelism Bible Evangelism Literature Evangelism

The requirements and answers are all available under the Outreach section and the Vocational section of the Honor Answer Book.

• Personal Evangelism (Outreach)
• Bible Evangelism (Vocational)
• Literature Evangelism (Outreach)

Requirement 7

Study and discuss two of the following life issues (not previously studied) with your Guide group and an adult: Teen Pregnancy Abortion AIDS Homosexuality Pornography

A repeat of the topic list under Voyager-Spiritual Discovery so consider combining your Guides and Voyagers for these discussions and discussing different topics than last year. See the Voyager page for a guide to discussion.