A series of lessons previously prepared by the Sabbath School Department of the General Conference and currently in 1993 by the Church Ministries Department for use by pastors in presenting Seventh-day Adventist beliefs to interests, baptismal candidates, or new SDA s. Classes meet each week during the regular Sabbath school lesson study period, usually under the leadership of the church pastor.
In 1972 a series of Pastor’s Bible Class lessons entitled “Profiles of Faith” was launched, prepared by the Sabbath School Department in cooperation with the Ministerial Association. It consisted of a four-color set of 28 study guides, including a review lesson. The series covered all the major doctrines of Scripture and was designed to acquaint the class member with Christ and to lead him or her into full fellowship with God’s family on earth.
The lessons were undated and unnumbered except for an inconspicuous code number on the back of each lesson for the teacher’s benefit in keeping records. This allowed the teacher to follow either the suggested sequence of lessons or his own sequence. The final lesson served as a review in preparation for baptism and entry into church membership.
As a means of further establishing the new believers in the truths of God’s Word, a set of 11 books was prepared with covers matching the corresponding lessons. These books were designed for free distribution to the students at designated stages in the course as supplementary reading, and as a nucleus of an Adventist library in the home.
In 1993 a new series of Pastor’s Bible Class lessons was prepared under the direction of the Church Ministries Department. Written by Erwin Gane and Leo Van Dolson, they cover the 27 fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists and are entitled This We Believe. Printed in Sabbath school lesson quarterly style, the lessons are divided into two books. Book 1 covers the first 13 major doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and book 2 covers the last 14. A 250-page supplemental book written by the same authors and also called This We Believe not only serves as a companion volume designed to present additional materials on each doctrine in an easy-reading format but also can be used to present an overview of the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.