Sunday
August 20
1. BRINGING THE WORD OF GOD TO SOULS IN NEED
a. What do the following verses teach us about how the different methods of missionary work can combine? 1 Corinthians 12:4–11. What does Sabbath School have to do with missionary work?
“Our Sabbath Schools are nothing less than Bible societies, and in the sacred work of teaching the truths of God’s word, they can accomplish far more than they have hitherto accomplished. The Sabbath School, when rightly managed, possesses marvelous power, and is adapted to doing a great work, but it is not now what it may and should be.”–Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 9.
b. What is the purpose of the Sabbath School? Isaiah 2:3.
“Another work in which all may engage is gathering children and youth into the Sabbath School. The young may in this way labor efficiently for the dear Saviour. They may shape the destinies of souls. They may do a work for the church and the world the extent and greatness of which will never be known until the day of final accounts, when the ‘Well done’ is spoken to the good and faithful.”–The Review and Herald, June 10, 1880.
Monday
August 21
2. GOD’S PLAN
a. How is the Sabbath School to be run so that it will accomplish God’s purpose? 1 Corinthians 14:40.
“Very much can be done for the education and moral and religious training of our youth by well-organized, properly conducted Sabbath Schools. Time and attention should be given to this branch of the work; for its importance in its influence upon our youth cannot be estimated.”–Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 10.
“It is a sad failing with many that they are always behind time on Sabbath morning. They are very particular about their own time, they cannot afford to lose an hour of that; but the Lord’s time, the only day out of the seven that the Lord claims as His, and requires us to devote to Him, quite a portion of this is squandered away by sleeping late in the morning. In this they are robbing God. It causes them to be behind in everything; it makes confusion in the family; and finally results in the tardiness of the entire family at Sabbath School, and perhaps at meeting. Now why can we not rise early with the birds, and offer praise and thanksgiving to God? Try it, brethren and sisters. Have your preparations all made the day before, and come promptly to the Sabbath School and meeting, and you will thereby not only benefit others, but you will reap rich blessings for yourselves.”–The Youth’s Instructor, March 19, 1879.
“Meetings for conference and prayer should not be made tedious. All should, if possible, be prompt to the hour appointed; and if there are dilatory ones, who are half and hour or fifteen minutes even behind the time, there should be no waiting. If there are but two present, they can claim the promise. The meeting should open at the appointed hour, if possible, be there few or many present.”–The Review and Herald, May 30, 1871.
b. Are all church members called to be Sabbath School teachers? 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29. In order to be effective for missionary purposes, what type of people are to be the teachers?
“If any one thinks he is capable of teaching in the Sabbath School or in the day school the science of education, he needs first to learn the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, that he may teach this the highest of all sciences.”–Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 272.
Tuesday
August 22
3. HOW DOES IT WORK?
a. What will happen as the teacher is seeking to reach hearts in the Sabbath School? Psalm 51:10–13.
“To be a laborer together with God means that your heart is drawn out in strong desire for the salvation of the sinful souls for whom Christ has died. It means that you are filled with solicitude for the work, that you are ever planning to make your instruction interesting, to devise ways that you may draw with every entrusted power of your nature along the lines in which Christ is drawing, that souls may be won to His service and be bound to Him by the cords of His infinite love.”–Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 120.
“Where sincere piety is lacking, where daily communion with God is neglected, the teacher in the Sabbath School will be dry and tedious in his manner of teaching. His words will have no power to reach the hearts of his pupils.”–Ibid., pp. 119, 120.
“Each teacher should be a humble follower of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. No one should study or work that he may be considered a superior teacher, or a person of unusual ability, but that he may lead souls to Christ. There will come temptations to weave self into all that is done, but the work will be marred if this is done, for it will lead to making dry, lengthy remarks that will fail to interest or benefit the minds of the children.”–Ibid., pp. 121, 122.
b. After the Sabbath School members have been introduced to the truth, what question will be answered? Acts 16:30.
c. As Sabbath Schools accomplish their task, what will be a further result? Acts 2:47.
“If the church of Christ were fulfilling the purpose of our Lord, light would be shed upon all that sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of death. Instead of congregating together and shunning responsibility and cross bearing, the members of the church would scatter into all lands, letting the light of Christ shine out from them, working as He did for the salvation of souls, and this ‘gospel of the kingdom’ would speedily be carried to all the world.”–Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 42, 43.
Wednesday
August 23
4. BE EFFECTIVE
a. What should all teachers remember? Romans 2:21; 1 Timothy 4:11–16; 2 Timothy 2:2, 24, 25.
“God would have all who are connected with His institutions show aptness, discrimination, and forethought. He would have them become men and women of cultivated intellect, coming behind in no qualification; and as they shall individually feel the necessity of this and shall work to the point, Jesus will aid them in their endeavors. As they work upon the plan of addition in securing the graces of the Spirit, God will work in their behalf upon the plan of multiplication. Connection with God will give the soul expansion, will exalt it, transform it, and make it sensible of its own powers, and will give a clearer sense of the responsibility resting upon each individual to make a wise use of the faculties which God has bestowed.”–Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 449.
b. What specific area needs special attention in order to be effective in the Sabbath School work? 1 Timothy 4:12; Philippians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:15, 22; 2 Peter 3:14.
“We must have consecrated teachers, who love God supremely and their neighbors as themselves. The Lord has made ample provision that teachers may have increased ability from Sabbath to Sabbath, that they may teach to some purpose, working as for time and eternity. We need in our schools young men and women who have vital godliness, not a cheap, superficial experience, but a deep inward piety.”–Testimonies on Sabbath School Work, p. 41.
c. What other element is necessary in teaching properly? Nehemiah 8:8.
“The power of speech is a talent that should be diligently cultivated. Of all the gifts we have received from God, none is capable of being a greater blessing than this. With the voice we convince and persuade, with it we offer prayer and praise to God, and with it we tell others of the Redeemer’s love. How important, then, that it be so trained as to be most effective for good.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 335.
Thursday
August 24
5. MULTIPLIED EFFORTS
a. As members experience heart conversion and choose to follow Christ, what will they do? Luke 4:18, 19; Acts 16:10; Romans 10:15.
“Each soul saved will save other souls; for those who are truly converted will realize that they are the depositaries of sacred trusts. What rich blessings will follow pure, consecrated effort, the worker depending on God to give the increase!”–The Review and Herald, April 26, 1898.
b. When each church is operating as God intended, what will we see? Acts 16:5.
“Those who are the chosen of God are required to multiply churches wherever they may be successful in bringing souls to the knowledge of the truth. But the people of God are never to collect together into a large community as they have done in Battle Creek. Those who know what it is to have travail of soul will never do this, for they will feel the burden that Christ carried for the salvation of men.”–Testimonies to Ministers, p. 199.
c. As churches grow, filled with consecrated individuals, what prophecy will be fulfilled? Isaiah 60:1–5.
“Our ministers should call upon the church members to let the truth triumph. ‘Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising’ (Isaiah 60: 1–3). Unity and love will accomplish wonderful things for the believers. Will not our churches arouse and give the last warning message to the world?”–Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 70.
Friday
August 25
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.
No Place for Controversy. “The Sabbath School should not be made a place for controversy; it is not the place to make differences of opinion manifested. Let all this kind of work be kept out of the school, and let harmony be maintained. If ideas are advanced that are questioned by members of the school, let not a combative spirit arise and discussion and controversy follow.”–Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 117.
Punctuality Is Essential. “Punctuality and decision in the work and cause of God are highly essential.”–Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 500.
Deep Study. “In some schools, I am sorry to say, the custom prevails of reading the lesson from the lesson sheet. This should not be. It need not be, if the time that is often needlessly and even sinfully employed, were given to the study of the Scriptures. There is no reason why Sabbath School lessons should be less perfectly learned by teachers or pupils than are the lessons of the day school. They should be better learned, as they treat of subjects infinitely more important. A neglect here is displeasing to God.”–Counsels on Sabbath School Work, pp. 117, 118.
Every Teacher a Missionary. “Every teacher in the school should feel that he is a missionary for God. He must improve his moments and his ability to obtain a knowledge of the word of God, that he may impart the same to his scholars. Teachers will become disqualified for their position if they are not learners. They need freshness of ideas, fresh, wise plans, life, tact, and spirit in their work. They must be apt to teach.”–Ibid., p. 118.
Preparation for Teaching. “The teacher should not confine himself to the repetition of the set words of the lesson, yet he wants to be perfectly familiar with the words as well as the ideas. Every teacher, before he stands at the head of his class, should have his plans distinctly laid out in his mind as to what he wants to do for that day and on that occasion. Reciting a lesson yourself before the class is not teaching it; you want simple words and plainly, clearly stated ideas. Make sure that your scholars understand you. If they cannot comprehend your ideas, then your labor is lost. Do not skim the surface; work deep. The Bible is the rule and guide of the life. Sound doctrine must be brought into actual contact with the minds and hearts of your scholars; then it will produce fruit, for sound practice will be seen as the result of your labors.”–Ibid., pp. 118, 119.