- Foreword
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- Search the Scriptures
- Compare Scripture With Scripture
- Written for the Common People
- Substitute Bible for Fiction
- The Spirit of Investigation Essential
- The Teacher to Be a Learner
- A Promise of Increasing Light
- New Meaning in Familiar Texts
- Drifting From Bible Landmarks
- The Youth Fortified Against Heresies
- A Barrier Against Temptation
- Divine Aid in the Search for Truth
- Halfhearted Service
- Prayerful Study
- God's Manner of Imparting Knowledge
- Daily Bible Study
- Fixing the Lesson in the Memory
- Our Daily Spiritual Food
- Cooperation in the Home
- Parents as Educators
- Parents in the Sabbath School
- Finding Time for Lesson Study
- Parents to Help Children
- More Important Than Day School
- Diligent Study Richly Rewarded
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- The Highest Objective
- The All-important Lesson
- What the Cause Needs Most
- Effect of the Truth
- A Question for Every Teacher and Scholar
- Strength and Wisdom Promised
- The Exercises to Be Spiritualized
- Study Each Individual
- Personal Work for Class Members
- Visiting in Homes
- Feeding the Lambs
- Neglect Not the Children
- Directing the Little Flock
- Gather the Infants
- Religious Experience of Children
- Children's Hearts Most Susceptible
- The Power of Christlike Tenderness
- A Recruiting Ground for Christian Workers
- The Sabbath School a Factor in Missionary Training
- A Training for Bible Work
- Regard for Christians in Other Churches
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- The Highest of All Sciences
- Selection of Teachers
- Essential Qualifications
- Well-Balanced Minds, Symmetrical Characters
- Dress and Deportment
- A Representative of True Religion
- Self-examination
- The Teacher's Influence
- Patience With the Wayward
- Tolerance for Others
- Self-improvement
- Provision for Increased Ability
- Christ, Not Man, the Model
- Love the Constraining Power
- Simplicity and Sympathy
- Fresh Themes to Be Presented
- The Countenance an Index of Character
- Making the Lessons Practical
- The Use of Helps
- Mistakes Pointed Out
- Spiritual Indolence
- Controversy in the Class
- Reading the lesson
- Skimming the Surface
- Long, Tedious Remarks
- What It Means to Be a Laborer With God
- The Temptation to Reveal Self
- Giving Wholehearted Service
- Salvation of Souls the Highest Interest
- Lifting Up Christ
- Whole Classes to Be Converted
- The Supreme Joy
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- Thanksgiving for Past Achievement
- Regularity and System in Giving
- Systematic Weekly Giving
- A Signal Honor
- God's Providence in Advance of Our Liberality
- When We May Tire of Giving
- Extension of the Work
- Do Not Plead for Retrenchment
- Shall We Do Our Best?
- Praying and Giving for Missions
- Devising Ways and Means
- Advancing Home Missionary Work
- God Honors Faithful Stewards
- What Might Have Been
- Continual Bestowal Upon the Continual Giver
- Higher Motives Than Sympathy
- Overcoming Natural Selfishness
- Teaching Benevolence to Children in the Home
- Restricting Imaginary Wants
- No Unhealthful Stimulation Needed
- A Revenue of Small Gifts
- Birthday Offerings
- A Reminder of God's Care and Love
- Putting God's Requirements First
- Our Divine Exemplar
- Christ Values Deeds of Love
- God's Part and Ours
- The Highest Efficiency of the Loving Gift
- A Condition of Prosperity
- Every Offering With Its Motive Chronicled
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- The Evils of Formality
- Need of Consecration in Sabbath School Workers
- Training for Sabbath School Work
- Dependence on God
- Persevering Fidelity Needed
- Successful Cooperation
- The Holy Spirit Essential to Success
- Crippled for True Leadership
- Mechanical, but Spiritless
- The Choosing of Officers
- Counsel to Superintendents
- A Child's Observation
- Punctuality
- Begin at the Appointed Hour
- Treatment of Erring Pupils
- How to Gain Respect
- Remembering Our Own Childhood Experience
- The Power of Silence
- Discipline and Order Essential
- Maintain Self-control
- Reprimand, Accusation, Fretting, Useless
- Competitions and Prizes
- The Sabbath School and the Church Service
- Small Company Sabbath Schools
- The Camp Meeting Sabbath School
- Local Institutes Suggested
- Sabbath School Conventions
Prayerful Study
We should exert all the powers of the mind in the study of the Scriptures, and should task the understanding to comprehend, as far as mortals can, the deep things of God; yet we must not forget that the docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner. Scriptural difficulties can never be mastered by the same methods that are employed in grappling with philosophical problems. We should not engage in the study of the Bible with that self-reliance with which so many enter the domains of science, but with a prayerful dependence upon God, and a sincere desire to learn His will. We must come with a humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge from the great I AM. Otherwise, evil angels will so blind our minds and harden our hearts that we shall not be impressed by the truth.CSW 37.3
Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God's word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness.CSW 38.1
The Bible should never be studied without prayer. The Holy Spirit alone can cause us to feel the importance of those things easy to be understood, or prevent us from wresting truths difficult of comprehension. It is the office of heavenly angels to prepare the heart so to comprehend God's word that we shall be charmed with its beauty, admonished by its warnings, or animated and strengthened by its promises. We should make the psalmist's petition our own, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” Temptations often appear irresistible because, through neglect of prayer and the study of the Bible, the tempted one cannot readily remember God's promises and meet Satan with the Scripture weapons. But angels are round about those who are willing to be taught in divine things; and in the time of great necessity, they will bring to their remembrance the very truths which are needed.—Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 121, 122.CSW 38.2