- 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
The Evils of Formality
Evil does not result because of organization, but because of making organization everything, and vital godliness of little moment. When form and machinery take the preeminence, and a laborious task is made of carrying on the work that should be done with simplicity, evil will result, and little will be accomplished in proportion to the effort put forth. The object of organization is just the reverse of this; and should we disorganize, it would be like tearing down that which we have built up. Evil results have been seen, both in the Sabbath school work and in the missionary society, because of making much of machinery while vital experience was lost sight of. In many of the imagined improvements that have been brought in, the mold of man has been placed upon the work. In the Sabbath school, men and women have been accepted as officers and teachers, who have not been spiritually minded, and had no live interest in the work committed to their care; but matters can be set in order only through the aid of the Holy Spirit....CSW 153.1
We might see a different order of things should a number consecrate themselves wholly to God, and then devote their talents to the Sabbath school work, ever advancing in knowledge, and educating themselves so that they would be able to instruct others as to the best methods to employ in the work; but it is not for the workers to seek for methods by which they can make a show, consuming time in theatrical performances and musical display, for this benefits no one. It does no good to train the children to make speeches for special occasions. They should be won to Christ, and instead of expending time, money, and effort to make a display, let the whole effort be made to gather sheaves for the harvest.CSW 153.2
Many have seemed to think that all that was essential in Sabbath school work was to organize the school, and drill the scholars so that they would act in harmony with a set of ceremonies and forms; and that if persons could be secured as teachers, the Sabbath school would run itself. Teachers are often secured who cannot lead souls to Christ because they know not what it is to find Him precious to their own souls; but all those who do not value the soul so that they will work as Christ would have them, will scatter away from Christ. “He that [mark these words] gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” If teachers have no burden to lead souls to Jesus, they will grow indifferent to the truth; they will become careless, and the atmosphere with which they surround their souls will work to scatter away from Christ. And with such elements in the Sabbath school, there will be a perpetual conflict with difficulties; for when the teachers engage in the work and have no interest in it, the pupils will partake of the same spirit.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 253, 254.CSW 154.1