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VOL. LXXXVII. RICHMO
The Type of Sunday
Teachers who live abreast of the times in the
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mcnt. They live in the present, rather than in the
past, or alone for the future, however good and
eternal. Keither ''Behind," nor "Ahead," but
"Abreast" of their age. Have "ability to realize the
past and translate it into the present" Are able
to see and make the connection between the old
and the new. Know not only historic back-grounds,
but present-day methods and meanings as to the
Bible, to lead and to command the respect of inquiring
members.
Teachers who have sense to see that teaching in
the Bible school of the church, and training for
teaching therein, in either case is serious business,
involving as they do eternal life interests, complex
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Teacher for the real Christianization of human life
(Matt. 28:18-20). Bible teaching is no trilling,
jietty aiTair, as some seem to view it.
Teachers wlto have had a Christian's experience
of God's saving grace. Who are given to Christ in
a genuine consecration. Not only surrendered for
11 i 111 to save, but to serve Him. Too many are
teaching in the Sunday school whose lives are not
surrendered to the Lord for service, however really
they may be for salvation. Their daily life is to
consist with their teaching in the class. Devoted
and enthusiastic. Not praying upon their knees on
a Sabbath and preying on their neghbors other days
in the week.
Teachers who have been called of God as well as
of men to teach His ]Vill. Those who are not in the
work now and then, as it were by chance or haphazard;
but such as are in the Sunday school work
for life and service. With the love of God and the
love for man in the heart and in action. Built on
the lovable order, because possessed by a vision of
the Lord, of self, of the world, and of service.
Teachers who go into it expecting "to stay on the
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jttn mrougn love 01 the work, with the willingness
to work, and no idea of "playing at it" Who will
not only "find time," but do more, "make time," for
preparation according to appreciation of the importance
of the work.
Teachers who feel their need of the Holy Spirit
to lead and enlighten and empower them for service,
and consciously yield their lives to he filled
unth spiritual energy for consistent testimony for
Christ just as near and just as far as they can exert
a Christian influence. It is just as the Spirit
takes of the things of Christ in His Word and shows
them unto us that we know somewhat of our Lord
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this sought and gained, teaching is lacking in
Divine vitality; and the earlier we realize this truth
the better for us and for others.
Teachers whb have a real concern for the lost?
those astray from Ood and the right?that they
may he led to Christ the Saviour and Master of the
life. These are to be "Won by One" who loves them
enough to seek them out, to strive to understand
them, to want to know whether they are "Safe in
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By Rev. C. O'N. Metrtinv% ?
Jesus," or "Astray from the Fold," and, if the latter,
then willing to become all tilings unto such that
they may be brought into union with Jesus and be
saved from sin. Sympathy for the individual. Love
for the class. Interested enough to pray and to
work, in and out of class and school, that they may
be won to Christ and the Christian life.
Teachers who have a living interest in Christian
culture. Those who, though their pupils are already
Christian, realize and seek the high life-values of
the development of Christian character to the fulness
and the flower and the fruitage of its strength.
Those, who by the means of grace, endeavor faith
fully to bring up "the babes in Christ" to that maturity
of spiritual stature of which they are capable
in union with Him. A task, the importance of
which is too often minimized and too great to be
calculated.
Teachers who have an essential mastery of God's
Word, so as to be able to interpret the truth of God
in terms of life to the help of young and old. Those,
indeed, who heed the blessed in junction, "Study to
show thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
Word of Truth" (2 Tim. 2:15 j. Those who "Search
the Scriptures" as conveying eternal life through
their witness to Christ. We need more, many,
many more, teachers to prove themselves "Masters
of the One Book," if they would win and nurture
souls. So many know all books save one worth
knowing above all.
Teachers who have a close-range conversance
with the pupil's life's stages of growth and possibilities
of development, so as to answer life's demands
every day. The scholars problems and
difficulties are not to be secondary, but primary.
We teach in order that we may change for the
better the personalities of our students. Religious
education especially is a personal question; the
student is greater than the subject, the subject is
for the student. Just here is the weak point in
the work. Do we realize this ? Some, and they not
a few, do not. Are you one of them? If you
study but your lesson, you are only a scholar; but
study your scholar, and study your subject to fit
the needs and contribute to the life-development of
the scholar, and you become a teacher indeed, with
"an aptitude for vicariousness."
Teachers who have a working knowledge of the
best methods of bringing Qod's Word and the life's
needs and capacities together. Those who not only
know something from their own experience, but
are willing to learn from others, especially expert,
experience how to teach effectively. Those who
can relate the truth to everyday living and working.
Experience and technique, wisdom and skill,
run together in the up-to-date teacher; they are
never divorced. The teacher is to be adapted to
the class as truly as the pupil to the class in the
department to which he belongs; and must know
how to correlate what teacher knows with what
pupil knows.
Teachers who have a correct conception of the
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GUST 20. 1913. NO. 33 3 f
rhe Times Demand
Bible school of the Church, its aims and ideals, ils
principles and methods, its scope and development,
its control and relations. Much of failure in the
Sunday school field of Christian endeavor is due
to the lack of just this?lack of understanding of
the real work of the school, want of a clear objective.
Ask some teachers, "What do you aim to
do?" What is your plan?" ""What purposes do
do you seek to accomplish?" and they would be
stricken dumb. What is the mission of the Sunday
school ? Have you a very clear idea of the institution
of the church you propose to teach in?
If not, a change is needful and desirable, and that
right quickly. Is your conception that of "the
modern Sunday school, in principle and practice?"
If not, you'd better learn.
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these and other lines so as to be of real use to the
lives committed to their charge, so as to be
efficient leaders and laborers in the Master's work.
'Those who will allow no excuse or plea or occasion
or inducement (D. V.) to turn them aside
from securing thorough "Training Course" and
otherwise under human and Divine guidance the
very best fitting for the very best service in tho
world. Those who are ready to spend not only
one year, but three or four years or more in study
of the compressed judgments of the men and
women of our times along worker training lines
who have made these things germane to working
in the Sunday school the special study of their
lives.
Teachers who are anxious to go through any
discipline necessary to righteousness and holiness
and happiness of self and pupil. Those who want
to "do things" for the Master and their fellowmen
; who use the Science and the art of teaching
for living and .working and enjoying right; with
the one end in view that their pupils may know,
and feel, and will, and work right; harmonize with
Clod's blessed will, and realize His ideals for the
individual, and social life. Sacrifice to serve, study
to attain, attend to accomplish, believe to obey.
Teachers possessing the grace of making easy
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?through life and manner inside and outside the
class. "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of
Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).
What sort of a teacher are YOU? What sort do
you WANT to be?
Crowley, Louisiana.
"I will suffer, but I will not sin; I may be
wronged, but I will not do wrong; I may fail, but
T will not be a failure."
The Master said: "Where vonr treasure is
there will your heart be also." This is a reversible
proposition; for when one's heart truly enters into
anything, it takes one's possessions along with it.
The best financial method that any church can
adopt is to awaken in the souls of its members a
faith that will make Jesus precious to them.