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A Prophet Among You

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Suggested Study Topics

AfflictionAssociationBusiness and Christianity
AmbitionAtonement
AmusementsAuthors, Infidel
Angels and their workCamp meetings
AntichristBenevolenceCharacter
AnxietyBible and scienceCharacter building
Apostasy, Causes ofBible in educationCheerfulness
AppearanceBible, Understanding theChild training
AppetiteChrist (many topics)
AssociatesBurden bearingChurch, The
Commandments of GodFamily worshipKnowledge
Fashion and displayKnowledge of God.
Competition and rivalryFather
Flesh foodLabor unions
ConfessionForgivenessLast days
ConscienceFriendshipLatter rain
ConsecrationLaw and gospel
ConversionGamesLaw of God
CookingGivingLaymen
CourageGodlinessLeaders
CourtesyGraceLeadership
CourtshipLifework
CovetousnessHabitsLiterature
CreationHappinessLove
CriticismHealingLoyalty
CultureHealthLukewarmness
Health reform
DancingHeavenMark of the beast
Darkness, SpiritualHeredityMarriage
DebtHigher classes, ReachingMedical missionaries
Deliverance of God’s peopleHolinessMeekness
DespondencyHoly SpiritMind
DietHomeMinisters
DifficultiesHonestyMiracles
DignityHopeMissionary work
DisciplineHumilityMothers
Discouragement
DisplayIdlenessNature
DramaIdolatryNeedy, Helping the
DressImaginationNerves
DrugsImpatienceNervous system
ImpurityNew earth
EconomyIndustryNurses
Education, ChristianInfluence
EfficiencyIntegrityObedience
EntertainmentIntemperanceObject lessons
EnvironmentOfferings
EtiquetteJealousyOpinions
EvangelismJewelryOpportunities
ExerciseJudgmentOvercoming
ExtremesJustificationOverwork
FaithKindnessPapacy
FamiliarityKingdom of GodParables
ParentsReverenceTeachers
PartiesRighteousnessTemperance
PatienceTemptation
PeaceSabbath observanceTheater
PerfectionSatanThoughts
PhysiciansSchoolsTime
Praise and flatterySeal of GodTithe
PrayerSelf-controlTobacco
PreachingSelf-denialTrials
PrideSelfishnessTruth
PrinciplesService
PrivilegesSimplicityUnbelief
ProbationSinUnity
Probation, Close ofSocial life
ProphecySorrowVictory
Publishing workSoul winningvoice culture
PuritySpeech
SpiritismWeakness
ReadingStewardshipWill
RecreationStudentsWork
RedemptionSuccessWorship
RefinementSuffering
RepentanceSympathyYouth
Reproof
ResurrectionTalentsZeal

Let us take the general topic of Christian education from the list. It is too broad a subject to deal with in more than a single, restricted aspect of it. We might formulate a list of the objectives of Christian education, or discover what makes Christian education different from secular education. We could investigate the methods by which the goals of Christian education may be achieved, or enumerate some of the subjects that rank high in importance in the program of Christian education. The field is limited only by the needs and interests of the investigator. For the present, let us focus our attention on what it is that makes Christian education different from secular education. APAY 454.1

With our topic in mind—“What Makes Christian Education Different?” we turn to our sources of information. Looking over the Ellen White books, we select three that appear to contain the most information on the subject—Education, Fundamentals of Christian Education, and Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students. Another volume that should be consulted in the study is the Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White, for it lists more than nineteen columns of references to education. Rather than look up all these references, or even those that seem most closely related to our topic, it is better to turn to the books on education first to get a unified picture of the subject. APAY 454.2

The table of contents in Education indicates that the first four chapters deal with “First Principles,” and the chapter titles seem to show that there is material here on our topic. There is a later group of chapters under the heading of “Character Building” that should make a contribution. The table of contents in Fundamentals of Christian Education lists several chapters that should be read—“Proper Education,” “Thoughts on Education,” “Importance of Education,” “The School of the Ancient Hebrews,” and “The Value of Bible Study.” The same is true of Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students. APAY 455.1

As the chapters are read, it becomes apparent that this is not all the light on the topic in hand, but the background they give will make our understanding broader, and our later selection of specific quotations will be more intelligent. As the reading progresses we discover that the chapters in Education deal in broader concepts and principles rather than in some of the details that are presented in the other books. Several statements appear that help us to see the real differences between Christian and secular education: “It means more than a preparation for the life that now is;” “development of ... the spiritual powers;” “It is God’s own method of development;” “Love, the basis of creation and of redemption, is the basis of true education.” We begin to make selections of quotations and we put each with the reference on a slip of paper or a card, perhaps 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 inches. APAY 455.2

With this general reading as a background, we are now ready to turn to the Index to find additional information from other books. Scanning the columns of the Index, we find a long list of references that should be consulted. Here are a few of them: “Education, apart from Christ, folly to seek; Christ’s, gained directly from heaven-appointed sources; Christian, means acceptance of Saviour’s teachings; confusion in; defective; deficient unless received in school of Christ; general method of, does not meet standard of true; to direct minds to God’s revelation of Himself; should bear different stamp.” One of the last sections is headed: “Education, worldly, false.” At a glance it appears that all the passages referred to in this section should be investigated. Many more entries are made on cards to be considered later. APAY 455.3

In gathering the quotations in the fashion described we have proceeded in a way that will give us a basis for organization of the material when that step is reached. First we took an over-all view, and we read more widely than might have been necessary if we merely wanted a collection of quotations. Then we branched out into many books for the contributions they could make. By the time this had been done we found we were forming an outline of what makes Christian education different. The material naturally falls into certain related groups, and now we begin the task of arranging and sorting—arranging the groups, sorting the quotations to find the most pertinent ones, then arranging the selected quotations within the group. APAY 456.1

Five points seem to stand out among the many differences that might be noted between Christian and secular education—the purpose, basis, source, methods, and results. If we think for a moment of what is involved in these five items, we will realize that the whole system is different. The five points now form the main divisions of the study outline. APAY 456.2

1. A different purpose. APAY 456.3

2. A different basis. APAY 456.4

3. A different source. APAY 456.5

4. Different methods. APAY 456.6

5. Different results. APAY 456.7

We will need an introductory statement, the details inserted in the outline, and a statement of our conclusions. This might appear to complete the study, but there are still three important items to be considered. APAY 457.1

(1) It is helpful to find a single, brief quotation that gives the gist of the study in words that can be easily remembered. This is not possible in every instance; but, usually, if the investigator keeps this in mind throughout his study, he will be able to discover such a sentence. We will call this the key quotation. APAY 457.2

(2) What are the principles involved in the solution to the problem? It will seldom be possible to find quotations that state principles as such. Therefore, these will be given in the words of the student. APAY 457.3

(3) What is the Bible background for the instruction given? Sometimes a Bible text or group of texts furnishes a specific background. Again, it may be necessary to show the underlying agreement of the statements with the philosophy of the Bible. There is a Bible basis for all the instruction given, and that should be discovered and stated in connection with each topic studied. APAY 457.4

These three concluding items will be easier to deal with if they are kept clearly in mind throughout the preparation of the study. They are vital to a carefully planned topic. Now we are ready to organize the study. APAY 457.5