Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

THE SABBATH SCHOOL WORK

A meeting was called by the officers of the International Association, according to Appointment, at 6 P. M. Prayer by V. H. Lucas, of Ohio. MMM 375.4

The design of the meeting was to give instruction to those interested in the Sabbath School work. The time was occupied by Mrs. Jessie F. Waggoner, of California, who gave an informal talk on “How to study the Lesson.” MMM 375.5

She said that the would not attempt to lay down any set of rules that would apply to all cases, but the following is how to study the lesson, in a nut-shell MMM 375.6

RpErAaDy
SpTrUaDyY
TpHrIaNyK ALL THE WEEK. MMM 375.7

“Read, study, think” are all necessary, but the most important is prayer. We should mix prayer through all our reading and studying and thinking, during the entire week. MMM 375.8

In studying a lesson we should- MMM 375.9

1. Consult the lesson book just enough to see where the lesson begins and where it ends in the Bible. MMM 375.10

2. Read carefully two or three times all that the chapter says about it. Then you have the subject in mind and can pick up illustrations, etc. during the week. MMM 375.11

3. Study and write down points learned in the Bible narrative. MMM 375.12

4. Consult Webster’s Dictionary on all the words that you do not perfectly understand. Read 1 Corinthians 14:19. By the way, the Bible is the best manual on Sabbath School teaching that I ever saw. If we would study it more I believe that we would all be better teachers. MMM 375.13

5. Search out the main words in the concordance and see what additional light the rest of the Bible throws upon it. MMM 375.14

6. See what vols’ 1, 2, 3, 4, “Great Controversy” say upon the subject. MMM 375.15

7. Use the Bible Dictionary when necessary, “Bible Manners and Customs,” and “Bible Atlas.” MMM 375.16

8. Sometimes commentaries are hepful if care be taken ro accept no theory unless it agrees with the Bible. MMM 375.17

9. Ask yourself the questions, “Why did God have that particular portion of the Bible written? What did he wish us to learn from it? If one of my class should never come to Sabbath School again, could he know from this lesson how to be saved?” MMM 375.18

10. Read the lesson in the question book and use whatever additional light you may find there. The idea of not reading what the question book says till the last, is to compel yourself to dig it out for yourself till it is your own. You can then speak with confidence, for you know for yourself that it is true. MMM 375.19

11. Select your illustrations, bearing in mind this thought: We print our name with indelible ink so that our name will not rub out; we print the lesson on the heart with illustrations so that the lesson (not the illustration) will not rub out. Get an illustration that will fit the lesson whether it be an object, a finished picture, rough dots or marks, or a work picture. If you cannot make it plain yourself, ask the Lord to help you, for He is both willing and able. MMM 375.20

12. Put in order and in form of questions the best thoughts you have thus gained. It should be written down, not to comit to memory, but as a corrector of vagueness of thought and expression. It compels you to find out exactly what you want to say. MMM 375.21

Know just how you are going to begin and how you are going to end your lesson. The first question should be easy to answer, interesting, and not apparently on the subjest of the lesson. You can thus gain the undivided attention and interest of your class before you get through asking your first question, and then you can unconsciously draw them on into the lesson. MMM 375.22

If you are a reviewer, I would save the most striking illustration for the review, and would dwell mostly upon practical points, with just enough of the narrative to hold them together and to make them interesting. MMM 375.23

We should ever bear in mind the fact that this is possibly the last chance some one of our class may have to learn about Jesus. It is the one golden opportunity to save a soul. An effort should be made to adapt the lesson to each individual in your class so that each one may understand, and understanding may obey, and thus gain a home in the heart made new. MMM 375.24

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST
GENERAL CONFERENCE
DAILY BULLETIN
VOL. 2. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., OCT. 25, 1888. NO. 6.