Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

animals."
b. Because it is commended and commanded in
the Scriptures.
Bible study Acts 17 :11 ; 2 Timothy 2 :15.
Bible memory Deuteronomy 6:6; 11:18;
Proverbs 7:13; Psalm 119:11.
c. Because God assures that meditation on His
Word will bring prosperity and success.
Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2, 3; 1 Timothy 4:15.
d. Because of growing interest in Bible study
and Bible memory work.
e. Because of our solemn vows to God in the
Brief Covenant of 1954. (See statement
above)
f. Because of widespread need for more knowl
edge of the Scriptures.
Hosea 4:6; 2 Corinthians 3:15, 16.
g. Because spiritual leadership
of God's people
requires showing them how in addition to tell
ing them they should.
Exodus 18:20; 1 Cor. 11:1; Philippians 3:17;
4:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 4:1.
h. Because few available systems are entirely
satisfactory.
3. Aims of the Bible Study and Bible Memory Pro
gram.
a. To develop and implant the basic BIBLE CUL
TURE as the background for the correct so
lution to the problems of our age.
Deut. 4:1-8; Prov. 30:5; Romans 15:4; 1 Cor.
10:11.
b. To instruct all age groups in the knowledge
and use of the Bible.
Deut. 6 :6, 7 ; Josh. 1 :8 ; 1 Tim. 3 :2, 9 ; Titus 2 :
1-3.
c. To furnish suitable Scripture material for con
tacting the unsaved.
Isaiah 55:11; John 5:39; Hebrews 4:12.
d. To provide Scripture foundation for our sys
tem of theology and for its applied principles.
Philippians 1:27b; 3:16; Jude 3.
e. To provide an opportunity, personal and social,
"for growth in grace and for Christian serv
ice."
(The Brief Covenant).
Psalm 119:97; 2 Peter 3:18.
f . To provide a workable plan for lifetime Bible
study
and Bible memory.
4. Suggested Development of the Bible Memory Pro
gram.
a. A Syllabus of Bible and Catechetical Memory
Work. For use in Sabbath Schools and/or
Junior Societies.
b. A Bible Memory System for young people and
young adults.
(Nothing definite has been done yet on these parts
of the project.)
5. Suggested Development of the Bible Study.
a. Some Guiding Principles.
(1) The first step is to "know Him."
Those of us who have had Christian train
ing from before we can remember will un
derstand that the purpose of living is to
glorify God. But to people who have had no
such training or who have not accepted
Christ, the first step must be to "know
Him."
Before a child can know the rules of
life, he must be born. So also before a per
son can truly understand the purposes of
January 12, 1955
spiritual living, he must first be born again.
Therefore, the opening studies are designed
to bring the Gospel of Christ our Saviour
to the human soul.
(2) Strengthened in Faith.
Those who already know Him should be
strengthened in their faith by reviewing
the matter. Furthermore, in going over the
early lessons, Christians may prepare them
selves for presenting Christ to unchristian
acquaintances.
(3) Limited use of the Bible.
It was further judged that the early studies
should not cover too wide a portion of the
Bible. The whole Bible is the Word of God,
but the average unbeliever does not know
how to use it at all. To ask a beginner to
turn to widely scattered references might
lead to confusion. The better way is to
bring the Bible message from a small or
limited portion,
and then, as the Holy Spirit
increases faith, reach out into other por
tions with possibly more direct references.
b. The Bible Study Program will therefore cover
the following steps :
(1) An Introductory Study, presenting the Lord
Jesus Christ as our Saviour. This will be
from the Gospel of John.
(2) A Series of three studies on Salvation.
These will be on Belief, Repentance and
Surrender, and will make use of the entire
New Testament.
(3) A Series of six studies on Christian Char
acter Development.
(4) A Series of four studies on Introduction to
the Bible.
(5) A Series of studies following the develop
ment of thought through the Shorter Cate
chism.
(6) A Series of studies on the Church, leading
to Church membership.
(7) A Series of studies for Fruitful Living.
(a) On Your Own in Memory Work.
(b) Plans for personal systematic Bible
Study.
(c) How to present it to others.
(d) Fields of service in all the world.
Surely the Holy Spirit leads the Church, its lead
ers and members, in a movement to know His Word.
Surely, too, He will make such a move an empower
ing force toward a growing Church. Pray with us
that this may be so.
In another article, possibly next week, I shall of
fer suggestions on how to use the studies, and will
present the first one.
GLIMPSES . . . Cont'd, from page 21
backward countries can read the Bible and other literature,
with the hope that they may learn to know the Lord and
reach a respectable standard of living.
Organization Opposes Evolution
The Rev. Gladden James, a retired missionary of Boulder,
Colo., has organized a group which stands for the Authentic
ity of the Bible and Religious Liberty to fight the theory of
evolution, "especially the part that teaches that man is de
scended from fish or They have appealed to re
gents of the University of Colorado to stop the teaching of
evolution on the penalty
of court action against them. Mr.
(Continued on page 25)
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