Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
832. The Sunday school is a great deal more than is implied
by certain oft-used phrases, such as "a department of the
church" — "the nursery of the church" — "the church of to-morrow,"
etc.
It is the church instructing the school and striving to lead
its members to acceptance of and service for the Saviour.
It is well that at last the school is coming to be looked
upon, not as some side work of the church, but an institution
to which all church-members should be attached by membership
or in active work, and the view is strongly held that
neither the "Cradle Roll" nor the "Home Department" should
be neglected.
Our main objective in Sunday-school work should be the
instructing of scholars in the truths and lofty principles of
God's word, that they may be led to make the great surrender
to Christ, and present to Him their consecrated talents on the
altar of service. To this end Sunday-school teachers must
exercise great care, lest other themes distract them from the
teaching of the Scriptures. They must have great faith in
their message. They must believe the Bible to be the word of
God, and hold up the Lord Jesus Christ before their scholars'
eyes as the only Saviour of mankind. In this way the Sunday
school may be made the most successful evangelistic agency.
There is no worthier field of labor than this, providing the
instruction be actuated by and given in the spirit of love.
Eternity alone shall measure its good effects.
833. The true Sunday school is the church of Jesus Christ
engaged in systematic study and teaching of the word of God
for three great purposes : to bring into the body of Christ those
within the membership of the Sunday school who are not yet
members of the church or of Christ; to train up those who are
in Christ into a full-grown knowledge and appropriation of the
riches which are theirs because they are Christ's ; and to send
out into the world fully equipped, victorious soul-winners who
shall be Christ's living epistles to those who do not yet know
Him. . . . The purpose of the Sunday school is Bible study for
justification, sanctification, and service.
304
C. G. Trumbull.