06 Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

There is no higher human endeavor than that of teaching God’s word to our fellow men; no effort of man is more important than that of encouraging people to study earnestly and prayerfully the word of God. He who leads another into a fuller knowledge of the truth as revealed in the Bible is a benefactor of that one; he who helps another to understand the will of the Lord and encourages him to adjust his life with it is a benediction to him; he who helps any one to live as God directs is a coworker with the Lord. Brother S. H. Had has done a great service in the name of the Lord in preparing these lessons for those who desire to make a closer study of the Bible.

Any teacher should study the best method of presenting the truths of the Bible. In the educational world the process of learning and the method of teaching are being improved. No teacher is efficient in the public schools of our country or in the colleges of our land who does not keep abreast of the times and use effectively the best modern methods of imparting truth to the minds of our youth. The facts and principles of history, science, literature, and languages must be taught today along the pedagogical and psychological lines of instruction. The demand of the present day is so urgent upon teachers to present all themes and subjects and courses according to modern scientific methods that the institutions or teachers which will not follow these lines and methods are relegated as "back numbers" and are soon discarded. The facts, truths, and principles of the Bible are far more important than those of history, science, and language.

It is not fair to the Bible to use the best methods in teaching the theories of man and the wisdom of this world and not use the best tact and methods in teaching the Bible. It seems that if there should be any difference, the difference should be in favor of the Bible. Moreover, the importance of the truths of the Bible call for the best methods known to man in teaching them to all who will learn. As our civilization advances and new methods are discovered in the teaching profession, these methods and devices should be used in teaching the will of the Lord to the children of men. When Jesus said to his disciples, "Go, . . . make disciples of all nations: . . . teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you," he did not enjoin upon his disciples any particular way or method of going; neither did he impose upon them any particular method or device for teaching his will to the children of men. The teacher of the Bible is left free—yea, he is under obligation to God and to the one taught—to use the best method that will lead the mind to accept divine truth and to adjust the life to it. The student of these "Scripture Studies" will find that the most modern method of approach to the subject has been used. No teacher can teach that which he does not know. He may not be able to teach what he does know; it is an evident fact that he cannot teach that which he does not know. The teacher of God’s word ought to study prayerfully and in humility the lesson that he plans to teach; he should be sure that he has the spirit of the Master Teacher when he begins to teach "the Master’s truths" to others; he should be sure that he has firm hold on the truth and has a clear conception of it himself before he attempts to teach it to others. A perversion of the truth of God is a fearful thing, it matters not whether this perversion is done willfully or ignorantly. The teacher who assumes the responsibility of teaching God’s word should not only have the spirit of the Christ and the truth of God, but he should, moreover, have a life that emphasizes the life of our Savior. The teacher of the Bible should teach in the most effective way. The importance of divine truth and the value of souls demand that the truth be taught in the fear of God and in view of the judgment. Many teachers nullify the truth or contradictit by their lives. They may teach accurately the facts, truths, and principles of the Bible theoretically, but live a life inconsistent with them and weaken the force of them.

Every teacher should not only feel the obligation that weighs heavily upon him in teaching the truth, but he should also feel the fearful responsibility that rests upon him in making his life conform to the truth. There is much truth in the quotation which says: "How can I hear what you say, When what you are is forever thundering in my ear?"

There is a woeful neglect on the part of parents in teaching their children the Bible. Parents should know the Bible and should teach it to their children. It is not enough to depend on the children studying the "Sunday school lesson ;" they get but little Bible from the study of the Sunday lesson. Every parent should be a teacher—that is, every Christian parent should be able to teach children the word of God. This should be done daily and not just once in the week. If Christian parents do not teach their children the will of the Lord, they will likely grow up in ignorance of it. No greater obligation rests upon parents than to "nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord." Parents owe it to their children as well as to the Lord to teach them the Bible. It will be a fearful thing for many fathers and mothers when they stand before God in judgment having neglected teaching their children the word of God. Brother Hall’s "Scripture Studies" will help parents meet their obligations to their children in teaching them the word of God and will also help them to fulfill their obligations as Christian fathers and mothers. These studies are commended most earnestly to all lovers of the truth.

LEO BOLES.