Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-07-08

any questions to be asked which are not
strictly in the line of the lesson. 7 should
say to this that if the scholars have pre-
pared themselves for the class by starting
certain enquiries in their own minds, it
would be well to allow them to have the
opportunity of expressing them Discur-
sive talk is not to be encouraged too
are to be respectfully heard and answered.
DigresSions that arise from a saving
impulse in the heart are often profitable
The fundamental idea of teaching class
in Sunday-school is to do good to souls
and as much of it as possible for the time
being. Do not let the class run away
with you. But if your scholars after hav-
ing studied the lesson themselves are in
clned to ask some questions of their own
as result of their bordering, let them do
so within certain proper limitations. If
it should appear best to do so [ should
incline once in while to let the 2rticu-
lar lesson of the day go wholly or nearly
| by, for the sake of some soul-saving talk
upon theme which had been suggested
providentially. But young teachers as
general thing had better keep we'll on to
the lesson of the day. At any rate make
improvement Of personal piety. In pre-
pairing for the class try to keep each
scholar in mind. AS soon as you are ac-
quainted with the dispositions and habits,
the announcements and difficulties of all
your scholars, prepare the lesson with
those facts in view. This Will make Prep
aration personal, practical matter 1t
will help you in framing questions of your
own, and in thinking up direct personal
appeals. You can do custom work in this
way and make your work a good fit too.
You may thus expect something definite
to be accomplished by your prayers and
labors. Prepare the lesson in faitfS love,
and expectancy.
L am convinced that any teacher who
keeps up personal interest in the class
during the week does something not in
considerable towards preparation for
meeting the class on the Sabbath 1t is
mistake to have no continuing interest in
Sunday-school class. Let the teacher
see to it that there is a personal interest
in each scholar every day in the week.
Give them to understand that you feel a
real interest in them. Let them be assur-
ed that you entertain a peculiar relation
to them which gives them deep and liv-
ing Importance in your esteem. Make it
in your way to speak to them with more
than common feeling as you meet them on
the street or elsewhere. Have quiet,
private word with them if you can. Call
on them at their homes occasionally. In
vite them once in while to enjoy your
hospitality. Once "a year at least have
them dine or take tea with you. AIoth-
er good plan is to write them each let
ter annually at New Years or Christmas,
or some other appropriate time, and in it
speak to them about the great concern of
salvation as they would seem to reed.
Try to introduce them into the church.
Let your aim as teachers be to bring into
personal and loving acquaintance with
been instrumental in saving them ALL you
have done SO far your duty as Christian
teachers. And until you have done that
your work is incomplete. Having done
that you are to build them up in Christ.
No teacher is ready for a class who has
not made careful searching of heart for |
that work To have some book knowl- |
edge of the Bible, to be able to discourse
pleasantly about the external things of
Word, to have at command a few choice |
expressions about the Bible as a good |
book, all this is not sufficient to make a |
matter how much reading and thought |
and travel it may have involved it might |
still be pertinently asked: Have you I'M
asronms an have You fqs tR
to be in the right state of spirit to come |
before your class? Have you been into |
the presence of your Savior and asked |
him to give you that enduing from on |
high without which no other preparation |
is of the best account? And then it may |
be well to consider what your example |
has been since you last met your class. |
Have you neglected the prayer meeting? |
Did you leave your lesson until just be-
fore going into the class so that you
spent only a half hour or so on it in prep
aration? How can you eXhort them to
study their lessons long and much if you
yourself have been so delinquent? How
much of a Christian have you been in de-
pertinent and disposition since you last
met your class? No teacher having taken
a class into the heart and preparing for it
ought to give it up for any poor reason.
Think of it as sacred duty and cleave
to it affectlonately and faithfully.
And now as a kind of summing up of
what 1 have said l will speak with the
selves earnestly and thoroughly to your
work. Take all sufficient pains to get at
the outward meaning of the lesson for
any and every given Sunday. Rejoice in
your opportunities. Study the context
and the references. Comprehend the
the lesson. Decide how you are going to
teach each lesson. Become familiar with
The side lights. Review previous lessons
frequently. Use what helps are neces-
sary, whether it be commentaries, maps,
books of travel, concordances or what
not. Mediate. Take and make notes.
Use SO many and such kinds of helps as
will really help you in getting at the liter
Il and extraneouS sense of the Word. Do
lot take your commentaries and other
helps Into the class and read from them.
Borrow what you cannot afford to own.
Be reverent and humble. Grow in faith
towards divine Savior and an inspired
Bible. Grasp above all things the inner
meaning of the lesson, it's spiritual sub
stance. Have a good life of Christ on
your study table. Find the Gospel in the
esson. Understand its difficulties and
doctrines. Do not miss what the Holy
Spirit has there for the soul. Pray for
lis illumination. Find something and say
that will touch the heart of
one scholar at least as opportunity offers
hat will save and keep it saved. Study