School for Bible Study
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this work be done in the Spirit of Christ. Put no restriction upon the
students.
In searching the Scriptures there is need of great humility of mind
and contrition of heart, of seeking earnestly unto God. Those who
come in a lowly spirit, seeking for truth, will be aided in their search
by the angels of God.—
Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 55, 56
.
Halfhearted Service
Many who profess to be Christians do not more than half believe
the word of God. They do not study it earnestly, but waste precious
time in reading novels and storybooks. A mere intellectual under-
standing of the word of God will not be sufficient to influence the
habits of the life, for the life is regulated by the condition of the heart.
When Sabbath school teachers have taught the lessons of external
revelation, their work is but just begun, and they should not cease
their labor until they have evidence that the precepts of heaven are not
only accepted by the understanding of the pupil, but written upon the
heart.—
Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 57, 58
.
Prayerful Study
We should exert all the powers of the mind in the study of the
Scriptures, and should task the understanding to comprehend, as far
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as mortals can, the deep things of God; yet we must not forget that
the docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner.
Scriptural difficulties can never be mastered by the same methods that
are employed in grappling with philosophical problems. We should
not engage in the study of the Bible with that self-reliance with which
so many enter the domains of science, but with a prayerful dependence
upon God, and a sincere desire to learn His will. We must come with a
humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge from the great I AM.
Otherwise, evil angels will so blind our minds and harden our hearts
that we shall not be impressed by the truth.
Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mys-
tery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction
to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why
many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is,