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The Work to Be Done for Our Children
I have been pointed to the churches that are scattered in different
localities, and have been shown that the strength of these churches
depends upon their growth in usefulness and efficiency.... In all
our churches there should be schools, and teachers in these schools
who are missionaries. It is essential that teachers be trained to act
well their part in the important work of educating the children of
Sabbathkeepers, not only in the sciences, but in the Scriptures. These
schools, established in different localities, and conducted by God-
fearing men or women, as the case demands, should be built on the
same principles as were the schools of the prophets.
Special care should be given to the education of the youth. The
children are to be trained to become missionaries; they must be
helped to understand distinctly what they must do to be saved. Few
have the instruction in religious lines that is essential. If the instruc-
tors have a religious experience themselves, they will be able to
communicate to their students the knowledge of the love of God that
they have received. These lessons can be given only by those who
are themselves truly converted. This is the noblest missionary work
that any man or woman can undertake.
When very young, children should be educated to read, to write,
to understand figures, to keep their own accounts. They may go
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forward, advancing step by step in this knowledge. But before
everything else, they should be taught that the fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom. They should be educated line upon line,
precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; but the one aim
before the teacher should be to educate the children to know God,
and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Teach the youth that sin in any line is defined in the Scriptures
as “transgression of the law.”
1 John 3:4
.... Teach them in simple
language that they must be obedient to their parents and give their
hearts to God. Jesus Christ is waiting to accept and bless them if they
will only come to Him and ask Him to pardon all their transgressions
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