44
Pastoral Ministry
acquainted with their Bibles. They are so deficient in Bible knowledge
that it is difficult for them to quote a text of Scripture correctly from
memory. By blundering along in the awkward manner they do, they
sin against God. They mangle the Scripture, and make the Bible say
things that are not written therein.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:341,
442
.
Jesus studied plants, animals, and man so He might use the
knowledge to teach truth—The question asked during the Saviour’s
ministry, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (
John
7:15
), does not indicate that Jesus was unable to read, but merely that
He had not received a rabbinical education. Since He gained knowl-
edge as we may do, His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures
shows how diligently His early years were given to the study of God’s
Word. And spread out before Him was the great library of God’s
created works. He who had made all things studied the lessons which
His own hand had written in earth and sea and sky. Apart from the
unholy ways of the world, He gathered stores of scientific knowledge
from nature. He studied the life of plants and animals, and the life
of man. From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose;
He lived to bless others. For this He found resources in nature; new
ideas of ways and means flashed into His mind as He studied plant
life and animal life. Continually He was seeking to draw from things
seen illustrations by which to present the living oracles of God. The
parables by which, during His ministry, He loved to teach His lessons
[46]
of truth, show how open His spirit was to the influences of nature, and
how He had gathered the spiritual teaching from the surroundings of
His daily life.—
The Desire of Ages, 70
.
Field Training
Young ministers should receive and respect counsel from su-
pervising ministers—In gaining a preparation for the ministry, young
men should be associated with older ministers. Those who have gained
an experience in active service are to take young, inexperienced work-
ers with them into the harvest-field, teaching them how to labor suc-
cessfully for the conversion of souls. Kindly and affectionately these
older workers are to help the younger ones to prepare for the work
to which the Lord may call them. And the young men in training