Youth Leadership
289
Ministers should be able to speak interestingly and under-
standably to Sabbath school children—There was a general super-
intendent of Sabbath schools who, while addressing a Sabbath school
upon one occasion, was very dry, lengthy, and uninteresting. A mother
asked her daughter of ten years if she enjoyed the exercise, and also,
“What did the minister say?” Said the little girl “He said, and he said,
and he said, and he didn’t say anything.” Now, we do not want any
such account of our labor as that. We want the very best of training for
the work that we can possibly have ourselves, so that we can make a
success in teaching others the things that we have learned.—
Counsels
on Sabbath School Work, 169
.
Too many children trained in the Scriptures at Sabbath
school, still have no interest in religion—Many of the children of be-
lieving parents, children who have been trained in the Sabbath school,
and are familiar with the Scriptures, have yet no interest in religion.
Under the most powerful appeals of the Holy Spirit, they seem as
unmoved as if chiseled out of stone. What can be done to break the
spell which Satan has cast upon these souls? I can see no help, except
as parents shall present their children at the throne of grace, in humble,
earnest, believing prayer, entreating the Lord to work with their efforts
and the efforts of their ministers, until conviction and conversion shall
be the result.—
The Signs of the Times, March 16, 1882
.
Children’s Sabbath school should not replace their attending
the worship service—The Sabbath school at ________ was made the
one great theme of interest with Brother E. It absorbed the minds of
the young, while other religious duties were neglected. Frequently,
after the Sabbath school was closed, the superintendent, a number
of teachers, and quite a number of scholars, would return home to
rest. They felt that their burden for the day was ended, and that they
had no further duty. When the bell sounded forth the hour for public
service, and the people left their homes for the house of worship, they
would meet a large portion of the school passing to their homes. And,
however important the meeting, the interest of a large share of the
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Sabbath school could not be awakened to take any pleasure in the
instruction given by the minister upon important Bible subjects. While
many of the children did not attend public service, some that remained
were not advantaged by the word spoken, for they felt that it was a
wearisome tax.—
Counsels on Sabbath School Work, 183
.
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