according to their particular interest and spiritual maturity level. In providing a short course of three months, it allows for variety in subject matter, methods o f instruction, selection o f teachers, etc. It also helps to group people according to personal interests rather than arbitrarily according to sex or age. While it requires more teachers to staff such a program, it is easier to secure teachers who know their assignment is for a specifically limited period o f time. It enables an adult department to be a Sunday school, rather than a Sunday “ some thing.” Morning Bible Hour: One morning each week we offer a solid hour o f Bible study taught by the pastor. A staffed nursery is provided and light refreshments are available before and after the class. (Both the nursery and refreshments are paid for by members o f the class on a rotating volunteer basis.) An informal “ question and an swer” and “ guided discussion” atmosphere pre vails. An outline o f material to be covered, and study questions for the coming week, are distrib uted before each class session. These aids to pro class preparation are most important. The added time (one full hour), the informal atmosphere, and the advanced preparation all serve to make the Word meaningful in lives. To many this hour has become the highlight o f their week in the Word. Prayer Meeting Studies: Rather than have a simple devotional in the midweek prayer service, we utilize this time in an extended systematic study o f Bible doctrine. This is a time o f definite “ dig ging” into the Scriptures to clearly establish the “ reason o f the hope that is in you.” Each week mimeographed outlines o f the particular doctrine being studied are prepared and distributed before the study begins. Room is provided for personal notations and additional Scriptural references. The study outlines are suitable to be retained and com piled into a “ doctrinal notebook.” These suggestions are neither splashy nor. sen sational — a growth process never is! They re quire a consistent planting and watering of the Word o f God. For only as the “ seeds fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold” (Matt. 13:8) can we see that it is God who giveth the increase (I Cor. 3 :6 ). This slow growth process is realized only as the pastor is careful to build “ precept upon precept; . . . line upon line; . . . here a little, and there a little” (Isa. 28 :10). We will be satisfied to do so as we recall that, “ All Scripture is given by inspiration o f God, and is profitable fo r doc trine, for reproof, for correction, fo r instruction in righteousness, that the man o f God may be per fect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16-17). Rev. Norman Linhart is pastor of Trinity Bible Church, Southgate, California.
volved around the fact o f their need to be fed with milk, and not with solid food, for they were not able to bear it (I Cor. 3 :1 -3 ). The author of Hebrews reminds his readers that they were “ dull o f hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again the first principles o f the oracles o f God, and are become such as have need o f milk, and not o f solid food. For everyone that useth milk is unskilled in the word o f righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food belongeth to them that are o f full age, even those who by reason o f use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:12-14). In I Samuel 17:38-39 we are told that David couldn’t use Saul’s armor and sword saying, “ for I have not proved them. And David put them off.” Likewise believers cannot use the “ armor o f God” (Eph. 6 :13 ), and the “ sword of the Spirit, which is the word o f God” (Eph. 6 :17), unless they have familiarized themselves with the Scriptures. Part o f the responsibility for untaught Christians must be placed at the feet o f the pastor o f the local flock. THE PRINCIPLE—TEACH A primary duty o f each local church is to pro vide for the spiritual growth and development o f its members and friends. Paul’s irio-ruction to the Ephesian elders is as valid for our day as it was for theirs. He said, “ Feed the church o f God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20: 28). He went on to say, “ I commend you to God, and to the word o f his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance amo ag all them who are sanctified” (Acts 20 :32). This principle is reiterated in Paul’s advice to young Timothy when he said, “ These things that thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2 :2 ). Such instruction in the faith was possible only when Paul taught Timothy, who committed these truths to faithful men, who in turn were able to teach others also. This principle o f progression must be actively revived in our churches today if we are to begin to accomplish the tasks awaiting the church. THE PROCEDURE Every service o f the church should be designed as a time to teach and to feed the flock o f God. Here are some methods that have proven effective in our congregation: Sunday School E lectives: Our Adult Sunday School Department offers at least four elective courses each quarter. Adults register for the class o f their choice. This structures our Sunday school program along the lines o f any other adult educa tional program. It allows adults to select courses
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SEPTEMBER, 1969
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