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quirecl-work and passed a test at the close of the week. Sermons were based on the Gospel of Luke for the period of six months. One advantage of the plan was that the number of Sunday- school pupils staying for the eleven o’clock service materially increased. Some of the testimonies regarding the plan were as follows: A Deacon: “I feel as if I really KNOW what the Gospel of Luke is all about.” A Teacher: “This is the first time I ever made a really thorough study of a whole book, and believe me, I found out how much I didn’t know about the Bible.”
A Departmental Officer: “I hope we will do it. again. I believe our bo^s and girls really learned more during this period than any other correspond ing period of time.” A Member of an Adult Class: “I always wanted to have a family altar. Reading the Gospel of Luke daily has made that possible, and' you don’t know how happy I am.” A. Layman in the Sunday-school: “I wish we could study one book at a time all the time. I certainly have profited by this d e t a i l e d study of Luke."
The Pastor: “Figures simply do no t and cannot tell the story. The spirit and atmosphere of the church is the most conclusive evidence and proof as to the real value of such an effort. Personally I greatly enjoyed the study of the Gospel and found great joy. in the preaching of the Sunday morning sermons.” With the approach of the first quar ter of 1943, in which the Gospel of John is the basis ,of the International Lesson Series, other pastors and con gregations may wish to consider a similar unified, intensive program of Bible study.
Significance of the News By DAN GILBERT Washington, D. C., and San Diego, California
THE SHIFT TO THE "OFFENSIVE": • Historians may some day record the turning point of the war as that period during which the United Nations shifted from a “defensive” to an “offensive” strategy. When the war broke out, the Allied strategy was dictated by a defensive psychology and plan of action. The theory was that Nazi Germany could be “starved out,” defeated by a naval blockade. There would be no need to invade enemy territory; . the Allied nations could stay at homè, remain on the defensive, and win by a long- range blockade. The course of the war proved this theory to be almost dis astrously in error. As fair as human military strategy is concerned, it is now regarded as plain that the War must be carried aggressively into the very heart of the enemy nations. What is true in the military sphere is also true in the spiritual realm: victory comes through an assumption of the offensive. Jude instructs us to earnestly “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” He does not say that we should merely '“defend” the faith. To contend for the faith means to" carry it forward. There is an old military slogan to the effect that the best defense is an offense. You cannot defend anything by standing still. We cannot defend America effectively by strengthening oUr defenses here at home. To defend America, we must wage offensive war in Europe and Asia. There is a spiritual slogan to the same effect: thè best defense of the gospel is the proclamation of the
STORMING THE FORT: • Our governmental leaders no longer think in terms of defending America from the attack of the enemy. They think in terms of destroying the enemy in his owrf back yard. It is high time that our religious leaders ceased to think and plan in terms, of “holding the fort.” We are not com missioned to hold the fort; we are directed to storm the enemy’s: fort. Our task is to storm the strongholds of sin, to smash the embattlements of evil. Our task is to res8ue the perish- iiig, the enslaved, and the dying. With Christ’s power, we are to release the captives' and bind up the wounds of the afflicted. We are to carry the gospel to all men, everywhere. We are to enter into [Continued on Page 437]
gospel. We cannot “defend” the Bible by answering the arguments of its enemies. We cannot win by remaining on the defensive. We must take the offensive, using the Word of God as our weapon. It is our sword. It is our means of conquering in the name and by the cross of Christ. We must use the Bible, rather than explaining and apologizing and arguing on its behalf. As a matter of fact, it needs no argu ment in order to establish its authority. We cannot win arguments for the Bible; but the Bible can win argu ments for us. We cannot defend the Word of God; but if can defend us. Our knowledge and brain power can not prove that the Bible is true; but the Bible can conform our knowlédge and brain power to the pattern of truth. ,
Suggestion for Christmas Why not use thè program, "Home for Christmas," in your Sunday - school of other group this year? The full text, in cluding several original poems by the beloved writer, Helen Frazee-Bower, will be p r i n t e d in the next issue of THE KING'S BUSINESS. Almost no rehearsal and decoration required for presenting this truly Christ-honoring hour. Why not provide THE KING'S BUSI NESS as "quarterlies" for Sunday-school workers? The cost is only a few cents a copy. Many schools are following this plan with enthusiastic results. Write for information.
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