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Chosen no: R-3517 a, from: 1905 Year. |
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"Watch Ye! Stand Fast In The Faith."
BEREAN
SCRIPTURE LESSONS,--SUGGESTIONS
AND OUTLINES FOR PROFITABLE
CLASS STUDIES.
FOR some time past we have been receiving
letters inquiring how little gatherings of the Lord's people can use the hour
of their Sunday gatherings most profitably. Some of these letters are from
brethren chosen as Elders or leaders, saying that they are quite incapable of
getting up a "sermon" and find it impossible to prepare even a Bible
Study in an attractive and interesting form, though the dear brethren, full of
love for the Truth, do not complain, but rather encourage them.
Other letters are from those who take no public
part and who, while sympathizing with their meeting-leaders in their endeavors
to imitate nominal church purveyors, are wishing and praying for the opening of
some "door" of help which will make the "assembling of
themselves" more profitable to all.
It was in response to this "cry" of
the Lord's people that we prepared the WATCH TOWER
Bible, in the margins of which, in addition to the Scripture references, we
gave DAWN and TOWER references. In the [R3518 :
page 72] front of that Bible, which so many of you possess, we gave some
suggestions on "Berean Bible Study," and in the back part we gave
extended references and also a Topical Index. It was our hope that these
would meet the requirements, but we find that they do not. Many of the Lord's
earnest ones have so long been used to "swallowing" whatever was
offered them as spiritual nutriment that they had never learned how to feed
themselves at the Father's table. Others who knew how to get at the food
properly found their time so consumed in the "things needful" and
pressing that they had little time to prepare lessons of a profitable kind for
themselves or others, even after the matter had been outlined as in the Topical
Index.
THE BEREAN
STUDIES NOW PROPOSED.
Appreciating the needs, we requested some of the
"Pilgrim" brethren to give examples of these Berean Studies at the
various places visited. However, even this did not serve the purpose, because
the visits of the "Pilgrims" being few and more like those of the
apostles of old, the friends begrudged the time of even one
service--particularly since it requires several meetings of the Berean type to
demonstrate its value and arouse the proper enthusiasm.
Now as meeting all these requirements we are
having prepared Outline Lessons for each month of this year, beginning with
March. One peculiarity about these lessons is that they do not teach, but merely question, and refer the student to the Scriptures and the WATCH TOWER
publications bearing thereon. Thus thought is stimulated and the Truth the more
clearly impressed.
The thirty questions of the March Lesson
following might serve for thirty Sundays; but having so much good food we can
afford to fare sumptuously and take several questions for each meeting. As to
how many, would depend somewhat on the number in attendance, and how accustomed
they are to analytical study, and how expert the leader of the meeting. It
might be well for the classes to appoint several of the seemingly capable
brethren to lead in turn, that the most able in this respect might be
discerned. These will probably be found amongst those you have already chosen
as Elders.
If the class be a small one, of say seven, it
might be well to apportion to each one question for the following Sunday. The Elders, for instance, might be requested by vote to make such
apportionment of the questions. A week for the examination of the one question
should enable each one to bring on the next Sunday thoughts and texts and WATCH TOWER
and DAWN quotations that would be helpful, interesting, profitable to all. As
all are WATCH TOWER readers assignments can be made by
number, thus: Brother A--, question No. 4; Sister H--, No. 5, etc.
Where the class is larger, say twenty to forty,
the questions would best be apportioned to seven or eight of the most capable
members of the class to present the answers to the questions. In any event,
each subject or question should be open to general discussion after [R3518 : page 73] the presentation of the formal
reply by the one appointed to that service.
So used the thirty questions below should
furnish abundant food for profitable study by the largest classes for nearly or
quite a month. Our prayers go with these suggestions, that the result may bring
praise and honor to our Lord and strength and victory to his people.
----------
CONCERNING
FAITH--MARCH LESSONS.
(Following each question are texts of Scripture
in reply, then references to page numbers of DAWN and WATCH TOWER
giving comments; the first six letters of the alphabet represent the respective
DAWN volumes, and the TOWERS are designated by the letter "Z" and the
year. The mark par. refers to paragraph in article containing comment.)
1. What is faith? Heb.
11:1; 1 Jno. 5:4; E.125, par. 1; F.689
(1st line).
2. Name the two component elements of faith.
Z.'95-134.
3. How does faith differ from credulity? F.689,
par. 1.
4. What is the importance of a proper faith? Heb. 11:6; F.315,693, par. 1; Z.'94-329
(2nd col. par. 1-3).
5. What is the relation between faith and
knowledge? Rom. 10:17; A.13, par. 1; A.20,
par. 2; A.21, par. 1; Z.'94-329 (1st col. par. 2); Z.'99-3 (2nd col. par. 1).
6. How is faith "the gift of God"? Eph. 2:8; Z.'98-107 (1st col. par. 2); Z.'01-156
(1st col. par. 2,3).
7. Is faith in Christ necessary to salvation? Acts 4:10-12; Jno.
3:16,36; A.102, par. 3; Z.'97-278. (See Topical
Index,--"FAITH.")
8. What is the immediate result of faith in
Christ during the Gospel Age? Rom. 5:1; A.231,
par. 4; Z.'00-188 (1st col. par. 3, and 2nd col. par. 1,2).
9. How is Jesus the "author and finisher of
our faith"? Heb. 12:2; Z.'95-147 (1st
col. par. 1).
10. Is a simple confession of faith necessary? Rom. 10:10; Z.'00-149, (2nd col.); Z.'00-180 (1st
col. par. 5); Z.'02-270 (1st col. par. 1,2,3).
11. Is feeling an essential part of
faith? Z.'92-267.
12. Explain the difference between faith as a
basis for justification and faith as a fruit of the Spirit. F.688-692.
13. What is "the good fight of faith?"
1 Tim. 6:12; Z.'98-153,158, (2nd col.)
14. How should we fight the good fight?
Z.'95-201,202; Z.'98-158, (1st col. par. 2); Z.'98-159 (2nd col.); Z.'01-72
(2nd col. par. 3).
15. For whom and against whom do we fight? Phil. 2:12; 1 Jno. 3:16;
Eph. 6:12; Z.'98-153-155; F.599-658.
16. What does it mean to "walk by
faith"? 2 Cor. 5:7; F.631, par. 2,3;
Z.'00-57 (1st col.); Z.'95-92,93; F.142, par. 2.
17. Why are trials of faith permitted? Jas. 1:3,4; 1 Pet.
4:12,13; F.642-644; Z.'96-54; Z.'95-134,135.
18. What are some of the present rewards of
faith? 1 Cor. 2:9,10; F.689 (par. 2) to 692;
F.686, par. 3.
19. What is the future inheritance of faith? 1 Jno. 3:2; Rev. 2:10;
F.693,694, F.721 (par. 1,2) to 729.
20. What is the "rest" of
faith? Heb. 4:1-11; F.392-394; Z.'95-168,169;
Z.'99-253 (1st col. par. 1).
21. Define "full assurance" of
faith and hope. Heb. 10:22; 6:11;
Z.'00-169, par. 1.
22. How may we attain and retain full assurance of faith? Z.'98-247; E.249,250.
23. What are the hindrances to full assurance of
faith? Z.'00-169,170.
24. How may we increase our faith? F.691, par.
2; Z.'96-86 (2nd col. par. 3).
(a) By prayer. Z.'96-162,163.
(b) By study. F.315.
(c) By repeating and claiming the
promises of God. Z.'00-170 (1st col. par. 4).
(d) By watching our experiences. Z.'00-170 (2nd
col. par. 1,2).
25. Name some features of "present
truth" which have increased your faith.
26. What is the relation between faith and works? Jas. 2:14,17,18,22; Z.'00-343 (1st col. par.
1,2); Z.'01-231 (2nd col. par. 2,3).
27. Who constitute the "household of
faith"? Gal. 6:10; Z.'00-368, (2nd col.)
28. Explain Jas. 5:14-16.
F.631-638.
29. What is the significance of the symbols, shield and anchor, in connection with faith and hope? Eph.
6:16; F.657, par. 5; Heb. 6:19;
Z.'02-345 (1st col.)
30. What will be the relation between faith and
knowledge in the Millennial Age? Z.'00-238 (2nd col. par. 1,2) to 239; F.106,
(par. 3) to 107.
W.T. R-3517a : page 72
- 1905r