Chap. 1 - The Importance and Purpose of Sabbath School Work
             An Important Work

     The Sabbath school work is important, and all who are interested in the 
truth should endeavor to make it prosperous.--TSS 109. {CSW 9.1}


       A Marvelous Power for Good

     Our Sabbath schools are nothing less than Bible societies, and in the 
sacred work of teaching the truths of God's word, they can accomplish far 
more than they have hitherto accomplished. The Sabbath school, when rightly 
managed, possesses marvelous power, and is adapted to doing a great work, 
but it is not now [WRITTEN IN 1889] what it may and should be. The influence 
growing out of Sabbath school work should improve and enlarge the church; 
but in no case should it ever be allowed to divert from the interests of the 
church. There is a most precious missionary field in the Sabbath school, and 
if there are now omens of good, they are only indications and beginnings of 
what may be done.--TSS 29.
                                                                             
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{CSW 9.2}


      God's Instrumentalities

     I feel a deep interest in our Sabbath schools throughout the land, 
because I believe them to be instrumentalities of God for the education of 
our youth in the truths of the Bible. Constant efforts should be made by 
both parents and teachers to interest the youth in matters of eternal 
importance. The Sabbath school is a missionary field, and very much more of 
a missionary spirit should be manifested in this important work than has 
been manifested in the past.--TSS 35. {CSW 10.1}


   Most Effectual Soul-winning Agency


     The Sabbath school should be one of the greatest instrumentalities, and 
the most effectual, in bringing souls to Christ.--TSS 20. {CSW 10.2}


    An Influence Beyond Estimate


     Very much can be done for the education and moral and religious 
training of our youth by well-organized, properly conducted Sabbath schools. 
Time and attention should be given to this branch of the work; for its 
importance in its influence upon our youth cannot be estimated.--TSS 14, 15. 
{CSW 10.3}


           A Converting Power

     The Sabbath school is an important branch of the missionary work, not 
only because it gives to young and old a knowledge of God's word, but 
because it awakens in them a love for its sacred truths, and a
                                                                             
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desire to study them for themselves; above all, it teaches them to regulate 
their lives by its holy teachings.--TSS 109, 110. {CSW 10.4}


      A Strength to the Church

     There is a broad field in Sabbath school work, that needs to be 
diligently cultivated, and that is to inspire our youth to give themselves 
wholly to the Lord, to be used by Him in His cause. There should be zealous, 
faithful workers in our Sabbath schools, who will watch and discern upon 
whom the Spirit of God is moving, and cooperate with the angels of God in 
winning souls for Christ. There are sacred responsibilities entrusted to 
Sabbath school workers, and the Sabbath school should be the place where, 
through a living connection with God, men and women, youth and children, may 
be so fitted up that they shall be a strength and blessing to the church. 
They should help the church upward and onward, as far as it lies in their 
ability, going from strength to greater strength.--TSS 92. {CSW 11.1}


       A Broad, Important Field

     Superintendents and the workers in our Sabbath schools have a very 
important, broad field to cultivate. They need to be baptized with the Holy 
Spirit of God, that their minds may be impressed to use the very best 
methods, and follow the best plans to make their work wholly successful. The 
Lord will work with their efforts; for the youth are the purchase
                                                                             
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of the blood of the only-begotten Son of God. The Lord loved these youth, 
and gave Jesus to die, that "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 
but have everlasting life." {CSW 11.2}

     There is a great work of education to be carried on. The teachers 
should often pray for and with the children and youth, that they may "behold 
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." They should teach 
the youth their accountability to God, and help them to understand what 
Jesus expects of them. Exert every influence you can possibly command to 
interest them in the Scriptures. Labor for their souls, that they themselves 
shall become zealous workers, using their talents to impart to others that 
which has been imparted to them.--TSS 83. {CSW 12.1}


        Worthy of Long Service

     The Sabbath school should be a place where the jewels of truth are 
searched for and rescued from their environment of error, and placed in 
their true setting in the framework of the gospel. Precious gems of truth, 
long lost sight of, are now to be restored to the children of God. The 
themes of justification by faith, the righteousness of Christ, should be 
presented in our schools, that the youth and children may understand these 
important subjects, and teachers and scholars may know the way of salvation. 
Sacred and eternal principles connected with the plan of salvation have long 
been lost from sight, but they must be restored to their proper place in the 
plan
                                                                             
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of salvation, and made to appear in their heavenly light, and penetrate the 
moral darkness in which the world is enshrouded. {CSW 12.2}

     Let the youth take heed to the words of the wise man, "Trust in the 
Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Let 
them walk softly, prayerfully, and carefully before the Lord, in continual 
dependence upon Him, and at the same time exerting all their powers, 
improving all their opportunities, trusting to what the Lord can do with 
their consecrated abilities. Let them inquire at every step, "Is this the 
way of the Lord?" Humility is a characteristic of those who have true 
wisdom, and no matter what may be their attainments, they will not be 
self-confident and boastful. {CSW 13.1}

     The Lord calls for young men and women to gird themselves for lifelong, 
earnest labor in the Sabbath school work. Spasmodic efforts will not avail 
to accomplish much good, or to make you successful laborers in the work of 
God. By patient continuance in well-doing, you are to become laborers 
together with God. You are to reckon yourselves the servants of God by the 
day. Be diligent in your work for one day, and see that you make no crooked 
paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the path of rectitude by 
your misdoings.--TSS 52, 53. {CSW 13.2}


         An Abundant Reward

     No one can labor in the Sabbath school or in the temperance work 
without reaping a bountiful harvest,
                                                                             
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not only in the end of the world, but in the present life. In the very 
effort to enlighten and bless others, his own views will become clearer and 
broader. The more we endeavor to explain the truth to others, with a love 
for souls, the plainer will it become to ourselves. It ever opens with new 
beauty and force to the understanding of the expounder,-- TSS 108. {CSW 
13.3}