第07章 安息日学工作的前景
§1
第七章 安息日学工作的前景
§2
Chapter 7—Possibilities in Sabbath-School Work
§3
我们的安息日学就是圣经学习班。在教导圣经真理的神圣工作中，它们可以取得比过去大得多的成绩。安息日学若办得合宜，就具有奇妙的能力，会成就伟大的工作。但它现在（写于1889年）没有达到应有的地步。安息日学工作的影响应能改进和扩展教会，但是决不能让它偏离教会的利益。安息日学是非常重要的传道园地。如果它现在有了良好的征兆，那也只是可以成就之工作的预示和开端。{TSS 29.1}
§4
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 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 29.1}
§5
挨家挨户翻开圣经与人一起研究的伟大工作，增加了安息日学工作的重要性，也显明安息日学的教师应该是献身的男女，明白圣经，且能按着正意分解真理的道。给人查经人想法是来自天上的想法，并且敞开了门路，使成千上万的青年男女进入园地去做一项重要的工作，否则这工作是做不成的。{TSS 29.2}
§6
The great work of opening the Bible from house to house in Bible readings gives an added importance to the Sabbath-school work, and makes it evident that the teachers in the schools should be consecrated men and women, who understand the Scriptures, and can rightly divide the word of truth. The idea of holding Bible readings is a heaven-born idea, and opens the way to put hundreds of young men and women into the field to do an important work, which otherwise could not have been done. {TSS 29.2}
§7
加在圣经上的锁链已经解开。它可以进入家家户户，其中的真理可以达到每一个人的良心。许多人象高尚的庇哩亚人那样，愿意天天亲自查考圣经，要晓得这道是与不是。基督说：“你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生，给我作见证的就是这经”（约5:39）。世界的救赎主耶稣吩咐我们不仅要阅读圣经，而且要“查考圣经”。这是一项伟大而重要的工作，既已交托我们，我们若实行就必大大获益，因为顺从基督的命令是不会得不到赏赐的。对于这种追随圣经所显亮光的忠诚行为，祂一定会予以特别的嘉奖。{TSS 30.1}
§8
The Bible is unchained. It can be carried to every man’s door, and its truths may be presented to every man’s conscience. There are many who, like the noble Bereans, will search the Scriptures daily for themselves, when the truth is presented, to see whether or not these things are so. Christ has said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me.” Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, bids men not only to read, but to “search the Scriptures.” This is a great and important work, and it is committed to us, and in doing this we shall be greatly benefited; for obedience to Christ’s command will not go unrewarded. He will crown with especial tokens of His favor this act of loyalty in following the light revealed in His Word. {TSS 30.1}
§9
赐给诚心寻求者的大光
§10
Great Light for the Earnest Seeker
§11
寻求真理的人一打开圣经，恭敬地阅读上帝的话，切愿知道“主怎么说的？”就必有亮光和恩典赐给他，他就会看出上帝律法中的奇妙。他就不会把耶和华的律法看作束缚人的轭，而会看作全智且满有怜悯之主恩慈的命令。他就会急速满足主的要求。历代以来一直受到忽视、未得赏识的真理，就会由上帝的灵显明出来，常见的经文也有新的意义闪现出来。每一页都会被真理的圣灵所照亮。圣经不是封闭的，而是开启的。最宝贵的真理显明了；活泼的圣言被好学的人听到，人们的良心便被唤醒，起来行动。{TSS 30.2}
§12
As soon as the seeker for truth opens the Bible to read the utterances of God with reverence, possessing an earnest desire to know “what saith the Lord,” light and grace will be given him, and he will see wondrous things out of God’s law. He will not regard the law of Jehovah as a yoke of bondage, but as the gracious commands of One who is all-wise and full of compassion. He will make haste to fulfill His requirements. Great truths which have been neglected and unappreciated for ages, will be revealed by the Spirit of God, and new meaning will flash out of familiar texts. Every page will be illuminated by the Spirit of truth. The Bible is not sealed but unsealed. The most precious truths are revealed; the living oracles are heard by wondering ears, and the consciences of men are aroused into action. {TSS 30.2}
§13
要将口齿不清的婴孩、青少年和老年人聚在一起，给他们任务去解决种种奥秘。这些奥秘一直不为地上的智者所理解，尽管他们有卓越的头脑。上帝之道的重要真理，是适合那些乐意在神圣教师脚前学习的谦卑人的。耶稣因这个事实而灵里喜乐，说：“父啊，天地的主，我感谢祢！因为祢将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来，向婴孩就显出来。父啊！是的，因为祢的美意本是如此”（路10:21）。{TSS 31.1}
§14
Gather the infants with lisping lips, the youth and the aged, and set them to the task of solving mysteries which have not been comprehended by the wise men of earth, although possessed of giant minds. The weighty truths of God’s Word are for those who are humble and willing to learn at the feet of the Divine Teacher. Jesus rejoiced in spirit because of this fact, and said, “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.” {TSS 31.1}
§15
不要让狭隘的思想阻止或限制你的工作。“田地就是世界”（太13:38）。真理的道明白显示在圣经的每一页上，可是仇敌却有能力弄瞎自负之人的心眼，叫他们连最简明的话都理解不了。要将真理教导我们的孩童。用上帝之道的启示武装他们。让他们能讲出真理的圣经中所写的是什么。传道人在讲台上要以用从天上的祭坛取来的火炭沾过的口讲说生命的道，打动那些虽有世界的智慧，却不领悟天上智慧之人的心灵。{TSS 31.2}
§16
Let not narrow ideas proscribe and bind about your labors. “The field is the world.” The doctrines of truth are plainly revealed on every page of the Word of God, and yet the enemy has power to blind the minds of the self-sufficient, so that the plainest and simplest utterances may not be understood. Let the truth be taught to our children. Let them be armed with the revelation of the Word of God. Let them be able to tell what is written in the Scriptures of truth. Let the minister from the desk, with lips touched with a coal from off the altar of heaven, speak the words of life that will burn their way into the heart and soul of those who, although wise in the wisdom of the world, do not comprehend the wisdom that is from above. {TSS 31.2}
§17
当以明确的关心求问这个问题：“真理是什么呢”（约18:38）？我们必须响应上帝的命令，从亮光前进到更大的亮光。必没有这种事：基督的精兵站着不动，粗心大意，无所事事。要不断进步。上帝的天意正在一步步地带领我们走在顺从的道路上。父母和教师们要让孩子们心中铭记，主正在今生检验他们，要看他们是否以爱心和崇敬之心顺从祂。那些不愿在今生顺从基督的人，在永恒的世界也不会顺从祂。主正在设法使他们有资格居住在天上耶稣已去为那些爱祂的人预备的地方。{TSS 31.3}
§18
The question, “What is truth?” should be asked with decided interest. We must respond to the command of God, and go forward from light to a greater light. There is no such thing as the soldiers of Christ standing still, careless and inactive. There are constant improvements to be made. The providence of God is leading us on step by step in the path of obedience. Let parents and teachers impress upon the minds of the children that the Lord is proving them in this life, to see if they will render obedience to Him with love and reverence. Those who would not be obedient to Christ here would not obey Him in the eternal world. The Lord is seeking to fit them for the heavenly mansions that Jesus has gone to prepare for those who love Him. {TSS 31.3}
§19
需要教导的功课
§20
The Lessons to Be Taught
§21
不要使安息日学课成为枯燥沉闷的。要给人心留下这样的印象：圣经，惟有圣经，才是我们信仰的准则，世人的言行不可作我们的道理或行为的规范。必须教导儿童的一个重大的教训，乃是他们必须摆脱每一点自我中心和固执己见。要教导他们，基督受死为要拯救罪人，要以极大的温柔和忍耐为那些我们信仰以外的人作工，因为他们的灵魂在上帝看来很宝贵。不可轻视任何一个人。不可有法利赛主义，不要自以为义。{TSS 32.1}
§22
Do not make the Sabbath-school lessons dry and spiritless. Leave the impression upon the mind that the Bible, and the Bible alone, is our rule of faith, and that the sayings and doings of men are not to be a criterion for our doctrines or actions. One grand lesson must be taught to the children, and that is that they must be free from every particle of egotism and bigotry. Teach them that Christ died to save sinners, and that those who are not of our faith are to be labored for with great tenderness and forbearance, for their souls are precious in the sight of God. No one must be regarded with contempt. There must be no Pharisaism, no self-righteousness. {TSS 32.1}
§23
我们接触到许多与我们信仰不同的真基督徒，他们按照所得到的最佳亮光生活，比那些虽有更大亮光却没有藉着表现相称的行为善用那亮光的人更蒙上帝眷爱。有一次，门徒发现一个人在奉基督的名行事，约翰向耶稣提起这事，说：“我们就禁止他，因为他不跟从我们。”但耶稣却斥责了这种精神，并且告诉跟从祂的人：“不敌挡我们的，就是帮助我们的”（可9:38,40）。那些相信和学习耶稣的人必在言语、精神和举止上将“道路、真理、生命”（约6:14）表现出来。父母和教师应当对那些不信真理的人表现出最温柔的关怀和同情。他们绝不应该藉着言语或行为伤害一个人，人人都是基督的血所买来的。年长的人若是表现出冷淡、苛刻、无情的精神，孩子们就会显出同样的精神，他们的品格就不会按照上帝的样式塑造了。我们必须耐心地教导儿童和青少年感到，上帝要求他们作传道士，他们不要成为自私、狭隘、固执的人，而要心胸宽广，富有同情心。如果人人都本着爱心行事，表现基督化的礼貌，他们就会得人，把宝贵的禾捆带给主。{TSS 32.2}
§24
There are many true Christians not of our faith, with whom we come in contact, who live according to the best light that they have, and they are in greater favor with God than are those who have greater light but who have not improved it by showing corresponding works. At one time the disciples found a man who was doing a work in Christ’s name, and John, relating the matter to Jesus, said, “We forbade him, because he followeth not us;” but Jesus rebuked his spirit, and told his followers that “he that is not against us is on our part.” The Way, the Truth, and the Life, will be clearly revealed in the words, the spirit, and the deportment of those who believe in and learn of Jesus. Parents and teachers should manifest the tenderest interest and sympathy for those who are not believers in the truth. They should never, either by word or action, wound a soul, the purchase of Christ’s blood. If the older ones manifest a cold, harsh, unsympathetic spirit, the children will manifest the same, and their characters will not be moulded after the divine model. We must patiently educate the children and youth to feel that they are required of God to be missionaries, that they are not to be selfish, narrow, and bigoted, but broad in their ideas and sympathies. If all work in love and manifest Christian courtesy, they will be winners of souls, and will bring precious sheaves to the Master. {TSS 32.2}
§25
有一件事是确定的，就是安息日复临信徒无论是在教会中还是在安息日学工作中，都很少有爱的精神。工人和学员所要达到的标准太低了。人人都需要得到扩展，有更高尚更圣洁的志向，吸入更纯洁的空气。青年男男女女要成为上帝的传道士。他们需要最好的指导和宗教训练。他们需要来自上帝的德行，还要加上知识，这会使他们有资格担任受考验的负责岗位。智力与灵力的发展应该与体力的发展同样显著。年轻人应该感到必须在理智和灵性上变得强壮而有能力。许多人没能获得这种能力，不是因为他们缺少才能，而是因为他们没能作出坚决而且殷勤的努力。他们应该充分利用自己的机会，成为操心的人，以便能负起担子，分担那些已经鞠躬尽瘁之人的责任。一切传道工作中，最重要的工作就是训练工人进入园地去传福音给凡受造的听。{TSS 33.1}
§26
One thing is certain, there is too little of the spirit of love among Seventh-day Adventists, both in church and Sabbath-school work. The workers and learners aim for too low a standard. All need to be enlarged, to have higher and holier aspirations, to inhale a purer atmosphere. Young men and women are to come forth from our Sabbath-schools and colleges to become missionaries for God. They need the very best of instruction and religious training. They need that virtue that comes from God, added to knowledge, which will qualify them for trying and responsible positions. The intellectual and spiritual growth should be as marked as the development of the physical powers. The young should feel the necessity of being strong and competent intellectually as well as spiritually. Many fail to acquire this power, not because they are lacking in ability, but because they fail to apply themselves with determined and diligent effort. They should make the very most of their opportunities, and become care-takers, in order to be able to bear the burdens and share the responsibilities of those who are worn and laden. The most important of all missionary work is to train workers to go into the field to preach the gospel to every creature. {TSS 33.1}
§27
安息日学的教师要在信心、爱心、教义和举止上成为榜样。他要穿着朴，表现出自然和真实的美，而不是虚假和做作的美。他要教导他的学生热爱上帝，要一行一行，一句一句，一点一点地教导他们，为真理增添新的特色，直到在他们的头脑中勾画出真理的魅力和美丽。他要祈祷和工作，直到他看见他的教导与真理联系在一起，并拥有过于人所能测度的上帝之爱。（《安息日学工作者》1889年1月日）{TSS 34.1}、
§28
Let the Sabbath-school teacher be an example in faith, in charity, in doctrine, and deportment. Let him dress with simplicity. Let him show the beauty of the natural and true, in contrast with the false and artificial. Let him teach his scholars to love God, giving them line upon line, and precept upon precept, little by little adding new features to the truth, till it is delineated before the minds in its attractiveness and beauty. Let him pray and work until he sees his charges bound to the truth, and in possession of the love of God, which passeth knowledge.—Sabbath-School Worker, January 1, 1889, par. 11. {TSS 34.1}