A bishop," said Paul, ". . . must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable, and with a gift for teaching" (I Tim. 3:2, Weymouth).
The sermonizing preacher is not as effectual as the teaching minister. "Teach them to observe every command which I have given you," instructed the risen Christ, as He sent them out to "make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19, 20, Weymouth).
Think of those words, "Teach them to observe every command which I have given you." The word used here, "observe," actually means "to guard by keeping the eye upon," "to watch closely."
This teaching emphasis appears in the evangelist's work before the candidate is baptized. It is continued by the pastor after the new members join themselves to Christ and His church.
One vital truth taught by Christ was this: "Ask," said Jesus, "and it shall be given you. . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:9-13). At Pentecost, Peter repeated the words: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38, 39). "The gift of the Holy Spirit," should be understood by Christian people. So should the doctrine of the gifts of the Spirit.
In Luther's song, "A Mighty Fortress," he sings triumphantly, "The Spirit and the gifts are ours.' How can we offer to the sinner the promise of the Holy Spirit without presenting the gifts and the fruits of the Spirit too?
One of the gifts of the Spirit reappearing in the last days is the Spirit of Prophecy, manifest in the Seventh-day Adventist Church through the agency of Ellen G. White. Our pastors are reaping good fruitage in congregations where the people have a thorough knowledge of the Biblical principles re-emphasized by this servant of the Lord. What can be done to guide more Seventh-day Adventists into a fuller Christian life and witness? Here are a few workable ideas:
- Encourage all youth and adults to enroll in the Prophetic Guidance Course. Especially encourage church leaders, Sabbath school workers, and Missionary Volunteer officers to take the twenty-four-lesson series. Conduct an every-member enrollment program.
- Organize a week-night Prophetic Guidance Class. An instruction sheet explaining how this twenty-four-lesson course can be conducted in sixteen nights may be had free. Write to White Publications, General Conference, Takoma Park 12, Washington, D.C., or Prophetic Guidance School, Box 200, Glendale 5, California.
In the Takoma Park church, where the course was presented on 1-6 Wednesday evenings, there was an enrollment of 189, with 170 graduating. At the time of this writing 431 active students are enrolled in such a class in the Sligo church. The impact on spiritual life is pronounced and lasting.
Pastors may suggest to those who have started the course that they go on to finish the series. At the time this article is being written, 9,000 active enrollees are studying the lessons. Approximately 50,000 have enrolled, 12,000 have graduated, 9,000 are active. Where are the 29,000 that began but did not finish? Are some of them in your church?
There are also the new members who during 1962 joined the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists. Are they studying these things that will help them grow in a knowledge of the truth? Remember, "We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history."
The pastor should be "apt to teach." A teaching ministry is effective for good, much good. Why not start a Prophetic Guidance Class in your church as soon as possible? Begin in February, finish in May, and before the summer months come you will have completed one of the most interesting teaching episodes in your ministry. Try it and see. I know. Nothing I have ever done has thrilled me more.
