Those Juniors, Part 30: Six Honest Serving Men

by Eric B. Hare

Last week: A teacher’s voice should be cultured and clear. Voice culture should be taught to students, as well. You can put color and feeling into Bible verses, or anything else, by using expression in your tone of voice. It can be beneficial to omit pieces of a passage that will cause distraction in class.

We have already studied the deductive and inductive principles in teaching, and have noticed how the question method stimulates the thinking and discovery of inductive teaching. In this chapter we want to study the art of asking questions, for we recognize that some questions are weak stimulators and others are strong. In order to keep the principles of deduction and induction in mind, we will teach the first section on questions by the deductive method and the second section by the inductive.

Three Kinds of Questions (Example of Deduction)
There are three kinds of questions:

1. Rhetorical
2. Elliptical
3. Clear, direct, simple

Memory Text for December 28–January 3

Key Thought for Lesson 1, "Sowing the Seed"
God has placed the truths of salvation in objects He created. One important truth is that we can choose to plant seeds of goodness that will help us grow more like Jesus.

Memory Text:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Project: Memory
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge” (Psalm 19:1, 2).

Memory Text for December 21–27

Key Thought for Lesson 13, "Branches of the Vine"
Abiding in Christ is the only way to be true Christians. We abide through prayer, Bible study, asking for the Holy Spirit, and absolute surrender to Christ.

Memory Text:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4).

Project: Memory
Did you complete the memory project of learning Ephesians 6:1–18? Congratulations! We hope you've taken the chance this week to review.

Those Juniors, Part 29: The Echoes of Teaching

by Eric B. Hare

Last week: There is a great amount of difference between connotation and denotation. If these two concepts are clearly understood, the teacher will be able to help their students understand things better.

When Paul exhorted Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine,”1 I am inclined to think he included among other things, his words, his voice, and his manner of speaking, for Paul was very particular about being understood when he spoke. Writing to the Corinthians, he said, “I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”2

You will agree that an unknown tongue need not be a foreign language. If the one who prays buries his face in his hands, if the secretary mumbles and mutters so that we cannot understand a single thought, that is without doubt an unknown tongue.

Ellie's Christmas Prayer

by Ruth Scott

The sun hung low in the western sky as two weary prospectors plodded down a narrow, snowy road. Already the clouds resting on the craggy mountain peaks glowed pink and gold, and soon shadows darkened the travelers’ path.

“I reckon it’s at least five miles more to a settlement, Jim.” Bill Brand thrust his walking stick into the snow. “No way can we make it before dark, and I’m tired enough to flop right here in the snow for the night.”

Jim Fry snorted. “I’m for movin’ on, Bill, till we come to the first shack. Must be one not far around this next bend. Why should two lucky gold panners sleep out in the cold—and on the night before Christmas Eve, no less?” Jim lengthened his stride, and Bill huffed to catch up with him.