FOREWORD
The
lessonswewillstudyduringthisquarterdealwiththesubject,
THE
CHURCHAND
THE
WORK.Manyimportant
truths-such
asthosewhichshowushowtosecurethespiritualprosperityofthechurch,howtofurthertheprogressofthework,howtomeetchurchdifficulties,howtoclosethedooragainstdisorderlymanifestations,howtoensurethepeaceofthechurch
-will
bebroughtupintheselessons.
The
relationshipbetweenChristandthechurch,andbetweenthechurchanditsindividualmembers,shouldbeclearlyunderstood,andtheinstructionscal-culatedtopromoteunity,cooperationandloveamongthepeopleofGod,mustbeimpressedonthemindsofthebrethren,sothattheblessingsofGodmayrestuponusasapeopleandasindivid-uals.
In
theBibleandtheSpiritofProphecythepurposeoforgan-ization,system,andorder
is
veryplain:Ontheonehandwearenottoallowformalismandmachinerytoprevailoverthesimplic-ityofthegospelandtheprimitivegodlinessthatcharacterizedtheearlyChristianchurch,butontheotherhandwearetoun-derstandthat"thoroughorganization
is
essential"
"to
keepoutspuriousuprisings,"
"to
refuteclaimsnotendorsedbythewordofGod,"andtogive"disorderlyelements"
no
chance
"to
controlthework
at
thistime"
(Testimonies
to
Ministers,
p.
228).MaytheSpiritofGodenlightenthemindsofteachersandstudentsastheystudytheselessons!
The
GeneralConferenceSabbathSchoolDepartment
-3-