It is all-important that at this time the Bible material should furnish the most of inspiration and guidance possible.  The life and service of Jesus will now exert its fullest appeal, and should be studied in detail.  The work and service of Paul and of the apostles in founding the early church will fire the imagination and quicken the sense of the world’s need of great lives.  The ethical teachings of the Bible should now be made prominent, and should be made effective in shaping the ideals of personal and of social conduct which are crystallizing.  The development of the Hebrew religion, with its ethical teaching, and the moral quality of the Christian religion are now fruitful matter for study.

During the later part of adolescence the youth is ready to consider biblical matter that throws light on the deeper meaning of sin, of redemption, of repentance, of forgiveness, of regeneration, and other such vital concepts from our religion.  The simplest and least controversial interpretations—­that is, the broader and more significant meanings—­should be presented, and not the overspeculative and disputed interpretations, which are almost certain to lead to mental and perhaps spiritual disturbance and even doubt.

The guiding principle.—­For whatever age or stage of the child’s development we are responsible, we will follow the same principle.  Because we want to cultivate in the child a deep and continuing interest in the Bible and the things for which it stands, we will seek always to bring to him such material as will appeal to his interest, stir his imagination, and quicken his sense of spiritual values.  Since we desire to influence the learner’s deeds and shape his conduct through our teaching, we will present to him those lessons from the Bible which are most naturally and inevitably translated into daily living.  First we will know what impression we seek to make or what application we hope to secure, and then wisely choose from the rich Bible sources the material which will most surely accomplish this end.

STORY MATERIAL

The story is the chief and most effective means of teaching the younger child religion, nor does the appeal of the story form of expressing truth lose its charm for those of older years.  Lessons incomprehensible if put into formal precept can be readily understood by the child if made a part of life and action, and the story does just this.  It shows virtue being lived; goodness proving itself; strength, courage, and gentleness expressing themselves in practice; and selfishness, ugliness, and wrong revealing their unlovely quality.  Taught in the story way, the lesson is so plain that even the child cannot miss it.

The story also appeals to the child’s imagination, which is so ready for use and so vivid, and which it is so necessary to employ upon good material in order to safeguard its possessor from using it in harmful ways.  Long before the child has come to the age of understanding reasoned truth, therefore, he may well have implanted in his mind many of the deepest and most beautiful religious truths which will ever come to him.