CHAPTER XXI
THE GOSPEL COPY BOOK
Objects used: A small blackboard; a small New Testament; a number of children to write on the blackboard
THE GOSPEL COPY BOOK
THIS is a lesson showing how important it is to copy Christ, not Christians. Many go astray in their life and conduct because they do not follow the copy. There is a gospel copy book. Christ is that book. Follow His words and your life will not be crooked, and what you do and say will cause people who watch you to say "He is following the copy. He has studied well his lesson in the Gospel Copybook." Write the word "Christian" in large letters at the top of the blackboard and ask a tall boy to copy it as exactly as possible. After this is done, cover up the original line, and ask another boy to copy the copy. Keep covering up all but the last line, having various ones to copy till six or seven have been made. Now take off the covers and compare them with the original. You will note every copy is different from each other and all different from the original, because each child looked at some one else's writing and not at the original. We are apt to copy each other's mistakes and example. This we do when we look at Christians, and try to do as they do instead of taking Christ as our example.
One morning a business man who lived in the suburbs was hastening to catch the train, which he supposed was almost due. It was important that he should go to town, but, as he was walking along in nervous haste, he saw a gentleman ahead of him, walking with deliberation and ease. They always took the same train, so he watched him and not his watch. But to his great dismay, he saw the train come in and go out, and they both were left. The watch of the man he followed was five minutes slow. He learned his lesson—follow no man—watch the watch and the schedule, and go straight ahead. Run yourself on railroad time. That is good business sense for the traveler. Jesus has given us a gospel copy book. Here it is. It is the New Testament. Follow its teachings and your life will be straight, and you will be like Jesus. Follow Christ and not Christians." Be not content in saying "I am as good as most Christians." You are not asked to be as good as even the best Christians, but to be like Jesus.
CHAPTER XXII
IN HIS KEEPING
Objects used: A nest of boxes; teaching the truth of the Divine Security
IN HIS KEEPING
THIS is a lesson based on the text John 10:28: "They shall never perish." They shall never perish because they are in His keeping. Oh how safe are those who trust Him in the hollow of His hand, for "they shall never perish."