RESPONSIVE READINGS

1.  THE SCOUT OATH (GENERAL)

Leader:          Our Honor is a quality we possess because of our dignity as human beings and children of GOD.  Our 'best' means to give all we have.  It means to keep striving to do what we know is right, and in the Oath it means we will try to be good Scouts by fulfilling our Scout duties as expressed in the Scout Law.

Scouts:           On my honor, I will do my best . . .

Leader:          Our duty to GOD and country means chiefly two things:  obedience and loyalty.  The duties we owe to the House of GOD, and to our country, to parents, to one another, and to ourselves come from some command of GOD.  The Scout Law sums up all the qualities a Scout should have and without which he can not be a good Scout.

Scouts:           To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law. . .

Leader:          Our Lord told us that love of our neighbor was like the first law of love of GOD.  The first children of GOD were known by the love they had for one another.  Real human charity or love prompts us to want to help others at all times.  Our Scout training will give us skills and knowledge that will put us in a better  position to do this.

Scouts:           To help other people at all times. . .

Leader:          Scouting offers us many opportunities to grow strong physically. To be alert and ready requires us to give special care to those gifts of soul - intellect and will - that make us unto GOD.  'Morally Straight' means we must try to know what is right and  true, and to love what is good and choose it.

Scouts:           To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

2.  SCOUT OATH (CHRISTIAN)

Scouts:           On my honor, I will do my best...

Leader:         Our Honor is a quality we possess because of our dignity as human beings and children of God.  Our 'best' means to give all we have.  It means to keep striving to do what we know is right, and in the Oath it means we will try to be good Scouts by fulfilling our Scout duties as expressed in the Scout Law.

Scouts:           To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law...

Leader:         Our duty to God and country means chiefly two things: obedience and loyalty.  The duties we owe to the church, to our country, to parents, to one another, and to ourselves come from some command of God.  The Scout Law sums up all the qualities a Scout should have and without which he can not be a good Scout.

Scouts:           To help other people at all times...

Leader:         Our Lord told us that love of our neighbor was like the first law of love of GOD.  Early Christians were known by the love they had for one another.  Real Christian charity or love prompts us to want to help others at all times.  Our Scout training will give us skills and knowledge that will put us in a better position to do this.

Scouts:           To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Leader:         Scouting offers us many opportunities to grow strong physically. To be alert and ready requires us to give special care to those gifts of soul - intellect and will - that make us unto God. 'Morally Straight' means we must try to know what is right and true, and to love what is good and choose it.

3.  THE SCOUT LAW (BIBLICAL)

Leader:          The person who is dishonest shall not live in My house; the person who is untruthful shall not stand before My eyes.  Psalms 101:7

Scouts:           A Scout is trustworthy.

Leader:          And Ruth said: 'Do not beg me to leave you or to return from following after you, for where you go I will go; and where you stay, I will stay.'   Ruth 1:16

Scouts:           A Scout is loyal.

Leader:          You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Leviticus 19:18

Scouts:           A Scout is helpful.

Leader:          Can two walk together unless they agree?   Amos 3:3

Scouts:           A Scout is friendly.

Leader:          Honor your Father and your Mother.  Exodus 20:12

Scouts:           A Scout is courteous.

Leader:          Withhold not good from the person to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.     Proverbs 3:27

Scouts:           A Scout is kind.

Leader:          Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.     Proverbs 23:12

Scouts:           A Scout is obedient.

Leader:          A glad heart is good medicine.  Proverbs 17:22

Scouts:           A Scout is cheerful.

Leader:          Precious treasure remains in a wise person's dwelling, but a foolish person uses it up.  Proverbs 21:20

Scouts:           A Scout is thrifty.

Leader:          Be strong and of good courage.   I Chronicles 28:20

Scouts:           A Scout is brave.

Leader:          Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord?  And who shall stand in His holy place?  The person who has clean hands and a pure heart.   Psalms 24:3-4

Scouts:           A Scout is clean.

Leader:          It has been told to you what is good, and what the Lord  requires of you;  Only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8

Scouts:           A Scout is reverant.

 4.  THE SCOUT LAW (BIBLICAL)

Leader:            A Scout is Trustworthy. A Scout tells the truth. He keeps his promises. Honesty is a part of his code of conduct. People can always depend on him.

Scouts:            Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and a fool. (Proverbs 19:1)

Leader:            A Scout is Loyal.  A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, nation and world community.

Scouts:            I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lords anointed. (1 Samuel 24:10)

Leader:            A Scout is Helpful.  A Scout is concerned about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.

Scouts:            And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Leader:            A Scout is Friendly. A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He seeks to understand others. He respects those with ideas and customs that are different from his own.

Scouts:            A friend loves at all times. And a brother is born for adversity. ( Proverbs 17:17)

Leader:            A Scout is Courteous.  A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that good manners make it easier for people to get along together.

Scouts:            You shall rise up before the greyheaded, and honor the aged and you shall revere your God: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:32)

Leader:            A Scout is Kind.  A Scout understands there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. He does not harm or kill anything without reason.

Scouts:            A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast. (Proverbs 12:10)

Leader:            A Scout is Obedient.  A Scout follows the rules of his family, school and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rule and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them.

Scouts:            Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed. (Titus 3:1)

Leader:            A Scout is Cheerful.  A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.

Scouts:            A joyful heart makes a cheerful face. A joyful heart is good medicine. (Proverbs 15:13, 17:22)

Leader:            A Scout is Thrifty.  A Scout works to pay his way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.

Scouts:            Go to the ant, O sluggard. Observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provisions in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

Leader:            A Scout is Brave.  A Scout can face danger even if he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

Scouts:            Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Leader:            A Scout is Clean.  A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He goes around with those who believe in living by these same ideas. He helps to keep his home and community clean.

Scouts:            Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)

Leader:            A Scout is Reverent.  A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

Scouts:            He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.  (Micah 6:8)

                                                                                                                (verses are from the New American Standard translation)

5.  THE SCOUT LAW (GENERAL USE)

Leader:              A Scout is trustworthy.

Scouts:       You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Leader:              A Scout is loyal.

Scouts:       A friend is a loving companion at all times, and a brother is born to share troubles.

Leader:              A Scout is helpful.

Scouts:      Everyone helps his neighbor...You shall open wide your hand to your brother and to the needy.

Leader:      A Scout is friendly.

Scouts:      A friend can be closer than a brother...There is no greater love than that a man lay down his life for his friend.

Leader:      A Scout is courteous.

Scouts:      You should live together like brothers, generous and kind at all times.

Leader:      A Scout is kind.

Scouts:      See that your faith carries with it real goodness of life, which must be accompanied by kindness.

Leader:      A Scout is obedient.

Scouts:      You should always be careful to do as the Lord God has commanded you...Follow the laws of your faith, the laws of your community, and the laws of righteousness.

Leader:      A Scout is cheerful.

Scouts:      A glad heart makes a cheerful face; a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Leader:      A Scout is thrifty.

Scouts:      Go to the ant, and watch her ways. In summer she prepares her store of food, and lays in supplies at harvest.

Leader:      A Scout is brave.

Scouts:      Be brave, for the Lord goes with you; He will not fail you nor forsake you.

Leader:              A Scout is clean.

Scouts:      Who will ascend to the mountain of the Lord, and stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.

Leader:      A Scout is reverent.

Scouts:      The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be hushed in His presence.

6.  THE SCOUT LAW (GENERAL)

Leader:          A true and worthy person recognizes his obligations and does them without being watched or compelled.

Scouts:           A Scout is trustworthy.

Leader:          We owe much to many - to home, school, community, nation, and to God.

Scouts:           A Scout is loyal.

Leader:          The good Samaritan showed the spirit of doing a Good Turn.

Scouts:           A Scout is helpful.

Leader:          Courtesy is the mark of all faiths.  It is shown in thoughtful acts and kindly respect for everyone.

Scouts:           A Scout is courteous.

Leader:           Kindliness is the way people show respect for others.

Scouts:           A Scout is kind.

Leader:           Life is filled with things that we must do whether we like them or not.  One of the marks of growing up is our readiness to accept responsibilities willingly.

Scouts:           A Scout is obedient

Leader:          Our moods make our days.  If we are grouchy, our day is gloomy.  If we are happy, our day is always happier.

Scouts:           A Scout is cheerful

Leader:          The world offers many gifts.  a wise person uses them with care.

Scouts:           A Scout is thrifty.

Leader:          To each of us comes danger, difficult tasks, and temptations.  In choice of courage or cowardice, may we be brave.

Scouts:           A Scout is brave.

Leader:          Cleanliness is next to Godliness.  To have a clean body, a clean mind, and a clean record is a rewarding achievement.

Scouts:           A Scout is clean.

Leader:          Character is determined by the things we worship.  If we respect ourselves and our brothers and sisters, and see them as gifts of the goodness of God, we live on a high plane.

People:           A Scout is reverant.

All:                  Give us clean hands, clean words, and clean thoughts, O God.  Teach us to work hard and to play fairly.  Forgive us when we are unkind and help us to help others.  Send us strength to do a good turn each day and so live after thy will.

7.  THE SCOUT LAW (CHRISTIAN)

Scouts:            A Scout is Trustworthy.

Leader:            Character is what a man is. Reputation is what people think about him. A youth of character is worthy of trust. No one is worthy of trust who does not recognize his dignity and the dignity of all men as children of God.

Scouts:            A Scout is Loyal.

Leader:            Because our first loyalty is to God, a Scout is loyal to all whom loyalty is due - his parents, his church, and his country.

Scouts:            A Scout is Helpful.

Leader:            Christ has told us that the good turns we do for others he will consider as done to him. Our motive, or reason why we are helpful, is that we see Christ in everybody. If our Lord was willing to die for everybody, a Scout certainly should be ready to render help. The whole Scout program give us an opportunity to be helpful.

Scouts:            A Scout is Friendly.

Leader:            The basis and motive of this point of the Law is Christian charity. We are all children of the same father, and brothers of Jesus Christ. Recognizing this, a Scout should be a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout.

Scouts:            A Scout is Courteous.

Leader:            A Scout should respect the image of God in everyone. The meaning of love as a Scout should be taken from the words of Christ himself -- "I have come not to be served, but to serve."

Scouts:            A Scout is Kind.

Leader:            This point of the Law refers mostly to animals. They exist for our use. They have lives and feelings and God has given them to us as a trust; as such we must use them well, never abusing or mistreating them.

Scouts:            A Scout is Obedient.

Leader:            Jesus Christ gave us an example of perfect obedience throughout his life. This will be a difficult point of the Law for a Scout to keep because it will mean discipline and giving up his own will at times. He should obey, not because the command pleases him, but because the one giving it has the right to do so, is someone in authority, and is right in doing so. Disobedience brought death and sin into the world; obedience brought our salvation. Real victory comes from obedience -- first to God, then to all he has placed in authority as long as they deserve our obedience.

Scouts:            A Scout is Cheerful.

Leader:            Joy should be one of the marks of a child of God. A Scout will have joy in his heart and manifest if outwardly by his cheerful manner.

Scouts:            A Scout is Thrifty.

Leader:            Thrift teaches self-respect, making us unwilling to be a burden to others. Far from being a burden, we are able by thrift to help them. A Scout is deeply concerned with preserving our natural resources.

Scouts:            A Scout is Brave.

Leader:            He can face danger even if he is afraid. He has courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others scorn him.

Scouts:            A Scout is Clean.

Leader:            He keeps clean in body and thought; stands for clean speech, clean sport, clean habits; and travels with a clean crowd.

Scouts:            A Scout is Reverent.

Leader:            He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in manners of custom and religion.

8.  A SCOUT IS REVERANT

 (Note: This reading was set up for a Scout Sabbath Service.  To make it more generic you can change "Torah" to "Bible" or "Scriptures" or "word of God" (etc.) as appropriate for your group. Similarly, references to "America" can be altered for international groups.  It should be read responsively.)

"The Torah is a tree of life to them that hold fast to it."

Because a Scout is reverent - he strives to be true to God, to study the Torah, and to live according to its commands.

"Seek the peace of the city and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof shall you have peace."

Because a Scout is reverent - he is loyal to America and its ideals of religious liberty for all.

"All men should be mindful of the well-being of one another."

Because a Scout is reverent - he is loyal to his people, and is ready to help his fellow men everywhere.

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land."

Because a Scout is reverent - he is a devoted and loyal son to his parents.

"Oh, how good it is, and how pleasant, for brothers to dwell together in unity."

Because a Scout is reverent - he strives to be a good Scout, a good person, and a good American at all times.

9.  LEARNING

Leader:            "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;        by understanding He established the heavens:

                        My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion;  let them not escape from your sight."

Scouts:             Learning is now easy, and wisdom is a far goal.  May I appreciate the blessing I have in education.  May all my learning opportunities lead me toward understanding and wisdom.

Leader:            "The beginning of wisdom is this; Get wisdom; and whatever you get, get insights."

Scouts:             Wisdom is the climax of my learning along the way.  It is the completion of the jigsaw puzzle of learning.  May I put together the pieces of information and knowledge well, so that wisdom may result.

Leader:            "Keep hold of instruction, do not let go."

Scouts:             May I not be tempted to quit even when things are rough.  May I realize, deep inside me, the value of education in all forms.

Leader:            "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be  straight before you.  Take heed to the path of your feet, then all your  ways will be sure."

Scouts:             May my learning help me be a better person, upright, able to fulfill my purposes and use my abilities.  May I find joy in education and strength in my tasks of learning.  I am thankful for all who aid me in the learning process.  May my delight in learning never end as long as I live.

                        ________________

                        Prov. 3:19,21; 4:7, 13, 25-26.