When the Lord was training Israel to be the special representatives of Himself, He gave them homes among the hills and valleys. In their home life and their religious service they were brought in constant contact with nature and with the word of God. So Christ taught His disciples by the lake, on the mountainside, in the fields and groves, where they could look upon the things of nature by which He illustrated His teachings. And as they learned of Christ, they put their knowledge to use by co-operating with Him in His work. {COL 23.2}

“When the Lord was training Israel to be the special representatives of Himself, He gave them homes among the hills and valleys. In their home life and their religious service” 1. they were brought in constant contact with nature 2. and with the word of God. 3. So Christ taught His disciples by the lake, 4. on the mountainside, 5. in the fields 6. and groves, 7. where they could look upon the things of nature by which He illustrated His teachings. “And as they learned of Christ, they put their knowledge to use by co-operating with Him in His work.” {COL 23.2}