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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
Christian Your
Endeavor Hour
IT'S AN IDEA The general idea for this month is to build a three- months’ working schedule for your C. E. Society—the second quarter: April, May, and June. • Idea 1. Mimeograph a so ciety booklet describing your program for the three-month period. In t h i s booklet you may place the names of so ciety officers; the G. E. pledge in full; topics and leaders for the Sunday nights; dates for, and types of social functions; society p r o j e c t s ; and an nouncements o f denomina tional and County Union ral lies and conventions. • Idea 2. Have a committee lay out the plans for the book let, arid then call a work night for the s o c i e f y. By mak ing the open book the size of a once-folded 8% by 11 inch sheet, or the single page 414' b^ 5% inches, you can get four pages of pictures and writing on one stencil. • Idea 3. Dedicate one page to the fellows and girls who have gone from your society into the service of our coun try. List their names. When the books are finished, send one to each of the persohs in the service. This will enable them to follow the society at home.—Carlton C. Buck.
APRIL 2, 1944 WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? L uke 13:18-21; 17:20, 21 B y William W. O rr Today’s world is full of talk about the coming peace with the restoration of kingdoms, new democracies, united nations, and the proposed world union. But in vain do we listen for the king dom of God to be mentioned. Men prate of the wonders to be accom plished by new statesmen as soon as hostilities cease, but fjul to take into account that God may have a plan for His world. It has a l w a y s been the devil’s strategy to keep the sons of men oc cupied with their own petty schemes, so that they would have no time to consider the kingdom of God. But all men’s plans must give way befofe the irresistible approach of that kingdom. I. EXPLANATION. The kingdom of God is a phrase which is used many times in the Bible signifying the rule of God over the things He has created and made. It is an all-inclusive term embracing God’s authority over the universe, an gels, saints of past and present ages, and the coming world kingdom to be set up and ruled by Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God is a larger term than the kingdom of heaven (used exclu- For Those Who Have Topics
sively in Matthew) and includes it. The kingdom of heaven deals only with God’s rule on this planet (cf. Lk. 13:28, 29; Heb. 12:22, 23). n. ENTRANCE The entrance into the kingdom of God, so far as men are concerned, is only by the miracle of the new birth. Of course all else in the universe bows readily to the will of God. The stars in .their courses follow His guidance. The angelic hosts delight to do His bidding. Satan and his demons are un der condemnation and will be dealt with some* day. But man may accept or reject God’s terms of salvation. Acceptance opens the door into all the blessings that God desires to bestow. Rejection seals man’s condemnation forever. While during this age both good and bad are allowed to grow to gether, in that coming day of the king dom of Christ all who offend will be cast into outer darkness (John 3:18, 36; Matt. 13:47-50). HI. ESCHATOLOGY (Future). While it is true that God controls the universe and all that is therein, and that not even Satan may overstep the bounds which God has set, still the time of glory concerning the king dom of God has not yet come. The golden age which is the theme of so many of the Bible writers is still in the future, and awaits the return of the Kingr But soon Christ will come, and He will usher in that time when we shall know war no more, when peace shall cover the earth “as the waters cover the sea.”
April 2—WILLIAM W. ORR
Dr. Orr is pastor of Calvary Church, Placentia, Calif. He has conducted summer Bible camps for various groups in Southern California. Mrs. Evans (Biola ’33) is assistant dean of women at Westmont College, Los Angeles, Calif. This ex- perience, combined with former Bible'classes for high-school young people, gives her valuable in sight into the problems of youth. Mrs. Winston served as a missionary in Belgium where her husband, John C. Winston, was Co- Director of the Belgian Gospel Mission. She has been active in Christian Endeavor, Teacher Train ing groups, and gifIs? work.
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April 9—RUTH A. EVANS
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April 16—GRACE WILLIAMS WINSTON
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Dick Hillis
Grace Williams Winston
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