preached boldly in the synagogue in Ephesus. Many of the Ephesians refused to believe, but Paul faithfully preached to them for two years. God permitted him to perform miracles of healing, and many confessed Christ as their Saviour. Some of the new believers who in the past had trusted in magic, brought their books of magic and burned them in a public place. The books were expensive; they had cost 50,000 pieces of silver. To these new Christians, walking with the Lord Jesus was more important and more precious than were their expensive books that had taught them false ideas. Many Christians try to keep the things that belonged to their old life and still live as Christians. Such a life is impos sible. “No man can serve two masters,” the Lord told His disciples. The Chris tian who walks constantly with his Lord will find no time for nor pleasure in the things of the world. His joy will be only in the things of the Lord and in His work. MM Ä GOWNS 1 Fine materials, beautiful work, pleasingly low prices. Catalog and samples on request. State your needs and name of church. DeMoulin Bros. & Co. 1126 So. 4th St., Greenville, IU. B IBLES ! We Furnish Bibles To Bible-less Homes Without Charge. America Has 7,500,000 Bible-less Homes. THE NEED IS URGENT! Help Us With Your Gifts For America— Japan—Spanish Testament Ministry Send For Free Kit For Full Particulars. Rev. Spencer De Jong, National Director AM ER ICAN HOM E BIBLE LEAGU E 11046 WENTWORTH AVE. CHICAGO 28, ILL.
Pointers on the Lesson, H o m e s A . K e n t , T h .D . Helps for the Children, A l l iso n A rrowood
L esson material is based upon outlines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
March 5, 1950 EPHESUS, A CENTER OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE Acts 19:1, 8-10, 18-20; Eph. 4:25-32 Pointers on the Lesson
often because such as these have no defi nite Scripture to cling to, no foundation of truth, they drift away, giving no evi dence of true salvation. As is so often true, the faithful wit nessing of God’s servant resulted in op position. It seemed wise for the true Christians to separate themselves from the synagogue in order to allay undue trouble. It appears that they rented a public schoolroom. Many a gospel ser mon has been preached in a schoolroom, and many churches established from such a base. In addition, a multitude of consecrated schoolteachers have lent their influence for Christ even though they were busy teaching reading, writ ing and arithmetic (9). The extent of the Ephesian ministry is vividly suggested in verse 10. We have only a few glimpses of Paul’s ministry at that time. Truly there was a great campaign of evangelism in those days. The Nature of the Work Acts 19:18-20 The ministry of Paul in Ephesus re sulted in a big bonfire! Some of the things of the old life had to be burned up. When there is a willingness for such a burning it is a good sign that a real work of grace has been done. Do you need a bonfire in your life? The Walk of the Church in the World Eph. 4:25-32 These words scarcely need any com ment. They simply need to be obeyed. These words obeyed present the kind of folks God wants His people to be in this world. Memory Verse: “ Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Eph. 6 : 10 ). Paul left his friend, Apollos, to go to the city of Ephesus with the gospel mes sage. He told a group of Christians whom he found there that they should be baptized to wholly follow their Lord. After they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon them. For three months Paul Heins for the Children Why They Burned thè Books Acts 19
One of the greatest accomplishments of Paul's ministry was the establishment of the church at Ephesus. Its location was strategic, being a commercial center and the seat of pagan culture and wor ship. Here Diana’s magnificent temple was located. From this place radiated a great stream of missionary influence after the church was established. The character of this church is reflected in two great letters of the New Testament; ene by the Apostle Paul himself and the other by John in the Revelation, but con taining the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Beginnings at Ephesus Acts 19:1 When Paul first came to Ephesus on his second missionary journey, he found some disciples; however, it is not defi nitely stated that they were Christians. Evidently they were Jewish disciples who had been inadequately instructed by Apollos. The latter had been preaching in the synagogue, preaching the baptism of John, and giving them the best he knew, but that was far less than the gos pel of pure grace that Paul knew. Paul never lost an opportunity to give out the truth, and thus through this contact opened to him, he brought these folks into full possession of that which had so blessed his own soul. Development at Ephesus Acts 19:8-10 Soon Paul was in the synagogue preaching the gospel, enjoying a three months’ ministry. Note the two aspects of his preaching: he disputed and per suaded the things concerning the king dom of God (8). The word “ dispute” is better rendered reason in the American Revised Version. In other words, Paul first gave his hearers a basis for belief, a foundation for faith, and then he per suaded them to embrace his teachings. He presented a refuge and then asked them to enter into it. It is the way of Paul and of all good gospel preachers to first present the word of God and then persuade men and women to enter into its enjoyment. It is a mistake simply to work upon the emotions of people until they make a profession of faith. Too F E B R U A R Y , 1 9 5 0
KNOW YOUR BIBLE I Form your own weekly study group of N eighbors and Friends. Join our round - the - world g ro up - fellowship, unitea to each other and to us for study o l G od’s Word. Finest series of sub* ject leaflets pub lished. Interdenom inational. Support ed by voluntary gifts. Sample les sons without obli gation. Write at once to Box S.
Established 1889 TH E H A P P Y C L A R K S 2635 Lenape Road Philadelphia 31, Pa., U .S.A.
The Book of Revelation
“Few of the commentaries that have been written on this profound and mysterious book are as sound and as simple as this one . . .”—Moody Monthly. $1.25 Cloth— $.75 Paper “The Dispensations,” “The Holy Spirit,” “God’s Man and Satan’s Man in Final Conflict,” “The New Birth.” AH 5 for $2. Humberd Press Flora,. Ir>d. Page Twenfy-three
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker