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March 1932 against the “seductive seriousness of Sun day storms,” said: “A few inches of snow or a drizzle of rain on Sunday takes the resolution out of strong men, and for women, far from invalidism, makes wor ship quite out of the question. The same amount of weather on Monday would be laughed at as an ‘obstacle.’ Oh, for that in us that will make and keep us water proof on the Lord’s Day!” V. A S t a t e s m a n ' s O p in io n The Lord’s Day should be a day for spiritual growth. A great statesman was requested to grant a business interview on Sunday. He replied, saying, “I must keep one day in which to realize what I am and where I am going.” Discussion Material I. W h y W e S h o u l d O bserve t h e F ir s t D a y I. The Day of Chrisfs Resurrection. His first five appearances were on the first day. II. The Day of Pentecost. It was the day on which the Holy Spirit was given (Acts 2:1) and the glad tidings of salvation were first preached to the multitude (Acts 2:14, 33, 41, 47). III. The Day the Early Christians As sembled for Worship. It was the day “the disciples came to gether to break bread” (Acts 20:7) ; and the Lord’s redeemed people remembered His death and coming again (1 Cor. 11 : 23-26), and laid aside gifts for Christian benevolence (1 Cor. 16:2). Paul “preach ed,” “persuaded,” “spake,” and “reasoned” in the synagogues (Acts 17:2; 18:4). IV. The Day Recognised by All the Post-Apostolic Fathers. When questioned, “Keepest thou the Sabbath?” the answer was, “I am a Chris tian; I must keep the Lord’s Day.” II. T h e S a n c t if ic a t io n of t h e S a b b a th The Shorter Catechism has this concise and comprehensive answer to “How should the Sabbath Day be sanctified?” “The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting on that day even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days, and spending the whole time in the public and private exer cises of God’s worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.” III. C h r is t ' s E x a m p l e Christ’s own example is helpful to His disciples. In the critical hour of His life, “He went up to Nazareth and as his cus tom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.” “As his custom was”—these four words that tell us so much about the way in which Christ observed the Sabbath need to be emphasized. Do we make His custom ours? IV. A S a f e R u le John Wesley’s mother once wrote to him when he was in college, “Would you judge of the unlawfulness of pleasure, take this rule : S'Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tender ness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things—whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind— that thing, to you, is sin.’ ” If you will commit this rule to memory, and apply it, as a test, to any question that
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“No,” he said, “I am not a D.D., just a plain Mister.” “But I am working for a degree,” he added quickly, “the ‘A.U.G.’ degree; did you ever hear of that?” When I admitted ignorance on the sub ject, he explained thus : “When men work for degrees from colleges, they seek to be approved unto men, so —-—” But, I didn’t let him finish, for, quick as a flash, came to my memory the wonderful words of Paul to Timothy: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a work man that needeth not to be ashamed, right ly dividing the word of truth.” “Approved unto God” —the “A.U.G,” is the Master’s degree, for He confers it. Discussion Material I. O u r A p p r e h e n s io n P h il ip p ia n s 3 :12 I. What Christ Apprehended Us For 1. “That we might know him.” 2. “And the power of his resurrec tion.” 3. “And the fellowship of his suffer ings.” II. We Apprehend because Christ Ap prehended Us. III. The Incompleteness of. Our Grasp. “I follow after that I may apprehend.” II. P a u l ' s A im i n L if e P h il ip p ia n s 3 :13 I. Paul’s Knowledge of His Limita tions. * “I count not myself to have appre hended.” II. His Great Single Aim. “This one thing I do.” III. His Wise Forgetfulness. “Forgetting those things which are be hind.” IV. His Eagerness to Achieve. “Reaching forth unto those things which are before.” HI. Q u e s t io n s for D is c u s s io n 1. What is one big life purpose? 2. Why do some life purposes fail? 3. What is real success in Christian liv ing? IV. W o r t h - w h il e P u rpo ses a s G iv e n i n t h e D a il y R ea d in g s 1. To know God (Phil. 3:7-11). 2. To teach (Prov. 1 :l-9). 3. To preach Christ (Phil. 1:12-21). 4. To be like Christ (Rom. 8:29). 5. To achieve success (2 Tim. 2 :15). V. B r ie f V erses Sealed to be His special treasure! Could we choose a nobler joy? and Would we if we might? — F r a n c es R id ley H avergal . “I'want my life to glorify my Lord and King; I want to please and honor Him in every thing ; I want my life to tell men that He is my guide; I want the world to know He’s walking by my side.” Set apart for Jesus! Is not this enough, Though the desert prospect Open, wild and rough? Set apart for His delight, Chosen for His holy pleasure,
The Glad Easter Message B y A l ic e M a u d e C arvell On this happy Easter morning, Tokens everywhere we see Of the resurrection wonder, Viewed in every budding tree, Lilies in the grassy meadow, Springing fresh from bed in earth, Speak to us of new creation, Through our Saviour’s lowly birth. Hallelujah! Christ has risen, That from earth we too. might rise— Changed, and glorified and ready For our mansions in the skies. Who but He, the world’s Re deemer, - Could achieve this triumph great? Hallelujah! This same Jesus Comes again—for Him we wait!
may arise in regard to the lawfulness of any Sunday recreation, you will have no difficulty in deciding. V. D o in g G ood Going into the synagogue, Jesus met a man with a withered hand, and again the Pharisees confronted Him with another question in regard to the Sabbath: Is it lawful to heal on this day ? Asking them if they would not rescue a sheep fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, and saying, “How much then is a man better than a sheep?” Jesus restored the withered hand. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day. VI. C h o ic e B it s The Sabbath is not forced on us as an irksome obligation, but granted to us as a precious boon.— F arrar . Let us live by the law of principles, “Like the bird who freely sings, In strictest bonds of rhyme and rule, And finds in them, not bonds, but wings.” Song Service— 1. “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go.” ■ 2. “Is Your Life a Channel of Bless ing?” ' 3. “Take My Life and Let it Be.” Prayer. Scripture Lesson, Quartette Music—“Have Thine Own Way.” Leader’s Remarks. Testimonies (urge all members to take part, expressing their life purpose). Quiet Hour (closing with singing, with bowed heads, “I Can Hear My Saviour Calling”). Mizpah Benediction. Illustration A. U. G. Recently, when introducing a minister, I referred to him as “Dr. So-and-so.” APRIL 17, 1932 PURPOSEFUL LIVING P h il ip p ia n s 3 :12-16 Suggestions fo r the Meeting
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