August 1931
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/ L i e s on CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR* . . . By MILO F. JAMISON
A Bible Discussion Course A constructive, connected series of p ractical Bible discussion subjects and outlines to be used by C hristian E n deavor Societies, Sunday-school classes, and o th e r Bible study groups. SEPTEMBER 6, 1931 The Shepherd and the Sheep J ohn 10 here is probably no figure used by Christ to characterize Himself that is as comforting and appealing as the Good Shepherd. His love and tender care for His own are manifested by the way in which He guards and keeps from all danger. His omnipotent power is the guarantee of safety which is placed in the hands of every Christian. P rep aratio n No Christian can expect to develop in his spiritual life if he never spends any time in prayerful meditation upon God’s Word. If you would live the life more abundant, spend a regular time each day in studying the Bible. Read John 10 each day this week, keeping in mind one of the following suggestions. MONDAY: dTry to reproduce the contents of the chapter in your own words without re ferring to the text. TUESDAY: Prepare a detailed outline of the chap ter, noting the important divisions. WEDNESDAY: Study verses 1 to 10. Work out the central teaching of this section, noting that Christ is represented as “the door.” Who are the thieves and robbers? the porter and the shepherd? Note that “shepherd” is here used in the sense of an under shepherd, while Christ char acterizes Himself as the Good Shep herd. THURSDAY: Make a special study of verses 11 to 18. Write out the various characteristics of the Good Shepherd in relation to His sheep. FRIDAY: Analyze verses 19 to 42. Note Christ’s claim of deity and His promise to pro tect the sheep. SATURDAY: Select and memorize at least three out standing verses of the chapter. SUNDAY: Work out a devotional outline to be used in making a brief talk. Expression Under expression this month, there will be presented suggestive outlines and de votional applications upon which short talks can be built. These are intended as examples to be used in preparing your own expressional material.
I. T rue and F alse S hepherds J ohn 10:1-5
quantities. Therefore, the Christian who is wise should flee as far as he can from tainted teaching. B. Characteristics o f the True. 1. “He . . . entereth in by the door.’’ The first questions to be asked about any religious leader a re : Is he saved ? Does he show the fruits of salvation? Does he honor Christ by his life? Does his personal testimony ring true? 2. “To him the porter openeth.” Most expositions of this passage ignore the porter. Yet he is almost as important as the door. Note his char acteristics : a. He abides with the sheep and comforts them. b. He opens and closes the door of entrance at will. c. He alone has the power to admit a shepherd into the fold. Undoubtedly this refers to the Holy Spirit in His work of abiding with and comforting the Christian, and of admit ting into the fold (cf. John 14:16, 17, 26; 16:7-15). 3. “The sheep hear his voice.” A third test of the true minister may be applied by noticing what type of peo ple listen to him. Are they true sheep following close to Christ? 4. “He calleth his own sheep by name.” This is a precious truth concerning Christ and His knowledge of us, but it should be true also of the minister of Christ. He should be a personal soul- winner and should seek the individual good of his people, calling them to a place of larger blessing. 5. He “leadeth them out.” Is he a Bible teacher, leading them out into the rich pastures of God’s Word? • 6. “He goeth before them.” What is his example? Is he a leader in life and conduct (cf. 1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 4:12)? 7. “The sheep follow him : for they know his voice.” Does his message ring true? It is not hard to tell the true shepherd from the false, if one is a true sheep. The Holy Spirit is there to guide into all truth. II. C hrist the D oor “I am the door” (John 10:9). 1. “By me if any man enter in”—Salva tion. 2. “He shall be saved”—Certainty. 3. “And shall go in and out”—Safety. 4. “And find pasture”—Enjoyment. III. C hrist the G ood S hepherd "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The heart of the gospel message is found in these words. Christ was the
In the ninth chapter of John, we have the story of a blind man who was healed. The Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the day, were unwilling to .ac cept the miracle or the Christ who had performed it. In chapter ten, Christ shows in a parable why and how the Pharisees were wrong. The principles that He laid down as tests of a true shepherd are tests by which we may examine the spirit and work of any Christian leader. (Note that the word “shepherd” is here used without the adjective “good,” which Christ applies to Himself later in the chapter.) A. Warning against the False. 1. “Entereth not by the door.” Christ is the door (v. 7). The Chris-' tian leader who will not accept His deity and sacrificial work is a false shepherd. The only way to God is through Christ (John 14:6). 2. “Climbeth up some other way.” The Pharisees attempted to climb by the way of legalism, learning, and hu man works; the scribes by the way of skepticism and agnosticism. Suggest some of the ways whereby people are seeking to climb up today. 3. “A thief and a robber.” In these days of so much talk about tolerance, it is well to note the severe way in which Christ condemned those who, by their false philosophy, blighted men’s lives and damned their souls. 4. “A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him.” No true Christian will knowingly fol low a false religious leader. There is danger in taking poison even in small
A Daily Personal Devotional Bible Course hose who desire to make a more detailed study of the chapters which are used as the basis for these Notes on Christian Endeavor should write to Rev. Milo F. Jamison, M.A., Th.B., 572 Hilgard Ave nue, Los Angeles, Calif., and ask for information concerning the new D e v o t i o n a l Bible Course. This course presents a day by day suggestion for inves tigation, meditation, and applica tion. It has been prepared for use with students in high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the country. It is especially designed to e n a b l e young people to meet the prob lems of every day life. Samples will be sent upon request.
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