May 1930
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SNotes on Qhristian Sndeavor
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home, is difficult to avoid; but this does not necessitate a slump in power and ac tivity on the part of Endeavorers who are at home. True Christian service never becomes irksome except to those who do not have the joy o f the Lord in their hearts. This joy He has promised to all who are faith ful to Him. The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to “rejoice always.” When we consider the circumstances in which Paul was found when he penned those words (in prison), we can give no reason why we should not be happy in the Lord. In the two Scripture verses assigned in this lesson, believers are admonished to “con sider one another,” i.e., to regard the wel fare of others, to be unselfish, to look to the interests of others, especially along spiritual lines. “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6 :2 ). “Provoke unto love and good works.” The original meaning of the word “pro voke,” as used in this passage, was “to arouse, to excite, to call into action.” Some people are afraid of excitement in religion; but the proper kind, that which is sincere and controlled by the indwell ing presence of the Holy Spirit, will have a wholesome effect upon all who expe rience it. There is little danger that Chris tians will be “excited” to love one another too much, or to perform too many good works. The next verse exhorts us to assemble regularly for the worship of God. “E x horting one another” conveys the idea of exchanging thoughts. Such an exchange, when along helpful lines, will surely en courage spiritual growth. The “assembling” becomes more imper ative “as ye see the day approaching.” What day? The great and glorious day of our Lord’s appearing. This thought was uppermost in the hearts and minds of all the New Testament writers. It does not lead to the closing of church doors during summer months, as is the custom in some churches in our land, but to the increasing of opportunities for men to ac cept Christ as their Saviour, before He returns. Lqt us as Endeavorers maintain the glow of Christian fervor in all of our meetings during the summer months, re membering the promise of our Lord that “where two or three are gathered to gether in my name, there am I in the midst.” ♦ * * S ide -L igh ts A summer contest may help to keep up attendance. Have two sides, with cap tains, and count visitors. Give special at tention to the program, and make the meetings interesting. Introduce new features. No two meet ings should be alike. Study the twenty- five-cent booklet, “Better Endeavor.” Change arrangement of chairs every
time, peace among nations. Jesus plainly stated that the nations would continually be at war with one another until He re turned (read carefully Matt. 24; 2 Tim. 3:13; 2 Thess. 2: 11; Luke 17:26-30). World peace can only be made possible when He shall reign whose right it is to reign. * * * S ide -L igh ts No P eace B y A n n ie J ohnson F lin t There can be no peace while the nations wrangle, And great on the small their will impose; While some are jealous and some sus picious, And weak.ones reckon the strong as fo es; While their trust and hope is in more munitions, And the gods of force are their only stay, Though the hearts that sicken at nameless horrors May plead and ponder and plan and pray. There can be no peace till the King o f glory Comes down to earth from the heavens above, To rule the world with a rod of iron, To judge in justice and reign in love; Till the throne of David is set in Zion, And all the kingdoms of earth are one; No peace! till His righteousness shall flourish, No peace till the will of God is done. —o— June 1, 1930 How to Avoid a Summer Slump in Our Opening songs: “Just a Little Help from You,” “Work for the Night is Com ing.” Prayer. Scripture reading: Rom. 12. Song: “We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes.” Announcements and offering. Special musical number. Leader’s remarks (see helps below). Closing song: “The Banner of the Cross.” Benediction. * * * T houghts on t h e T opic A slump in attendance during the sum mer months when people usually plan to spend their vacation period away from Society Work Heb. 10:24, 25 S uggestive O rder of S ervice
May 25, 1930 HowMissionaries Advance World Peace Isa. 52:7-10 S uggestive O rder of S ervice Opening songs: “Jesus Shall Reign,” “We’ve a Story to tell to the Nations.” Prayer. Scripture Reading: Romans 10:1-15. Song: “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Announcements and offering. Special missionary number (solo or reading). Leader’s remarks (see helps below). Comments on topic by members. Closing song: “Hail to the Brightness.” * * * T houghts on t h e T opic This is one topic in which the writer of these notes is compelled to differ with the Topic Committee and others who hold to the belief that the mission of the Church for this age is to bring the world to Christ and thereby usher in the millennial kingdom. Before dealing with the sub ject, I wish to state that in the main, the topics for 1930 are wisely chosen. They bring us face to face with some important aspects of the Christian life, making a personal appeal to the believer in Christ, and seeking to bring the believer to a place of real service for Him. The missionary is not called of God to advance world peace. When we speak of a missionary we usually think of one who leaves home to carry the Gospel to the heathen in foreign lands. With God there is no distinction, such as we make, be tween “home” and “foreign” fields. Au gustine said, “The world is my parish.” Every born-again one is a missionary, for the name means “one sent.” Surely we do not have to go very far to find souls out of Christ to whom we, as “ambassadors” and “missionaries,” are sent to tell J of Christ’s redeeming lovel The word “wit ness,” another name for the Christian, is used over 175 times in the New Testa ment. The work of the missionary, then, is to witness to the unsaved everywhere of God’s love for the lost and His will ingness to save all who come unto Him through Christ. God’s purpose for this day and age is, according to His own Word, “to take out a people for his own name” (Acts 15:1 4 ); not to bring the world to Christ, but to take Christ to the world; not to convert the world, but to evangelize i t Christ’s great commission to the disciples, and to all who believe on Him through their word, i s : “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.” The missionaries’ errand is to the individual and not to the nation. True it is that their influence is always for peace; peace first in the human heart, then, in due
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