April, 1941
THES K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
HO
Points and Problem s 1. “And at that time” (v. 1). These words definitely establish the direct con nection between the killing of Stephen and the great persecution which fol lowed. And this connection is still more clearly asserted in Acts 11:19, which speaks of “the persecution that arose about Stephen.” It is a curious twist in human nature that when we injure people, we are inclined by our falleti and sinful nature to hate them more after we have injured them than before. Thus when Stephen is killed, instead of contrition for the deed, we find a still more violent hatred against him and all that were with him. Psychologists have shed some light on this curious fact. Once we have injured some one without cause, it becomes necessary for us to find reasons to justify our action. And if we can find none, we invent them. Then we believe our own inventions, and this leads to more violent hatred. This working of human nature can be seen plainly in the utterances of certain dic tator governments today. 2. “A great persecution against the church” (v. 1). Since this is the first of the long series of persecutions against the church of God, it should be instruc tive to find out exactly why this perse cution began. It is a fact of history, although often overlooked, that not all religious persecutions are to the credit of the ones persecuted. It is not always a noble thing to suffer for "religious convictions." Sometimes persecution has been invited needlessly and uselessly by religious bodies. For example, a certain
that to do something special fori 1 some one—to make a sacrifice—is the best
religious cult insisted on going without clothing. Another has refused to call medical help for suffering children. And very recently certain radical pacifists have refused even to register under the conscription law. There is a lesson to be learned here: When we know that our actions will bring persecution, let us be sure that we are standing for something that is vital and fundamental to Chris tian faith. Why was the early church persecuted? The answer is very clear. They preached and worked In the name of Jesus. All their troubles arose over this name. If they had been willing, as some modernistic churchmen are today, to preach merely in the name of God without the name of Jesus, all would have been well. But the early preachers preached Jesus as the Christ and Lord of all, as the only way of salvation, as the great God and Saviour of men, and demanded that men must bow the knee to Him to the exclusion of all other gods. If you read the Book of Acts even carelessly, you will find that everything done by the church was “in the name of Jesus.” And it is still worth while to suffer for His blessed name today. Golden Text Illustration A cts 8:4 A memorable moment in the life of Queen Victoria occurred when shortly after her coronation she visited Edin burgh. Scarcely had the twilight dark ened into night, when from every hill surrounding that most magnificent of cities there arose simultaneously a crest of fire. That “crest of fire” was the tribute of the Scottish highlander to his sovereign. These mountaineers had gathered to the heights about the city, and each had lifted up his hand and in his hand a torch, and from Berwick to Fife, and from Fife to Sterling, the great firth was illuminated. How the settling of the night of sin would vanish if only every subject of Christ were to lift his torch in word of witness and in act of life!—The Bottles of Heaven, by Revilo. Two Men in a Chariot A cts 8 MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Lk. 2:10). APPROACH: Sometimes we think BLACKBOARD LESSON
way to show one’s love, but God says the! most p e r f e c t evidence of love is obedience. He says: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22). If we really love God we will mind Him. LESSON STORY:
Today we have a story of a man who loved God that much, and, because he minded God, he became a great blessing to some one else. Philip was preaching in Samaria and was winning many souls when, Suddenly, God told him to leave what he was doing and go down into the desert to Gaza. Some of us might have questioned God for asking such a thing,Jbut Philip didn’t. He went. Division When he got there he met a man from Ethiopia, riding in a chariot and reading from the Book of Isaiah. Philip got into the chariot with him, and when he found the man did not understand what he was reading, he explained it to him and led him to Christ. As soon as he was saved, the Ethiopian became obedient, too, for he had Philip baptize him in the first water they came to. Then he went home and carried the gos pel to his people. They might have waited many years to hear of Christ if God hadn’t arranged this meeting in the desert with Philip. Besides the beauty of obedience, God wants to teach us other things by this story. He wants to show us the value of one soul, even the soul of a black man. He also wants to show us that no matter where we open the Bible, we find Christ (Acts 8:35). Did you ever play a game looking for hidden faces in a picture? It is fun. The Bible will be fun, too—and more than fun, it will be p. great blessing—when we read it look ing on every page for the hidden face of Christ. Object Lesson A F ighter and a F ailure OBJECTS: A large capital “F," and a pair of scissors. (The "F” should be made from a piece of stiff paper, 20x24 inches. Fold, making the size 10x24. Along a line one inch from the folded side, cut upward for 15 inches to make the upright. The small crossbar should be 15 inches from the bottom, 4 inches in its horizontal measurement, and 2 inches deep. The top bar should be 2 inches deep and should extend 9 inches horizontally. There should be a one-inch hook extending up as well as down from the end of the top bar, making a perfect “I" when the top bar is cut off. Color the “F” black, front and back. The in side of the top bar should be white. All below the top bar should be red, making
d FOR TODAY’
THE RODEHEAVER HALL-MACK CO. Suite 1359, 28 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago 580 8. Hope St., Loe Ángeles, Calif. Tested by Authorities for singability... character...phraseology...quality and adaptability. Will revive and stimulate congregational singing in your church. The Outstanding Successful Song Year Book the low Expensive in appearance yet per 100, not prepaid examination copy. $40 for rite
Made with FlippingBook Annual report