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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
August, 1936
light behind this red cross. (Hold the flashlight a little way from the cellophane so that the light bulb will not be seen through the cellophane.) Paul’s light begins to shine again, but now it does not call attention to Paul, but to the cross of Christ. We can see the cross better because the light is shining
through it. I think this is a part of what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he said: “I am crucified with Christ: never theless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in m e: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith o f the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Lesson 9. “ Beginning of World Mis sions” (Acts 11:19-21; 13:1-12). Peter’s ministry to Cornelius opened the gospel witness to the Gentiles as a whole. World missions in the larger sense began with the persecution of the Lord’s disciples. The more they were persecuted, the more the gospel was spread. World missions are continued by the direction of God’s Spirit. He calls missionaries from the church and sends them forth through the same agency. World missions are carried on by the obedience of God’s servants, who go when and where and how they are sent. But always,, Satan has opposed the advance of the gospel. Lesson 10. “Turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:8-13, 19, 20; Rom. 10:8-13). The risen Lord revealed Himself and His power ’.in healing a lame man at Lystra. The Lord used Paul in the accomplishment of this miracle. So amazed were the people when they saw what had been wrought that they attempted to worship Paul and Barnabas. But very soon, under the influence of Satan, the people tried to. slay the men whom they previously had declared were gods-.» In spite of the fickleness o f the human heart, the door of salvation is opened to all men, for “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13)s Lesson 11. “The Council in Jerusalem” (Acts 15:22-29; Gal. 2:1, 2, 9, 10). The decision o f the first council1ever held by the church was that legalism has no place in Christianity; faith alone is sufficient, and faith is absolutely, necessary. The need for the council arose when Jewish believers maintained that apart from the works of the law none could be saved. But the de cision of the council was i wholly against this view, and those who preached salva tion by grace alone were acknowledged by James, Cephas, and John, the Jewish Chris tian leaders. Lesson 12. “ Christian Living” (Rom. 12:1-3, 9-21). True Christian living is founded upon an assurance of what the grace of God has accomplished, upon a definite surrender of the whole being to God, and upon a definite practice through which the believer is' separated from the present evil world and transformed into the image o f Christ. The effect of Chris tian living is seen in the fact that, in the believer, the will o f God becomes experi mentally good and acceptable and perfect. The manifestation of ¿Christian living is' in the spirit of humility, love, and helpful ness. Points and Problems Since the review lesson deals with “The Spread of Christianity in Western Asia,” it might be well to survey' briefly the work of Paul and his associates for the purpose of discovering the missionary principles employed in their remarkably successful efforts. 1. The project was born and launched in a church which honored the Holy Spirit and was sensitive to His leadership (Acts 13:1-4). “Ye shall receive power,” said our Lord, “after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1 :8). Without His presence and power, there can be no effec tive witnessing “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” There are churches in America which, like the disciples of Acts 19:2, h'ave “not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” No wonder that the enterprise of foreign missions lags! 2. The missionaries sent out were men who believe'd the Word o f God and preached it. Read the great sermon deliv ered by Paul in the synagogue o f Antioch
SEPTEMBER 27, 1936 THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY IN WESTERN ASIA (Review) R eading L esson :;2 C orinthians 11:24-33
Golden T ext: “They rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gen tiles” (Acts 14:27). Outline and Exposition I. L esson 1. “ The Coming of the Holy Spirit in Power” (Acts 1 :6-9; 2:1-11, 32-38). He had promised that the Holy Spirit would come after Christ had ascended to heaven. During the time that our Lord was with the disciples in the forty days after His resurrection, He had also told the disciples what their service would be after the Spirit’s advent : they would be witnesses unto Christ in all the world. The power for their work would be the filling, equipping, empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, and through Him the death and resurrection o f Christ would be proclaimed. Lesson 2. “Witnessing Under Persecu tion” (Acts 4:5-12; 1 Cor. 1:21-25). The’ ' witness to the Jews in Jerusalem was a testimony to the nation, and it concluded with the declaration that none other name was given among men whereby “we [the Jews] must be saved.” The “we” includes the nation as well as individuals in that na tion. The witness to both Jews and Gen tiles was concerning the cross of 'Christ. This was the thing preached, and this was folly to thè unsaved, because the Jews sought signs, and the Gentiles desired wis dom. But while the cross was spurned by many, it was nevertheless both the power and wisdom of God, because it brought to believers God’s salvation. Lesson 3. “ Social Service in the Early Church” (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Cor. 8:1-9). The practice of the early church, when the members had all things in common, grew out of a unity of faith and hope and love. But the community of goods was volun tary, not commanded of the Lord. The Christians believed the apostleshjdoctrine, they knew the Lord had risen from the dead, and because of their new birth they possessed .real love. The precept of the early church, which is our example, re veals the proper method o f Christian giv ing—and giving is a grace which produces symmetry and beauty in the life and brings the giver into close fellowship with the Lord and increasing likeness to Him. Lesson 4. “ Christianity Spread by Per secution” (Acts 7:59 to 8:4; 1 Pet. 4:12- 19). The persecution which began early in the history o f the church reached a climax in Stephen’s martyrdom, and was followed by the scattering o f the disciples. As the believers went forth, they preached the gospel everywhere, and thus Christianity was spread. Peter tells us that suffering is in store for the believer who would fear lessly proclaim Christ. But along with the sufferings, there will be the presence and protection of the Lord. Lesson 5. “ Philip’s Missionary Labors” (Acts 8 :26-40). Philip’s new field of labor
B - i n the desert—was just where the Lord wished him to be at that time, and how ever unlikely the place might have appear ed, Philip was willing to go there. Philip’s audience was just one man, but the fact reveals how important the individual is to the Lord. Philip’s success as a soul-winner is seen in that the one man to whom he wqs sent confessed Christ, and publicly acknowledged his faith in the Lord. After the eunuch’s baptism, Philip was caught away, and the man went his way rejoicing because he had the Lord with him. Lesson 6. “ Saul Converted and Com missioned” (Acts 9:1-9, 17-19; 1 Tim. 1: 12-14). Saul’s conversion was wholly of grace, coming to him suddenly, sovereign ly, and mysteriously, as all conversions come. O f course, not every one is saved in the same manner that Saul was converted. The unique thing about Saul’s, conversion was that it was accomplished, not only by the preaching of the gospel, but by the vision of the risen and glorified Jesus of Nazareth, the One who had been cruci fied. This fact made Saul’s conversion a type o f the conversion of the Jewish na tion in a coming day. Being filled with the Spirit, Paul had power in service. His testimony concerning his conversion and his service was that both were wholly of grace. Lesson 7. “Temperance Lesson: Sowing and Reaping” (Gal. 6:1-10). In dealing with the faults, or trespassesj^bf brethren there must be tenderness, wisdom, sympa thy, and humility. In dealing with burdens, there must be love, graciousness, friendli ness, and compassion. In dealing with preachers, there must be communication, that is, a sharing of what the Lord has given. It must be a mutual sharing, the preacher giving what he has received of the Lord in spiritual things, while those who are taught .share what has been given them of material things. In dealing with the needy, there must be the spirit which does good to all men. Lesson 8. “The Gospel for All Men” (Acts 11:5-18; Rom. 1:15-17). Peter was sent to Caesarea to preach to Gentiles. The “middle wall o f partition,” dividing Jews from Gentiles, had been broken down by the coming of the Lord as Saviour. Cor nelius, the Gentile, was saved by simple faith in Christ. Paul was willing to go anywhere witBthe gospel—even to Rome ^-because he knew the gospel’s power. BLACKBOARD LESSON iH E W ID EN IN G P A T H O F C H R IS T IA N IT Y rA.0.351
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