May 1931
T h e . K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
232
55"-
ENotes on (Christian ßndeavor
Bxj Milo F . Jam ison
°B5
a s
interested in the discussion, the period comes to an end. When considering such vital subjects as: “The Why and How of Prayer,” “How to Study Your Bible for Yourself,” “The Christian in his Var ious Relationships,’’ etc., more than one lesson period is advisable. Of course, les sons on these various tppics may be scat tered throughout several months, with suggestions inserted between. However,, this course results in a disconnected, more or less unsatisfactory approach to each lesson. In contrast, we are suggesting for this month the series method, whereby a subject is selected, and different phases of it are discussed each Sunday evening for a month or more. The material selected for this month deals with that vital and important phase of Christian service, the winning of our fellow men to the Lord Jesus Christ. The four lessons with sug gestive outlines under each are as fol lows. —o— June 7, 1931 The Soul-Winner’s Life Probably the greatest hindrance to ac tual soul-winning is the fact that those who attempt it are not living victorious Christian lives. A heart preparation is necessary before any attempt can be made to lead others to the Saviour. The fol lowing outline should be used by the leader in preparing the discussion for this meeting. Various points can be assigned to members, to be used as their part in the program. It might be well to mimeo graph or write on the blackboard the out line as a whole. D iscussion ' O utline I. Our Part. 1. Full surrender to God. “Present your bodies a living sac rifice” (Rom. 12:1). ^ “Yield you rse lv e s unto God” (Rom. 6:13). “Lay aside every weight” (Heb. 1 2 : 1 ). 2. Voluntary offering of ourselves unto God, to»do His will instead of our own. a. An offering.- It is the deliv
Two things are needed : first, the right kind of Christian Endeavor topics and les son material; and second, the right kind of presentation of these topics in attrac tive, well-prepared, fast-moving meet ings. The only hope for the church today is in arousing a new interest in a vital Chris tianity on the part of young people. Ev ery bit of educational and expressional life of the church should be focused on this problem. There is a special need for suggestions of definite subjects and out lines for our Endeavor meetings, that will give the young people something worth while to discuss. We are again departing from the assigned Christian Endeavor topics and are suggesting in their place another program. In January, a concor dant method of approach was suggested; in February, the material was discussed from an analytical standpoint; March was devoted to doctrinal subjects; April pro vided the topical method of- approach; while in May, various types of meetings were suggested. Now for the June les sons, we are presenting a series of four correlated topics, all dealing with one sub ject, but approaching it from different viewpoints. —0— Topics in Series In order to gain an adequate under standing on most Bible subjects, it is necessary to spend more time ^than the usual fifteen to twenty-five minutes al lotted for the discussion in the average meeting. As a rule, the subject is not more than introduced during the given time, and just as members are becoming
D URING the past five months, there has been presented in this depart of methods whereby the wide-awake, thoughtful C h ristia n Endeavor leader might change the average young people’s society announcement from : “The usual Christian Endeavor meeting will be held this evening at 6 :15” to “ ‘The Winsome Win-One Christian Life’ is the subject which will furnish the basis for an unus ually thought-provoking discussion at the young people’s meeting this evening. It may be hard to break down tradi tional methods of conducting our pro grams, but “doing the same old thing in the same old way” is the reason thousands of the youth of our land are turning away from the church in disgust. It may sound like heresy to rebel at antiquated meth ods, but it is only the blind fool who will not face facts. And standing out in the forefront of all significant facts for the church today is the fact of facts that our young people are in an ever-widening stream leaving our churches and are growing calloused and indifferent to spir itual things. . . . . . It has been said many times in this de partment that the message of a crucified, risen Christ, who can save from the pow er and penalty of sin, is the only hope of the youth of our land. However, the presentation of the old gospel message does not exclude the use of modern-day methods. ' I , , T Let us illustrate from another field, in all essential points, business today rests upon much the same foundation that it did fifty years ago. Integrity, dependabil ity, initiative, energy, thrift, and kindred qualities furnish the fundamentals of sound business doctrine. But imagine the business man of today who would^not use telephones, typewriters, automobiles for delivery of merchandise, electric lights, and all the many other modern, methods and inventions, because he felt that in some inexplainable .way these modern methods destroyed the fundamental eth ical qualities upon which sound business has always rested. ' Perhaps the point is clear. At any rate, in suggesting some departures from the commonly accepted methods and stan dardized topics which are,in common use in most young people’s societies, the aim is not to cause contention, but rather to suggest advancement. A positive, con structive, evangelical and evangelistic message, coupled with the very latest methods of attracting young people to hear and to adopt that message, is the need of the hour. We must obey Christ’s command to “go out into the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in.” There •is certainly not much com pelling power in a listless, lazy, slow- moving, unprepared talk or two by the old faithfuls on: “My Attitude Toward Other Races in this Country.” *All rights reserved.
ment of T he K ing ’ s B usiness a variety
The Daily Cross Lord, day by day I view Thy wondrous cross, The cross of Calvary; By faith each day I stretch my hands thereon And die with Thee. I daily see a surer, deeper death To self and sin; I daily see the great delivering power That lies therein. Oh, gracious Lord, how good to take from Thee The daily And know I cannot separate for evermore Its gain and loss. The daily cross is daily loss of all That keeps from Thee; The daily cross is daily gain of all Thou art to me. —Scripture Truth.
ery into God’s hands of that which He has already pur chased. “Ye are not your own, ye were bought with a price.” b. A voluntary offering. There is no coercion by Christ; simply, “I beseech you.” c. Ourselves. Neither silver, gold, time, service, or talents are . emphasized. These are ac companiments ; but the thing God wants is the life. d. Unto God. That is, not to serve, or to go to the mission field, etc., but to be obedient to a loving Father, God. “My grace is sufficient” (2 Cor. 12:9).
3. Taking God at His Word.
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