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came to visit and bring gifts to the Chris tian Jews there and to worship in the tem ple. But his enemies soon stirred up the people against him. They were about to kill him when the Roman guard rescued him. But Paul was not afraid of his ene mies. He asked the guard to allow him to talk to them. He told of how he had per secuted the Christians until the Lord had shown Himself to him, and had told him that he was to take the gospel to the Gen tiles. But the crowd would not listen to him, and Paul was sent to prison to await trial. First he was brought before the Jew ish leaders and they could find no real rea son to condemn him, but they would not let him go free. Next he was brought be fore Felix the governor. Again Paul told the story of his life and his hope in God. Felix could find nothing wrong that Paul had done, but, because he wished to please the Jews, he kept Paul bound. Then Paul, who weis not only a Jew, but a Roman citi zen also, asked to be sent to Rome to be judged. You remember how he had longed for many years to get to Rome? At last his wish came true. He did not go as he had planned, but even in his chains he was not afraid, for he knew that his God was able to take care of him. Object Lesson T wo - in -O ne Objects: Four nursery blocks—one "G ,” two of the letter “O,” and one “D.” Lesson: A little girl was once playing with four building blocks like these. She had just learned to spell and was seeing how many words she could make with the four blocks. "Mother," she said, "I can spell, ‘Go’ and ’Do.’ ” 1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sostnenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are o f the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you, 15 For though ye have ten thousand instruc tors in Christ, yet nave ye not many fathers: for BLACKBOARD LESSON
way.” Thus we may see that in its orig inal context, the word "W ay” had nothing vague or abstract about it. Christianity, as defined by its Founder, was not merely a "way of living,” or a way of thinking, although undoubtedly it involves both life and thought. But primarily Christianity was the W ay to the Father and the Father’s house. And the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is that "way.” 3. “The way which they call heresy” (Acts 24:14). Here we meet the curious fact that the religious leaders of Paul’s day not only failed utterly to recognize the true "W ay ,” but actually regarded it as a "heresy.” One of the reasons for this ter rible misjudgment was undoubtedly that the "W ay” preached by Paul set aside all hu man works and offered salvation to men solely on the ground of divine grace. To the carnal heart nothing is more disagree able than to be told that the best works of fallen man are worth precisely nothing as a "way” of salvation. Until the blind eyes of men are opened by the Spirit of God, the true “W ay” will always be denounced as a dangerous "heresy," and those who preach it are still persecuted. Golden Text Illustration A cts 23 :1 Some people say it is enough if we have a good conscience toward men. But it was an apostle who said, “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.” In the city of Brooklyn, two or three years ago, a detective went into a drug store, laid his hand upon the shoulder of a man and said, “You’re wanted.” The man admitted his crime and asked to be allowed to go home to say good-bye to his wife and child. When they went to his home, he met his wife and little child in the parlor and said: “Wife, haven’t I been a good husband? Haven't I been a good fa ther and worked hard to make a living?” She replied, "Yes; what do you mean?” "I mean that I am art escaped convict from the penitentiary.” He was all right with his wife and child and neighbors, but all wrong with the State of New York. You may be all right with your friends and neighbors but all wrong with God. —F iv e Thousand Best Modern Illustrations, by H allock . Jesus’ Brave Friend A cts 21:27 to 23:11; 24:10 to 26:32 Memory Verse: “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me" (Psa. 56:11). Approach: Our story last week was about the letter which Paul wrote to the people at Rome whom he had never met but whom he wished very much to see. But many things were to happen to Paul before he
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“That’s good, Mary. See whether you can find other words.” “Oh, Mother, I can spell ‘Good,’ too.” "I am glad you found that word," said Mother. “That was the word I hoped you would find. Mary, these four little blocks can teach us a wonderful lesson, if we are willing to learn. It is ‘Good’ to ‘Go’ and ‘Do’ the things God wants us to do. This is a lesson in obedience. If we go where God wants us to go, and do the things He wants us to do, we will some day hear Him say, ‘Well done, thou good Eind faithful servant.’ ” In looking at these blocks, and the words we can spell with them, I am reminded of the words of Paul in Acts 23:1, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” Paul was a man who had been saved by accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour, and then he was willing to go to do the things that pleased God, telling others of Christ’s power to save. Christians cannot, like Paul, say that they have a good conscience unless they, too, are going and doing the things Christ wants them to do. Many Christians have heard Christ say "Go,” “Do,” and will some day, with Paul, hear Him say, “Well done, thou GOOD and faithful servant." in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timo- theus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as 1 teach every where in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you. brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, sup port the weak, he patient toward all men, 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Lesson Text: 1 Cor. 1:1-3, 10, 11; 4: 14-21; 1 Thess. 5:12-15. Golden Text: “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27). Devotional Reading : Eph. 4:1-16.
JUNE 11, 1939 PAUL SOLVES CHURCH PROBLEMS 1 C orinthians 1:1-3, 10, 11; 4:14-21; G alatians 1:1-7; 3:1-29; 1 T hessalonians 1:1; 4:9 to 5:22
should preach the gospel in the city of Rome, and when he did go, he went as a prisoner. L e s s o n S to r y : In our story today, we find Paul return ing to Jerusalem af ter his third mission ary jo u r n e y . He
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