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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
November, 1934
Meditation on the Lesson This eventful incident in the life o f the great apostle reminds us anew o f the con tinual freshness o f the Bible. The narra tive is so vivid and lifelike that it is as if we were reading an account o f a mob scene o f today. The story gives a glimpse into the civic life of a great city and shows the similarity between men then and now. W e catch a glimpse o f a riot caused by a trade-union leader, Demetrius, who pro fesses interest in Diana’s temple, but who really is concerned with profit. “Not only this our craft is in danger,” he declares, thus demonstrating the fact that “the love o f money is the root o f all evil.” Deme trius mentions the temple next, but we catch the insincerity in his tone. Men are very quick to show alarm when their pocketbooks are threatened. The silversmith knew that if Paul’s teaching prevailed, no more silver shrines for Diana would be wanted. Likewise to day there are many trades which would be wiped out if Christ’s teachings were to be adopted universally. A liquor seller, for instance, is not likely to look with fa vor on a religion which would bring his trade into disrepute. When the people heard Demetrius’ alarm, “they were full o f wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians,” or, literally, “Great Diana o f the Ephe sians”—an invocation rather than a profes sion o f faith. Dr. Maclaren says; “It is easy to get a mob to yell out a watchword, whether religious or political; and the less they understand it, the more loudly they are likely to roar. ‘The voice o f the peo ple’ is not always ‘the voice o f God.’ It is better to ‘be in the right with two or three’ than to swell the howl o f Diana’s wor shipers.” What a contrast to all this raging crowd is the silent, calm, trustful apostle! Trust in God lifts him far above fear o f death. As we look upon the scene o f confusion into which Gaius and Aristarchus were thrust, we are made to realize that loyalty to Christ, under severe testing, was the price that many an early Christian was re quired to pay. And in our own day, in every difficult circumstance, whether in America or on a foreign mission field, the Christian witness has a great resource. Our heavenly Father is “able to do exceed ing abundantly above all that we ask or think,” and He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” ALL ABOUT THE SUNDAY SCHOL _ By Addie Marie French, and David j. Fant ' A S PUBLISHERS of Sunday School literature, we have re* , ceived thousands of requests for information concerning various problems connected with Sunday Schoolwork. Out of fhese practical questions this book has grown. It is a hand* book of instruction for the administration and conduct of the av* erage Sunday School that every teacher and officer really needs. CHAPTERS The Sunday School and Ita Story-Telling Curriculum Grading The Superintendent Increacing the Attendance The Cabinet Meeting and The Cradle Roll Department Other Officers The Beginners' Department The Sunday School Teacher The Primary Department How to Prepare the Lesson The Intermediate Class Methods of Teaching Seniors and Young People Poster Making and Object The Adult Class Lessons The Home Department 128 Pages. Cloth, $1.00 IMF"Samples of our Sunday School literature and Bible Coursès- for Young Pepple’s Societies sent free upon request. CHRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS, INC. 1506 T H IR D ST. H A R R IS B U R G . P E N N S Y L V A N IA fc- MODELS FOR EVERY NEED B rcl Write describing ailment and receive aW T y’ d e f in it e r e c o m m e n d a t io n g t t j T H C C O L S O N C O M P A N Y r 347 Cedar Street, Elyria, Ohio • Free Cotolep
Leader’s Helps i S ome S pecific P roblems
doctor was hastily returning his wares to his bag. This was a splendid opportunity to present Christ as the great Healer of sin-sick souls and as the Light o f the world. — M argaret M arsh , in Inland Africa. IV. T h e S olution of P roblems 1. “ It will be ten thousand years before India becomes Christian,” said a friend to x Dr. Agnew Johnson. “You are drawing a hard line on God,” remarked the doctor. “ Oh, I forgot about Him,” was the startling reply. “ Then,” said the doctor, “you can make it ten million years if you leave Him ou t” — P ickering . 2 . Superstition, selfish greed, violence, re ligious prejudice and race prejudice, cli matic conditions, and difficulties o f lan guage—all problems o f our missionaries— may be overcome by unceasing prayer. “Pray ye." —M. G. G. 1 “ I f I were a missionary,” said a lead ing Hindu, “I would not argue concerning the Bible. I would give the people the Book and say, ‘Read that.’ ” Only o f God can it be said: “The entrance of thy words giveth light.”— S elected . DECEMBER 16, 1934 What Missionary Opportunities Exist within Ten Miles of Our Own Church? M atth ew 9 :35-38 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn—“Rescue the Perishing.” Hymn—“Help Somebody Today.” Prayer. Hymn—“ Bringing in the Sheaves.” Scripture—Matthew 9 :3S-38. Solo—“ Lord, Use Me.” Leader’s Message. Three-minute talks on these questions: 1. Why should we make a survey o f our territory? 2. Where might we start a Sunday- school ? 3. How may we help other young peo ple’s societies ? Hymn—“ Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.” Quiet Hour. Hymn—“He Leadeth M e : O Blessed Thought.” Benediction—Jude 24, 25. As a change from the regular program, it might be well on this evening to invite a special speaker, your county young peo ple’s president, or a mission worker fami liar with conditions in the county. Such a speaker would be able to give you authen tic information as well as inspiration. Meditation on the Lesson This brief summary of our Lord’s ac tivities is a marvel of comprehensiveness. W e catch, in one glimpse, these varied phases o f His life on earth: going, teach ing, preaching, healing.. Immediately there come to our minds His many recorded trips. Truly He “went about doing good.” The trip to Jairus’ home, the “must needs go through Samaria” trip, the different journeys to Jerusalem, the visit to Nain— all these recollections throng our mem ory, and we connect each place with some specific deed evidencing our Lord’s power and love. Closely connected with His going were the other three activities— teaching, preaching, and healing.
One big problem for missionary hos pitals is lack o f equipment. W e have the best instruments and modern methods here at home, while missionary doctors work with antiquated materials. Another problem is lack o f funds to send forth native, workers into unevangelized regions. It is hard for a missionary sometimes to find in the native tongue adequate words to express Christian truths o f which hea thenism had no idea. It is a problem to reach all the people who want help. A blind Korean girl, once a sorceress, walked with her parents two hundred miles to attend a Bible class. A big problem is that of keeping one’s own spiritual life fresh and vital in dis cordant surroundings. Many business men, classed as Chris tians, constitute a problem. The traffic in rum, opium, and other narcotics, carried on by whites, confuses the native mind. “ Is this Christianity?” they ask. — A nderson . II. D angers from E vil M en According to the Moody Monthly, a Southern Presbyterian missionary in China, Rev. J. W . Vinson, was taken cap tive, in company with a number o f Chi nese, by a group o f bandits. A little Chi nese girl who escaped from the bandits tells how, with guns in hand, they asked Mr. Vinson whether he was afraid. “ No,” he replied. “ I f you shoot, I will go straight to heaven.” Somewhat later his decapitated body was recovered by his friends. Afraid? O f what? To feel the spirit’s glad release? To pass from pain to perfect peace, The strife and strain o f life to cease? Afraid—o f that? Afraid? O f what? Afraid to see the Saviour’s face, To hear His welcome, and to trace The glory gleams from wounds of grace? Afraid—of that? Afraid? O f what? A flash—a crash—a pierced heart; Darkness—light—-O heaven’s art 1 A wound o f His a counterpart! Afraid—of that? Afraid? O f what? T o do by death what life could not— Baptize with blood a stony plot, Till souls shall blossom from the spot? Afraid—o f that? — E . H . H am ilto n . III. D rugs of a n A frican D octor He laid out bits o f bark and two small pieces o f glass; then choosing one o f sev eral packages wrapped in corn husk-3, he opened one which proved to be a dried bird from which he took a foot, the tongue, and a bit o f bone. Then from another package he took out a small wormlike in sect which was unrecognizable because it was so decomposed. All these were taken to a stone on which was already prepared a fine powder made from the bark o f a tree. I asked permission to examine other packages. One contained a number o f dried worms, the next a dried rat. I could guess at the rest. By this time the old
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