November, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
401
INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustrati n Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y B essie B. B urch B y H elen G ailey B y A la n S. P earce B y E lmer L. W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C l a in , Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
receiving the W ord; but “joy” in the Spirit is the inner effect, and this inward evidence the Christians at Thessalonica possessed (cf. John 16:33). Moreover, they “sounded out,” or pub lished, the Lord’s word (vs. 7, 8). The word “ ensample” is that from which we get our word “type,” meaning a model or a standard. In that sense, these early Christians became the model or standard for all Christians. Being taught by the Spirit, they knew that only the Word o f God could meet the needs o f all men; therefore, they were ready to spread that Word far and near. The measure in which the church today spreads abroad God’s W ord will mark her spiritual stature. III. T h e L ife of a W itness (9, 10). The life of witnessing commences with one’s turning “to God from idols”—not because one is repelled by the idols, but because he is attracted by the Lord. Saul o f Tarsus, occupied with goodness and striving for righteousness, had come to a position where he could look down on all men (Phil. 3:4-6). But when he caught a glimpse of the Lord, all other things, including his self-righteousness, became as vile as the refuse o f the street in compari son with the glory o f the Lord. Paul was drawn unto God from idols. This separa tion is what distinguishes Christianity from other religions. The life of such a separated person con tinues in service o f “the living and true God.” An improper beginning would issue in service of self and would call forth the questions: “How may I be saved?” and “How may I reach heaven?”
DECEMBER 2, 1934 THE CHRISTIAN AS WITNESS 1 T h essalon ian s 1 :1-10
BLACKBOARD LESSON
Golden Text: “ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1 :8). Outline and Exposition I. T h e C haracter of a W itness (1 -4 ). T h e persons addressed composed “the church o f the Thessalonians,” that is, they were “called out” ones; for this is the meaning here o f the word “church.” These believers were called out from for mer objectives, by the Spirit o f God, to the Son of God, and for the glory o f God. They were “in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.” O f no organiza tion other than the church could such lan guage be used. The designation was not pagan, for the pagans knew nothing of God as Father; it was not Jewish, for the Jews would have none o f Jesus Christ; but it was Christian, a new thing in the earth. These believers located in Thessalonica were the objects of prayer, because of what Paul remembered concerning them (vs. 2, 3). 1. He remembered their work of faith, that is, the work produced by and proving the possession of faith. It was faith manifested in their receiv ing, retaining, and revealing their Chris tian life. They kept on believing in spite o f feelings within, assaults from without, and the natural tendency to unbelief. Such faith has an unseen Object, that is, the Lord who is risen and seated in heaven. When any other object becomes the center o f faith, the door is opened to all the specious reasonings o f Satan, and error may creep into the life, which may lead finally to heresy and to the overthrow o f faith. 2. He remembered their labor of love, that is, the labor produced by and proving the possession o f love. • Without such love as these Christians exemplified, the labor would have become burdensome, irksome, and distasteful; but with it, the heaviest loads would be light. It was not love to man, but love to their Lord which inspired these believers and brought them into close fellowship with Him in His labor on behalf of man. 3. He remembered their patience of. hope, that is, the patience produced by and proving the possession o f hope. The hope was that the Lord was coming from heaven (v. 10). This hope called for something more than mere waiting; it included patience, endurance o f trials, for titude in afflictions, and victory over dis appointments (cf. Rom. 12:12; Heb. 10:36-38; 12:3; Jas. 5:7, 8).
The believers in Thessalonica were the objects o f Paul’s prayer also because of what he knew concerning them. He knew of their election (v. 4). The word used here does not mean to know by intuition or by revelation, but to know by observa tion. Observing their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope, he knew that these things were not simply matters o f profession with them, but that they were living realities. (The word for “election” is rendered “chosen” in such passages as Luke 10:42; Acts 1:2, 24; 13:17; and 1 Corinthians 1 :27; and it seems to be con nected with service rather than with sal vation.) II. T h e P ractice of a W itness (5-8). The believers to whom Paul wrote were followers o f the one from whom they re ceived the gospel, and following him, they found themselves following the Lord (vs. 5, 6). They had received the Word, and then afflictions came (v. 6). But the Holy Spirit was their support in the hour o f testing. “Much affliction” is the outward effect of
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