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EDITED BY WM. CARSON LANTZ, M.A., Chairman, Dept, of Speech, Biola
2. Wherein lay the change in these lives? a. Moses met God face to face at the burning bush. b. Jacob wrestled with the pre incarnate Christ. c. Peter walked and talked with the resurrected Christ. d. Paul met the risen Christ face to face on the Damascus road. An intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is the secret of a powerhouse life for God. “ That I may know him . . .” (Phil. 3:10). —7. C. The Tight ot the W o r ld John 8:12; 9:5 A. The uses of light (Demonstrate each point with a flash light). 1. Light reveals—a light is used to reveal or expose something in a dark place. It could reveal to con demn, or to find something that was lost. 2. Light attracts—various types of living organisms are attracted by light. 3. Light blinds—this method used in hunting. 4. Light reflects— the moon reflects the light of the sun. 5. Light heals—many different lights are used by doctors for healing. 6. Light protects—night light in busi ness establishment. 7. Light guides—using flashlights on the trail in mountains at night— lighthouse guides ships away from rocks. B. Its applications. 1. The light of Christ reveals sin (John 3:20). 2. Only living things will be attracted by light; to the sinner Christ is unattractive, but we who are alive unto Christ are attracted by Him. 3. The gospel can be a stumbling block to those who do not believe; a man can be so engulfed in pagan darkness that the light of the gos pel will blind him and he can not understand. 4. We should be reflecting the light of Christ in our lives (Matt. 5:16).- 5. As Christ healed many that were sick in body He can heal the sick in soul. (Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24). 6. The Lord protects us as a shield. (Psa. 33:20). 7. The Lord is our guide at all times (Psa. 119:105). — R. C.
The Tongue—A P ow erfu l W ea p on A. Power for evil: 1. Eph. 4:29. 2. Col. 3:8, 25. 3. James 3. B. Power for good: (Prov. 10:20; 12:18; 15:4; 21:23.) Visual Aids: Pictures of a boat, a rudder, a horse and a bit; a group of wild animals performing before a trainer with a whip. — J. H. ILLUSTRATIONS I have a six-year-old sister who is quite adept at quoting nursery rhymes. She has now mastered the rhyme that says in part, “ This is the dog that chased the cat, that ate the rat, that ate the malt, that was kept in the house that Jack built.” As rhythmical as the rhyme is it is al most void of any salient message. So often our Christian lives partake of that same general nature; the nature of vain repetition. We go to church, work, pray, read our Bibles, play, go to school all very much on a mean ingless perfunctory level, never real izing that our life in Christ can be fresh every morning and new every evening. Surely we should strive to be radiant living epistles for a dead and dying world.— R. L. On the desert where there is much heat and little vegetation, due to the lack of water, there is found a plant whose roots run parallel to the ground a few inches under the sur face. This particular plant is thus constructed to take in all the water possible when it happens to rain on the desert. In contrast, there is the tall beautiful pine tree whose roots reach down deep into the earth where there is a constant supply of life- giving water which sustains the tree through all types of weather and storms. This desert plant is a picture of a Christian who lives by spurts, being fed by an emotional experience and nothing steadfast or continuing. The pine tree is a picture of a Christian who is grounded upon the Word of God and is drawing continually from the inexhaustible supply of Living Water. Both plants survive but one lives in the barren desert while the other lives in the fruitful valleys and mountain tops.— J. T.
OUTLINES K ite s and M ite s
Luke 21:1-4; 2 Cor. 9:7. Giving is the privilege and re sponsibility of every Christian. 1. Systematic giving. 2. Cheerful giving. 3. Unselfish giving. 4. Tithing. Questions for discussion: 1. What should be the motive for giving? 2. In what ways can or should our giving be systematized? 3. How can being cheerful be an aid in the Christian life? 4. Why was the widow exalted above the rich men who gave rich gifts? 5. Is tithing essential? Is it a com mand? Is .tithing just a tenth?' On what is our tithing or giving based? — M. O. A P ow e r -h ou se to r God Matt. 28:18, 19 “ . . . All power is given unto me . . . Go ye therefore . . . ” A. Problem: There is a lack of power in the average Christian life, which is not true of the real man of God. 1. Example of man of God: a. Moses interceded for Israel and God spared them. b. Jacob clung to God until He promised blessing. 2. Power in witness: a. Life of Peter or Paul. b. New Testament Church. 3. Boldness to witness: a. New Testament Church re joiced in sufferings for Christ. b. Examples of Peter, Paul, and Stephen. 4. Content in any state: a. Philippians 4:11, sang at mid night in the Philippian jail. b. Peter unconcernedly slept in prison (Acts 12:6). B. Solution: Found in the examina tion of the lives of these men of God. 1. Background: a. Moses was a murderer — now moves the hand of God. b. Jacob was a crook — sup- planter—now becomes prince with God. c. Peter denied Christ—now boldly witnesses at any cost. d. Paul persecuted the church — now suffering all things for the sake of Christ. — J. C.
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