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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
TOPICS
YOUNG PEOPLE'S
Dr. Walt er L. Wilson
October 6, 1946 TH E CH URCH A FE LLOW SH IP OF CHR IST IANS J ohn 17:20-23^ A cts 15:1-12 /^JOD’S life imparted to the human ^ soul through the new birth unites all peoples. Those who have eternal life, love others who have this same life in them. Only in this way is a true fellowship e s t a b l i s h e d . All barriers, racial, social, financial, and domestic are broken down and dis appear when the Lord Jesus saves the soul and makes one a child of God. This is clearly taught in Galatians 3:28 and 1 Corinthians 12:13. Every other plan has failed. No program of man has ever succeeded in accom plishing this much-to-be desired end. Christ’s plan s u c c e e d s . We are brethren only in Christ Jesus. We be come children of one family—God’s family—by faith in the risen Lord who died for our sins. For Those Who Have Topics 1. FELLOWSHIP IN IDEALS. Eph. 4:13. This fellowship is brought about through the teaching of the Word of God. A mixture of nationalities in one congregation will be characterized by harmony and happy fellowship if that congregation is taught by evangelists, pastors, and teachers so that the peo ple know the w ill of God and under stand His ways. The Word of God produces right thoughts and desires. The Word of God unites hearts in love and in service. The teaching of the Word in its purity links lives to gether in the service of the King and in happy ministry to the saints. God’s truth produces God’s program and causes a union of h e a r t s in the Church. 2. FELLOWSHIP IN PLANS AND PROGRAMS. 1 Cor. 12:13. The Church is compared to a human body in which all the parts co-operate in all the plans and purposes. When the mouth desires food, the feet go to the table and take the body there. The eyes direct attention to the food, the hands at once co-operate in lift ing the food, the teeth chew the food,
and thus with all the parts serving together the body receives nutrition. One life permeates the entire body. One mind directs its activities. One great nerve center controls all its actions. So it is in the Church of God. Christ is the Head. A ll people in whom Christ dwells by faith have His life. For that reason they work happily together. They love to serve together. They desire to please the Lord and to walk in His path. They plan together for His glory. 3. FELLOWSHIP IN BIBLE STUDY. Eph. 5:1. It is easier for some people to have fellowship in bean soup suppers than in Bible study. A crowd will come to cook and to serve a church dinner, but only a few will come to learn the precious truth of God. The remedy for this unhappy situation is found in a right relationship to God, to Christ, to the Holy Spirit, and to the Church. Our Lord Jesus knew the Scriptures and used them. Paul knew the Scrip tures and used them. Peter did likewise. Today, the teaching of the Word of God by competent and in spired teachers attracts the people and brings about a very healthy con dition in the Chu r c h . Only those should be permitted to t e a c h who know God and know His Word. Thus permanent results will be obtained in the lives and hearts of the hearers. The knowledge of the truth of God links hearts and lives together in happy fellowship., 4. FELLOWSHIP IN SOUL W IN NING. Phil. 1:27. Hearts that are agreed on the needs of lost sinners, and hearts that are stirred by the love of Christ revealed at Calvary have no difficulty joining together for the preaching of the Gospel and the winning of souls. This fellowship may be noted in the encouraging words of our Lord, “One soweth, and another reapeth” (John 4:37). There is o f t e n the praying mother, the Gospel-preaching minister, the consecrated Sunday school teacher, and the kind friend who brings the person to church. All of these had fellowship in the blessed business of
winning a soul to the Saviour. One furnishes the m o n e y for the mis sionary, another furnishes equipment, but already someone has encouraged that friend to go, and another one has presented the truth of God about missions. Thus the believer carries the Gospel to the heathen lands and all rejoice together. This is true fel lowship. October 13, 1946 W H A T TH E CH URCH C A N DO fTTHE problem before us in this lesson -*■ is not a new one. Centuries ago the prophet asked, “ Can two walk to gether, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Atheistic Russia, Roman Catholic Italy, worldly America, and heathen China, and idolatrous France can hardly be expected to have a union of hearts when their aims are so utterly different and so definitely wicked. The aims of the Christian and those of the unsaved are contrary each to the other, and absolutely pre vent any fellowship. There cannot be one world when most of the world opposes Christ and hates His name. There cannot be one world when the world is i n t e n t on gratifying and satisfying the lust fjr power and personal indulgence, and rejects the demands of the Saviour. There is but one remedy. We must preach man’s ruin, and God’s redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. There can only be a union of hearts that are Chris tian. CAMPAIGNS. Gal. 3:26. If the money spent for military en terprises could have been turned into channels for preaching the pure and precious Gospel, we would be much nearer to world unity today than we are. The preaching of the Gospel in Japan turned the hearts of many from their pagan ways to paths of peace. The preaching of the Gospel on can- TO M A K E ONE W O R L D G al . 3:26-29; 1 J ohn 4:7-21 For Those Who Have Topics 1.
THERE SHOULD BE GOSPEL
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