February, 1937
THE K I NG ' S BUS I NESS
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places these many years; but I believe you are right. It was my mother’s way.” Going on his way, the boy told the mes sage to others. Years later it was his priv ilege to tell that message to the heathen, for one day the little fellow saved a child from being run over by a carriage. From gratitude, he was educated by the father of the rescued child, and, with a new, self less motive for telling of the Lord Jesus, he became a foreign missionary, showing others the way to heaven.— .S elected . In the Heavenly Father’s House J ohn 14:1 to 15:27 Memory Verse: “ In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). Approach: For a long time before the Lord Jesus left His disciples, He was pre paring them for His going. Because He was God, He knew the things that were
“ They Might Have Been Forgotten Too!”
^HESE six children are typical examples of America’s neglected millions . bom and reared in the rural, mountainous, out-of-the-way places. children T HESE rural communities of America present a pressing problem which should arouse a vital interest in the heart of every earnest Christian man and woman reading this message. For here is a vast missionary field wherein to extend the Kingdom of Christ. What greater joy and satisfaction can be experienced by the servant of God than to bring the Glad Tidings of Salvation to otherwise unreached individuals and communities? T HOUSANDS of these rural youth would be without Sunday-school privileges and a saving knowledge of God's Word, were it not for the labors of our missionaries and the support of Christian people. These six little ones, seen in the picture above, might have been forgotten, too! O UR aim is the training of Christian Leadership in Rural America. Established in 1817, the American Sunday School Union maintains missionaries in forty states who 'carry on tne work in neany 5,500 bunday-schoois with 175,000 teachers and scholars. If funds were available with which to commission more men, more Sunday-schools could be provided where the evangelical Gospel would be taught to boys and girls who are now utterly neglected spiritually. There is no greater opportunity for Christian service today! O UR “ Sponsorship Plan" affords a splendid opportunity for intelligent giving with per sonal contacts with the work. A card to the National Office or to any District Office will bring the desired information. THE DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS A M E R I C A N S U N D A Y - S C H O O L U N I O N 1816 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
going to take place so soon. He knew how hard it would be for His friends to love the people who would help to bring His life on earth to its close, but His fol lowers would need to remember the new commandment which the Lord Jesus had
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given them: “Love one another.” The hardest thing of all for them to under stand was that He was going to leave them. Lesson Story: Jesus’ followers believed that He was the Son of God and the Saviour whom God had promised. They had read about this promise in the Old Testament, but it was hard for them to understand that He was to suffer and die and then go back to heaven and leave them. They had read in the Old Testa ment that He was coming to be their King. They didn’t understand that He was com ing twice, once to suffer and die for them and again to take His people to be with Him. Jesus explained this to them in the words that I am going to read to you. (Read John 14:1-6.) If the friends of the Lord Jesus had believed these words, they would have had no fear. If we believe them, we need not fear, either.
to God; in Him we find the truth about God; in Him we find the life of God. The entire fourteenth chapter may be outlined around these three great ideas: The Way (vs. 1-6), The Truth (vs. 7-15), and The Life (vs. 16-31).
burden of human sin which He would have to bear to the cross within a few hours, and the loneliness of separation from His Father. Yet in the very hour that His own ' spirit was troubled, He thought not of Himself but of His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled,” He said. 2. "Believe also in me" (v. 1). This is one more of the many claims of our Lord which reveal His consciousness of deity. We are graciously bidden to believe in Him just as we believe in God. The One who thus lays claim to our devotion must be either God or a blasphemer. And all those who have trusted in Him have found satis faction for their thirsting after God. His claims have never once failed. 3. In verses 1 to 3 there are some very precious things revealed about heaven. First, heaven is a definite “place” ; it is no mere state of mind. Second, heaven is a home. The Greek word rendered “ house” includes also the “ household.” Third, it is a home which belongs to the “Father." Fourth, it will be a place of permanency, for the word translated “mansions” is lit erally “ abiding-places.” The root verb means to “ remain.” Fifth, it is a spacious place, containing “many” abiding-places. The household of God will be vast. Sixth, heaven is a prepared place, made ready by our Lord who has all power. Seventh, heaven is a place glorified by the presence of Jesus Christ. When we are taken there, we shall be where He is. 4. " / am the way, the truth, and the life" (v. 6). All three of the tremendous claims relate to God. In Christ we find the way
Golden Text Illustration J ohn 14:6
A poor little boy stood, some years ago, at the corner of one of the busy streets of Glasgow, selling matches. A gentleman asked the way to a certain street. The way was tortuous, but the little fellow directed him minutely. When the boy had finished his directions, the gentleman said: “ Now, if you will tell me the way to heaven as correctly, I’ll give you a six pence.” The boy considered for a moment, then suddenly remembering a text he had learned at Sunday-school, he replied: “ Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, sir.” The gentleman at once handed him the promised sixpence, and left him visibly affected. The child thought this an easy way to make money, and going along the street he met an old companion of his father’s whom he stopped, and to whom he said: “ If you give me sixpence, I’ll tell you the way to heaven.” The man was surprised, but from curi osity he handed the boy a sixpence, and was told, “ Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.” “ Ah,” said the man, “ I have been look ing for the way in a great many awkward
Object Lesson P encils and P eople
Objects: An eversharp pencil, a -box large enough to receive the pencil, and a yellow box with a hole in the shape of a cross cut in the side. Lesson: Did you boys and girls know that pencils are like people? What makes this pencil more useful in writing than an ordinary piece of metal would be? “ It has a lead in it.”
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