there helped him to organize a church. Constantly they were winning others to the Lord Jesus. W e might think that everyone would be eager to know the Saviour, but there were many who re fused to believe God’s Word. Those who made idols for a living became angry with Paul. When people received the Lord Jesus they no longer bought and worshiped idols of silver. Many people gathered and cried out for two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians,” for Diana was their goddess, and they were not willing to worship any other. The disciples refused to allow Paul to go into this crowd lest he might be harmed by the angry people. For a time Paul left Ephesus. One day he sent from a town about forty miles from Ephesus and asked that all of the leaders of the Ephesian church would meet him. Paul reminded these who loved him greatly for his work among them and then told them that he was going, bound, to Jerusalem and would never see them again. Paul knelt down and prayed with his friends who were crying because they would no longer be with him. He had led many of them to the Lord Jesus; he had helped them in their troubles; he had been a wonderful friend to each of them. Just as Paul gave his life completely to serve the Saviour in the churches which he helped to organize, so your pastor is giving himself each day to be your friend, ready to tell you about the Lord Jesus, ready to help you at all times. He needs your prayers each day; he needs to know that you will be faithful in coming to Sunday school and church and prayer meeting. He needs to know that he may count upon you to serve your Lord so that many others will want to know Him too. May 10, 1953 A Preacher in Chains This is the fifth and last of the series of lessons now being studied on the life of the Apostle Paul. Next week we will be taking up the study, of some of his epistles. This lesson brings Paul to Rome. He had formerly expressed himself as being under a peculiar compulsion to go to Rome.—“I must also see Rome” (19:21). Although he arrives there as a prisoner, yet he apparently finds satisfac tion in arrival for immediately he begins a gospel ministry in that place. Approaching Rome 14b, 15 After the long treacherous journey, it was a thrill to the Apostle to be approach ing journey’s end. Two greeting parties came from Rome to welcome him. One party met him at Appii Forum, a town about 41 miles from Rome. The other met him at The Three Taverns, about 30 miles from Rome. The heart of the Apostle was gladdened. He was greatly encouraged. In the scene presented we note again the love of Paul’s heart for those who were of like faith (cf. Rom. 1:8-11). This sort of thing needs to be CONTINUED Acts 28:14b-24, 30,31 Pointers on the Lesson
Pointers on the Lesson H omer A . K en t , T h D.
Helps for the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon outlines of the International Sunday School Les sons copyrighted by the Division of Christian Education of the National Coun cil of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. (v. 9). So he began teaching in the school room of one Tyrannus, who was prob ably a converted teacher of rhetoric or philosophy. This latter ministry con tinued for two years in addition to the three months of ministry already referred to in the synagogue (v. 10). Note the magnificent results of this ministry. A ll in the Roman province of Asia (western Asia Minor) heard the gospel. Many think this was the “great door and ef fectual” which was opened unto Paul as referred to in First Corinthians 16:9. He doubtless had many personal workers who helped him in this great work. . Ministering to the Elders 20:17-27 This passages finds Paul on his way to Jerusalem for the last time because he de sired to be present for the feast of Pen tecost (v. 16). From Miletus, on the sea- coast south of Ephesus, he sent for the Ephesian elders to come down that he might give them a farewell message. In This passage finds Paul on his way to his ministry among them. He had served “with all humility,” accompanied by tears and trials (v. 19). He had shown him self to be a real pastor teaching them “publickly, and from house to house” (v .,2 0 ). Sad to say, much of this sort of thing has disappeared from the ministry today! Moreover, he preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 21). He stirred men to a conviction of sin and then pointed them to the Lamb of God who only can take it away. As he told of his going to Jerusalem, he asserted his willingness to suffer for Christ’s sake (w . 22-24). As Paul takes leave of these elders he reminds them that he has “not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (v. 27). Now in his absence, they should be careful to follow his example (v. 28f.). Acts 19:8-10, 23-41; 20:17-27, 34-36 Memory Verse: "[Jesus] . . . said. It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35b). For three years the great missionary, Paul, had been preaching the gospel in the town of Ephesus. Faithful Christians Helps for the Children Paul, a Minister in Ephesus
May 3, 1953 Paul as Teacher and Pastor
Acts 19:8-10; 20:17-27 Pointers on the Lesson
As in the two preceding lessons glimpses were given of the first two mis sionary journeys of Paul, so in this week’s lesson we, in the two passages selected for our study, receive glimpses into the nature and extent ,of his third journey. Our attention will he focused upon the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor which be came the headquarters of a large portion of the ministry of this journey. The pas sages before us present the varied.char acter of true missionary work — teaching, preaching, visitation, etc. Ministering in Synagogue and School 19:8-10 As on so many other occasions, we find Paul ministering in the synagogue until such time as he was no longer wanted there (w . 8, 9 ). The synagogue with its Old Testament Scriptures pro vided an excellent place for the preach ing of the gospel. These Scriptures and the knowledge of those in the synagogue provided a good foundation upon which to build the superstructure of the gospel. Again and again the Old Testament speaks of the coming of the Redeemer. Thus, all Paul had to do in such places was to show how the Jewish Scriptures had been fulfilled in Christ. Note how Paul did his work. He “disputed” or rea soned with his hearers from the Scriptures the things concerning the kingdom of God. Thus he gave them knowledge for faith to tie to. Then he “persuaded” his hearers to receive the truth. He gave an invitation. A ll good teachers and preachers should follow the Pauline ex ample. Show folks what they ought to believe and then persuade them to be lieve it. Some were hardened as the re sult of Paul’s teaching. The inference is that some believed as well. This is the usual case when the gospel is faithfully proclaimed. Evidently those who did not believe made the situation so difficult for Paul that he found it advisable to depart from the synagogue to another place
APRIL 1953
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