October 15, 1950 A L ocked T reasure
Objects: A Bible which is bound with a chain and locked with a padlock. (Label the key which will unlock the padlock “ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST AS SAVIOUR.” ) Four assorted keys labeled “ C H U R C H MEMBERSHIP,” “GOOD WORKS,” “ BAPTISM,” and “HUMAN WISDOM.” Lesson: I hold in my hands this morn ing a treasure, boys and girls. Yes, Bobby, it is a Bible, but will you no tice, it’s bound with a chain and locked with a padlock. God’s Word is the most wonderful Book in the world. In it we learn about the Lord Jesus Christ and His love for us and of the way to Heaven and everlasting life. But God says in First Corinthians 2:14 “the natu ral man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” and “ if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost” (2 Corinthians 4:3). The Bible is a locked Book to the people who are not saved. They cannot understand it. I have with me some keys. Let us try them to see which one will open the Bible for us. Here is a key labeled “ Church Membership.” Some folks think if they join a church they will understand God’s Word, but it will not fit the lock. Let us try the key called “ Good Works.” It will not fit either. Here is one called “ Baptism.” Some folks who are not converted think if they are baptized they will know all about God’s Word but we see that it does not work. Here is a key called “Human Wisdom” but we see that it cannot begin to unlock God’s precious treasure. Last of all I have a key la beled “Acceptance of Christ as Saviour,” and we find that it just fits. When we know the Author, of the Bible and have the Holy Spirit to teach us, we find that the treasures of God’s Book are open to us. Philip, in our lesson today, knew the Author of the Bible. He was able to show the eunuch, who could not under stand what he read, how he too could understand the Bible. We are told in Acts 8:35 “ . . . and he began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” The eunuch had been sad when Philip came upon him, for he had not been able to understand the Scriptures. When he found Christ as Saviour, he found the key to God’s Word, and we are told that he went on his way rejoicing. Pag^BTirty-tlii^t
Illustrated by Gladys Bowman
Rev. Elmer L. Wilder
October 8, 1950 L iving , L oving L inks
October 1, 1950 L ove F orgives and F orgets
Objects: A chain of three iron links, a chain of three paper links, and three gummed stickers. (Paint the words, “ GOD,” “ RELATIONSHIP” and “MAN,” respectively on the three iron links. On the three paper links write “ GOD,” FEL LOWSHIP,” and “ MAN.” Write 1 John 1:7 on one gummed sticker, 1 John 1:9 on another, and 1 John 2:1 on the third.) Lesson: Do you think you could break this chain of three links? “ No, I am sure you could not.” You are wondering what this chain represents. The top link is marked “ GOD,” the middle one “ RELATION SHIP,” and the bottom one “MAN.” This short chain shows us how a Christian, because he has accepted Christ as Sav iour and is a member of God’s family, is linked to God by the unbreakable link of “ RELATIONSHIP.” Here is another chain. The top and bottom links are named the same as the other chain, but the center link is called “ FELLOWSHIP.” The Christian is linked to God by fellowship as well as relationship. The link of relationship cannot be broken, but we shall see that the link of fellowship can be broken easily. See how easily it is torn. An evil thought, if unconfessed to God, can break fellowship with Him. In our lesson today Christ says “ If you love me, keep my. commandments” (John 14:15). Our love for Christ will determine how close we live to Christ. When fellowship is broken with God, how can it be restored? In 1 John 1:7 we read, “ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (Patch the break with the sticker. Break again and patch with the two other stick ers, reading the verse aloud.) Let us remember that “ RELATION SHIP” is unbreakable, and that “ FEL LOWSHIP” is very fragile. If fellow ship is broken, we must remember how it is repaired. We must keep our hearts filled with love for Christ, that our fel lowship with Him may remain un broken.
Objects: Two sheets of white paper, 83^x11 inches in size, two pieces of car bon paper 5Yzx8Yz inches, a piece of gold- colored paper 5%x8 Yz inches, and anEv- ersharp pencil from which the lead has been removed. (Fold the white paper crosswise, making of each sheet a four- page folder 5%x8% inches in size. On what would be “page 3” in each folder, draw the outline of a heart. On the outside of the front page of each, draw the outline of a man. Put a carbon be tween each of the folded sheets, facing the heart. In one, put the yellow sheet between the carbon and the heart. Mark this yellow sheet, “ THE LOVE OF CHRIST.” ) Lesson: Do you boys and girls find it hard to forgive others as Christ com manded? Yes, I think most people do, unless they seek and secure God’s power. I brought two sketches which I trust will help us understand why it is often difficult to forgive others, and also how we may obey Christ in this command. On one sketch I will make marks with this pencil. The marks do not show on the outside, but in the heart they can be seen clearly. Very often what others do to us hurts our feelings more than our flesh. For this reason it is hard to forgive them and to forget the injury. I will mark on this other man and see what effect it has on his heart. No marks are made on the heart. This golden sheet of paper marked “ THE LOVE OF CHRIST” keeps the marks from reaching the heart. If each one would keep the love of Christ near the heart, it would be easy to forgive and forget the wrongs of others. Christ said, “ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13: 35). When we remember that our Lord has forgiven us even at the cost of dying for our sins, we will have His love and forgiveness in our hearts and will be ready to forgive others.
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