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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
October, 1940
NOTES on Christian Endeavor
By MILDRED M. COOK
H. IN THE PERIOD OF EARLY CHURCH MISSIONS. 1. The persecutjpn. "So unpopular were Christians that for centuries parts of Rome were un dermined to form catacombs where Christians held their meetings . . . and where the bodies of the dead were laid away. Hundreds of thousands of mar tyrs sealed their testimony with their blood. . . . Ten distinct persecutions are usually recognized, ranging at in tervals from A.D. 64, under Nero, to A.D. 303, under Diocletian. The first of these, planned and carried out by the inhuman monster Nero, serves as a sample of all.” * He charged the Chris tians with his own crime of setting fire to the city of Rome. 2. The result. As always, from the days of Stephen onward (Acts 7:59, 60; cf. 8:1, 4), the blood of the martyrs proved to be the seed of the church. And although the bodies of 174,000 martyrs rest in one place alone—the catacombs of St. Se bastian in Rome — the gospel did not die, but rather became the means of spiritual life to other thousands. The very word “martyrs” comes from the Greek word translated "witnesses” in Acts 1:8, and the martyrs served as mighty witnesses of Christ’s power in their lives. III. IN MODERN TIMES. (One illustration, from among very many that can be found in church his tory, is given, here.) 1. The persecution — Boxer uprising, 1900. In the effort put forth to drive out of China every so-called “foreign devil,” 189 Protestant missionaries and their children met a cruel death. No one ever will know how many Chinese Chris tians suffered martyrdom, but it is cer tain that there were thousands. 2. The result. But, as Dr. Glover points out, “never did a malicious blow of Satan . . . more signally fail of its object and rebound to his own hurt. The Boxer uprising not only put missionary work upon a safer basis . . . but it also imparted to the movement thè mightiest spiritual impetus up to that time.” ; Illustrative Material When the ship of Admiral Foote ar* rived at Siam, he invited the royal dig nitaries to dinner on board. As was his invariable custom, he asked a blessing •Zi. H. Glover.
NOVEMBER 3, 1940 CHRISTIANITY UNDER FIRE 1 P eter 4:12-19 The Leader’s Opening Remarks There is something about fire that is magnificent, awe-inspiring, and uncon- testable. From earliest times men have known the power of a leaping flame. It tests, with sovereign impartiality, the character of everything it touches. Gold need never fear the furnace; and the believer, who has within him "Christ . . . , the hope o f glory” (Col. 1:27), need not shrink from the "fiery trial” (1 Pet. 4:12) that will surely be his, for the testing will but consume the dross of human failure and reveal the bright perfection of the indwelling Lord.- Let us take a few pages from history and consider "Christianity under Fire” through the years. For material for this meeting, see The Progress of World- Wide Missions by Robert Hall Glover. Believers were imprisoned, cross-ques tioned, restrained, beaten (Acts 4 and 5). Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7). Christ's followers "were all scattered abroad throughout . . . Judea and Sa maria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1). At Herod’s command, James was killed and Peter’s life also was threatened (Acts 12:1-3). There was fierce oppo sition to the believers from the Jews (Acts 13:45, 50; 17:5, 6). Paul was stoned (Acts 14:19), conspired against (Acts 23:12), unjustly accused (Acts 21:28, 29; 24:5-9). 2. The result. a. Believers were made bold to testify concerning their faith in Christ (Acts 4:29-31; 5:41, 42). b. Thousands were converted (Acts 4:4; 5:14; 6:1, 7; 8:6, 12; 10:44, 48; 19:10, 18-20, 26). c. Vast communities were opened to the gospel (Rom. 15:19, 24). It has. been stated that "by the end of the first century, Christ had been preached from Babylon to Spain (3,000 miles), from Alexandria to Rome, by a Greek- speaking church.” What an achieve ment! The Speakers’ Outline I. IN THE FIRST CENTURY. 1. The persecution.
on the food. The king exclaimed in surprise that he thought only mission aries asked blessings. “That is true,” replied the admiral quietly, “ but every Christian is a mis sionary.”—Selected. NOVEMBER 10, 1940. PEACEMAKING IS COSTLY M atthew 26:51-56 The Leader’s Opening Remarks Nobody needs to be told, in this year of bloodshed and horror of war, that Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, wit nessed merely an acceptance of an armistice, not of a permanent peace. And no young person, if he is instructed in the Word of God, will need to be reminded, also, that there can be no abiding peefce on earth until the Lord Jesus Christ is here to reign as Prince of Peace. Until that time, there will be “wars and rumors of wars” (Matt. 24:6) coming in ever-increasing fury, and these signs are to show clearly that the coming of the Lord draws near (Lk. 21:10, 28). , The fact that can cause rejoicing in these days- is that Christ is coming. At His appearing, there will be brought in a reign of absolute justice and right eousness and peace. What a “blessed hope"! But the price of obtaining that eternal' peace has been and will be costly. It cost the Father separation from His Son. It cost the Son His life. And to enter into any measure of enjoyment of this peace, believers, having already received the free gift of salvation, must pay the price of the renunciation of self—a "payment” hard to make. In the Scripture lesson for this Sunday, there are three aspects of this glorious peace, every one of which may be ex perienced by believers today. The Speakers’ Outline I. PEACE THROUGH ACCEPTING THE FATHER’S WILL. Peace, for the Lord Jesus Christ while He lived ias a Man among men, came through always saying “yes” to God the Father. And peace comes to in dividuals today in no other way. It was the Father’s will that men should be
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