For Those Who Have Topics I. THf: IMPORTANCE OF THE MES SENGER (MISSIONARY) TO BE SENT. What qualifications s h o u l d the prospective missionary possess? From what field may you expect to secure the best-qualified missionary? Will an ocean voyage qualify one for being a missionary? Can one be prepared in any way through present experiences for the work in a foreign field? How would you suggest that one who feels the call to such service may further his preparation for that service before setting out from the home base? We read, “There were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers.” The five men listed were busy men, active in their home church as prophets (spokesmen for God) and teachers (instructing men concerning the things of God). They were serving in the place of His pres ent appointment for them—“they min istered to the Lord” ; and they fasted —were in the place and spirit and attitude of worship. At such a place and time God can call to higher ser vice. II. THE MISSIONARIES CHOSEN. “The Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."' Who should make the choice? Should the same Person always make the choice? If so, why? Has man as an individual any part in making the choice? Has the church any part? If so, what? When was Paul chosen? What is the meaning of “separate” as here used? (Gal. 1:15; cf. Acts 9:1-19). III. THE MISSIONARIES D E S I G - NATED. Does God know our names individ ually? Is He concerned with what we are doing? Does He take note of how we are doing the present task? Does He give any consideration to our past (in experience and training) in mak ing His choice for our future service? What confidence that they were in God’s place for them must have come to these first foreign missionaries be cause they were designated by name by the Holy Spirit to the church at Antioch! What courage this must have brought to them when trouble and persecution came! Likewise, one who is assured of the divine call to day is fortified against all the fiery darts of the evil one. IV. THE MISSIONARIES RELEASED. In the last clause of verse 3, “they sent them away” is a rather poor translation, for the Greek verb means “to set free: to relieve or release from: to loose from.” Why was it necessary that these men should be released? What added responsibility did this release place upon the home church? Should pres ent responsibility be an excuse for
not considering what may be God’s call to you to other service? Does the home church lose' by releasing a member or members for foreign serv ice? V. THE MISSIONARIES SENT FORTH. What is the teaching of verse 4 as to the One who sends forth mission aries of the gospel? What part has the home church in the matter of sending forth? Where is the emphasis throughout these verses on the choos ing, designating, and sending f o r t h of the missionaries? ' It is well to note that we are here told that they were sent forth by the Holy Spirit. In all our purposes and plans, let us fully recognize that the Holy Spirit is ever waiting to be our Guide. With Him as Guide, we may be assured that we will travel the right road, the road He has planned for us. MAY 24, 1942 NEW PHASES OF WORLD W IDE MISSIONS 1 T h e s s a l o n ia n s 2:17 to 3:10 By Ford L. Canfield Introduction * There are no “new phases” in the Lord’s work from His standpoint. “Known unto God are all his Works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18). To us, His people, how ever, world-wide missions have suf fered much dislocation because of war in recent years. Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia, Japanese aggression in Asia, the unloosing of Hitler’s long-laid plans for conquest—these acts of ag gression have seriously affected work of “foreign missions.” More than this, and equally Satan-inspired, in Japan .and Germany (to a less extent, in Italy) there has been forced upon the people a type of nationalism which comes into open conflict with the gospel. As has been well said, future events, such as referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, are surely casting their shad ows upon the world. (This Scripture also points to the real source of all these hindrances.) This fact is clearly seen in the insistence upon emperor- worship and shrine-worship by the militarists of Japan and in the at tempt of Nazism to revamp and emasculate Christianity until it suits their own greedy and selfish pur poses. But the commission of our risen Lord still stands (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 24:46-48; iohn 20:21; cf. John 17:18, 20, 21; Acts 1:8). It is ours to obey Him and to rely upon His re sources and authority. For Those Who Have Topics I. SOME WAYS WORLD-WIDE MIS SIONS ARE AFFECTED.
A Worthy Investment Multnomah School of the Bible Interdenominational— Evangelistic 703 N. E. Multnomah Portland Oregon R e v. B . B. Sutcliffe, D.D., President. R e v. John G. Mitchell, D.D., Vice-Pres. R e v. Simon E. Forsberg, Dean. Standard Three-Year Courses Intensive Bible Instruction Free Tuition A Book Department for Your Needs
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ENROLL NOW NINETEEN BIBLE COURSES ($1.00 to $5.00) • • • Course No. 16— Church Epistles Romans .................................... ,..$2.50 Ephesians _______ _____________ $2.00 Thessalonians j.....................„....$2.00 One Enrollment in All $5.00 The entire course presents— Justification Sanctification Glorification by faith in Christ, giving knowledge that Is very essential to the Christian today. In the Epistle to the — Romans, we are lost and in sin Ephesians, we dwell in the heavenlies Thessalonians, we are glorified To - The Correspondence School fiti l l llS lil If ISWEIß
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