49
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
January 1930
from C. E. and Church headquarters, as sign various topics to five members one week in advance of this meeting.) Leader’s Remarks. Closing Song: “To the Work, to the Work.” (Tell story. See below.) L esson S urvey The following outline will serve as a good basis for the leader’s remarks on Acts 2:41-47, one of the Scriptures as signed to this lesson. Christian Steadfastness I. In the apostles’ doctrine (cf. 14:22; 1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim, 3:14; Heb. 10:23). II. In mutual fellowship (cf. Rom. 12: 10; 15:2; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:2; 5:2). III. In the breaking o f bread (cf. 20:7; 1 Cor. 5:7, 8 ; 10:16, 17; 11:17-34). IV. In prayers (cf. Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; . Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17). All prophets were teachers, but not all teachers were prophets. A prophet was one who authoritatively uttered divine communications. A teacher was one who explained what the prophet uttered (cf. 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11). The Church of Jesus Christ calls men of clearest in tellect, largest heart and bravest spirit. Who will answer the call? S ide -L ights What is a Church? A band of faithful men Met for God’s worship in some humble room, Or, screened from foes by midnight’s starlit gloom, On hillside or lone glen, To hear the counsels of God’s Holy Word, Pledged to each other and their common Lord. These, few as they may be, Compose a Church, such as in pristine ages Defied the tyrant’s steel, the bigot’s rage. For, when but two or three, Whate’er the place, in faith’s communion meet, There, with Christ present, is a Church complete. The desire to get men into the Church, the driving them in, the throwing the net far and wide to catch them, the sending out shepherds to run them in, sheep-like, and then letting them alone—that is not to be commended. It is like bringing raw material into a shop and leaving it un manufactured.— Beecher. A n . old farmer who was attending a church convention chuckled to himself as he read over the subjects on the program. “ See here, parson,” he said to his pastor, “you’ve had papers and discussions all day on how to get people to attend your meet ings. I’ve never heard a single address at a farmers’ convention, on how to get the cattle to come up to the rack. We put all our time on the best kinds of feed. I sort of have a notion that if you put
Why? Because this was Christ’s final commission to His Church. “ Go—make disciples.” He could have sent angels but He chose to give this privilege to His Church. Why? Because gratitude on our part demands it (2 Cor. 5 :15; Ps. 51:15). . Why? Because He is holding us re sponsible to make Him known to the heathen (Ezek. 33; Mk. 16:15). Why? Because it is the greatest priv ilege in this life to witness for our Sa viour who is the maker of the world (Heb. 1 :l-3) ; the image of the invisible God (Col. 1 :15-17) ; the eternal Word (John 1:1-4). Why? Because the heathen are calling us. “ Sudden, before my inward, open vision, Millions of faces crowded up to view; Sad eyes that said, ‘For us is no provision; , Give us your Saviour, too.’ “ ‘Give us,’ they cry, ‘your cup of consolation, Never to our outreaching hands ’tis passed; We long for the Desire o f every nation, And, oh, we die so fast.’ ” S ide -L ights Said Bishop W. F. McDowell before the first national convention of Metho dist men: “I would not cross the street to give India a new theology; India has more theology than it can understand. I would not cross the street to give China a new code o f ethics; China has a vastly better ethical code than ethical life. I would not cross the street to give Japan a new religious literature, for Japan has a better religious literature than religious life. But I would go around the world again, and yet again, if it pleased God, to tell India and China and Africa and the rest of the w orld^M “ ‘There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains.’ ” —From “Militant Methodism." I have a friend, an enthusiast for for eign missions, as every Christian should be. He went to a tremendously wealthy man and asked him for a contribution for a certain missionary society. He said, “Why not evangelize the heathen at home?” My friend said, “All right, here is a tract.”— W. Graham Scroggie, in “ Good News.” One of the denizens o f “Hell’s Kitchen,” Manhattan, remarked, upon hearing the Gospel for the first time, “ Something ought to be done for us fellers” ; and he was right. Whose fault is it that there are any poor heathen? A speaker at a meeting of the Laymen’s Missionary Movement drove this question into the consciences of his Christian hearers. If your father left in his will an inheritance for you and your brother, and your brother, being at a dis tance, could only receive his inheritance if you sent it to him, would you feel free to decide whether to send it to him or not? And if you did send it to him would you take considerable credit to yourself for doing so? That’s foreign missions.
Some Expressive Statements “I find your magazine very helpful in my study." — A P astor . “ This is just the kind o f mag azine a Christian finds helpful." — A C alifornian . “Every paper is a feast to us here." • —A M issionary in W. A frica . “ Your paper is a very wel come guest in my home.” — F rom O hio .
People talk complacently about the poor heathen. Why “poor” ? Because the heathen have not received their share of the inheritance which the Father left us to give them.— Sunday School Times. Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians? Oh, answer me this today. The heathen are looking to you ; You can do, or give, or pray. You can save your soul from blood- guiltiness, For in lands you have never trod The heathen are dying every day, And' dying without God. Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians? Dare ye say ye have naught to do? All over the earth they wait for the light, And is it nothing to you?
M issionary V erses John 3 :16 Luke 19:10 Acts 1 :8 2 Cor. 5 :20,21 .
2 Pet. 3:9 1 Pet. 2:9 John 17:18 Luke 19:13 Matt. 4:19 1 Cor. 4:1
— o — January 26, 1930 What is Our Church Planning this Year?
Acts ' 2:41-47; 13:1-3' (Denominational Day) S uggestive O rder of S ervices
This is the beginning of Christian En deavor Week. Send to the General Sec retary o f the International Society of Christian Endeavor, Mr. E. P. Gates, for a program of activities for the week. Ob tain from your own denominational head quarters a specific program for observing this day. Opening Songs : “The Church’s One Foundation,” “ Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken.” Prayer. Scripture Reading: Eph. 1. Song : “How F i r m a Foundation.” (Tell story o f this song before singing, See below.) Five two-minute talks on church plans for year. (From information received
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