228 longing to find time for, or that real Bible study he wished to do, basing his remarks on 1 Timothy 4:13 to 16. Several could speak with earnestness and gratitude for the extra time they will have to spend in that greatest of all activities, prayer. For prayer takes time, and what a wonderful example Jesus left us in Matthew 14:22, 23! “ Prayer is the chiefest thing. It gives the passionate desire to reach out to the world Jesus died for.” Let another speaker tell how he is going to use some o f his leisure time visiting the hospitals, the sick, and other shut-ins among the church members, carrying the cheer o f the gospel message. Also he might give some time to reading to the blind. In fact as one looks for opportunities for doing kindnesses in the name o f Christ, one finds them everywhere. Use Mark 2 :1 to 5 as a basis for the remarks on kind deeds. Others could speak o f their music, and o f how they have wanted to lead or play evangelistic music. Music has been recog nized as a mighty factor in the lives of God’s children since the days o f Miriam, the sister of Moses, when she took the tim brel in her hand and answered antiphon- ally the song o f Moses, with, “ Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed glorious ly, the horse and his rider hath he cast into the sea.” And today, great evangelists are accom panied by musicians, thus testifying to the great importance o f music in evangelism. Use your leisure time this summer prac ticing singing, or learning to play some musical instrument which you could dedi cate to the service o f God. Read 1 Samuel 16:4 to 23 and note how David’s musical ability was used in service. No doubt David acquired his skill on the harp in his leisure moments as he watched his fa ther’s sheep. In John 9 :4, we read that Jesus said, “I must work the works o f him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Christ emphasized the value o f time. Even Christ must do His work of redemption and o f teaching at the time appointed. Illustrations I. G od ’ s W orld In an old copy o f The Youth’s Compan ion is the story of a college student who put over his fireplace a brass plate with a picture o f reckless gaiety under which was the legend: “ Motto o f the Don’t Worry Club: ‘This is God’s World, Not Ours.’ ” His father, coming on a visit, objected to the motto. “ If this is God’s world,” said he, “the gay young fellows in that picture have reason to sit up and do some sober think ing. This is God’s world, and it is our privilege to discover God’s place in it for each o f us, and to help achieve God’s pur pose in the world.” II. “ So M uch to D o ” The last sentence ever formed by the lips of Cecil Rhodes was this: “ So much to do, so little done; good by.” Do the lengthening shadows o f the long, long night never affect you?— “A fter that —the dark.” “W e shall never pass this way again.” There are thoughts like these with which I can scourge my soul almost to frenzy. It is a frightful thing to make no deeper mark on the world than some o f us are making. — S unday S chool T imes .
May 1932
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Discussion Material S cripture V erses on T ime “ Remember how short my time is” (Psa. 89:47). “ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). ; “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (Col. 4 :5 ). “ Pass the time o f your sojourning here in fear” (1 Pet. 1 :17). JUNE 19, 1932 HOW HONEST ARE W E ? A cts 4 :3 2 ; 5:1-5 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn— “Near the Cross.” Hymn—“ Moment by Moment.” Prayer—That God’s Holy Spirit may be here in power in every heart. Scripture Lesson—Acts 4:32; 5:1-5. Remarks by Leader (see “Meditation on the Lesson” ). Quartette Number— “In the Hour of T rial.” Testimonies—Two-minute talks by pre viously appointed members on: Are we honest in our speech ? Are we honest when we pretend? why?. Is it possible to be ab solutely honest? why? Hymn— “A ll Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” Benediction—Repeat Jude 24 in concert. The songs suggested are chosen for the messages o f courage they bring. None of us can be honest in our own strength, but if we are kept “ Near the Cross” “M o ment by Moment,” we will sing trium phantly, “ All Hail the Power o f Jesus’ Name.” Meditation on the Lesson “And the multitude o f them that be lieved were o f one heart and of one Soul: neither said any o f them that ought of the things which he possessed was his ow n ; but they had all things common” (Acts 4: 32). This beautiful fellowship o f the early Christians, unfortunately, did not last long, for we read in the first verses o f the fifth chapter how sin crept into the band and “great fear came upon the church.” W e read, first, that they were all be lievers ( “them that believed” ), and then, that they were o f “one heart and of one soul.” The Scriptures always make the dis tinction between these two terms. The heart is the symbol o f thought and intel ligence. The soul is the symbol o f feeling. The expression describes with decisive fullness the complete agreement o f thought and feeling that reigned in the Christian community. This came naturally, and not as a result o f enforcing a rule that they must consider believers as brothers who could have no separate interests in heaven or on earth.
How these early Christians did love one another 1 In fact, they loved each other “so much that those who had property were willing” to sell it so they might all fare alike. It was a wonderful testimony to the transforming power o f Christ’s love in the heart I How the unbelievers among the Jews must have marveled at the rare unselfishness o f these new converts! We read that “ Barnabas, . . . a Levite, . . . having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” This was purely voluntary and was a striking testimony to the fact that, as a believing Jew, he realized his heavenly portion by giving up that which is prom ised to the Jew, earthly possessions. “ But”—it is too bad that the story can not go on so beautifully. All through the Bible, we find these “but’s”—significant words o f failure and decline. Just as in Genesis, the serpent entered the garden, so now we find sin entering the early church —and such a sin—dishonesty to G od ! An anias and Sapphira, whose tarnished names bring a shudder to our hearts, attempted to deceive God. As Peter said to them, “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own ? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” There was no law compelling them either to sell their property, or, having sold it, to give all the money it brought; but we see the sad state o f two hearts who wanted more credit than they deserved— credit from men and also from God. How ever much they might deceive men, they could not deceive God. Swift judgment followed, and they were cut off by death. This may seem a drastic punishment, but when we consider the gravity o f their sin, we see that it was a “sin unto death,” and the'sentence o f physical'death was imme diately carried out. Discussion Material I. W hat the B ible S ays A bout L ying It is Forbidden (Col. 3 :9). It is Hateful to God (Prov. 6:16-19). It is an Abomination to God (Prov. 12: 2 2 ) . _ It is a Hindrance to Prayer (Isa. 59 : V erses on T ruth God Is a God of Truth (Deut. 32:4; Psa. 31:5). Christ Is Truth (John 14:6 ; John 7 :18). Christ Was Full o f Truth (John 1 :14). The W ord o f God is Truth (John 17: 17). God Desires It in Our Hearts (Psa. 51: 6 ) . III. O thers in the B ible W ho W ere P un ished for D ishonesty and L ying Joseph’s brethren (Gen. 37:31, 32). Gehazi (2 Ki. 5:22). The Gibeonites (Josh. 9:11-23). JUNE 26, 1932 HOW DOES CHRIST MEET THE NEEDS OF THE W ORLD ? A cts 4:1-12 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn— “ O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” Hymn—“ Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Scripture Lesson—Acts 4 :1-12. Special Music— “ The Name o f Jesus.”
Satisfied B y S usie W illems
Jesus, the Source o f all pleasure, The Giver o f all that is good, The comforting One when in sor row, The One by so few understood, The Friend of all the most faithful, The Captain of Peace on life’s sea, This Jesus is all man has need of, And He truly satisfies me.
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