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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
January, 1933
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR . . . B y M a r y G . G oodner
<£77V/i ? FEBRUARY 5, 1933 H OW SHALL W E DETERMINE OUR IDEALS? P s a l m 119:129-136; M a t t h e w 5:1-9 Suggestions for the Meeting Scripture Response—Habakkuk 2 :20; Psalm 95:1. Leader :■“ The Lord is in his holy tem ple.” Response: “Let all the earth keep si lence before him.” Leader: “O come, let us sing unto the Lord.” Response: “Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” j Hymn— “O Worship the Lord.” HymnI|:“My Saviour’s Love.” Prayer. Scripture—Read Responsively f r o m Memory. Quartet—“Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Leader’s Message. Discussion by All—“My Favorite Bible Character.” . Hymn—“More Like the Master.” Quiet Hour. Hymn—“Where He Leads Me.” Benediction—Jude 24, 25. These familiar verses, memorized by al most all juniors, are the portrait of the true Christian. They are Jesus’ description of His disciples in completeness. We do not see any like this now, but we will some day, for 1 John 3:2 tells us, “ Beloved, now. are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall b e : but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” “Beatitude” is from the Latin word beati meaning “blessed,” with which these verses begin in the Latin version; “happy” is also a translation. All the world is seeking hap piness. The greater number o f people are on the wrong track. Men and women are seeking happiness through fame or fortune or pleasure. None of these satisfy per manently. They may bring temporary en joyment, but it soon fades away. Solomon is the outstanding example o f one who tried everything the world had to 'o ffe r - wealth, fame, power, wisdom, and ease— and yet in the end, he said, “Vanity of vanities . . . all is vanity.” Christ, in this wonderful sermon, gives the true formula for real happiness. Itas in being, not in doing or having—a man’s happiness depends on his relationship to Jesus Christ. While this particular passage does not set forth how to be rightly related to Jesus Christ, it describes the blessed state of those who are thus related. Salvation through faith in the shed blood o f the Lord Jesus Christ must be secured by all who are to be called “blessed.” Discussion Material 1. T h e M e r c if u l The Guild of Saint George has in its de claration the following statement, written Meditation on the Lesson “M a t t h e w 5 :l-9
by John Ruskin, its founder: “I will not kill nor hurt any living creature needlessly, nor destroy any beautiful thing, but will strive to save* and comfort all gentle life and guard and perfect all natural beauty on earth.” — S elected . II. T r u e M e e k n e s s What, then, is true meekness ? The Greek word that is used for meekness is the same Greek word that, in Xenophon’s Anabasis, is used for the taming o f horses. A meek man is a tamed man, one who has learned self-control. “Who are the meek?” a boy in Jamaica was asked. “Those who give soft answers to rough questions,” was his bright reply:-VT a r b e l l . III. M e e k n e s s a n d G e n t l e n e s s Meekness is gentleness. Weakness is al ways rough. Tenderness is an inflection of strength. - “ Thy gentleness hath made me great,” sings the psalmist. IV. T h e P u r e in H e a r t Who are the pure in heart? As purity, when affirmed of other things, for exam ple, water, air, glass, means freedom from mixture, so purity of heart means single ness of moral aim, freedom from all alloys, whether o f insincerity, distraction, or hate —not that the pure in heart are absolutely sinless; for none is good save One, even God. But the pure in heart are the simple- thoughted, the clear-purposed, the straigh- forward; in one word, the guileless. ■■f'k — B oard m a n . V. P u r it y My good blade carves the casques o f men, My tough lance thrusteth sure; My strength is as the strength of ten Because my heart is pure. — T e n n y s o n . VI. S h o r t S a y in g s The beatitudes are not only blessings to be desired; they are also tests to be applied to the heart. — V a n D y k e . One breath of the flesh life will stain the window o f the soul. — J o w e t t . VII. B ib l e V e rses to b e G iv e n a t t h e M e e t in g “The Lord lifteth up the meek” (Psa. 147:6). “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psa. 51: 10 ). “He that cometh to me shall never hun ger” (John 6:35). “The Lord is very pitiful, and o f tender mercy” (Jas. 5:11). “ If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink” (John 7 :37). “ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:29). “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18). “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God” (Psa. 42:2). “ Christ, . . . when he was reviled, re viled not again; when he suffered, he
threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Pet. 2: 23). VIII. I d e a l C h a r a c t e r s An interesting feature for this program on ideals would to be to ask members to speak on their favorite Bible character, with this thought in mind: Which one of these virtues stressed in the Beatitudes did he have? For instance: David fully exemplifies the one who “hungers and thirsts.” “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God” (Psa. 42:1). “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God” (Psa.- 84:2). “My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they which watch for the morning” (Psa. 130:6). These verses could be multiplied many times throughout the Psalms. Then Joseph could stand for “the pure in heart,” scorning to sin against G od; he was also “merciful’“ Toward his brethren (cf. Gen. 39:9; 45:8-15). Daniel was “persecuted for righteousness sake” (Dan. 6). Paul was persecuted more than any (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Moses was the “meekest man” (Num. 12:3). Other heroes might be Abraham, Isaiah, Elijah, Peter, John, or Joshua. Study them in the light of these verses in Matthew and tell why you selected them. Biogra phy is always a fascinating study, and when it is focused on God’s writings, it becomes more than fascinating—uplifting. FEBRUARY 12, 1933 WHEN IS FRIENDSHIP CHRISTIAN? A c ts 9:26, 27; J o h n 15:13 Suggestions for the Meeting Hymn—“What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Hynin—“ He’s My Friend.” Scripture—Read by two leaders. Prayer. Violin Solo. Testimonies. Hymn—“The Best Friend is Jesus.” Leader’s Message. Quiet Hour. Hymn—“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” Benediction—Psalm 19:14. Meditation on the Lesson After Paul’s sojourn of three years, in Arabia, he comes down to Jerusalem to see the apostles—especially Peter. No doubt he longed to talk to Peter, as he was the leading apostle, about his marvelous con version, his prescribed sphere of labors, es pecially to “the Gentiles” ; for “the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name be fore the Gentiles, and kings, and the chil dren of Israel.” But alas for human suspicion and dis trust! There is always a strange reluct-
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