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are like good ground that brings forth fruit. Not all the good ground bears equally in amount; some furnishes more, some less, but all of it bears fruit. Nothing is wrong with the seed or the method of sowing. The fault • is. with the ground. II. . T he G rowth of the S eed (26-29) The life in the seed is unseen, but it is present, placed there by God who is the only One who can give life. The life is unobserved until the seed it self dies. The life of the seed grows mysteriously, just how no man can tell—“he knoweth not how.” It grows silently. It grows slowly, from day to day it is difficult to measure, the rate of increase, yet the work is going on continually. Finally, the growth is certain: first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn. In these days filled with impa tience for results, we need to learn the lesson taught here, and wait patient ly io r the Word to have its full effect. It will accomplish whatever God has sent it forth to do. III. T he D anger of the S eed (30-32) This parable of the mustard seed re veals the danger of seeking bigness rather than greatness. Here is the pic ture of a lowly herb striving to be come a great tree. The spreading branches, for all their great size, mere ly could give lodgment to birds. The birds are symbols of Satan’s agents (cfv Matt. 13:19) ready to befoul the tree (cf. Rev. 18:2) and destroy its real purpose. <
BLACKBOARD LESSON 'I f my mm haue earstohear , let Him herr * T he Kinôoom of god ■ % l} / a ' first the & lw e . them thefa r . aète À thhtthe FVirL CCKW.r xa W b il L u u I m / n j a g . he />¿/rrsTHw the s / c & e . secasse THEHARVEST /S COriE “ / va '. at ' / » A « /> /» gatherings; nor can it avoid being befouled by those “birds” , that lodge there. Furthermore, there can be no normal and effective bearing of fruit for eternity. Because the church is alien to earth, a heavenly company, bigness in the earth was never in tended by God as its portion. Great ness in heaven should be the one aim. Points and Problems 1. “And he taught them many things by parables" (Mk. 4:2). A para ble has been describee, as “ a heavenly picture in earthly dress.” The literal meaning of the word in the Greek is “a placing of one thing by the side of another,” that is, a comparison, a simil itude. Our Lord’s" parables have a twofold usage. They were given to conceal truth and also to illuminate truth. They are like a nut with a hard shell but an edible kernel. The shell is, for concealment. The kernel is for en richment. To the unreceptive and unbe-; lieving, the parables of our Lord were for the purpose of concealing truth. But to the faithful followers of Christ who had received the elements of the Christian faith, these parables were for the purpose of revealing and illu minating the mysteries of the. king dom of heaven. This principle is op erative today, and is contained in the Lord’s statement found in Matthew 13:10-17. 2.. "The fowls of the air came and devoured it up", (v. 4). “The fowls of the air” stand for Satanic influence (cf. v. 15). This needs to be kept in mind when an interpretation of the parable of the mustard seed is under taken (vs. 30-32). The presence of the fowls roosting in the branches of the mustard tree surely is not indicative of righteousness in the kingdom of God but suggests Satanic influence within Christendom. This corruption \ will pqpsist in the realm of the pro fessing or visible church until Christ comes to claim His own. 3. "Some fell by the wayside . . . on stony ground . . . among thorns . . . , on good ground" (vs. 4-8). Four types of hearers found in practically every preacher’s congregation are suggested here: (1) the inattentive hearer, (2) the emotional hearer, (3) the preoccu pied hearer, and (4) the practical hearer. In which class are you?
DAYS Remember Compiled and Designed by Mande I’. Smith
Cloth Edition... ..$1.25 Paper Edition .......50c
Each day of the year Ms listed and there is ample space for recording BIRTHDAYS, AN NIVERSARIES and other important occasions —or the space may be used as a DAILY DIARY. • Contains a carefully' selected Scripture-text for each day of the year, and a number of beautiful poems and seed-thoughts, • The. booU is exquisitely illustrated . . . the page.¿prefacing the. beginning of each month contains a lovely line drawing of the FLOW ER OF THE MONTH together with a suitable Scripture verse. • Printed in, two colors on lovely ivory an tique laid paper. SERVICE and SUPPLIES for Christian Work 156 Fifth Ave. (KD1), New York 10, N.Y. Send for catalog and list of Gospel Seed*’, tracts. VITAL LETTERS A NEW BOOK just off the press, ft contains copies of 32 Letters written by the late Charles Wiesenberg to Christians: they deal with prob lems. of the .spiritual life. What some have written after reading them. His letters searched and satisfied my heart as; no other writings did.—F. S. J., Colo. I have,nearly worn out my copies.—E. C. F., Wash. His writings oft quoted by me in sermons have not only been a •booi\ to me but to others as well.—Ti J. Pi; Pa. , His Letters have been an inspiration, and many times I have praised God that his gifted life was yielded to.. Him.—M._ C., Wis* I wish they were in book form.—R. L. W., Fla. Order * copy today for your library: and include an order for gift copies for your Christian friends* A rare treat is in store for you, and them. ONE DOLLAR A COPY—ORDER EARLY CHRISTIAN WITNESS TO ISRAEL, Inc. 6704 Cedar Ave., Mereliantville, N. »1. FreeTestaments Gold Titles. Dupont morocco. Also dainty Bible-verse-a-day booklets for His little ones. Mothers state ages of your Bible-less chil dren. If postage is sent, ft brings extra gifts. Scriptural League, KB, Youngstown 7, Ohio
The church-composed of all who are born again through faith in Christ’s finished work — is a “little flock,” peculiarly precious to the One who gave His life to redeem sinners. Striving for bigness, the church loses its greatness. When it boasts of large numbers, of superior intellect, or of material wealth, it grows weaker and weaker in spiritual power. It cannot drive off nor transform the evil “birds,’’ Satan’s agents who invade church G R E A V i B Ö C i i S ^ W illiam R. N ewell
inspiring fo Read, Treasured as Gifts. Distribute Then fe Your Friends*—They W ill 1 Be Truly Grateful for Deeper Spiritual Knowledge. ROMANS—Verse by Verse Consider this foreword by the late Francis L. Patton: "The only hope of Christianity Is in the rehabilitating ofthe Pauline theology. It is back, back, back,to an incarnate Christ and the atoning blood, or it is on, on, on, to atheism and despair." This entirely new commentary on a great Pauline epistle Is simple, spiritual, thorough. 576 pages, 16 chapters. Gold stamped doth binding. Two-color pictorial jacket. Post paid, per copy $1.50. ^Distribute in quantities to yourfriends!Note numberofpagfis. REVELATION "Things which must shortly coma fo pass" "I consider your exposition of many cf the difficult passages," said Oscar Lowry, "clearer and more satisfactory than anything I have ever read on Revelation." "I have read large sections" said W ill H. Houghton, "with great interest and benefit." 404 pages, 22 chapters. Gold stamped cloth binding. Two-color pictorial jacket. Postpaid, per copy $1.50. Order through your bookseller, church supply houst or from the publishers direct. B l ■ / ■ ' A T I A ki C I 00 W. Chicago Ave., Dept.K U L A I I U N o C H I C A G O , I L L I N O I S
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