328
July 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
.B' d s i n e s s
Q u o te s o n CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR* . . . By MILO F. JAMISON
A Bible Discussion Course A constructive, connected series of p ractical Bible discussion subjects and outlines to be used by C hristian En deavor Societies, Sunday-school classes, and o th er Bible study groups. AUGUST 2, 1931 The Master Physician J ohn S h e world today is sick! Sin is the disease from which the human race is suffering. The symptoms are seen on every hand. Sorrow, suffering, de spondency, and defeat are the results of this infirmity which holds man helpless in its grip. Wherever you find the helpless, there you find the Christ. He takes man in his extremity, and in a moment cures the in firmity of years and ends the imprison ment of the soul. P rep aratio n MONDAY: Outline the chapter, noting the three main divisions and the points under each. TUESDAY: Make a special study of verses 1 to 16, and write out from memory in your own words the entire incident in lan guage simple enough to convey the meaning to a child. WEDNESDAY: Study the question (v. 6) J ’'the com mand (v. 8), and the warning (v. 14) which Jesus gave to the helpless man. What practical applications are sug gested to your mind? THURSDAY: Set down in order the striking claims made by Christ concerning Himself (vs. 17-29). FRIDAY: Memorize verses 24 and 39. Underline any other striking verses. SATURDAY: Outline the fivefold witness to the deity of Christ (vs. 33-47). SUNDAY: Using some verse or verses of the chap ter, prepare a devotional talk to be used at the first opportunity. Expression Almost every verse in this chapter sug gests lines of practical thinking. All of the following suggestions should be used in the preparation of a devotional talk to be used in passing on the results of your study. The material here given should be enlarged upon, worked into an outline, illustrated from personal experience if possible, thought through carefully two or three times, and then given forth to some one else. It should be clearly un derstood that these suggestions are not intended to present an interpretation or exegesis of the passages used, but rather
to bring forth devotional applications which may be valuable in the development of a Christian personality. I. H opeless in T he H ouse of H ope “A t Jerusalem . . . a pool . . . called . . . Bethesda . . . and a certain man was there” (John 5:1-5). Here is a picture of a man, sick, friend less, forlorn. In the company with others who were blind, crippled, and shrunken, he lay in a pitiful condition, helpless and hopeless, yet lying in the very porch of Bethesda (“house of hope”) where, if some one had helped him, he could have been plunged into the healing waters. How like the picture of men and women today, blind through sin, prejudice, hate, lust, greed, envy, jealousy, and pride; crippled in service through lack of faith, lack of prayer, lack of study of God’s Word, lack of surrender; withered in life and soul through shrunken service for God, going on in their pitiful condition, year after year, sick with sin, and all the time lying at the very door of the “house of hope,” the church of Christ 1
II. T he C hallenge of C hrist
"Wilt thou be made whole" (John 5 :6) ? Seeking to arouse us from our lethargy, Christ asks this question of every one who is in trouble. In the question is im plied His willingness and readiness to heal. He will take these deformed, crip pled, helpless lives of ours and give to them power and strength ,and beauty. Do we really desire healing, or do we love our sin? III. N obody C ares "I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool” (John 5:7). How often we plead, “I have no one who cares,” and yet Christ is every ready. His promise to heal is open to every broken heart. He seeks those most desti tute and lonely. All about us are people, close to the healing waters, with hungry, unsatisfied hearts, who, if given our help and sympathy, might take that faltering step which would bring them into contact with the Giver of life. IV. T rust and O bey “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (John 5:8). Christ never demands an impossibility. How often we give the excuse that we cannot obey until we have the strength! But when Jesus Christ orders us to rise, strength will be given as the effort is made. Some one has well said that “Christ’s commands are His enablings.” D iscussion 1. Discuss the subject of sin as sug gested by the multitude (v. 3). a. “The blind.” Are prejudice, hate, lust, greed, envy, jealousy, and pride the result or the cause of spiritual blindness? b. “The halt.” Study the crippling power of lack of faith, lack of prayer, lack of study of God’s Word, lack of personal surrender. c. “The withered.” Do yoff know of men and women whoie souls are shrunken through lack of com munion and fellowship with God? 2. Discuss the subject of sin as sug gested by the story of the man (vs., 5-9). How can his condition be likened to that of the one who is sick with sin? In what way can Christ’s question (v. 6) be ap plied as a challenge to the youth of to day? Was the man’s hopeless condition (v. 7) any different from our condition as we seek for a healthy spiritual life? Study Ephesians 2:1-9. . 3. Study the question of the Chris tian’s responsibility for those who are lost (v. 7). How many unsaved people of your acquaintance are there who might say, “I have no man to help me to Christ; no one cares for my soul” ?
How to Use the Bible Discussion Course P rep aratio n ach day of the week pre ceding the meeting, each member should read slow ly and prayerfully the entire chapter assigned. The suggestion for that day should be carried out. One of the discussion ques tions should become the basis for meditation and study. Expression This material should not be used in the form of a devotional talk until it has been worked out in outline form, illustrated from personal experience if possible, and then thought through care fully two or three times, so that it really becomes one’s own. The important thing to be stressed is to make the personal, practical application. D iscussion The discussion questions given for each week should provide the basis for an informal yet or ganized group conversation fol lowing the more formal short talks which have already been given. No discussion meeting should be closed without a careful sum mary being made of the points brought out in the discussion and the conclusions which can be drawn therefrom.— M. F. J.
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