T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
November, 1941
42S
INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Object Lesson Golden Text Illustration By B. B. S utcliffe By G retchen S ibley By H elen F razee -B ower By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S. P earce Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , President of Grace. Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind.
Christ, a living organism, not a dead organization. In the strictest sense of the word, therefore, no one can join the church, though we do join various de nominations in order to exercise the privileges of fellowship and prayer with other saints.
DECEMBER 7, 1941' THE NATURE AND WORK OF THE CHURCH M atthew 16:13-20; 18:15-20; A cts 2:37-47; 8 :1 ; 9 :31 ; 1 C orinthians 7 :1 7 ; 12:4-31; G alatians 1:13, 21-24; E phesians 1 :15-23; 4:1-16; 5:25-27; R evelation 1:10, 11.
Lord Jesus Christ that “of his own will begat he us with the word of truth” (Jas. 1:18; cf. 1 Pet. 1:23). That Word makes the sinner conscious of guilt and brings conviction of sin. T h i s is the r e s u l t wherever the Word is preached in its fullness. And for those who will receive it, it brings corfversion from death unto life by faith in Christ (cf. Acts 26:18). Life in the church is retained by con tinuance “in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (v. 42), It is not what the apostles did, personally, but what they taught under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that is the medium fo r , retaining life in the church (cf. 2 Tim. 3:14-17). The idea that healthy Chris tian life can be maintained apart from fellowship with other believers is to blame in large measure for the present widespread divisions within the church (cf. 2 Cor. 6:17; 1 Cor. 12:12-31). And prayer—how important it is!—indicat ing a recognition of that continual de pendence upon the Lord that is the only ' safeguard against heresy and back sliding. Life in the church is revealed by the walk of believers (vs. 43-47). The un derlying principle of the Christians’ walk is the faith that looks upward to Christ, onward to the Lord’s Coming, and outward to the good of all the saints. It issues in unity, contentment, and praise among believers. Life in the church is perpetuated by the Lord Himself (v. 47). No one ex cept the Lord has the power to add any one to the church, which is the Body of
Acts 2:41 Then.they that ¿gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadfastly In the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking: of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and haying favor with *1! the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, a- postles; and some, prophets: and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teach ers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we ail come in the unity of the faith, and of thè knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried abbut with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftir ness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into, him lit all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, màketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. LESSON TEXT * Acts 2:41-47; Eph. 4*11-16. GOLDEN TEXT * «Christ also loved the church, and gave him self for it” (Eph. 5:25). DEVOTIONAL READING* Rev. 21:9-18. Outline and Exposition I. L ife in the C hurch (Acts 2:41-47) 1 IFE in the church is received through the Word of God (v. J 41) . We are told concerning the [ These lessons are developed from outlines prepared by the Committee on Improved Uniform Lessons of the In ternational Council. ' The outlines are copyrighted by the International Coun cil of Religious Education and used by permission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated .]
n . G ifts in the C hurch (Eph. 4:11-16)
It is the ascended Lord who gives the gifts to the church. He alone can be stow them. Hence, the ordination ad ministered by men is merely the human recognition of what the ascended Lord already has performed. The gifts are given to the whole church, not to any particular section of the church, al though the gift may be exercised in one particular section. The gifts are said to be, first, apos tles—those appointed to give to the Church that which is her authoritative, divinely inspired system of teaching or doctrine. It is through the apostles that the church possesses the “faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3, R. V.). Then there are prophets,, appointed for the exposition of that system of doctrine. Prophets are of two sorts: foretellers, and forth- tellers; it is the latter class that is in view in this passage. Then there are . evangelists, charged with proclaiming that system of teaching to all the world ' and bringing its gospel to bear upon the unsaved. Finally, there are pastors and teachers, appointed for the feeding and training of the saints in and through that system of doctrine. The purpose of the gifts (vs. 12-16) is the perfecting (or the repair) of the saints unto the work of the ministry. It is the pew rather than the pulpit which is involved in the real work of the ministry! And the service of these who are “gifts” will be continued so long as there is need for the saints to come td the “unity of the faith” Wherein they will see eye to eye with Christ, and therefore with one another, and their divisions and differences will be done away. The need for the gifts is expressed by the desire for spiritual maturity— that "we . . . be no more children.” Firmly established in the truth and growing up into Christ continually, we individual Christians should be able to render to the whole Body of Christ that which each on« of us has to contribute.
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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