November, 1940
THE3 K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
421
I N T E R N A T I O N A L L E S S O N Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Childrens Division Object Lesson Golden Text Illustration By B. B. S utcliffe By G retchen S ibley By G race W . K ellogg By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S. P earce Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C la in , President of Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind.
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DECEMBER 1, 1940
AN EXACTING DISCIPLESHIP L uke 9
M erciful (51-56) True discipleship will show mercy to all. The spirit of vindictiveness must be put away from the Christian’s manner of life. To call down judgment upon another is to confess that the one who does so should be judged in like? man ner! and who among us is ready to be thus tried and convicted? If vindictiveness prevails among the disciples, it gives the lie to the purpose for which the Lord Jesus came to earth; He came, not to destroy, but to save men’s lives (Lk. 9:56). If mercy were not mingled In all His actions, none of us could be saved at all. Hence true discipleship demands that constant mercy be shown both to the unthankful and the disobdient, even as the Lord shows mercy unto all. IV. S acrifice (57-62) . True discipleship will reveal three outstanding marks. First, there will be an absence of selfishness, or expecta tion of material good for oneself (vs. 57, 58). To fully follow the Lord means to be undaunted by hardship. So far as the “ certain man” in today’s lesson is concerned, Jesus clearly desired that he follow Him, but, first the Lord Jesus would reveal to the man some thing of the cost involved. There was nothing to be gained that human eyes could see, because Jesus was a poor man, without a place to lay His head. But what eternal riches He had come to bestow! Second, true discipleship will reveal an absence of procrastination (vs. 59, 60). Worldly associations and employ ments, however seemingly important or necessary, must be given a secondary place in relation to the main task of following the Lord. Third, true discipleship will show an absence of indecision, or vacillation (vs. 61, 62). The Lord wants no falter-^ ing, half-hearted purpose in His follow ers. Once the decision to follow Him has been made, then the following must be faithfully and joyfully continued, irrespective of all other considerations. Hence the discipleship required by our Lord demands something higher than that which is natural. It enters the realm of the supernatural; it is not “natural’ to manifest humility, toler ance, mercy, and sacrifice. But these
Luke 9:49 And John answered and said. M aster, we saw one casting: out. devils In thy nam e; and we farhade him, because he followeth not with ns. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. 51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and. they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because h i s . face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that w e : command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Ellas did! 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what m anner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man Is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. 57 A n d it came to pass, that, as they went in the w ay, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. .58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head, 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farew ell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and look ing back, is fit for the kingdom of God. L E SS O N T E X T : Lk. 9:49-62. G O L D E N T ^ X T : “ No man, having put his hapd to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:62). - D E V O T IO N A L B E A D IN G : M att. 16:24-27. Outline and Exposition I. H u m i l i t y (46-48) ^-r~^RUE discipleship must show the I humility of a child. The desire I for greatness is not condemned by our Lord; it is the desire to “lord it over” others that is condemned. The Lord exhorts His disciples to learn from children, in whom the outstanding [These lessons are developed from outlines prepared by the Committee on Improved Uniform Lessons of the Inter• national Council. The outlines arc copy righted! by the International Council of Religious Education and used by per mission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.\
A Bible Family Magazine and a Sunday School Lesson Quarterly A ll in One Publication THE KING’S BUSINESS is offered in bandies of 10 at 75 cents and of 25 at $1.50 per month in U. S. For rates for larger quan tities, address Circulation Mana ger, THE KING’S BUSINESS, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles, Calif. characterizing mark is humility, as opposed to the desire for self-advance ment. The one who, in childlike faith, receives the Lord Jesus, in turn receives also the One from whom Jesus came, n. T olerance (49, 50) True discipleship will be tolerant. This is not to say that one should look s with favor upon the activities of those who, while professing to be Christ’s followers, actually reject the Word of God and deny the efficacy of the aton ing blood. There can be no tolerance toward this attitude. What is meant here is that the sectarian spirit, which would forbid the doing of good except under a special banner or by a special name, is not the spirit of true disciple ship. “Every good giving comes down .from the Father of lights” (cf. Jas. 1:17). If one is doing good as a disciple of the Lord Jesus, none should prevent his continuing.
BLACKBOARD LESSON
■no man. hauuto put « ishaitd to the PLOUGH. ADD LOOKIflG bflCK. 15 FIT FOR THE KlflGDOm OF O O D W .«
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