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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
February, 1941
l&ARCH 23, 1941 HOW CAN I MAKE CHRIST ATTRACTIVE TO OTHERS? M atthew 5:14-16; 2 C orinthians 3 :2, 3 ; 2 T imothy 1 :8 Introduction The Lord Jesus Christ, whose “name shall be called Wonderful” is in Himself supremely "attractive” to those who know Him. The Christian young per son’s concern, therefore, is simply to reveal Christ to others, that they may desire Him. Self always mars the rev elation of Christ, but “ Christ In you”— indwelling and controlling your life—is able to draw hungry hearts to Himself. For Those Who Have Topics In revealing Christ, the Christian is to be as: I. A LIGHT (Matt. 5:14-16). Just as a city on a hilltop cannot be concealed, so light is not intended to be hidden. Coming to Jesus Christ, “the light of the world” (John 8:12),
those who trust Him become light-bear ers: “They looked unto him, and were lightened [R. V., ‘radiant’] ” (Psa. 34:5). Illus.: Saul, who saw “a light from heaven” on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3), became Paul the apostle, “a light of the Gentiles” (Acts 13:47). n . AN OPEN LETTER (2 Cor. 3:2, 3). The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote epistles to believers in various churches. As thé truth was applied in their lives, they in turn be came an open letter, “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God . . . in fleshly tables of the heart.” Those who “read” the lives of Chris tians observe closely their “walk” (l Thess. 2:12; 1 John 2:6). IH. A FEARLESS WITNESS (2 Tim. 1 : 8 ). The Apostle Paul had always advo cated holy living and fearless preaching of "Christ crucified” (Rom. 1:16; J. Cor. 16:13, 14; 2 Cor. 6:17, 18; 1 Tim. 6:11- 14). As a prisoner of the Emperor Nero, he knew the cost of witnessing
for Christ, yet from prison he asked for prayer that he might “speak bold ly” (Eph. 6:10, 18-20; cf. Phil. 1:12-14). TV. A GOD-EMPOWERED SUFFER ER (2 Tim, 1:8). The suffering described in the latter part of this verse is a result of the boldness urged in the first clause. Some times Christian young people are so overurged to be “winsome for Christ” that in an effort to please the unsaved they are led to compromise with sin or with the false teaching proclaimed by unbelievers. This attitude not only'in vites the spora of those they desire to win but also disappoints such young people as are really looking for some one with strong convictions. There is an “offense of the cross” (Gal. 5:11) which is inescapable, for the very fact that Christ’s death for mankind was necessary is a' rebuke to human sin. On the other hand, we need to beware of “adding our own offen siveness to ‘the offense of the cross.’ ” “Persecution” that comes from our own wrongdoing or carelessness is one thing, but that which results from our faithfulness to Christ is quite another. This latter kind entitles Us to joy in the midst of trouble, and to all the victory available through “the power of God” (2 Tim. 1:8; cf. 3:12; Phil. 1:29; 1 Pet. 4:12-16, 19). (Note that 2 Tim othy and Philippians were written in prison.) For the Leader If you know your group well enough, it may be possible to draw out a num ber of testimonies as to how those who are now active Christians first became attracted to the Lord Jesus Christ. Such stories will seem more personal than those drawn from Christian biog raphy, though ample material of the latter kind is available. Allow yoUr speakers to plan their stories before coming to the meeting. Try to dem onstrate that it was the lives of “real” Christians—evidencing God’s power as "light,” in bold witnessing for Christ, or in patient suffering—that drew the interest of these young people of your own Society to the message of the writ ten Word of God and then to an ac ceptance of the Living Word, their Sav iour. Then make the practical applica tion as a challenge to the group to “make Christ attractive to others”— doing it in line with God’s plan to re veal Christ through them. MARCH 30, 1941 HOW CAN I MEET OBJEC TIONS TO BECOMING A CHRISTIAN? 1 P eter 3:15-18; C olossians 4:6 Introduction When the Word of God is pressed upon unsaved men, they react in dif ferent w a y s . Some deny that they are
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