p. 12 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 35.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON XIII.—SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1897. # REVIEW. Golden Text.—"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16.

LESSON 1.—First Converts in Europe. Acts 16:6-15. Golden Text: "The entrance of thy words giveth light." Ps. 119:130. The time of this lesson is about A.D. 52, and the lesson deals with the beginning of the Gospel work in Europe. Paul on this European missionary journey is accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and Luke, and in going forth upon it is answering the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us."

LESSON 2.—Paul and the Philippian Jailer. Acts 16:22-34. Golden Text: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31. This lesson includes the punishment which Paul and Silas received at the hands of the magistrates, their imprisonment, their songs and prayers during the night, the earthquake by which the prison doors were thrown open, the fear of the jailer and his attempt to commit suicide, Paul's comforting words, the conversion of the jailer, and the baptism of himself and his family.

LESSON 3.—Paul at Thessalonica and Berea. Acts 17:1-12. Golden Text: "They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily." Acts 17:11. In this lesson several ways are mentioned in which the cause of Christ is advanced: by preaching Christ; by the use of the Scriptures; by the opposition of wicked and unprincipled men; and by searching the Scriptures. The house of Jason was besieged by the mob, and, not finding Paul and Silas, they compelled Jason to give security for the departure of the missionaries from that city. They went to Berea, where they were more graciously received, and many were joined to their ranks.

LESSON 4.—Paul Preaching in Athens. Acts 17:22-34. Golden Text: "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24. This was the first preaching of the Gospel message in Athens, and the date is believed to have been about A.D. 52. Paul in this lesson uses that wonderful argument in regard to the "unknown god," showing who is the true God, how he is acceptably worshiped, and his desire that all men everywhere should repent. Paul at this time preaches of the day of judgment, when all are to be judged by that Man "whom he hath ordained."

LESSON 5.—Paul's Ministry in Corinth. Acts 18:1-11. Golden Text: "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 3:11. Paul, coming to Corinth, abides with Aquila and Priscilla, and while preaching the Gospel, also works at his trade of tent-making, reasoning with the Jews and Greeks every Sabbath day in the synagogue. Here he received such opposition from the Jews that he decided to turn to the Gentiles. Paul dwelt in this place a year and six months, teaching the Word every Sabbath day, in the house of a Gentile by the name of Titus Justus.

LESSON 6.—Working and Waiting for Christ. 1 Thess. 4:9 to 5:2. Golden Text: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3. Paul in this lesson scripture commends the Thessalonians for the spirit of brotherly love, and exhorts them to continue and increase in this characteristic. He then sets at rest forever the controversy in regard to the resurrection of the dead, showing that the righteous will be raised at the second coming of Christ, and, together with those who are translated without seeing death, ascend to meet the Lord in the air. He also states the fact that the coming of Christ will be at a time when the world is not prepared to meet him, as the thief comes unawares to secure his booty.

LESSON 7.—Abstaining for the Sake of Others. 1 Cor. 8:1-13. Golden Text: "For none of us liveth to himself." Rom. 14:7. This lesson includes the story of the founding of the church at Corinth (Acts 18:1-7) and the first ten chapters of 1 Corinthians. In this scripture the apostle is setting the minds of the early Christians at rest concerning the eating of meats, especially meats offered to idols, the pith of the subject being summed up in Paul's words, "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh forevermore, that I make not my brother to stumble."

LESSON 8.—The Excellence of Christian Love. 1 Cor. 13:1-13. Golden Text: "But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love." 1 Cor. 13:13. This lesson dwells upon the subject of charity, or love. The apostle here shows the hollowness of all show, or pretensions, or argument, when lacking the essential principle of love. The other graces or principles or gifts may fail; love abides forever.

LESSON 9.—Paul Opposed at Ephesus. Acts 19:21-34. Golden Text: "Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness." Luke 12:15. The ground upon which this attack upon the work of Paul was based was an entirely selfish one. Paul's teachings reduced the demands for idols wherever he might go, and the craft of the idol-makers was in danger. The other ground, that of bringing the goddess Diana into disrepute, was evidently a secondary one, and introduced to induce the rank and file of the people to side with the silversmiths in their attack upon Paul.

LESSON 10.—Gentiles Giving for Jewish Christians. 2 Cor. 9:1-11. Golden Text: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:9. Paul here commends the Corinthians for their liberality to the poor, and sends messengers before him that their donations for the poor might be in readiness when he arrived. After telling them the kind of gift which is acceptable in the sight of God, Paul tells them that this grace of giving shall cause them to be increased in that with which to give, bringing with it the blessing of God.

LESSON 11.—Christian Living. Rom. 12:9-21. Golden Text: "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom. 12:21. The whole lesson scripture is composed of short, concise phrases, teaching the Christian how to work worthily in the sight of God and the world. He is to love without hypocrisy, abhor the evil, cleave to the good, be fervent, patient, humble, sympathetic, and ever ready to forgive his enemies.

LESSON 12.—Paul's Address to the Ephesian Elders. Acts 20:22-35. Golden Text: "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35. The incidents of this lesson occurred while Paul was carrying to Jerusalem the collection for the poor of the church at that place. He was going to Jerusalem bound in the spirit, knowing that bonds and afflictions awaited him. He exhorts the bishops to faithfully perform the work allotted to them in the church, and warns the church of the "grievous wolves" which should enter after his departure, teaching perverse doctrine, and drawing away disciples after them.

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