The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-02
READING FOR THE DAY.
sunday-school Lesson for May 0, 1886.

Sunday-SchOOl Lesson for May 9, 1886.
SOWING AND REAPNe-John w. 27-42.
Golden Text-0ne soweth, and another reapeth.
John iv, 81.
1t may have seemed to the disciples as time
wasted as they saw the Master talking with this
woman of Samaria But out Of that converse
ton grew great church. which in the next GEN.
fury was one of the strongest in that land. We
cannot tell the grand results that shall come
from single wayside talk; we shall never know
until the judgment the great harvest that shall
bless the world as the result of faithful loving
talk with some neglected, unpromising and fall
en- soul We may thank God and take courage
as we study in this lesson the subject of sowing
and reaping. We have to-day continuation of
last Sundays lesson, which closed with the
declaration that so surprised and gladdened the
heart of the woman, that this Jesus was the long
promised and long-expected Messiah for whom
both Jew and Samaritan were waiting
LESSONS FOR TO-DAY.
!. The abiding marvel to the disciples OF to-
day is that the most important and most grateful
work of the church now is among the poor and
the children The very classes and persons that
many would neglect furnish the brightest con-
verts and the best workers. When will we get
into line with the great Teachers methods and
ideas?
2. grand illustration of the power Of grace
q soul into the kingdom, and to use it as worker
to save others The Samaritaness and the Mag
dalene were two of his truest friends. 1t
might seem strange that to this uned-
ucated, uncuitured woman he should open
the deepest truths of his kingdom-truths
that have since been the study of the wsefor all
these centuries. But great truths put in simple
form deeply interest the immaturity of
childhood, for we grasp great teachings by the
mysterious power of feeling long before the
n att IN m a
explore them.
3. Our work is to lead souls to Jesus rather
than into the church. One may come to Jesus
with but small faith. and He will give such
proofs of His power and divinity as to increase
that grain OF belief to harvest of saving faith.
1t is a mistake to lead sincere souls to church
ly forms and rules before you lead them to
Christ
T. There is a power in the united, earnest
prayers of the church to constrain Jesus to tarry
and bless 0 for the union of faith and desire
to secure this end!
5. The best workers for Jesus are those who
have had personal experience of his pardoning
love and power None can withstand them.
SPECIAL TEACHINGS.
/. For belief. Others have sown before us,
and every soul that comes under our influence
has at least been influenced by the spirit of
God, convincing of sin and righteousness and
Judgment to come" We work in as parts of
one great divine plan to save that soul. We
may not ignore or undervalue the past pre-
paratory influences on every life. The dis
cirles would have given no credit to
any good seed already in the hearts of the Sa-
maritans but Gods truth of a coming Messiah
was part of their belief, and so they were ready
for this hour. A child may have dark and in
definite ideas of religion from the lowest source,
but Gods truth in way and sense prepares for
something more.
2. In practice. . The teaching for practice
is to look for some immediate results from
your labors. Sow the seed with faith of a
Christ with very low and undeveloped idea of
His doctrines, but He met them on their low
plane of thought, and led them on to better
things. They came and He did not despise
them. Preaching, praying, working for imme-
fathers. We may also add the patient con-
tinuance in welldoing."