The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-18
Sunday School Lesson for September 19.
Pau1's Advice to the Ephesiam Elders.
Act 22-35
BY j. e. GILBERT, ID. d., IL. d.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

cord, both in spirit and in substance,
with what Jesus had said to his disciples,
as he was about to be taken from them.
Matt. xiv, 42.
COMMBNDED-Having warned against
trouble the apostle shows how to escape
1t. He offered nothing new or startling,
but that which has ever been, and must
forever be, the secret of prosperity in the
church-the guidance and help OF God.
Verse 33). He especially commended
them to the word of Divine grace. the sa-
cred Scriptures undoubtedly, the writings
of the prophets and those of the apostles
then or to be produced. He declared that
this word was able to build up, in har-
mony with his utterances elsewhere III
Tim. iii, 16-1O, and that the outcome OF
such edltication would be to give them an
inheritance among the sanctified. (Eph.
I, 19. He is not here referring to the fu-
ture reward which we designate heaven,
but to that spiritual enlightenment and
strength, that exalted Christian charac-
ter (Col. |, 12), which is attainable through
the combined influence of grace and truth.
I'll Peter iii, 19. Through these they may
go from excellence to excellence, and be-
come strong and steadfast.
UNSELFISH.-Once more, as a con-
cluding thought, the apostle alludes to
nlnSelI as Il pattern lot the elueTS. iNe eTSeS
80 to 35). He knew the besetment of all
men, to which even ministers and church
official are exposed, a desire for gain and
honor. He would have these men unset
fish in their work, free from the mer-
cenary spirit. In his ministry he had COW
eted no mans goods. While it would have
been proper for him to receive wages
Matt. X, 10), according to the Lords own
teaching, which Paul in another place ap-
proves Il Tim. v, 1S), yet he had chosen to
provide for himself with his own hands.
(Acts xviii, 20). BY this example he had
shown them that they ought by labor to
support the needy (Eph. iv, 2S), thereby
becoming the very servants of the poor.
All this he urged because it was in har-
mony with the practice and the precept
of Jesus, the Master.
USION.-Primarily this lesson is
for church officials. Their position is pc
culiarly sacred, and their duty most deli
cate. They may advance or retard the
kingdom of God by their doing and their
spirit. But there is also instruction here
for every follower of Christ who may
be called to service in any place, however
humble. The apostle Paul in his conduct,
motive, and words, presents the ideal
toward which all ought to aspire in every
endeavor. To be under the complete con-
troll of the spirit as bound to a course
of action, to be unmoved by any prospect
of personal loss, to be sustained by the
high and holy calling, to so labor as to
win the approval Of associates, to care for
the interests of Chrst's cause in time of
peril, to place firm reliance upon the
| grace and word of God, to do all without
| consideration of pecuniary reward-these
are the exalted characteristics OF faith
| full servant of Jesus Christ, whether Or
| dained or unordained.