The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-01-16
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVoR.
TopIc For the Week BEGINNING Jal

Topic For the Week Beginning Jan.
1S-COmment by Rev. S. II. Doyle.
Topic.-Endeavorers in training for
church WORKPLACES H. IL. IS: Prov. ii, 1-8;
Mark l. 1920
"For Christ and the church" is the
motto of the Christian Endeavor so
ciety. Its purpose has ever been not
simply to lead the young to Christ, but
to train them for service in His church.
Christian Endeavor has ever claimed
to be a means and not an end, and per-
haps if more practical emphasis had
been placed upon this fact Christian
its old centers than it is. In many
cases, instead of graduating its mem
bers into church work and taking up
new band to train, the early mem
bers have continued to do the work
and hold the offices, with the result
that as they did for one reason or an
other drop out no one remained to take
up their labor. One may always re-
main an Endeavorer at heart, but not
always in activity in the society If it is
to be a young peoples society and to
develop the young for the church.
The training Of the young for the
important work and responsible posi-
lions in the church of Christ on earth
is most praiseworthy mission.
1. 1t is possible. The essential ele-
ment in the performance of Christian
work is the possession of the Holy
Spirit Spiritual work must be under
the direction of the Holy Spirit. The
possession of the spirit for service is
possible to the young. "And it shall
come to pass in the last days, saith
God, will pour out of My Spirit upon
all flesh, and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions" First
on the list of those to receive the Holy
Ghost were the young-the young men
and also the young women. 1t is
therefore possible for them to engage
in real spiritual work and by constant
practice to be developed into more pro
ficient workmen for God.
2. 1t is Scriptural. God trained men
in their youth for great missions in aft
er years. He trained Joseph and Moses
In Egypt, Samuel in the temple and 10
siah in the royal palace. Christ also
called men into training school for
future service. For three years He
trained the apostles for the great mis-
sion of preaching the gospel to the
whole world. Paul selected young
men-Mark, Timothy and Titus-and
6oualny1od inf yrlln that
needed not to be ashamed. And not
only do the clergy need to be trained
for their work, but also the laity. We
live in day of consecrated lay work
ers, and that their labors may be blessed
to success these workmen need to be
trained while young for their service.
3. 1t is practicable. Youth is the
training time. The mind is plastic and
may be nodded. Methods of work have
not become fixed habits and may be
changed and directed. Proficiency in
any vocation in life can only be at
tanned by careful training in youth.
Any instance to the contrary is the ex-
ception and not the rule How impor-
tant, then, that in the days of ones
youth we should not only be taught to
remember God and to consecrate our
lives to Him. but also trained for His
service! The youth of today must be
the men and the women of tomorrow,
and if enabled to do the work of men
and women they must be trained for
it. The Christian Endeavor society can
perform grand mission in training
Endeavorers for future church work.
This is its supreme purpose, and every
effort should be made to effect this pur-
pose.
BIBLE READINGS.
! Sam. Iii, 1921; Prov. xxi, 6; Eccl.
xii, L; Luke ii, 1852; Acts xii. IL, %;
Rom. xii, 1. 2; Cor. XIV, So; Gal. vi.
ITO; II Tim. ii. 1926; John ii, IA.