Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1905-01-19
Sunday School Lesson and Young People. Topic.
Comments by William r. Ella.


Jonn bringing James. lhuS the seal
of success was placed upon the method
of personal work. The invitation $ o
delivered came with the force of per-
s"nality: ii WAS the good news plus n
man. So it came about that
place Andrew became the means of
leading into the kingdom the mighty
Peter. When of Christians it is true
that everyone wins one. the world will
he won to the Redeemer.
IT was the clear. positive witness
bearing of the Baptist that set into OPP
GRAFTON these wheels of influence. The
gospel that wins lisa gospel of con-
nection. A doubling pulpit can never
convince the world. Negative preach
ing makes no converts. 1t Is the MAJ
who can say. Il know who is per-
mitted to lead other men into the pres
encc of the Master of life. The church
of today has no need greater than her
need of a clear, positive. ringing mes
sage upon the eternal verities. With
out this the company of disciples can
not increase.
Oiscipleship and Fellowship.
When these six Galilean young men
set out TO follow the new Teacher they
entered the worlds choicest fellowship
the true best society," Which is made
up of the best people. The social priv
ileges of Christian discipleship. in the
iiSiitst 'tiiSt. can SclTctlN be over
emphasized. a follower OF Jesus is
brought into association with the choic-
est spirits of history-the mon and
women who have gone to death for the
sake of an ideal. the countless host
who have poured out tlei. lifes in SER
vice. the universal company of high
souls who have sought holiness; the
men ana women who have grown like
the Leade whom they follow.
II is no nlni. can't on rn.I.,tf..n
phrase 10 declare that sinong disciples
or Jesus friendship reaches its highest
expression. Among s~elf-centered per-
sons real friendship is impossible one
cannot help but observe how rare are
the devoted. self-surrendering and
genuine instances of friendship among
men outside of the fellowship of those
whose hearts have been set aglow with
love for Jesus. and with the conse-
quent capacity To love others. Friend
ship has u lower significance in the
world than in the church..
There is emancipation in Christian
discipleship. That great service free
A New Name.
So ii comes about that when Il man
gives up his w ways and sets his
feet upon the Way, he gets a new.
name. as Peter did. His identity is
Transformed, not only in the eyes of
heaven but also of the world as well.
He becomes a made-over man. Not
all of an instant, of course Simon did
from all lessee services. They who
truly follow the Lamb dc not need to
All allegiances are lost in the
follow the fashions OF the passing days.
higher. The petty yokes which gail
every lofty spirit-yokes of custom.
tradition. pleasing and s%elf-inter-
est--are rok by Jesus. His service
iS perfect freedom.
not receive the roc character ON that
first day of discipleship. but the name
was an earnest of what he would be-
come.
III is Il new nature entering upon "a
new Kingdom. which the person re-
ceives who sets out to follow Jesus.
He is transformed himself and all the
world is transformed for him. There
is no JOY quite equal to the thrill which
comes to those who for the first time
realize themselves followers and
friends of the peerless One. The
Long, long thoughts.
of youth never imagined such over
flowing bliss as this little of
young men found when they needed
the reckoning of Jesus.
There is a still larger truth concern
Ing Christian disciplcship pointed out
here. The lesson closes with the prom
Use of the Master to his new friends
NHoS ivy SiioUiu SEE greater Things
than the marvel of the vision which
had discerned Nathaniel under the fig
tree. Verify. verify. l say unto you.
fe shall see he heavens opened and
the angels Of God ascending and de-
scending upon the Son of Man," Thev
could not comprehend that saying any,
more than n can comprehend the end
OF life from its beginning. The truth
pointed out is that expressed by Paul.
Eye hath not seer nor ear heard.
neither have entered into the heart Of
man, the things wslich God hath pre-
pared for them that love Him" The
Christian life is an ever-expandinp
one. There is more to it than appears
to those entering upon it. and vastly
more han can be discerned by those
who view 1t from the oHtside. Could
all the countless millions who have
walked the way of John and Andrew
and James and Peter and Philip ana
Nathaniel be summoned to testify they
YOU with n voice bear witness that
the best this earth life affords is an
opportunity to follow Jesus. the Mes
siah.