The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-01-16
Sabbath School
NOTES BY R. S. HOLMES.
Lesson Ill January ", 1900.
THE BEGINNING OF THE

The title OF this lesson is suggestive.
II what is described here was the real
beginning of the Church, that begin,
ming was notable both for what did
and what did not mark It.
I. II had no organization.
2. II had no name.
:, II did not begin in discussion.
4. Ii HAD no ritual.
II had no members as churches
now have. 80, 80,
news. and social distinctions.
?. /, had no pope, no bishop, no car
dinal
no baptsmal tests.
o. II had no trustees.
10. Ii had no denominations.
On the other hand note its Chief
characteristics:
+ Anyone who believed in Jesus
was welcome in It.
2. Ii was distinctly religious body
whose members were actuatcd by one
purpose.
a. II was commune.
a. Its basal prciple was mutual trust.
:. IL did not abandon the ordained
religion OF the nation.
6. 1t had just one message 20 the
world: God hath made Jesus both
Lord and Christ.
?. II was bold even To charging that
the death OF Jesus was wicked thing,
and a crime by the old Church.
g /, declared steadily that God mad
raised Jesus from the dead,
O. II declared that Jesus had ascend
ed into heaven, and would return.
10 Those who were added To II were
called. such as were being saved.
These are enough to- emphasize the
character ~ the Church that began on
the day oi PcntccoSt 1t began III the
most wonderful manifestation We Of,
ten hear the cry. Back To Christ
We could not find him II we went
back He Is far on ahead OF us. we
never hear the cry back to the early
Church. We never shall hear 1t. IT
Is not going back, but going forward
the Church to-day needs,
The Church began III baptism "i
the Holy Ghost
nat !, what the Church needs to
day
II began in a sermon by Peter.
That sermon marked him rs man at
wonderful gifts.
The gospel oi Jesus was never more
plainly put than in that first Christian
sermon.
Look at what il dared 10 say.
Today is a great iulhllmcnt oi pro-
phecy. joel said this would come. 1t
has.
IesuS al Nazareth was the Messiah.
David inrctuld what has now happen
ed The Psalms are true, Jesus was
a man. He wrought all signs and won
ders a nong you Ia prove that he was
God.
You slew him with wicked hands.
But God raised him from the dead.
We know IL. We saw him. We are
his witnesses.
Repent. Forsakc your sins. Turn
to God.
The cffcc, oi that sermon was won
deriul Gods Spirit was there Men
cried, What shall We do There was
conviction. And Peter uninsured out
the word. Relieve" That is the fun
damental word oi the Church oi God.
No other will ever replace IL
The Church began in a revival II
was the "Old-Timc Religion that con
trollcd in those early days in JcruSa-
lem. Perhaps the song OF to-day about
the Old-Timc Religion is doggcrcl
But nuncthclcsS that is what saves
men.
There are twenty five verses To this
lesson. Verse study IS impossible
Gather uu, the salient features ot the
happenings 81 this wonderful day and
emphasize them.
= Show what the Church was when it
began. Show how God was in it.
Show how simple was the faith ui the
first believers,
1t was Church that was in session
all the time The members were togo
Their all the time They were in and out
" each. others houses. they were one
in essential lie They talked oi Christ.
They were III prayer often. They tried
10 live rs he had said 1t was a won
derful beginning
Note in Peters address, vs. -, his
claim that Jesus was approved ot God.
That he appeals To his miracles nt
which his hearers knew
vs. q The dclivcfancc % Jesus
was part oi Gods plan. The scheme
was oi God
But they were still the wicked actors
Here is blending 81 iorcknnwlcdgc
and wicked human will that cannot be
ignored
VS.. - Declares the resurrection
Nss Is - are quotation from the
Psalms Ia prove the TACT OF rcSurrec-
zion as intended and prophcSicd. This
argument continues until vs. 10. where
Peter sums il up.
The thing not to miss is this. In
Peters view the whole story OF Christ
was To stand or iall with the fact 81 the
resurrection
Peter should be a better guide ior
us than modern UuitarianS
The Church began in the doctrine OF
real resurrection.
In that Il must continue.
Now comes another step
Conscience asserts itself What
shall We do is the cry.
Peters answer was two-iold, II was
Relieve and be baptized
So the first acceSsiOus To- the Church