Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-12-01
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
praysr Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Dec. 5, 1909.

Beginning Dec. 5, 1909.
Toptc.--Life lessons for me from John
~. IN. (Consecration meeting) Comment
by Rev. Sherman H. Doyle, d. D.
The apostle John made three impor-
tant contributions to the literature Of
The Bible. The first was his gospel In
which he set forth the deity Of Christ.
The second consisted of three letters
or epistlss, the longest and most inn
portant Of which is the first epistie of
John. In the third place he was the
author Of the book of Revelation, In
which we find the records Of visions
given to him while an exile on the Is
land OF Patmos, In the Mediterranean
sea. The importance of these three con-
tributions to the Bible cannot be over
estimated, and their influence through
out the Christian centuries upon the
thought and life of the disciples Of
Christ has been incalcuiable. The
bosom friend Of Christ, the possession
OF a thoughtful disposition that was
capable OF sounding the depths OF
Christ's mystical teachings and his
close, intimate. personal association
with the life and work of His Master
made him especially fitted TO set forth
the true spiritual life Of the Christian
and from his writings many have at
tanned high spiritual standard OF
Christian thinking and living
To analyze John or to divide Its
contents into sections is next to I'm
possible. Logical arrangements, so
characteristic Of Paul, were not com
mon ITO John. In his writings he seiz-
ed upon certain great thoughts and
poured out intuitions instead Of con-
Quoting discussions or building up ar
guments. In this epistle flight, life
love, sonship. righteousness, knowl-
edge, faith and victory over the world"
are his 'favorite and often reiterated
themes. In l. 4. he explains the pur-
pose OF the letter when he says, These
things write we unto you. that your
Joy may be fun" Then he shows that
this FITNESS Of Christian Joy Is to
be obtained through fellowship with
God and His saints upon earth and
through overcoming the world without
and error within. The keyword of the
sepistle is --know." John frequently ex-
presses assurance concerning great
truths by use of the expression I'VE
KNOW I'VE know that when He shall
appear we shall be like Him, for we
shall see Him as He is" I'VE know
that we have passed from death unto
life. because we love the brethren"
I'VE know that we dwell In Him and
He in us. because He hath given us Of
His spirit" 1--WE know that the Son
Of God Is come" One possessed of
doubt can do nothing better than read
Il John, understanding 1--WE know" and
thereby we know" every time they oc-
cur and then returning to make thor.
ough study OF them. Doubt will fly
away and assurance will take posses
sion Of the mind and heart, bringing
peace and rest
John has many lessons for the
life OF the individual Christian. II
was written to no particular church or
individual. but toall, and. being to all,
It is to each one. In the passage Sc
1ected -1ove" Is the principal theme,
and several practical lessons are en-
phasized. /. We should love one an
other, beloved. let us love one an
other, for e is Of God" 3 God Is
love and includes usan His love. "God
Is love. - Herein is love. not that
we loved Cod, but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the Precipitation
of our SINS 3. We should love God.
I'VE love Him because He first loved
Us" Gods love for US and the method
of its manifestation. both as to time
and manner, should inspire US to love
Him with a love that VIII lead us to
give our lives te Him, as His Son gave
His life for us.
BIBLE HEADINGS
John I'll. 16; ", LA; Rem. v, Is;
i John 4, lilo. Ii, 1-3, 15-11; i'll, 1-3,
1924; v. Is. 1921.