The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-02-19
February, 21st, 1909.

February, list, I9O9.
| Copyright, 1908, by Rev. T. S. Lnscott, d. d }
Stephen the First Christian Martyr.
Acts viii to viii:3.
Golden Text-They stoned Stephen
calling upon God, and saying, Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit. Acts Wise.
Study Acts vi:S-15; Wis to viii:3.
Verse S.--Who was Stephen?
In view of present day distinctions,
would you call Stephen layman or a
clergyman?
Why is it not crime against the
gospel, that the preaching of the Cos.
pei is so PROFESSIONALISM, that our
pulpts today in the towns and cities,
are practically closed to the Iaymen
of the church, so that even men like
Stephen, have to keep silent" in our
church pulpits? (This question is to
be answered in writing by members
of the club.)
What was the secret of Stephens
power as a preacher, and to what ex-
tent may every layman become like
him?
Verse 9.-When in a community of
thoughtful men, who oppose the Cos
pei. can it's claims be established bet
ter by debate than by ordinary preach
ing or defamation?
Verse 10.-If you defeat an opposer
in debate. that is not likely to con-
vert him to Christianity: unless he is
a sincere seeker after truth, but is it
lyn1N m
Verses 11-13.-What effect did Ste
phen's victory have upon his oppon-
ents, and what effect did it probably
have upon the audience?
Is there any necessary moral value
in mere opinion. and will men ever be
condemned because of wrong doc
trines; /. e. wrong opinions?
When a man with right views of
truth, gets angry at the man with
wrong views. and does mean things to
him. that the latter takes with gentle
ness: which is likely to be the better
man of the two?
Why is It that men who profess re-
ligion, can act so like devils, when
new truth is presented to them as in
this case?
Verse 14.-Can a mans word In
religious dispute be depended upon.
on a matter of fact, if he is untrue 10
his conscience and to God?
How is it that unrighteous men will
fight for their false religious creeds
and shrink from no sort of rascalitv TO
accomplish their purpose?
Can you give any other reason than
their unrighteousness. or assign to any
other principle, the hatred of these
men for so lovely a character as Ste.
phen?
Verse Ibid the fact that Ste
phen looked like an angel. make his
prosecutors love him, or hate him,
more?
Chap :, Verse "a. - What is II
which cuts wrong doors to the heart
more than anything else?
If these rulers had been innocent of
the charge Stephen brought against
them, would they have been cut to
the heart as they were?
Verse 55.--What do you understand
by Stephen being full of the Holy
Spirit?
What did Stephen see when he
looked up into heavens
Would the onlookers have probably
seen the same things. as stephen, IL
they had looked up?
Verse 56-5T Did they believe Ste.
phen's testimony as to what he saw?
Do cold professors of religion as a
rule, have any confidence in tn ex-
periences of those who walk and talk
with God?
Verse 5S.--How would these people
justify themselves, for committing this
great crime?
What was the method Of stoning a
victim to death?
Verses 59-60.-Does the spirit sleep
at death. or go into state of con.
scious presence with God?
BY what power can man love or
forgive his murderers?
Chap. 8, Verses 1-S.--What was the
measure of Saul's sin in the stoaing
of Stephen?
What were the chief results Of the
stoning Of stephen?
Lesson for Sunday. Fob. 2Sth. 1909.
The GoSnel in Samaria Acts vii J.