Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-16
Is e ginnings OF
Christian Church
Sunday School Lesson for Jan. IL, 1909
Specially Arranged Tor This Paper


GOLDEN TENT-''They continued
steadfastiy in the apostles doctrine and
fellowship. and in breaking OF bread and
in proyerS''-Acts 2;42
TIME Probably ON Sunday. Nav q
1 a ID. 80. The same day as our last les
/ son. and the days following.
/ fi-ACE.--Jer usalcm Peter preached In
the vicinity OK the upper room. or in the
temple court Then in the temple court.
and in the homes Of the people
PLACE IN HISTORY birth OF
the Christian church.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
With this sermon we must COM
! pare St Peters other sermons-to the
Jewish people (Acts 3:12-26) and 90
the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-43)."-
Rackam.
Peters object was to prove that
Jesus Of Nazareth was their prom
ised Messiah. whom they were expect
ing. The reasoning Of Peter was con
elusive and uuanswerabl bic. Stated in
brief modern form Il was as fol
lows:
l. What has taken place in your
presence is exactly what your proph-
cts foretold would characterize the
Messianic times for which you are
hoping. Turn to the prophet Joel.
and you will sec that both what
has been done 60 the disciples and
the things YOU are suffering under the
Roman yoke are the fulfllment OF
Joels picture of the times.
?. Jesus Of Nazareth fulfilled the
prophecies concerning the expected
Messiah deliverer. as many of you
have seen and experienced. God in
dorsed and approved him by mira
cles and wonders and signs"
8. Moreover. God reversed YOU.
wicked work by raising him from the
dead. according TO your Scriptures. He
is not dead, but living.
4. We are witnesses of the fact Of
his resurrection.
3. Another proof that he is living
IS the gift OF the Holy Spirit. He
hath shed forth this which We now
see and hear"
Peters hearers were convicted of
sin and its danger V. 81. They were
pricked in their hearts" The Greek
for pricked means "pricked with a
sharp point intensely, deeply" For
the word of God is living. and active.
and sharper than any two-edeed
sword, and piercing even TO the divid.
Ing OF soul and spirit and Quick
TO discern the thoughts and inteuts of
the heart for IAN things are naked
and laid open before the ewes OF him
with whom we have TO do."-fIeb.
4:12-I3.
The sense OF sin is tho plowshare
that opens the soil az the heart for
the reception Of every true grace OF
character"
The Second ,Duty.-Relieyine I'm
Jesus as Master. Messiah. kim saw
Jour and Guidc-a faith which trusts
the whole life 20 his guidance and
| control This is implied in the re-
I quiremont 10 be baptized
The third duty was TO confess Christ
publicly, openly, by baptism: that they
henceforth are his disciples for llfe
and death. II was like taking am oath
or aleelance when one becomes a cit
lien OF a country.
This picture of the early church Is
so attractive. so beautiful so ideal.
that some commentators have felt
that IL was idealized by late writer's.
and was not literally true But as a
matter of fact. Ii has been repeated
over and over again for short snaces
OF time. Our own eyes have seen IL.
V. "A. All that believed had all
things common" They were men,
bers of one family and held things in
common, just as members Of a family
do. Everything was for the good OF
all No one, said that anything was
his own" but all was fof the use OF
friends and of whatever Christian had
need.
Oriental Light-R Talbot Kelly.
speaking Of the Bcdouin of the desert
says; Conducting me TO my tent. he
added: This house is yours. and an
II contains; do what you viii with it
and with us. your servants Cen
fury, February, 1897 p. $50 All true
Christian hospitality is filed with the
same spirit
This was necessary because so
many were strangers and visitors. It
was an emergency.
1t was not an instance OF what is
now called communion. II was not a
new business enterprise. nor a new
sociological organization.
Individuals did not give up all their
property TO the church.
1t was one expression OF an eternal
principle. that all possessing goods
and industries are to be consecrated
to God in the service OF humanity is
a fundamental Christian principle
Matt 25:I4-30; Luke 1869. but
neither experience nor Scripture in
dicates that selling all and dividing to
the poor is the best method calculated
to serve humanity, or even the poor"
THE sacrament of holy communion
has always been recognized as the
central means and test OF fellowship
with the church. '-Rackam.
Prayer makes a person a magazine
OF power"
There is nothing magical in the
communion service, but il is a real
power, for which there Is no substi-
tute.
The greatest Of all miracles was the
conversion OF 5000 in day. and the
Oh -