Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-09-25
TEMPERANCE
LESSON
Sunday School Lessen for Sept. &c, 1909
Specially Arranged Tor mis- Paper


please h.s netchhrr FOR Lis good Co cdi-
ucauon. rom. 1872
Suggestions and Practical Thought
IN the Arena at Corirth.
Let us CD Imagination 90 day sit I'm
the great Coriuthian amphitheator.
looking down upon Christians strUg
Cling with temptations, and perpleX
ing questions of duty. and evil pas
sions. ass they had often seen glajiators
trying 20 overcome wild beasts and
armed antagonists. and ready Co spill
the last drop of their blood to gain
victory.
The Christian church was Twins In
this arena. and trying to live and
teach a pure and heavenly life. There
arose many moral problems and ques-
tons. two of which come before us in
our lesson for today.
The first problem was concerning
the sabbath How strictly could they
keep the Sabbath where there were
no Sabbath laws or customs. where
the whole machinery OF life moved
ON the plan of am days alike2 What
holy days should they koop-the
Christian anniversaries the Jewish. the
Christian Sabbath-and how should
they keep them?
The other problem was concerning
food offered 90 idols This was the
most generally pcrploXiDg question
for a small band of Christians LIVING
in Gentle cities like Corinth. To
some extent the Jews had prepared
the way for its solution The im-
portance of this problem is hard for
us TO realize. Paul discusses 80 az
length iu Romans "a. and his discus
sions In I Corinthians begin as FAR
back as the eighth chapter Much was
90 be said pro and con.
There Vas much TO be said ON both
sides. and there was danger of rup-
ture In The church
Paurs Counsels as 20 the Settlement
Of These Questions.
With what weapons and In what
spirit Christians should gain the vic
tory.
Stand hy Your Personal Liberty.
"Ye. brethren. We're called for free
dom" Gal 5:l3
why is my liberty judged by am
other Conscience Cor 1929
2-But control your Liberty by the
Law Ci Love
IAN things are lawful but not AN
things are cNpedieut AN things are
lawful but not AN things edify"
Cor. 1929
Let no man seek his own. but each
his neighbor's good" Cor. 1924
1T is good not to eat flesh. nor 20
drink wine. nor 20 do anything where
by thy brother stumbleth" Rom.
1920. 81
3-Keep Your Conscience Pure.
Happy is he that iudgeth not him
self in that thing which he approveth q"
Rom 1922
Each one OF us shall give account
OF himself 20 God" Rom. 1912
CONSIDER the Effect U1on the
Conscience of Others.
Let us not therefore judge one anoth-
er any more; but judge We this rather.
that no man put stumbling block in
his brothers way or an occasion OF
falling" Rom. l4.13
5.-The Practical Conclusion.
Wherefore, if meat causeth my
brother 20 stumble, I will eat no flesh
foreyermOre, that cause not my
brother TO stumble" Cor S:13.
Even as I also please all men in
all things. not seeking mine own
profit but the profit Of many. that
they may be saved" ! Cor 1898.
In the Arena Of Modern Life.
The author OF Hebrews pictures us in
the world as in a huge amphitheater
where mighty contests are going on:
while encOmpassing us, like the
crowds on the seats OF the stadium
watching the games. are a great cloud
OF witnesses. The heroes he had been
describing In the previous chapter,
heroes who had gained the victory. are
looking down upon us from heaven to
see how the battle is going with us.
But the one that concerns as al this
hour is intemperance. What shall be
our attitude toward the use of strong
drink which prevails everywhere. and
is doing so much mischief?
Pauls principles which he enunci-
ated TO the Corinthians and to the
Romans apply to us.
And We should meet the question
practically, as the author OF Hebrews
taught the Christians of his day.
Wherefore seeing we also are com
passed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses,
Get US lay aside every weight
and the sin which doth so easily
beset us
and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us
Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher OF our faith
who for the JOY that was SET be
fore him endured the cross. despising
the shame.
and is set down at the right hard
OF the throne Of God"
The Goodness Of God.
God is a kind Father He sets us
al! in the places where He wishes us
to be employed, and that employment
. IL