Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-04-13


April 18th, 1910.
Copyright, 1910, by Rev. T. s. Linscott, DID,
The Question of John the Baptist.
Matt. XII: 1-19.
Golden Text-But the witness which
L have is greater than that of John:
for the works which the Father hath
given me to accomplish, the very
works that I do, bear witness of me,
that the Father hath sent me- John
v:36. Or. w
I'D Verse 1-Jesus appears to have
taken great pains to instruct his
twelve disciples, but why did he not
leave them to be instructed wholly by
Gods Spirit?
CD In the case of preaching, or
prayer, or testimony, does God pro-
pose for us just to open our mouths
and he will fill Them" or that we
should be as thoroughly and humanity
prepared, as if there were no God?
I'D Does thorough preparation for
Christian work, show lack of faith, or
strong faith in God? Why?
t4.) Verses 2-3-Why did John ask
this question as to whether Jesus
was the Christ?
go What if any reason is there to
believe that John was now wrestling
with doubt. as to the truth of what he
had been preaching concerning Jesus?
60 What would you say concern
ing man of God teaching spiritual
truth, in one period, which he knew
to be true, and subsequently having
grave doubts of the very truth of
which he had been so sure?
Cd Does any kind of doubt on the
part of a holy man, necessarily imply
sin, or shcw weakness?
49, Is doubt a necessary part of
Gods training or not, for men of
strong character and important work?
90 Verse 4-Why is a man bowed
down with sorrow, and crushed with
disappointment, not in a condition to
properly weigh evidence of spiritual
truth? 81
10) Jesus said, GO and show John
again those things, etc" Is evidence
Of spiritual truth made more forceful
through being repeated on different
occasions, and whether or not, why
was it necessary to repeat to John
what he had already heard?
CID Why would it not be a bless
ing to the people if minister repeat,
ed his most effectual sermons?
(12.) Verses 5-6-Jesus laid stress irs
that day upon his miracles, coupled
with the fact that he preached the gos-7
pei to the poor, as the proof of his
Messiahship, but what is the supreme
or chief proof to-day? (This question
may have to be answered in writing
by members of the ciub.)
(13) Even suppose the miracles of
myths, would that detract in any
measure from the grandeur of his
character or the greatness of his
work?
(14.) Verses 7-S-What influences
caused John to live such a plain, or
rigorous life? (See Matt. iii:4, e. seq
(15.) Take for example two men.
one devout, the other goddess, one liv-
ing in a richly furnished home and
dressing in good clothes, the other
living in a plain home and wearing
coarse apparel, which of the two is,
more likely to be the goddess man,
and why?
(16O What was the difference in
the mode Of the life of Jesus, and that
of John the Baptist?
07) Verses 9-11-What were the
minimum qualities essential to being
a prophet, and in what particular did
John exceed these?
(12.) In what did the greatness of
John the Baptist consist, from the
standpoint of Jesus?
(19.) If Jesus had in mind a great
err and greater" then in what
two senses is this word used by him
here?
(20) Verses 12-15--What is relig-
ious violence" and what is the ma
ture of the force" which captures
the kingdom of heaven?
(21) Verses 1919 What caused
them to denounce John for qualities,
the absence of which in Jesus they
also denounced?
Lesson for Sunday. April Oath, 1910.
= Warning and Invitation. Matt. XII: