Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-03-30
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BEGINNING April 8, 1910.

Beginning April 8, 1910.
Topic.-Christ our teacher.-John XII.
lA-50. (Consecration meeting) Comment
by Rev. Sherman H. Doyle, d. D.
The world has had many great teach
ers, but 1t is generally conceded that
Jesus Christ is the greatest teacher
of all times. A delegation sent by
the Pharisees to arrest Him came back
without Him and gave as their excuse
for their failure. Never man spake as
this man" They so wondered at His
teaching that they were afraid or per-
sonally disinclined to fulfill the mis-
sion upon which they had been sent.
No greater testimony as to the con-
vincing power of Christs teaching
ability can be found than this testi-
mony Of His enemies. But it is also
proved by the character and source of
Christ's teachings He taught as one
having authority and not as the scribes
and Pharisees." The Jews leaders
taught upon the authority Of Moses
and the prophets. They said. THUS
saith the law and prophets" Jesus.
teaching upon his own authority. be-
gan His teachings by saying, But l
say unto you He appealed to no
one except the Father and Himself,
who were one and the same.
As teacher Christ possessed di-
vine and therefore perfect knowledge.
He also had the ability of attractive
ly imparting His knowledge to others.
Mere possession of knowledge does not
make a teacher There must also be
possessed the ability to impart that
knowledge to others and to inspire
them with an enthusiastic desire to
study the subject in hand. Some men
are walking encyclopedias of knowl-
edge, yet would fail to be good teach
ers because they have no power OF
the importation of knowledge. In Sc
lecting teachers for our Sabbath schools
those known to possess great knowl-
edge are often chosen, yet they may
be absolutely void Of the first princi-
ples of teaching. On the other hand.
one who possesses half the knowledge
that they do may be most successful
stinct Of holding the scholars atten-
ton and of imparting to them as much
as they know. Jesus possessed as no
other human being all the qualifica-
tons of teacher. He knew what to
teach. His method Of teaching by
parallels the great divine truths when
man could not grasp them if abstract
" presented has never been improved
upon, and this method may well be
initiated by all religious teachers. Fol-
lowing Christ as a teacher. be fully
prepared upon the subject, teach the
word of God in such way that 1t will
be grasped by those who are taught.
and to this end use the natural as a
mirror to set forth the spiritual. II
these methods be followed truth will
be impaired, souls will be converted
and built up in their faith and made
eager to search the Scriptures" and to
lead others into the truth.
What Christ taught is Of vast i'm
portance. In this last part Of the
twelfth chapter Of John the apostle
sums up some Of these teachings not
by using his own words. but by quot
ing the words Of Christ, used at vari-
GUS times. The Jews have manifested
their unbelief. Jesus has withdrawn
from them. The time Of His death
Is near. In this summary Of Christ's
teachings Christ does not speak. but
John represents Him as speaking what
He had on different occasions SPOKEN
before. 'And Jesus cried and said"
According to John, what had He said
and what does He still say to us?
First.-He teaches that faith in Him
is faith in God, and seeing Him is see
ing God. 'He that believeth on Me
believeth not on Me, but on Him that
sent Me. And he that beholdeth Me
beholdeth Him that sent Me-" Great
truths. Faith in Him is the only true
saving faith in God. Seeing Him is
seeing God. thus declaring that He
Himself is God
Second.-He teaches that He is the
Light of the World-its spiritual light.
Faith in Him is elimination of dark
ness.
Third.-He teaches His relation to
the world. He came not to judge those
who disobeyed His commandments,
but to save them. But the day will
come when Christ's teachings will
Judge us If we persist in the rejec-
ton Of Christ.
Fourth.-He teaches that His com
ynandrnapt ia from God and that ODE
dience to it will be rewarded by eter'
nal life.
BIBLE READINGS.
Matt. v, 3S-4s; vi, 10; vii. 24-29;
Luke xi. lib; John i. LIP; iii, 1921;
viii, u. $3.50; Acts /, Is; Rev. l. 10.
Australia's New G. e. President.
]. B. Spencer. who recently assumed
nff1ea as president of the New South