The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-07-17
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by CHAs. X. MEYERS.


++s.s. !
July 81. Tie Growth of the King.
dom. Mark 4. 1862: Matt. Is, So
We have for our lesson this week
another of the remarkable talks set.
ting forth the nature Of the kingdom
which He had come to set up in this
world Again, as in the lesson as to
the sower, does Jesus make use OF
the plain everyday things to illus
trate what He wishes to teach.
The parallels specially before us in
the lesson are part of eight which
Jesus gave which bear on the same
subject. In one it is told how the
kingdom of heaven is like pearl Of
sells all that ne has and gains posses
sion of it, Again it is like a piece OF
money which a woman searched dill
gently for. and when she found it
called her neigLbors to rejoice with
her. 1t might well he noted here that
the action of this woman sets good
example for those w.;o have found sal
walton through Jesus, rejoicing in a
way to let others know what they
have.
What could better represent the
marvellous expansion OF the cause OF
Jesus in the world than the growth of
a seed. Jesus we'll says that seed is
put in the ground, and why it grows.
and how it grows, is mystery. The
sower may s,eep and give it no atten-
ton, yet the pant from the seed gains
in strength and power. How wonder
full indeed, it might be said here, are
the processes of nature working along
laws made by God. The people of
the farms will appreciate what mir
acles come to their notice in the birth
of a perfect calf or colt 1t comes to
the world ready to eat and digest
food with heart, lungs, sight, hearing
ready for use. The man or woman
must indeed be dense in ability to un-
derstand what is presented before
them if they fail to recognize di-
vine God in the working OF nature to
be seen on every hand.
Jesus further explains as to the
kingdom when He compares it to the
growth OF seed as small as grain
If mustard From little beginning
there Genes a great tree or bush in
which fowls can lodge. How exactly
has this representation of the religion
of Jesus in the world been fulfilled.
When Jesus died on the cross there
were but few open believers on His
name Behold the sweep of His gospel
at this day. Words will not tell it.
Every church and school house, every
college of higher education, the civil
ization of our country of which we are
so proud, the uplift of woman, the
nobility of the children, institutions
for the care of the unfortunate, all
proclaim what the christian religion
las done. The growth of the little
seed but humbly typifies the enlarge
nent of the religion of Jesus in the
world.
Then there is the representation of
he wonderful growth of Gods king
lom in the work of the yeast in the
dough-. The flour is dead after being
mixed with the moisture of water or
milk. 1t has no power to enlarge it.
self. Put in the yeast and give proper
care and the pan can hardly contain
he result.
There is a thought in the parable rs
% the growth OF the seed which
should not be overlooked. 1t is told
hat when the time of harvest comes
he man who sowed must put in the
sickle and gather the grain Chris
ian people must not expect that God
will do all the great work of the con-
,ersion of the world. 1t is theirs to
,ut forth an effort to induce an open
profession of Jesus. The life OF
christian should be such that he can
20 to any person and with consistency
Lsk such to become pronounced be-
lever of Jesus These parallels are
most interesting and profitable and
should be familiar to the children.