Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-05-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
Comments By
Rev. Ernest BOurner Allen, D. D.
Pastor of the Washington st.
Congregational Church and the
Marion Lawrence Sunday
School, Toledo, Ohio.
For Sunday, May Z, 1916

Lesson Title: "The Missionaries of
Antiach."
Lesson Text: Acts IL: 1890; IL:
25-13: II. Memorize vss. 2, 8.
Golden Text: go ye therefore, and
teach all nations" Matt. %: 10.
/. The Values of Tribulation
1t is easier to talk about the val
ues of tribulation to some one else,
than when we ourselves pass through
it. Some tribulation comes into
every life. We must have some pre-
paration for it, a philosophy with
which we meet it and religion with
which we conquer it.
In a broad sense tribulation ben
efitted the early church by scattering
its members everywhere. These scat
tered people became like little tongues
of flame, setting fire to other people
and communities. So the church
grew The members grew with it.
They learned that they could depend
on God for help. "The hand of the
Lord was with them" They tested
the power in the gospel message.
They learned that obedience to
Christ's command, go ye into all the
world" brought blessing and fruit.
Their experiences strengthened the
weak faith of others and set them to
work.
In every ones experience there are
people we have known who have been
brave in tribulation. They have
grown beautiful in and through suf-
fering. 1t was so with the Gap
tain of our salvation" He "learned
obedience through the things that he
suffered" We are mot above our
Lord" 1t is the Christians business
10 show the world how suffering and
sorrow can be borne, without bitter
ness or defeat. Thank God for the
many examples Of christian fortitude,
the men and women who through faith
have endured "as seeing him who is
invisible" Seek God in your suffer
ing. He will not turn a deaf ear!
And out of your sorrow some grace
in character, some deeper sympathy
with others, will come.
III. ."Called Christians First in
Antioch"
Antioch was great city in its day.
1t had population of half million
and q street five miles in length, run
ming through the center of the city,
paved with blocks of white marble.
This street was lined with double
colonnades of marble. 1t was the
mecca of many travellers. But it
never had any visitors more distin-
guished than the little band of chris
tians who came there; and no more
lasting claim to fame than that the
followers of the Nazarene were first
Scaled christians" there.
When has man the right to be
called christian? The name may
have been first given in contempt.
Today, it is mark of honor if worth
lily borne. 1t is long way from the
man just starting to follow Christ, to
the faithful, experienced follower of
later years. Yet youth who begins
to follow Christ with sincere purpose
has a right to bear his name. Some
follow "afar off," as did Peter, and
yet like him they come at last to a
more faithful discipleship. We who
bear the great Name, should be in
creasingly proud of it and more deep
ly eager to bring no dishonor upon it
A man who is whole-heartedly trying
to follow Christ; who accepts him
for what he claimed to be and acts ac-
cordingly; who loves and obeys and
works for him;-this man has right
to be called christian.
We call our civilization a christian
civilization but it is not so yet. Not
until all men, all groups or classes OF
men, fully recognize the Lordship OF
Jesus, can we call our times and ouI
nations christian. Labor disputes and
wars will then cease. Each mans
highest good shall be the desire and
aim of every other man, and rea
brotherhood become the rule of life
What are you doing to hasten the
coming of that brotherhood?
III. Separated Lives.
We live in era of specialization
One man no longer makes an entire
shoe,-he makes heel, or an upper
or sole. Men are also Separated
for various special tasks of the king
dom. Therefore we have ministers
and missionaries who are teachers, OF
preachers, or doctors, or industrial
experts. Every life is really "sep
arated" for it's own special task, yol