Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-12-28
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 81
cHRIsT's COMING AND COMING
TO CHRIST (REvlEW).

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READING LEssoN-Rev. 22:s-14; 1874.
GOLDEN TExT-The spirit and the
bride say, come. And he that hearetn.
let him say, come. And he that is athirst.
let him come. He that wills. let him take
of the water Of life freely.-Rev. 22:f'.
It Is possible in lessons one to nine
to review the past quarters work, In
a logical, chronological manner. but
lessons seven and nine are not In their
proper MISUNDERSTANDING These les
sons extend wei FIVE years of Paurs
life from about So A. D. to 63 A. D.
They are five wonderful years. and the
last of the authentic years we have OF
the life of this wonderful man. The
review should of course center in Paul,
his conduct, character and teachings.
The first twelve chapters of the Book
Of Acts, In which we have chiefly been
studying, cover a period Of about six
teen years, A. D. 3O-46, with Jerusalem
as the center. The rest Of the Book OF
Acts cover another period of approx
mately 16 years from 40 to 81. and i"
the record of the foreign missionary
work of Paul and his companions, Paul
being of course the central character.
The series for this quarter close with
the vision of the final triumph of Chris
tianity as seen by John in the Revela'
ton. Maps should be employed If pos
sible to show the journeys Of Paul.
The risen Christ and the enduement
of the Holy Spirit were the vision and
the power which wrote this f1rst
Church History, and which have been
writing Church History ever since.
The home church (Chs. 2-7) began with
about 40 praying men and women.
Peters first sermon brought into the
way" 5000 more. From time to time
others were added. Persecution and
deliyerances, the first martyr, Stephen,
and the dissatisfaction which led to
the choice Of the deacons, are the out
standing events Of this period. The
home mission period, with Jerusalem
as the center and Palestine as the held
Chapters 8-12l covers a period OF
about ten years. Persecution scattered
the disciples throughout the country
Paul was converted on the road to
Damascus, Philip goes to Samaria, ano
Peter carries on the work Throughout
Lydia, Joppa and C~aesarea. In this
section we have the story Of PHILIP
and the Ethiopian, of Peter curing the
palsied man at LYDIA, the raising o.
Dorcas and Paul and Barnabas return
ing to Jerusalem with help to thos'
at that city who we're suffering from
famine. Then begins the period of for
eign missions, covering about slxteel
years, from about A. d. Al to 62. TIL
principal characters begin Of cours'
with Paul and Barnabas, though Pau
soon takes his place Of Leadership
Paul's first missionary journey laste'
for about two years, from say A. d
At to 40, Barnabas being his principa
companion. Returning to Antioch fror
Jerusalem, Paul oon began his secon'
Journey, this time taking with hir
Sias. Again there is a period of'abou
two years, from A. d. so to 81. Pal
had his Macedonian vision during thi
time, and the gospel first entered Eul
,ope, beginning with the conversion
the Phillipian jailor. Paul's preachin
at Athens and his service at Corint
are perhaps the most outstanding fef
lures Of this journey. Paul's third joul
ney lasted nearly three years, A. ID. 0
to Sc or 81. He re-visits the Asia Mino
churches to strengthen them, spend
nearly three years at Ephesus. and ha
j some outstanding adventures as, 70
instance, the riot at Ephesus abor
the shrines Of Diana. Returning t
Jerusalem to take part in the feast, b
is told of the ultimate persecution
which he must endure. For a Ion
time he has desired to preach the go
pel In Rome. Everyone Of the trial
~hindrances, oppositions and attack
proved to be the mean BY which b
gained that desired end. Indeed th
Roman government finally gave hill
free transportation, though they di
not understand it at the time. The al
sault upon Paul at the Temple Cofll
Of Jerusalem. the conspiracy to mu
der him, his imprisonment ut Caesars
his appeal to Caesar. his journey, shil
wreck and final deliverance at the IN
perial city, chained to a Roman so
dier, and we are at the end of authei
tic history regarding this marvelou
man who, aside from Jesus Chris
has made the greatest impress upo
history Of any man who g trod tn
earth. j
In this particular quarter, In lesso
one, we see Paul's calmness In persecl
ton, his prudence, under danger. !
lesson two, his delicate courtesy an
shrewdness In selling every opport'
nifty that he might witness for his Lor'
YIN lesson three IL manifested his vi
shaken belief in everything found !
the Scriptures, and his wise use ther,
Of in leading men to Christ. In lesso
1--WE, his fearlessncss amidst dangt
and his absolute confidence In God.
lesson six, his humility. In lesson Sc
en-, his well balanced common sen.
and his love Of peace among his bret
/. rem. In lesson eight, we see him lon
ing for human c~ompanionship ar
sympathy. and hive an evidence of b
love for his " c~ountrymen. and y
4 his faithfulness declaring the word
God to them as well as to the Gentle
3 In lesson nine. we e how he built b
j practical teachings for the conduct
4 daily life upon the doctrine about Ok
. ard fhn otarnnl nadrnnses Of God ar