The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-03-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles K. Meyers.
CRAWFORD G o q NTY sun D A
aCRooI. ARRoCIATIoX

son; Seth Calderwood. West Side
Supsrintsndsuts
Elementary Grades .......: .......
Miss Susie Craft, Denison
Secondary Grade ...................
...... Miss Florence johnson, kiron
Adult Department .................
..... Mrs. F. L. Hoffman, Denison
Teacher Training NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
49,. Rev. A. E. Adams, Dow City
Temperance
$3.50. Miss Minetta Jorgensen, Vail
Missions. Mrs. Anna Williams. Denison
Home Department ..............
........ Mrs L. W. Pierce, Deniscn
March 19.-Philip and the Ethiop.
ian. Acts 8, 26-40..
will be pleasure for the teachers to
talk about to their pupils. and those
not teaching will like to think about.
The time Of the lesson is Immediately
following the death of the first martyr
Stephen. 1t will be remembered that
seven laymen were chosen as helpers
to Peter in the care of the common
funds One OF these was Stephen and
another Philip, who is the leading per-
son in our lesson today. On the death
of Stephen there was much persecu-
ton OF the christians at Jerusalem and
thus movement of the believers to the
country round about. 1t would ap-
pear that Philip went into one of the
larger cities of Samaria, and there
had most wonderful success, hundreds
believing, and ready to found a
church. He had power to perform
miracles much more wonderful IN the
eyes of the people than the strange
things done by the sorcerers OF the
day. In fact one of the magicians
gave up that what he could do as of
little account and wanted to become
a christian.
The preaching of Philip was very
effective and Peter and John came
down from Jerusalem to see, and the
Holy Spirit came upon the converts. In
the midst of this wonderful success
for the cause of Jesus, a most singh
lar, thing happened from human
point of view. Philip was told by an
angel to leave this promising field and
get himself on a trip to the southwest
many days journey into desert
country through which ran highway
leading toward Egypt. The record
says that Philip arose and went, know
ing without doubt that what God com.
manded him would be for the best. If
We we're permitted to consider what
might have been the thoughts of Phil
init would not be hard to believe that
he felt some disappointment at going
Offsin the desert when his work at Sa
maria was in the midst of such flne
prospects for success. and to where
/. people were few and the chances small
for. great results.
Philip the layman was about 10
teach the world that to bring one man
byl personal effort to believe In Jesus
was a work of the greatest magnitude
and most acceptable to God. Philip
j0urneyed along ON foot. wondering
without doubt. what this trip meant
There comes into view chariot wend
ing it's way along the trail, and in, i
q black man who seemed to take little
note of his surroundings, but was In
tent in reading parchment which h'
held in both hands. 1t was evlden
from the appearance of the chariot
the dress of the occupant and the al
tendants that he was man OF some
importance Philip and the chario
came SO near that he could understand
that the stranger was reading out loud
as is the custom of the east to this
day, from the Jewish scriptures, ant
from that part written by isaiah
where the prophet foretells the com
Ing of the Messiah, of His manner o
life, death like a lamb dumb before
TIKI sllearer, He being SO humble thai
justice was not given him.
Hhe angel who was directing PHILIP
tola him to join himself to the chariot
company, and he obeyed. For al
active christian, intent on using ev
erx chance to proclaim the life and
death OF his Master the opportunity
could not be lost to engage the stran
ger in conversation, Philip with wis
dom asked, do you understand the
meaning of what you are reading
Now appears one of the great thoughts
OF this lesson and it comes In the re
ply of the Ethiopian. He said How
can |, except some man should guide
me?'' This question brings right to
the front the need that the religion OF
jesus fU0 0pI CNu Wy PSASo". "SA.,, 80
sending out of teachers and making
converts one by one. The question OF
the man urges to personal work. both
in. the foreign and the home fields. In
both OF these there are thousands and
even millions who are but waiting for
the teacher and guide to come, and
whose hearts are in such mood that
they will as readily accept Jesus as
did the man to whom Philip talked on
that eventful day.
Philip needed but one invitation to
get in the chariot. with the Ethiopian,
and to tell with enthusiasm that the
prophecies which had been read refer
red to Jesus of Nazareth, whose life
and death seemed to fulfil to the letter
what had been written of the Messiah
hundreds of years before His coming.
1t would appear that the Ethiopian
was acquainted with the Jewish reli-
gion and in fact had been at Jerusalem
to worship at the great temple. The
presentation of the scriptures was so
well put that conviction that Jesus
was the promised one of Israel came
upon him and he was anxious then
-. L. SE n