The Elbert County tribune., 1916-12-29
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDAXSGlOOL.
LESSON
lBy Il. O. SELLERS, &cting Director Of
the Sunday School Course In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright. 1915. western Newspaper Union,
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 81
cHRisT's COMING AND COMING
TO CHRIST (REvIEw).

bride say. come. And he that heareth
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:f7
1t is possible in lessons one to nine
to review the past quarters work, In
n logical. chronological manner, but
lessons seven and nine are not in their
proper chronological setting. These les
sons extend over five years of Paurs
life from about So A. ID. 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. ID. 30-46, with Jerusalem
as the center. g'he rest of the Book OF
Acts cover another period of approx
mately 10 years from 40 to 62, and is
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
tianlty as seen by John In the Revela-
tion. Maps should be employed IL 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 first
Church History, and which have been
writing Church History ever since.
The home church (Chs. 2-D begnn with
about 120 praying men and women.
Peters first sermon brought into "the
way" 5000 more. From time to time
others were added. Persecution and
dellverances, 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 field
Chapters S-12) covers n period OF
about ten years. Persecution scattered
the disciples throughout the country
Paul was converted on the road to
Damascus, Philip goes to Samaria, and
Peter carries on the work throughout
LYDIA, Joppa and Caesarea. In this
section we have the story of Philip
and the Ethiopian, of Peter curing the
palsied man ut LYDIA, the raising OF
Dorcas and Paul and Barnabas return.
ing to Jerusalem with help to those
Mt that city who were suffering from
famine. Then begins the period of for.
eign missions, covering about sixteen
years, from about A. ID. Al to 62. The
principal characters begin of course
with Paul and Barnabas, though Paul
soon takes his place of leadership.
Paul's first missionary journey lasted
for about two years. from say A. ID.
Al to 40, BarDabas being his principal
companion. Returning to Antioch from
Jerusalem, Paul soon began his second
journey, this time taking with him
Silas. Again there is period of about
two years. from A. d. SO to 81. Paul
had his Macedonian vision during this
time, and the gospel first entered Eur.
ope, beginning with the conversion Of
the Phillipian 1ailor. Pauls preaching
at Athens and his service at Corlnth
are perhaps the most outstanding fea.
lures of this journey. Paul's third jour.
ney lasted nearly three years, A. d. So
to So or 81. He re-visits the Asia Minor
churches to strengthen them, spends
nearly three years at Ephesus, and has
some outstanding adventures as, for
instance. the riot at Ephssus about
the shrines of Diana. Returning to
Jerusalem to take part in the feast, he
is told of the ultimate prosecutions
which he must endure. For u long
time he has desired to preach the gos-
pei in Rome. Everyone of the trials,
hindrances, oppositions and attacks
proved to be the means by which he
gained that desired end.
In this particular quarter, In lesson
one, we see Paus's calmness In persecu-
ton, his prudeoce under danger. In
lesson two, his delicate courtesy and
shrewdness in selling every opportu.
nifty that he might witness for his Lord
In lesson three is manifested his un-
shaken belief In everything found in
the Scriptures, and his wise use there
of in leading men to Christ. In lesson
five. his fearlessness amidst danger
and his absolute confidence In God. In
lesson six. his humility. In lesson sew
en-, his well balanced common sense
and his love of peace among his breth-
ren. In lessen eight. we see him long
ing for human companionship and
sympathy and have an evidence of his
love for his own countrymen, and yet
his faithfulness declaring the word of
God to them as well as to the Gentiles.
Last Sunday we stood with Isaiah.
looking down through the centuries to
the man of Gnlilee 700 years hence.
Today, as we review this quarter and
the lessons of the past year. we are
looking back nearly two thousand years
to the one who wrought out our salvn-
ion on Calvary. but we may also
.Lsn our faces the other way, and look
for him whose returning will bring
pence to the earth. and at whose com
ing the brightness of his glory shall