The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-12-28
INTERNATIONAL.
'SUNDMSG1OOL
LESSON
By y. O. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course In the Moody
Bible Institute OF ChlcagoD
tcopyrieht, 1913, Western Newspaper union.)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 81
cHRIsT's COMING AND COMING
TO CHRIST (REvIEW).

let him say. come And he that " athirst,
let him come. lie that wills. let him take
OF the water OF life freely.-Rov. 22;iL
II Is possible IN lessons one to nine
to review the past quarters work, In
logical. chronological manner, but
lessons seven and nine are not In their
proper chronological setting. These les
sons extend over five years Of Paul's
life from about - A. ID. to G3 A. ID.
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 period OF about six
teen years. A. ID. 3046. with Jerusalem
ms the center. The rest Of the Book Of
Acts cover another period Of approx
mately 10 years from 40 To G.. aud 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 II pos
slblc 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. 2-7) began with
about 40 praying men aud women.
Peters first sermon brcugM into "the
way" 5000 more. From time to time
others were added. Persecution and
deliverances. 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 period Of
about ten years. Persecution scattered
the disciples throughout the country
Paul was converted on the road &c
Damascus. Philip goes to Samaria, and
Peter carries on the work throurl.o ii'
LYDIA. Joppa and Caesarea. In this
section we have the story of PHILLIP
and the Ethiopian. Of Peter curing the
palsied man at LYDIA. the raising OF
Dorcns and Paul and Barhnbas return
ing To Jerusalem with help 20 those
at that city who were suffering from
famine. Then begins the period Of for
eign missions. covering about sixteen
years. FROM about A. ID. AZ TO 81. 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. froIr say A. d.
AZ 10 ~. Bnrnabas being his principal
companion. Returning 10 Antioch from
Jerusalem. Paul sool began his second
Journey, this time taking with him
Silas. Again there Is a period of about
two years. from A. ID. 30 TO ~. Paul
had his Macedonian vision during this
time. and the gospel first entered Eur
ope. beginning with the conversion Of
the Philliplan jailor. Paul's preaching
at Athens and his service at Corintt
are perhaps the most outstanding fea.
lures of this Journey. Paul's third jour
ney lasted nearly three years. A. II. s.
10 SO or 81. lie re-visits the Asia Minor
churches to strengthen them. spends
nearly three years ut Ephesus. and las
some outstanding adventures as, for
instance. the riot ut Ephesus about
the shrlnes of Diana. Returning &c
Jerusale,l 10 take part In the feast, he
Is told Of the ultimate prosecutions
which he must endure. For a long
time he has desired to preach the Cos.
pei In Rome. Everyone of the trials
hlndrances, oppositions and attacks
proved to 30 the means by which he
gained that desired end.
In this particular quarter. In lesson
one, we see Paul's calmness In persecu
tion. his prudence under danger. lie
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 Sellef In everything found IL
the Scriptures, and his wise use there
of IN leading men TO Christ. In lessor
five, his fearlessness amidst danger
aad 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.
rem. In lesson 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 10 them ms well as 10 the Gentlles.
Last Sunday we stood with Isaiah,
looking down through the centuries TO
the man of Galilee 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 saliva.
ton on Calvary, but we may also
turn our faces the other way, and look
for him whose returning viii bring
peace 10 the earth. and at whose COM
Ing the brightness Of his glory shall
cover the earth even as the waters
cover the sea.
We have seen the breaking down Of
''armed peace"