The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-02-26
NIFIMHT]ONA1
LESSON |
LESSON FOR FEBRuApy
THE SEVEN HELPERS
Ry z. o. sELLERs. Acting M
Sunday School Course. MooSs
Iastitute-D V
tCoyyright. 1915. Western N.~u
LESSON TEXT-Acts c.

Gdl. o.
1t would be a source Of gra,,
ing if every teacher and scbola,
read through the book Of Acts
times during the year. Such
will give vision, inspiration
more comprehensive idea Of N
tinuation of what Jesus "bev,,I
which record is not yet fully ii
The time of this lesson Is abou.
So, though Ramsey places it al
and the place, the city Of Jer
I. The Occasion, w. IL. Fo,
the preaching of the Gospel n
continued in Jerusalem, but O.
pressure OF circumstances TN y
forth as prOphesied (l:9.
were two groups of men in III
church: those who had been h
Judea who spoke Hebrew (An,
and those born in foreign ejb.
who spoke the Greek Language
BILE arose over the distribution q
among certain of the depends.
ows-the text suggests "sers
pleasure" There was imper.l
seltishness, suspicion and jesnl
that early church. We do mn y
what grounds there may hsu 4
for complaint, but no soone,
occasion arise than the apost.
about % remedy the difficult
u. The Method, w. 3, 4. ltd,
appear that God gave the Oh
cut and dried program accu.k
which it must act. Certain
church had no precedent to i
and step by step God was dsr.
it. This lessoS gives US a SUD
of those steps: ID AS the
demanded, (2) The Apostles
to diminish their praying and
ing. literally it was not pless]
God for the Apostles to serve
Such work must be done, cs
but it was not to be done b
God-appointed and selected
their duty was clearly state.
minister's business is prayh
ministering the word. These
should fully engage his attentd
in them he Is Ito continue Sd
ly." The minister cannot ma.
know more about books ID
schoolteacher; more about
than the politician; more abcs
icine than the doctor: more
psychology than the college
sor." No. that is out Of the u
though he should be inteIHs
these lines. But he should
eminent in prayer and in ths
try of the word, and furthen'
should preach that word pres
ly. 90 The church, not b.
ties, must needs select these
ficials. (4) The Qualifcatd
these men, who were thus
for these temporal affairs,
men of good report" not tho
ing doubtful regulations, nor
because they were rich or Sd
business. (b) full Of the 81
demands the Spirit-tilled man
after financial affairs as cer1
1t does to teach or preach D
(c) full of wisdom" Men
mon sense, a quality often sd
ing among spiritually-minds
Men meeting such qualifcani
be men of the spirit Of p
love, and of a sound mind
sound sense). Gil Tim. Ia.
~. The Method Of choosins
; ID The people did the choos
: early church seems to have
: markably democratic. ~ ID
: was made after, and not beis
er had been offered. This
gestion and a warning for pro
practice of choosing churcn
!, 90 1t was a legal selection
: selection of a minority. and
: confirmed by the laying O
hands of the apostles. This Is
signify the amounting OF thef
it and the separation unto
ticular task of these men.
! nificant that every man cnc
Z a Greek name, and suggests
: ish church desired to avoid a
" of favoritism. The spirit Oh
e of love and of concession
character of the men chose
the word of God to increaS
ingly."
: ~. The Result, w. ia u
: upon the people. III The
g creased."(2) The number Of
IL multiplied greatly" and ~
the priests Of the Jews sei'
ent to the faith" SecondH
suit in the lives OF the ths
% and Spirit-anointed men gs's
8 of the GOOD hand OF God.
o full of grace" (Eph. 4:s, Aa
they we're full of power" o.
first two of them soon beca
and mighty preachers as
deed as far as we can read
II outstripped the apostles
in real achievement for v
:. phen. Of course, stands on
= nently. His character Is su
y verse eight. He was (a) iu
. (b) full of the Holy SpiriN
:, of grace" (R. W. (d) "nb
~ How sad 1t is that so freq
churches fail to make
- spirited choice of its leaoe
" content with few, or perDap
ing added to its members
great denomination reports
churches having no addlus
their confession or letter