The Brinkley argus. (Brinkley, Ark.) 1883-current, 1916-12-29
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 81
cHRIsT's COMING AND COMING
TO CHRIST (REvIEW).

READING LESSON-Rev. 226-H; 16:N.
GOLDEN TExT-The spirit and the
bride say. come. And he that hearetn'
let him say, come And he that Is atnlrst'
let him come. He that wills, let him taxa
of the water of life freely.-Rev. 22:l1.
1t Is possible in lessons one to nine
to review the past quarters work, IN
a logical, chronological manner, out
lessons seven and nine are not In tneir
proper chronological setting. THESE les
sons extend over five years OF Paurs
life from about So A. d. to % A. y.
They are five wonderful years, and the
last of the authentic years we have OF
the life of this wonderful man. Inc
review should Of course center In Paui,
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. D. 30-46, with Jerusalem
as the center. The rest of the Book OF
Acts cover another period OF approx
mately 16 years from 46 to 81, and Is
the record of the foreign missionary
work of Paul and his companions, Paui
being of course the central character.
The series for this quarter close WIN
the vision OF the final triumph of Chris
tianity as seen by John in the Revela-
ton. Maps should be employed II pos
sible to show the journeys OF Paul.
The risen Christ and the enduement
of the Holy Spirit were the vision ana
the power which wrote this nr&
Church History, and which have been
writing Church History ever since.
The home church (Chs. 20 began with
about 100 praying men and women.
Peters first sermon brought 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. Inc
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 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 at LYDIA, the raising OF
Dorcas and Paul and Barnabas return
ing to Jerusalem with help to those
at that city who were suffering from
famine. Then begins the period Of for
eign missions, covering about sixteen
years, from about A. D. AZ to go. The
principal characters begin of course
with Paul aud Barnabas, though Paul
soon takes ~hls place of leadership.
Paul's first missionary journey lasted
for about two years, from say A. d.
AZ to 40, Barnabas being his principal
companion. Returning TO Antioch from
Jerusalem, Paul soon began his second
journey. this time taking with him
S..isss. 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 Ph5lipian jailor. Paul's preaching
at Athens and his service at Corinth
are perhaps the most outstanding fea-
lures Of this journey. Paul's thirdpJour-
ney lasted nearly three years, A. D. So
to Sc 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 Ephesus about
the shrines of Diana. Returning to
Jerusalem to take part in the feast, he
is told of the ultimate persecutions
which he must endure. For a long
time he has desired to preach the Cos
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 Pau1's calmness In persecu-
ton, his prudence under danger. In
lesson two, his delicate courtesy and
shnewdness in selling every opportu-
nifty that he might witness for his Lord.
In lesson three Is manifested his UNI
shaken belief In everything found in
the Scriptures, and his wise use there