Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-06-29
LESSON FOR JULY z
PAUL AT THEssALoNIcA AND
BEREA.

GOLDEN TEXT-Him did God ezalt
with his right hand 10 be a prince and
| a Savior.-Acts 5:31.
To place a modern war map by the
side of the ancient one will help to
make the places Paul visited more
real. In both of the events of this
| lesson reference is made to the read
| ing and use of the Scriptures, and
teachers should use that to emphasize
the reading of the Bible by both old
| and young There is real patriotism
| as well as safety and liberal educa-
| ton in Bible study. Paul reached
Thessalonica about twenty years after
the establishment of the Christian
church. remained perhaps five or six
| months and then went on to Berea.
Modern Saloniki has been since the
| Roman days of Thessalonica an i'm
! portant center, thriving and prosper
Gus of later years till the recent Bal
kan-Turkish war.
|. At Thessalonica wv. 1-9) Q) Rea-
soning wv. 1-5) (a) The Place. On
this second journey Silas and limo
thy ". 14) were Pauls companions.
| Recently driven from Philippi Il
| Thess. 2:1-2) they at once repaired
to the synagogue upon reaching the
city, knowing that there they could
gain a foothold with both Jew and
Gentle. 1t was Paul's usual means
". 2 Am. r. W. Doubtless during
the two weeks the disciples used every
| opportunity for discussion. Paul made
use of the Sabbath day of assembly al
| though Christians met on the first day
| of the week for their own distinctive
service (Acts 20:7). He also reasoned
! from the Scriptures which the Jews
so highly revered. The best agent
| for doing personal work is the word
of God (Eph. 6;17; Jer. 1929; Jas.
1:1S; Pet. 1920. (2) The method.
Paul employed three. (a) He rea-
soned that Christ must suffer. Why?
| (See lisa. 53:6; Math. 26:2S; Heb.
1922; John 1880. Paul had only the
Old Testament We have also the
New to bring to our aid. (b)That
Christ must rise from the dead"-like
Peter at Pentecost. Paul proved this
from the Old Testament. If we will
allow the Holy Spirit to open the
Scriptures" to us we will find things
new and old and exclaim that where
as "once was blind now see" ,(c)
He "alleged and affirmed" (set FORTH,
c. g., gave testimony that this Jesus
whom l proclaim unto you is the
Christ" Paul knew that the histor-
zeal Jesus was the glorified Christ, for
he had met him 'in the way" to Da-
mascus. PauFs manner of life in the
city as he lived and preached Jesus
was much that it contributed greatly
| to his success. His manner of life
| was blameless" (Acts 26:4); he sup
| ported himself Il Thes. 2:9; II Thes.
$3.50. (2) Reception ". 6-1O). At
| first these men were received as from
God by large numbers ". 4. See
! I Thess. 1:6-10). But the gospel then
as now causes divisions. Not all pro-
fessed followers of God know or ac-
! cept the gospel. PauPs success
aroused the envy of the Jews Just as
every successful servant is envied by
those of lesser light. The charge
brought against Paul and Silas ". g.
was in large measure true. and it was
good testimony and tribute to their
effectiveness. 1t was also in accord
with Christ's prophecy. (Math. 1924;
Luke ~: 53). 1t is the business of the
| gospel to accomplish Just such re-
suits. We need more of such as shall
turn the wrong side down and the
right side up. These men were ac-
cused of Saying that there is an
ether King, one Jesus"
n. At Berea. ". 1919. The dis
ciples' departure by night was an act
OF prudence (Math. 1929, and Paul
continued his great interest in the con-
verts he had left. See the two letters
addressed to that church. Reaching
Berea Paul began as usual to preach
Jesus first of all to the Jews. The
citizens Of Berea were more noble"
and have continued to this day as
great inspiration to Bible students
witness the Beresn series of lesson
helps). (1) They received the word
with readiness of mind" There was
hunger for spiritual food and they
partook Of 1t with relish. Some re-
ceive truth under compulsion while
others hunger for it. (See Thess.
1T; S:1O). (2) Searched" (exam-
ined) the Scriptures daily. ~ Each
day they sought the mind OF God.
Much of our present day Bible study
is interesting and enlightening, but is
not energizing nor evangelistic be-
cause 1t looks upon the Bible merely
as literature.
We need to study the Bible as did
the Bereans to know love and obey
Jesus as our Savior and king.
We need to study 1t as our guide
and counsel through life.
Those who believed" as the result
OF such preaching and study were
well grounded q Thess. 3:10).
After several 'eeks OF such blessed
ministry the Thessalonian Jews In
terfered. stirring Up and troubling the
NJ