The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-07-05
AZ ~ ~ ~ =. - n. -. d ~ =
y SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles X. Meyers.
AwTORD C0U NTY SO n d A :
SCHOOL ASSOCIATION


son; T.. G. Virgins, Dow City.
Superintsndsnts.
Elementary Grades ......:. ......,..
Adult Department. q. i. Is. Il.
Home Department. :,tt III sans: A. ~ N. w..
~..:...... Mrs r. W. Pierce, Denisol
leaener rr Rev F. e: rourteiiot, Denise,
Temperance. .....-....~......
t....... Miss Manetta Jorgensen. Val
Missionary Department ........ -.
,.'~'.., Mrs Anna Wilnliarms \ Deniso'
July 9AThe Thessalonfa1 Christians
I Thes. 1; 1920; Alb, II.
Last week we studied as to thu
founding of the church of Jesus Chris
at Thessalonica by Paul. and now w
consider one of the great letters which
he wrote to the christians there, after
the. lapse of time, for their guidance
T. is to be regretted that one can moi
consider the entire chapters of this
wonderful letter, or. they are full Of
the best kind of Instruction TO-. chris
tians at all times.
1t might be we'll to consider for q
time the things which Paul found ir
the church at Thessalonica to praise
and to condemn. The early christians
were much like those now. and what
was praiseworthy for the pioneers ir
the church is commendable now. They
we're commended for their works sOl
faith, labors of love and patience. At
tention is called to the fact that what
they were doing made them light and
an example for the people living round
about. Churches Of our day in many
cases are doing the cause of Christ
harm by internal desertions. back bit
ings, conduct watch does not become
those bound together by the bonds OF
church fellowship. Homes presided
over by professed christian fathers
and mothers are not happy, lovable
places to the children, because Of the
faultfindings, chickering's, there being
no effort to smooth over the rough
places in life. Every grown person of
experience knows and. can tell OF
church in which the love Of Christ does
not exist among many of the members.
and what awful damage such are doing
to the cause of the blessed Jesus. The
fearful thing is that so often the of.
Tending ones are in their own minds
so holy that they could not do a
wrong. Give me for my part christians
who are willing to acknowledge that
they are weak at times and can make
mistakes Those who have in their
own minds reached the sanctified state
are usually examples of the rankest
hypocrites. H.. .l,. ., ID az
1T might be well to note some Of the
practical things which Paul'tells to all
christians. He says that none should
cause the Lord is the ayenger of SUCH.
that God has not called them to un-'
cleanliness; that they study to be
qdaet, to do their own business, to work
with their own hands, to act honestly
toward all men; that they in all things
walk worthy of God who hath called
them unto His kingdom and glory. Are
not, these practical commands and adj
monitions? I'll !Se.5.S
In the latter verses of the lesson
Paul takes up the subject of the second
coming of Christ. 1t would appear that
some of the christians at Thessalonica
rather expected that Christ would soon
come to earth again and they were
worried as to the condition of those
of their number who had died. Paul at
some length comforts them, and ex.
plains as to his understanding Of the
future. He said there was no need to
sorrow as to those which had fallen
asleep for God had not forgotten them
and would make full provision for
their salvation, and the right to love
with Him forever and ever.
There seems no doubt from the state
ments of Paul here that a time will
come when Jesus will come again to|
earth. He says with clearness that no
one need set any time for this to hap
pen. Jesus when questioned as to thet
time for the end of the world said that
God alone knew. If this is the case
there is no need for us to speculatespr
spend time. equipped with our little
minds. to interpret the words of pro.
phecy in the bible to set the date. The
end of the world will come to each per-
son when he or she dies, and that is |
allFthat it is needful to know. The
physical end of the world may be a
million million years in the future SO
hat speculations and wonderings as
% the time on the part of the people
low alive is energy wasted, which
could we'll be put on the practical chris
ian living demanded by Jesus and
Paul.
There are some things which stand
tut with perfect clearness. The Wis
onary words of those who would tell
he date of the coming of Christ and
how by map as to the exact duration
II his stay here leave us in mystery
or no two have the same theory to
resent Let me call attention, how.
,ver, to the words of a person who
new just what he was talking about
IS to this matter. First Jesus Christ
aid that every person who lived and
believed on Him should have never
nding life. On this: rock of belief
ct. each person place both feet and
lever be moved. Second, Jesus said
n LUCE 20: IS. that those. accounted
worthy to obtain heaven and resurrec.
ion from the dead can die no more1
or they are equal with the angels and
re the children of God. Third, Jesusl
,hrist said that God is not the God Of
he. dead, but of the living for all live
INTO Him. Fourth. Jesus Christ said
hat He went forward to His Fathers
ouse to prepare place for you and
and that He will come and get us
hat where He is there will we be also
What Jesus said is basic. There Is
o need of speculations as to what He
aid. We can not look into the future