Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-02-10

Lesson Text: Phil. 2: Iii. Mem
orize verses 5-7.
Golden Text: "For ye know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sakes
he became poor, that we thru his pow
erty might become rich" II Cor.
6: 9.
|. Defining Christian.
1t is as interesting to collect def
nitions of christian as it is to collect
stamps or antiques. Many men can
tell you what christian is not A
positive definition is more difficult.
Many men make it in terms of their
mothers religion. She was chris
tian, they argue and admit, whatever
sort of hypocrites other folks may
be. Every community, fortunately,
has some godly man in it, whose life
stands out like lighthouse. Nobody
knows how many boys he saved from
shipwreck. By some he is ridiculed,
by others tolerated, by few imita-
ted and beloved. These mothers and
fathers give us challenging definitions
of christian life.
Paul makes striking analysis of
chracter in Philippians 2: IA. In the
first verse he epitomizes four rea-
sons for his appeal to them: (D that
they tried to follow Christ's teaching;
.(2) that they were ruled by the spirit
of love (3) that they were bound to-
gether by the Holy Spirit; (4) that
they were bound together by the Holy
Spirit; (4) that they were actively in
terested in other peoples welfare. He
then shows what it means to be a
christian in every day life: (D He
will have single purpose and devo-
tion to great cause, V. 2. (2) He
will be humble, V. 8. (3) He will be
unselfish, v. 4. These plain points
will repay thought upon them.
III. The Central Fact.
Strip away everything else and
at the core of our religion you find
Jesus Christ. Omit the Old Testa-
nent, which shows how the way was
prepared for Him; and the New Test
ament, which records his life, teach
ing, and the beginning of his infiu-
ence, and you must still explain his
presence and power in the world.
Eliminate the church, the central in
stitution of religion, and you have yet
to measure and account for its Found
er. Pass by all institutions of phil
anthropy, education, art, government,
influenced by Jesus Christ, and you
are still compelled TO measure Him
by the eight he has cast upon the
world" as Parker suggested.
Christ is really the central fact of
our religion. Not the Bible, nor the
church, nor fine, helpful creedal IN
trepretations about him, written by
honest people out of experiences OF
their hearts. There He stands-a he
roic figure, compelling men to take
account Ol niiil anu w law mo P'h
osophy of life. Sum it all up in this:
"He took upon himself the form OF a
servant" He chose that for himself,
voluntarily, devotedly, persistently
What is nobler than life of service?
Quit arguing about non-essentials!
SERVE! Face Godward, for cleans
ing and help. Face manward, for
conservation and helpfulness. Take
something upon yourself group
of street boys, as John Gunckel did
in Toledo; city slum, as Jacob Riis
did in New York; forsaken country
community, as Jean FREDERICK Ober-
lin did in Waldbach; continent, dark
as midnight, as did David Living
stone; a world, as did Wesley and
Carey and Morrison; universe, for
time and eternity, as did Jesus Christ!
If you really believe in religion OF
service, what work, hard and heroic
have you taken upon yourself to prove
it?
iii. Our Gown Things" or the
Things of Others"
zone hot July evening the Had
leys We're gathered about the dinner
table, when Hilda spoke, according
to story / have read: Mother, Ce'
liza Lamont just won't take mo- foi
an answer-about my going to the
mountains with them. / don't SEE
why can't if Pm willing to go with
out new clothes. DR.. Stubbs says
that every one ought to take vaca
tion! Aunt Nancy looked up quickly
as if she were going to speak, but a
the moment she said nothing Aftel
supper, however, she stopped Hild'
out on the pizza. Doesn't it make {
difference she asked, whether yo,
take your own vacation, or som'