The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-25
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 26
A LIVING SACRIFICE.
LESSON TExT-Romans p.

GOLDEN T-EXT-Present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy. acceptable unto
God. which is your spiritual service
Rom. R:1 X. v.
The first IL chapters of this let
ter teach and illustrate the great
principles of the Christian life. Paul
calls it my Gospel" Its funda-
mental principle is that justification
regenerates men, and nothing else.
The second section is the practical ap-
~plication of these truths.
{. The Elaboration to Gratitude
wv. 1-2). Therefore" because of the
work of Christ on our behalf, we are
to present our bodies as living
sacrifices unto God, to be used for
his glory and service. (See chapter
GLIB, 16, 19). Paul urges, he beseeches;
he is winsome, though he might COM
mand. To present" technically means,
"bring an offering to God" The body
is the sum of all human faculties,
physical and spiritual. 1t must not be
defiled by being yielded as an instru-
ment to sin, for it is the temple of
God. Il Cor. BIG, 10. A Living Of
fering," (not as the bodies Of slain
animals offered by Jews) is a conse-
Grafton of the body, and not a destruc-
ton of life. The original means that
this-the offering of ourselves as a
living sacrifice-is a reasonable, ra-
tional service. God has the right of
ownership of every member of our
body, and there never was a day when
there was greater need of insisting
upon a Christianity that affects the
bodies of men than today. Hands, lips,
ears, eyes-every member should be
constantly presented to him who pur-
chased it by the blood of his own Son.
q Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:1S-19.) This
is a spiritual, religious service be-
cause it is our spirit which presents
the offering of the body which he in
habits. Too many of US are fash
toned according to this age" When
the mind is made new, old things pass
away (u Cor. SID. We have new
thoughts, new desires. new purposes,
Iew affections, new tastes, new am
billions, new ideals everything is new.
II. The Expression of Gratitude
IVY. $50. Or the right use of the gifts
Of God. C) Avoid "~self-conceit' wv.
$50. These verses indicate how i'm
portant this subject is. Conceit is en-
tertaining an exaggerated opinion Of
ones own ability. The church has
many members, and they do not all
have the same Office there is a variety
in the unity of the body. SO in the
church there are many members in
one body" each of which is important;
all are essential. (2) Prophecy"
". O., not necessarily foretelling, but
the revelation of spiritual truth and
experience according TO the proper
ton of our faith ops. 80 ~, the living,
spiritual experience of the presence of
God within us. (3) ministry" ". y.
The business side of the church, col
lecting of its money and the distribu-
ton to the poor. Some can best at
tend to such business. Many churches
fail by not selecting wise leaders for
this work. a. "He that t%eacheth."
The true pastor is Il combined prOph-
ct, pastor and teacher. We are all
teaching, whether we wish TO or not.
1t is a privilege as well as an Obliga-
: ton. (5) "He that eXhorteth" ".
81; this word is closely akin to the
word comforter, of which John and Bar
nabas were shining examples. (See
Acts / 1867. 60 He that giveth," do
1t with simplicity, unmixed motives T.;
according to the revised version, lib
5 orally" % He that ruleth :" those
who are appointed or chosen to take
charge of departments of church work
are not to fail in diligence. (S) He
= that showeth mercy must do it with
cheerfulness or hilarity for the joy Of
l the privilege.
III. Conduct Toward All Men wv.
9-21). The renewed soul needs guild
{ ance, encouragement and instruction.
, % "In love" ". 81. The hypocrite
wears a mask. Notice the close con-
~nection of "abhor that which is evil''
with "cleave to that which is good
= The word for cleave means literally
to glue it, so that nothing can separate
U you from love which is the supreme
good. 'In honor preferring one an
other" ". 10). Let others carry the
' banner-few of us can stand this acid
u test. (3) "Diligent in business" ",
/ 11). Whatsoever your hands find to
do, do it with your might, being fer.
vent or boiling in spirit, the reverse OF
II the previous eXhortation, in that which
u we are thus to serve the Lord. Few
Il need eXhortation to be diligent in their
own business, but all of us need this
eXhortation with regard to the kings
a business" (4) Rejoicing In hope "
: 12). Triumphing over trials and diff
, culdes in the way. Looking for thai
blessed hope" (Iitus 2:13). (5) Pa
thence and tribulation ". 12). The
y Latin "tribulum" was the threshing in
strument or roller whereby the hus
bandman separated grain from the
u husk. Sorrow, distress and adversely
= are the means for separating men from
a the chaff of their lives. Sometime.
small annoyances, long continued, be
come great tribulations. (See Joshui
" 24:12.) (6) Continuing in the schoo
:. Of prayer ". 12). Steadfast, urgent
pressing, ~persevering prayer (Luk,
r 12:1). "a "Given to hospitality" "
10 13) I; literally, pursued IL. going afte