The Detroit times., 1916-07-19
DETR OFT TIM E s

II has never ceased 10 be a mighty
agency Of the Kingdom. When Paul
quit the synagogues OF Corinth-
his first approach 10 a city was al
ways by the Jewish synagogue-he
established a church in the house
Of Justus. who lived next door TO
the synagogue. There he taught
both Jew and Gentle. From that
house flowed the stream that be-
came the famous church In Corinth
Somehow. there Is an intimacy. an
informality. genuineness and a
simplicity about religious services In
a home that the larger gatherings
in the church building sometimes
lack. These cottage meetings" as
they are called, may profitably be an
adjunct 10 every church's life. ]
know congregation which recently
dispensed with its Wednesday night
service for few weeks, and sub
stituted district prayer meetings In
the homes OF members. The at
tendance was MANIFOLD greater than
usual, and a new life was impaired
10 the mid.veek meeting when II
was resumed.
The church In the house also pre-
supposes a family altar. which Is
perhaps the greatest single factor
in the shaping OF the lives OF chill
dren. When we crowd and stress
religion in the home. we are follow
ing New Testament precedent. and
adopting a method OF efficiency that
surpasses anything that modern In
genuity has devised
Nobody who sees things from
Gods standpoint is ever discour-
aged. When we become blue" II Is
a sure sign that We are looking at
things from the wrong angle. Know
ing all the facts makes optimists.
Most OF the spies whom Moses sent
into Canaan saw the giants and the
grasshoppers. but they also saw
God, and they returned optimists. II
we knew what God knows we should
never be cast down.
Like all city preachers, Paul
seems 10 have had his hours OF dis
couragement. So In vision at night
God came TO him with the message
which He so often has repeated to
His servants, BE not afraid" Who
ever feels cast down should take a
concordance and run through the
phrases Fear not" BE not
afraid" BE OF good courage" The
pages OF inspiration are peppered
with calls 10 courage, To Paul the
message came. BE not afraid, but
speak, and hold not thy peace: For
| am with thee. and no man shall
set on thee TO hurt thee; for have
much people In this city"
Even in Corinth God had "mucf
people" So he has also In Philadel
phia. and New York and Chicago
and San Francisco. Write that
Scripture deep on your hearts, q
you fearful, discouraged, whining
saints. who look and talk as II God
had been defeated There are more
Christians in Chicago than the news
papers know Two days ago. on :
Saturday. | read carefully a paper
which protested 20 be the greatest
in the world. Within its territory
10 my own personal knowledge
were notable religious events n
progress--an international Mems
Christian association conference,
and general Christian workers
conference, in addition TO all the
varied work OF the churches OF that
city. Yet there was not line about
religion in the whole "a pages, ex-
cept the column and three-quarters
OF paid church advertisements. The
paper did not know that God had
much people" in that city. II show
cd however. that II knew that sports
had much people" and finance had
much people" and motion pictures
and society and theaters had much
people"
And the most serious fact about