The Elbert County tribune., 1916-06-30
LESSON FOR JULY (
PAUL AT THEssALoNIcA AND
BEREA.

ThesS 2,1-12).
GOLDEN TExT-Him did God exnit
with his right hand to be a prince and
q Sayior.-Acts 6.3l-
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-
tion 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 tas 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.
I. At ThessaIonica wv. 1-9) a. Rea-
soning tvv. 1-5) (a) The place. On
this second journey Silas and Timo-
thy ". 14) were Paurs 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 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 tActs 20:D. He also reasoned
from the Scriptures which the Jews
so highly revered. The best agent
for doing personal work is the word
of God fEph. GIT; Jer. 1929: Jas.
1:1S; Pet. 1:23). (2) The method.
Paul employed three. (al He rea-
soned that Christ must suffer Whv?
(See lisa. 53:6: Math. 1928: Heb.
9:22: 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"-lite
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 "opce I was blind now / see." tc)
He alleged and affirmed" fset forth) /,
e. g.. gave testimony that this Jesus
whom I proclaim unto you is the
Christ" Paul knew that the histor.
ical Jesus was the glorified Christ. for
he had met him "in the way" to Da-
mascus. Paul's manner of lie in the
city as he lived and preached Jesus
was much that 1t contributed greatly
to his success. His manner of lie
was blame,ess" (Acts 26:D; he sup
ported himself q Thes. 2:9: II Thes.
3:S). (2) Recent'on ~ 6-10). 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 ar
cept the gospel. Paul's 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 ". 81
was in large measure true. and 1t was
a good testimony and tribute to their
effectiveness. 1t was also in accord
with Chrfst's pronheey. (Math 10:34
Luke IL: So. It Is the business of the
gospel to accomplish Just such re-
suits. We need more OF such as shall
turn the wrong side down an1 the
right eide up. These men were ac-
cused of Saying that there is an
other King. one Jesus
~. At Berea. (v. 10-15). The dis
ciples' departure by night was an act
of prudence (Matn. 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 fnspiraticn to Bible students
twitness the Beroan series of lesson
helps). III They received the word
with readiness OF mind" There was
hunger for spiritual food AMI they
partook of 1t with q relish. Some re-
ceive truth under compulsion while
others hunger for 1t. tSee | Thess.
III, 3:10). (2) Searched" (exam-
ined) the Scriptures daily. t2I Each
day they sought the mind of God.
Much of our present day Bib'e 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 lie.
Those who believed" as the result
OF such preaching and stuIy were
well grounded IL Thesa 2.10l