The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-12-28

pAANc BUY, COiHe, ana ne tnut nOaretn,
let him say, come. And he that is athirst,
let him come. He that wills, let him take
or the water of life freely.-Rev 22:17.
1t is possible in lessons one to nine
to review the past quarters work, in
logical, chronological manner but
lessons seven and nine are not in their
proper chronological setting. These les
sons extend over five years Of Pauls
life from about 5S A. D. to G3 a. d.
They arc five wonderful years, and the
last Of the authentic years we have of
the life OF this wonderful man. The
review should OF course center in Paul
his conduct, character and teachings.
The first twelve chapters of the Book
of Acts, in which we have chiefly been
studying, cover Il period of about six
teen years a. ID. 30-iG, with Jerusalem
as the center. The rest of the Book of
Acts cover another period of approx
matcly 1G years from 4G to G2, and is
;he record Of the foreign missionary
work Of Paul and his companions, Paul
being of course the central character.
The series for this quarter close With
the vision Of the final triumph Of Chris
tianity as seen by John In the Revcla-
ton. Maps should be employed IL pos
Sible to show the journeys of Paul.
The risen Christ and the cnduement
of the Holy Spirit were the vision and
the power which wrote this first
Church History, and which have been
writing Church History ever since.
The home church (Chs. 2-7) began with
about 12O praying men and women.
| Peters first sermon brought into "the
way" 5000 more. From time to time
| others were added. Persecution and
deliVernnces, the first martyr, Stephen,
and the dissatisfaction which led to
the choice of the dencons, are the out
standing events of this period. The
home mission period, with Jerusalem
as the center and Palestine as the field
| Chapters 8-12) covers period Of
! about ten years. Persecution scattered
the disciples throughout the country.
Paul was converted on the road to
Damascus, Philip goes to Samara, and
Peter carries on the work throughout
LYDIA, Joppa and Cacsarea. In this
section we have the story Of Philip
and the Ethiopian, of Peter curing the
palSied man Mt LYDIA, the raising Of
DorcaS and Paul nnd Barnabas return
ing to Jerusalem with help to those
| at that city who were suffering from
| famine. Then begins the period of for
cign missions, covering about sixteen
years, from about A. D. AZ to c. The
principal characters begin CT course
with Paul ard Bar-labas, though Paul
soon takes his place Of leadership.
Pnurs first missionary Journey lasted
for about two years, from say A. d.
AZ to 40, Barnabns being his principal
| companion. Returning to Antioch from
Jerusalem, Paul soon began his second
Journey, this time taking with him
Silas. Again there is period of about
two years. from A. D. SO to So. Paul
had his Macedonian vision during this
time, and the gospel first entered Eur
opc, beginning with the conversion of
the Phillipinn iniior. Pa'lls preaching
at Athens an3 his service at Cornth
are perhaps the .1ost outstanding fea-
tur9 Of this journey. paul's third jour
Eey lasted nearly three years, A. ID. 53
to 5S or 81. He rc-vlSitS tie Asia Minor
churches to strengthen them, spends
nearly three years at Ephesus, and has
some outstanding adventures as, for
instance. the riot at Ephesus about
the shrines of Diana. Returning to
Jerusalem to take part In the feast, he
Is told of the ultimate prosecutions
which he must endure. For n long
time he has desired to preach the gos-
pei IN Rome. Everyone Of the trials,
findrances, oppositions and attacks
proved to be the means by which he
gained that desired end.
In this particular quarter, In lesson
one, we see Paul's calmness In persecu.
ton, his prudence under danger. In
lesson two, his delicate courtesy and
shrewdness in Selling every opportu.
nifty that ne might witness for his Lord.
In lesson three is manifested his un-
shaken belief in everything found in
the Scriptures, and Ills wise use there
OF In leading men to Christ. In lesson
i've, his fearlessness amidst danger
and his absolute confidence in God. In
lesson six, his humility. In lesson sew
en-, his well balanced common sense
and his love Of peace among Ills breth.
ren. In lesson eight, we see him long.
Ing for human companionship and
sympathy, and have an evidence Of his
love for his own countrymen, and vet
Els faithfulncss decLtring the word of
God to them as well as to the Gentiles.
Last Sunday we stood with Isaiah,
looking down through the centuries to
the man of Gallee 700 years hence.
Today, as we review this quarter and
the lessons Of the past year. we are
looking back nearly two thousand years
to the one who wrought out our saliva
tlon on Calvary. but we may also
turn our faces the other way, and look