Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-08-24
LESSON FOR AUGUST z7th

LESSON FOR AUGUST z7th
Lesson TitIe:-- "Journeying Toward
Jerusalem"
Lesson Text: Acts 2O:18-3s.
VS.. "a.
Golden Text: "I commend you to
God, and to the word Of His grace.5'
Acts 2O:32.
/. The Value of Big Obi. ctive.
Paul is on his journey to Jerusalem.
The Record says that he "had de-
termined to sail past Ephesus, that
he might not have to spend time in
Asia" He was fastening toward the
larger goal Of his journey and work.
Whenever a man feels that there is
some big goal ahead of him he makes
all other things give way. What
moral compulsions make you hasten
on your way to service? How far
uOeS lue bcHSc VI u great lllc obJtN-
tive help you to limit non-essentials?
What is your life goal anyway? How
far have you learned to do the things
which are worth while and to let go
the things which are not worth
while?
ii. Saying Goodbye.
In the midst of his journey Paul
sends to Ephesus asking the elders of
the church to meet him for farewell.
He declares how faithfully he tried to
preach the word of God among them.
He atiirms his purpose to 20 bound in
the spirit unto Jerusalem, not know
ing the things that shall befall' him
there. 1t was not easy for his friends
to part with him. They well under
stood the dangers Of the journey.
All of us are called upon at some
time to say farewell to those we love.
The consciousness that we have tried
to do our best, and to fulfill our duty
to all our friends, gives us comfort In
such an hour of sadness. l often
think it would be we'll for us to re-
vive the christian meaning of the
word goodbye. In its full form II
was originally written thus: God bt
with you" This was later contract
ed into our word goodbye. Let chri
tians look one another in the eye
calmly and courageously when they
are called upon to part and say th'
old christian form of farewell: 600
be with you Then when we our
selves go bound in the spirit" to NEE
hard tasks and certain dangers W,
shall not be afraid.
Ill. Comparative Values.
Paul told his friends from Ephesu
that he did not hold his life as dea
unto himself in comparison with tn
accomplishing of hi scourse and tn
ministry which he had received from
the Lord Jesus, 'to testify the goSpe
of the grace of God" This is Il clea
statement of values. There wer
some things dearer to him than hi
life. The christian is to teach tn
world this difference in values. 1t
far better for a man to be poor an
honest than to be rich and tricky.
is far nobler to fail and keep one
conscience clean than to succeed an
forever live with blackened consc
ence.
Nv. A Minister'S Friendships.
Our lesson gives an interesting pi'
ture of the minister's friendship wit
officers and members of his churcl
aMny man owes great deal to IL
friendship of his pastor. The clos
relations between church officials al
the pastor afford rare Opportuniti,
for developing friendship. There a.
also some peculiar limitations upC
the minister's life at this point.
cannot be a friend Of a few, he mu
be the friend of all. He must unse
fshly relate himself to all the peop
of his church so far as they will pc
NIT him to do so. Those who a
especially congenial, with whom
might prefer to associate most, mu
also be generously unseltish in ALLOW
ing and helping him to be the friel
of others who may not be quite
cOngenial.
The difference betwten a complime
and flattery depends on whether IT
handed to you or some other perso