Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1918-04-27
LESSON FOR APRIL 20
JESUS REBUKEs sELFISHNEsS.


LESSON TEXT-Mark 5000.
GOLDEN TEXT-If any man desire to
be first. the same shall be last of all, ana
servant of all.-Mark 9.35.
DEVOTIONAL READING-I CORN
thians b.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS Matthew 5:4l-i2; 2O.2e--N.
Luke 22.2i-3O
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR LESSON
MATERIAI.-Mark 9.30-37
PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-Be kind
one TO another.-Tphcsian i:22.
JUNIOR MEMORY verse; John 4.
81
I. The Stupidity Of Selfshnc5s. wv.
3O-32). Jesus with his disciples is on
his way To Capcrnaum for the mSi
time He is soon To leave for JcruSa-
lem. where he Is To die on the crucl
cross for the worlds sins. lie SiII
seeks the way of retirement in ORDER
to be alone with his disciples, his OBJ
iect being to lead them into the appr'-
hension of the meaning of the cross.
The teaching which was interrupted al
CacSerca by Peters rcbukc is now re
sumed, and with dcfinitencss he de
clarcS the future event as already
present.
l. "The Son of Man is delivered into
the hands of men,
?. "They shall kill him."
3. Gle shall rise the third day"
While pressing upon them continu-
OuSiy the fact and necessity OF TN"
cross. he never failed to show them
the bright side-hiS triumphant vie
tory over death in the resurrection.
The hearts of the disciples were so
STEPPED in sclishn"Ss that they failed
To understand his teachings. If tn"
disciples had more definitely attended
to his teaching concerning the cross,
they would have been better prepared
for the hour Of temptation which was
so soon TO Ovcrtakc them.
II. The WrangIing of Selfshness,
wv $3.50.
]. The searching question ". 33).
The omniScient Christ knew the Sc
cretS Of their hearts. The fact that
the disciples were wrangling about of
fetal position while the Lord was fac
ing humiliation and death for them
and the whole world, shows how com
pieteIy the Lord was alone in his sor-
row.
9. The silent disciples ". 34).
They were ashamed in his presence,
because the seliishnesS of their hearts
was revealed. 70 realize the presence
of the Lord would shame us of much OF
our selfishncss.
- 8. The singing rebuke (vy. $3.50.
"If any man desire to be first, the
same shall be last of all, and servant
Of ALL" The greatest among men are
those who are willing to take the low
rrssdoul IND serve others. This truth
ced ina concrete way by piac.
ing lid in their midst ms emu o
was AN fllustration of dependence ana
ignorance. BY example and word ne
shows that true greatness is expressed
nv willingness to aid the weak, to IN
struct the ignorant and TO serve those
in need. All such render service NOT
merely to those in need, but unto
christ and God. True greatness, there
fore. consists not in selfseeking, bu'
rendering cheerful service TO the
needy in the name of Christ
III. The Intolerance Of selfishnes'
.(vv. 3S-4D. 90,
Johns guilty conscience ". 3S).
In the light of the teaching of Jesus
John was little disturbed over havlni
,"rorMd" n worker for Christ VINO dl'
not follow after him. Doubtless thi
intolerance was in part due to jealous
for Christ. but also a selfish ambition
Many times Christians mistake bigotr
for zeal for Christ.
.. Whom to tolerate wv. &-lD.
~ Those who are casting out devil
". 800. We should really satisfy on
selves that supernatural works are b
t,ur done. Are demons being cast on
However. this is not final, as there Is
supernatural work not of God.
10Y Those who are not doing tn
work in Christ's name ". 4D. Al
worker going forth In the name
Christ. and for the glory of Chris
should be given GOdspeed. II he
doing a good work, even though NOT
your way, or if not member OF yo
church or school, Forbid him not
~. The Awful Issue Of seIfishne
wv. 42-5O).
Selfishness results in ruin to oth'
". 42), and also TO the individual {
AZ As and ~. In either case the
she is eternal torment in tell. SeIil
ness is opposed Ia God, AMI that wA
is opposed to God must he eternn
separated from him. Sel1Fehuh'
.1ian should he 50 complete that
shorld be willing to abandon the m
necessary and lawful things In III
hands. feet and eyes-when they
come occasions for stumbling either
ourselves or to others.
Mad ~ influence