Cleveland County herald., 1918-04-25

@"N'@N servant of all.-Mark 9;35.
 DEVOTIONAL READING-I Corin- thians 13.
 TEACHERs-Matt 5:41-42; 2O;2O-2S Luke 22:24-3O. PRIMARY AND JUNIOR LESSON MATERIAL-Mark 9:3O-37.
 PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-Be Kind one to another.-Ephesians 4:32
 JUNIOR MEMORY VERSE; John 4; H
 |. The Stupidity of selfishness. (vv. 30-32). Jesus with his disciples is on his way to Capernaum for the last time. He is soon to leave for JeruSa- lem, where he is to die on the cruel cross for the worlds sins. He stlll seeks the way of retirement in order to be alone with his disciples, his ob- ject being to lead them into the appre- hension of the meaning of the cross. The teaching which was interrupted at Caeserea by Peters rebuke is now re- sumed, and with definiteness he de- clares the future event as already present.
 l. "The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men,"
 2. "They shall kill him.
 8. "IIe shall rise the third day"
 While pressing upon them continu- Ousiy the fact and necessity of the cross, he never failed to show them the bright side-his triumphant vic 1 in hn The hearts of the disciples were so steeped in selfishness that they failed to understand his teachings. If the 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 overtake them.
 Ii. The Wrangling of SeIfshness. (vv. 33-37).
 1. The searching question (v. 33).
 The omniscient Christ knew the se- crets of their hearts. The fact that the disciples were wrangling about of ticial position while the Lord was fac ing humiliation and death for them
  pletely the Lord was alone in his sor- row.
 2. The silent disciples (v. 34).
 They were ashamed in his presence, because the selfshness of their hearts was revealed. To realize the presence of the Lord would shame us of much of our selfshness.
 3. The stinging rebuke (vv. 35-37.
 "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 est place and serve others. This truth he enforced in concrete way by plac- ing a child in their midst. This child was an illustration of dependence and ignorance. By example and word he shows that true greatness is expressed by willingness to aid the weak, to in- strnct the ignorant and to serve those ia. need. All such render service not merely to those in need, but unto Christ and God. True greatness, there fore, consists not in selfseeking, but rendering cheerful service to the needy in the name of Christ
 Ill. The Intolerance of selfshness (vv. 38-4D.
 l. Johns guilty conscience (v. 38).
 In the light of the teaching of Jesus, John was a little disturbed over having 'forbid'' a worker for Christ who did not follow after him. Doubtless this intolerance was in part due to jealousy for Christ, but also a selfish ambition. Many times Christians mistake bigotry for zeal for Christ
 ?. Whom to tolerate (vv. 39-4D.
 CD Those who are casting out devils (v. 39). We should really satisfy our selves that supernatural works are be- ing done. Are demons being cast out? However, this is not final. as there is d supernatural work not of God.
 CD Those who are not doing this work in Christ's name (v. 4D. Any worker going forth in the name of Christ. and for the glory of Christ, should be given Godspeed If he is doing a good work, even though not in your way, or if not a member of your church or school, "Folbid him not"
 W. The Awful Issue of seIfishness. (yv 42-50).
 Selfshness results in ruin to others (v. 42), and also to the individual (vv. 43, 45 and 4O. In either case the is sue is eternal torment in hell. Selfish ness is opposed to God, and that which is opposed to God must be eternally separated from him. Self-renuncia- tion should be so complete that we should be willing to abandon the most necessary and lawful things in life hands, feet and eyes-when they be- come occasions for stumbling either to ourselves or to others.
 Mad Nf ik,Sfu