Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-03

PRIMARY MEMOh1 VERSB-InOu
shalt call his name Jesus: For it is he
that shall save his people from their sins.
Matt. 1:2.
INTERMEDIATES, SENIOR AND
ADULT ToPIC-Heralds of the king.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Isa. 1895; Nal. 1913; Luke
l:5-25; $3.50; Matt. S:1-17: Luke S:1-s; John
1892.
The first lesson for this year marks !
the introduction of The Improved Uni
form series of International Sunday |
School Lessons. This series has grown |
out of several years Of frank discus
sion and the presentation of many pro-
posed lesson schemes. 1t is an effort !
to conserve the benefits of the uni |
form system OF lessons with the desire
to adapt the lessons as thoroughly !
as possible to the modern pedagogical |,
idea Of graded instruction for the vari- !
Gus departments of the school: an
attempt to provide for the whole school
as thorough and as teachable uni
form lesson idea as possible.
Special topics and special memory
NGESGD uuu ONAApluAoA AhH
terial have been designated wherever
it has been deemed possible whereby
| to make the lessons more helpful to
the pupils Of different departments.
! It is the beginning Of an eight-year
cycle, chosen with the view first, of
| incorporating several short topical
courses in addition to the usual series
on the chronological basis, and Sec
ond the committee had in mind the
! desirability of more frequent survey
of the entire Bible with varying meth
ods Of approach than is possible under
q six-years cycle. Finally, to har-
monize in the period of the cycle the
newly adopted quadrennial conven-
tions of the International Sunday
School association. Where no topic,
memory verse or additional material
is indicated for inter-departments of
schools, 1t is intended that uniform
material should be employed for such
departments.
Occasionally the general title and
lesson may be found to be more help
full than the special topics or addi-
tional material as indicated for a Civ.
en- department. Sunday school lead
ers frankly acknowledge that this new
plan is an experiment. 1t is hoped,
however, that the long continued con-
troversies over graded lessons, extra
biblical material and uniform lessons
may find solution in this newer plan
Marks Gospel pictures Jesus as the
servant; therefore, 1t makes no refer
ence whatever to his genealogy. The
key-word to this gospel is the word
"straightway," which is used more
than forty times, and 1t is a sugges-
ton as regards the obedience of o
servant.
|. Introduction wv. 1-3). The be-
ginning of the gospel is meant the
beginning of the blessed story as told
by the evangelist, Mark. Note 1t is
fulflment of prophecy (Mal. 3 Il; lisa.
60:3). Mark Is here more particular
ly referring to Isaiah. This Is the
period in the life of Christ between
his temple experience and the day Of
his baptism, when he first entered
publically into the real history OF
Israel. Jesus must needs have her
aid, even as an earthly king is an
; nounced before his arrival. Christ
himself Is the living word (John 1 ~,
though the voice which announces him
Is the voice of a man-JOhn the Bap-
: tiZer. The baptism of John was unto
repentance and the remission of sins.
1t must not be confused with Christian
baptism. Some interesting questions
arise as to the life of Jesus before
this event-his religious habits Uuke
; 4:16) his attitude toward the word
of God and its prophecies (Luke 4:17'
21); the work he had been doing in
Nazareth MARK 6:3).
II. The Baptizer. wv. 4-9). To
know what kind OF man John was
we must look up Mark 1 20 and Matt
, ga. His religious convictions are In
. teresting also. They were a matter
of his heart duke 3:S), thing OF
his daily life uuke 3:10). He was q
man who held to a strict moral stand
ard MARK 6:1S). His method and his
, message were protest and warn
; ing as well as q preparation. Repent
ance is not remission of sin Il John
1:9). John demanded fruit" which
should accompany repentance (Matt
3:S, 81. His message was not ma
tional but individual and his sugges
ton (Matt. 8 ;10-I2) of future punish
, ment for wrOng-dOins is only exceeded
by the words of our Lord himself.
~. The Baptism (vv. 10, 11). Bap
tism is always an emblem, symbol
(See Matt. 3:11; Luke 8 g; Mark 1 IS
Rom. 6:4.) 1t is a public identified
tion, public conservation and confes
sion of faith. Jesus Christ himself
took the place of sinners Gil Cor
Y 6;21),
While this lesson is lesson of tho
/ herald who preceded our Lord, who
!. | came TO nrpnnre the MnY and to usher