The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-07-04
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAySCIlOOL
LESSON
(By REV. +. b. FITZWATER, II. D.,
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago.)
Copyright, 1915 Western Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR JULY 7
BEGINNING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.


ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Acts 2:3;-47: S:26-4O; Romans
5:l-ii.
PRIMARY TOPlC-Loying and trusting
Jesus.-John 1881.
MEMORY vERSE-we love because no
first loved us.-I John 4:i9
!. How Lydia Began the Christian
Life wv. 1879.
Lydia was the first convert to
Christ In Europe. Hers was II typical
conversion. Note the steps therein:
I. Attendance at the place Of pray
er tv. l3).
The accustomed place here was at
the river side. The accustomed place
today Is In church. God can and does
save men and women without any
seeming connection with places Of es-
tablished worship, but ne appears TO
most people at such places. The very
fact that he has established and sus-
talns churches here and there Is an
urgent call to all men and women to
place themselves In the way of saliva
ton. While no one can save himself,
yet all can put themselves In the way
Of salvation by attending church, read
ing the Bible, etc. The very fact that
such opportunities are placed before
men and women is presumptive cNl
Of God.
2. Listening to the preaching of the
Word Of God w.. II, 14).
Paul took advantage Of the oppOr-
tunity which was given him by the
Of this group Of devoted
women to preach Christ to them. He
was alert for and priced highly the OPP
pOrtunity to tell the people about
Christ. He knew also how perilous
IL was TO neglect to witness for Christ
ut time when unsaved people are
together. The opportunity Is Gods
call to preach Christ. 1t is a great
thing to have faithful men and wom-
cn who can intelligently minister at
such times.
5. Her heart was opened by the
Lord ". 14).
The individual may place himself
in the way Of salvation by coming
near to the means Of grace, and the
preacher may preach the Word of God,
but there is no hope of salvation until
the heart is opened by the Lord (John
"A, 45). While the salvation of
every one is dependent upon this SOW
nrcign act of the Lord, yet we can be
sure that he is willing at all times to
Ilo this for those who, like Lydia,
place themselves in the way Of his
saving grace.
4. She was baptized. ". 15).
This ordinance follows belief in
Christ. The invariable rule In the
early church was for believers TO be
baptized. While there is nc salvation
in the water Of baptism, yet hearty
obedience should be rendered in this
aspect (Acts 2:3S-41; 8:12; Mark 16:
lG). Lydia brought her household to
Christ. This is as it should be. She
showed signs of the new life, in that
she expressed gratitude toward those
who had been instrumental in her con-
version ". 15) by constrGining them
10 share the hospitality Of her home.
II. How the Phiippian JaiIer Be-
gan the Christian Life wv. 25-34).
/. The occasion wv. 20, 26).
The casting out of the spirit of d.
iination from the damsel landed Paul
md Silas in prison. The pain of bleed
ng backs, and of feet in stocks, kept
hem from sleeping; but not from
praying and singing. The Lord heard
heir prayers and sent an earthquake
which shook the Jail, opened the doors
If the prison, and loosed the bonds
rom the prisoners hands.
.. The method wv. 27-34).
(D Visitation of the supernatural
wv. 27-29). The jailer was awakened
rom his sleep by the earthquake. This
was unusual in that 1t
oOsed the bonds from the prisoners
lands. In his desperation the jailer
vas about to commit suicide. This
vas avcrted by Paul's assurance that
Ill were safe. The fact that the doors
we're opened and the prisoners free
md yet no one escaped, showed him
hat something unusual had occurred.
he came trembling and
himself before Paul and
Silas.
(2) The great question ". 30) In
he presence of the supernatural he
,ried out, "What must do TO be saw
,dT Ones salvation is not far off |
when he utters this cry with sincerity.
(3) The vital answer wv. 81, 32).
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ"
$ the only way to be saved. 'There
s none other name under heaven CIV |
N among men, whereby we must be
aved" (Acts 4 :12). Though the way
,f salvation is restricted, it is simple
md easy. No one who has believed
IN Christ has failed to receive it. The
alters faith was not blind faith, for
hey spake unto him the word of the
ord, and to all that were in his house. |
They were taught the meaning of be-
ief in Christ.
(4) The evidence of a transformed
ife wv. 33, 34).
(W He was baptized ". 33). As
o0n as one believes on Christ he
wants to be baptized.
(b) He tenderly washed the stripes
# Paul and Sllas, showing that he
vas no longer the brutal jailer ". 34),
La IIn ,.n ininnL L.. DIA MI. 49,.