The Green Forest tribune., 1918-01-04

world.-John 1:29.
 PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-Thou shalt call his name Jesus: For 1t Is he that shall save his people from their sins. Matt. 1:21.
 INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Heralds of the king.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR TEACHERS-Isa. 4O:3-5; Nal 3:1-S; Luke 1:5-25; Ss-SO; Matt S:1-17; Luke 3:1-S; John 1:19-42.
 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. It 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- ous 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 verses and additional scriptural ma 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 siX-yearS cycle. Finally, to har monize in the period of the cycle the newly adopted quadrennial conven' tons 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 giv' en department Sunday school lead. CTS frankly acknowledge that this new plan Is an experiment. It 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 it is a sugges- tion as regards the obedience of servant.
 |. Introduction (vv. 1-3). The be- ginning of the gospel is meant the beginning of the blessed story as told by the evangelist, Mark. Note it is fulflment of prophecy (Mal. 3 Il; Isa, 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 a her. aid, even as ar earthly king is an. nounced before his arrival. Christ himself is the living word (John l :1)r though the voice which announces him Is the voice of q man-John the Bap- tiger. The baptism of John was unto repentance and the remission of sins, It 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 it's prophecies (Luke 4:17' 2D; the work he had been doing in Nazareth (Mark 6 :3).
 II. The Baptizer. (vv. 4-9). To know what kind of a man John was, we mysS look up Mark :6 and Matt 3:4. ii religious convictions are in teresting also. They were a matter of his heart Uuke 3:S), thing of his daily fife Ouke 3:10). He was a man who held to a strict moral stand ard (Mark 6 :1S). H1s~method and his message were a protest and 6 warn- ing as well as preparation. Repept. ance Is not remission of sin q John 1 :G). John demanded fruit" which should accompany repentance (Matt 3:S, 9). His message vas not na- | tional Sut individual ant his sugges- ton (Matt. 3:10-12) of future punish. ment for wrong-doing $ only exceeded by the words of our Lord himself. See
 I I,,Iyo Il 1G nf (v. O. and 7the message he brought, as elsewhere indicated, created q great stir. but behind it all he was looking for one who shQNld baptize not with water but with s.aly gsi4ost si4fos and fire. We have m verse nine some in. teresting comments and approval5 up on what is known as "the hidden years in Nazareth" those years in the life of oAr Lord which we have no record as to his conduct Guke 2:39, 40).
 III. The Baptism (vv. 10, ID. Bap tism is always an emblem, a symbol (See Matt. 3 Il; Luke 3:6; Mark 8 i; Rom. 6 Al It is public identifica- ton, a public consecration and confes sion of faith. Jesus Christ himself took the place of sinners QI Cor i 5:21).
 We have In this connection Gods 1 wonderful testimony of the son. The heavens were opened, the spirit de scending as dove and the audible voice heard from out of the open heaveqs. The spirit took the form of dove The dove is the only game bird which has no gall no bitterness tn the spirit. The dove suggests a