Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1918-02-23
IMPROVED uNlPoRn INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSQlO0L
LESSON
EBy z. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago)
(Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY "a.
JESUS TEACHES BY PARALLELS
THE GROWTH OF THE KING.
DOM,
IrSSON TExT-Mark LOLA

LESSON TEXT-Mark 4:2l-3i.
GOLDEN TEXT-The earth shall be
fun of the knowledge OF Jehovah, as the
waters cover the sea.-Isa. 1l:9
DEVOTIONAL READING-Isa. n;1-lO
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS-Matt. 13:4-5O wv. 81, 32):
lisa. 2:3-4: Eek. flip; Rev. 2l:1-s; 22-27;
Chap 22:l-5; Rev. 2:i-S.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus telling story
about sowing.
MEMORY .VERSE-Jesus advanced in
wisdom and stature and in favor with
God and mau.-Luke 2:52.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-The import
ance Of small beginnings.
Jesus is now revealing to his disci-
pies the kingdom in secret which they
were later to reveal In public. Moth
ing which he now reveals should be
hid, and he is also teaching that, If
we do not use that what is committed
to us, we lose it.
I. Hearing wv. 21-25). 1t is an OBJ
legation resting upon each Of US who
has the light Of truth that he should
so set ii before men that 1t can be
seen that men may be enlightened,
cheered and served by it Matt. 5:1f
10; Phil. 1:1516). The secret things
of our lives will be brought to light
some day. Ears are given with which
we are to hear. and possession of hear
ing involves the responsibility as to
what we hear. "The Gospel is the
power OF God unto salvation to every
one that belfeveth" (ROm. :f6), but
believing comes through "hearing
(ROm. 10:1O. In this there is mis-
sionary suggestion for our teachers,
but there is also n caution as to what
and how we hear. "Take heed what
we hear" Many today are being swept
into all kinds of damning here
sizes because they do not follow this
warning g Tim. 8 :1-13). Not only are
we to be good listeners, but we must
be doors as well (Jas. :22). This
parable of the lamp follows closely
upon the parable of the s0wer in
our last lesson. "GOd who first ere
ated light, and Christ, In whom was
life, and the life was the light OF
men," both together are ones whom
we are equally Obliged TO see, and
hear and obey. To impress the duty
of this seeing, hearing and using OF
light upon his disciples, Jesus reminds
them of some familiar things. A can
die is not placed under a bushel MOI
under bed, but on a candle STICK
where it may be seen of all. If our
virtues go not forth from US, 1t will
be as though we had hidden them
from the world. ITO him that heareth
right shall more be given" ". 2A
but Tor him fhat lfS .not and seetf
not, from him shall >Se taken. He
that hath not is he who negiects his
opportunities, and "from him shall be
taken even that which he hath" In
this we see a spiritual multiplication
and also a spiritual subtraction, de
terioration.
II. Growing. ~ Secrecy w. 26-29)
This is n parable of faith and hope
found only in Mark. Again the good
seed Is referred to, but in this case
unseen growth receives the emphasis
for the seed will spring and grow up
though we know not how. 1t Is com
forting to think that, If we sow the
true seed, 1t grows while we sleeI
". 27.) The best selected seed (tht
holy word) is essential for results. Al
Of our seed must have this silent pc
Rod for growth. 1t is the earth thai
brings forth the fruit of herselt
through the energies and powers witt
which God endows it. These powers
are wonderful. We do not understand
them. but there Is order and symmetry
In growth First the blade. then thu
ear, and after that the full corn IL
the ear. Then IS the harvest, tn,
purpose Of the seed having been &C
complished. Mark alone gives us thf'
parable, and It is given in close rela
ton to the parable of the sower anC
of the wheat and tares. Jesus is tht
great harvester ". 29), and knows thu
right time to reap the grain, the mo
ment when 1t Is ripe" ". % r. W
Then he putteth In the sickle.
t2) There is also a marvellous out
ward growth of the Kingdom wv. 80
32). There is the closest relation be
tween the parable of the mustard
seed and the two parallels that pre-
cede. In Matthew the parable of th'
mustard seed is used in relation to The
kingdom of heaven, which is the
sphere of the Christian profession
Here it is used of the kingdom Of
God, which is spiritual. Why is it use(
of both? The explanation, according
TO Doctor Scofield, lies in the fac
that the kingdom of God in this age
and the kingdom of heaven have thi,
in common, that from an insignificant
beginning they had rapid growth
II the abnormal growth of this
common garden shrub illustrates dt
vine increase, why is it not more glori
GUS? There is not here anything
like the greatness Of the Assyrian ant
Babylonlan empires. Geek. 81 :S-6
Dan. 4.20-22). Is the significance OF
the birds good or evll1 Great Baby
Ion, the figure Of processing Chris
tlan body In guilty connection with
the kings OF the earth, becomes "a
cage Of every unclean and hate
ful bird" tRev. 1922. The mixed
condition Of the kingdom of heaven has