The Arvada enterprise., 1918-04-25
IMPROVED uNlroRN INTERNATIONAL
SUND6YSQlQ0L
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZwATER, D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the
Moody Bible Institute Of ChicaEo.)
(CopyriEht. 1913, Western Newspaper Union \
LESSON FOR APRIL 20
JESUS REBUKEs sELFlsANEss.

JESUS REBUkES SElFlsHNESS.
LESSON TEXT-Mark S:30-5o.
GOLDEN TEXT-If any man desire to
bs first. the same shall be last OF all. and
servant Of all.-Mark s:ss:
thians 13.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 5:l-42: 2:2o-2S;
Luke 22:24-3Q.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR LESSON
MATERIAL-Mark 9:30-37.
PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-Be kind
one to another.-Ephesians 4:32.
JUNIOR MEMORY verse; John 4:
Il.
I. The Stupidity Of seIfshness. wv.
3O-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 still
seeks the way of retirement in order
to be alone with his disciples. his OBJ
ject being to lead them into the appre-
hensiOn of the meaning of the cross.
The teaching which was interrupted at
Cneserea by Peters rebuke Is now re-
sumed, and with dctiniteness he de-
clares the future event rs already
present.
l. "The Son of Man is delivered into
the hands of men,"
2. "They shall kill him."
3. "He shall rise the third day."
While pressing upon them continu-
ouSly the fact and necessity of the
cross, he never failed to show them
the bright side-his triumphant vic
tory over death in the resurrection.
The hearts of the disciples were so
stepped in seltishness that they failed
to understand his teachings. II 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.
u. The Wranoiino Of selhshness.
wv. 1880.
l. The searching question ". 33).
The omnlscient Christ knew the &C.
crets Of their hearts. The fact that
the disciples were wrangling about Of
ficial position while the Lord was fac
ing humiliation and death for them
and the whole world. shows how CON-
pletely the Lord was alone In his sOr-
row.
2. The silent disciples ". 34).
They were ashamed In his presence,
because the selfishness Of their hearts
was revealed. To realize the presence
Of the Lord would shame US of much Of
our selfishness.
| 8. The stinglng rebuke wv. $3.50.
III 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 enfOped In n concrete way by plac-
Ing a child In their midst. This child
was nm illustration Of dependence and
ignorance. BY example and word he
shows thnt true greatness is expressed
by willingness to aid the weak, to In
struct the ignorant and to serve those
In 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 nnme Of Christ.
~. The Intolerance Of seihshness
wv. 3s-iD.
!. Johns guilty conscience ". 3S).
In the light of the teaching OF Jesus.
John was little disturbed over having
forbid" Il worker for Christ who did
not follow after him. Doubtless this
intolerance wns In part due to jealousy
for Christ, but also II selfish ambition
Many times Christians mistake bigotry
for zeal for Christ.
2. Whom to tolerate (vv. 39-iI.
~ Those who nrc casting ont devils
". 39). We should really satisfy our
selves that supernatural works nre be-
Ing done. Are demons being east out 7
However. this Is not final. ns there IL II
supernatural work not OF God
(2) Those who nre not doing this
work In Christ's name ". AZ. Any
worker going forth In the name Of
Christ. md for the glory of Christ.
should be given Godspccd. II he Is
doing n good work. even though not In
your way. or II not n member Of your
church or school. "ForbId him not"
~. The Awful Issue Of seiHshness.
| wv. $500.
! Scltlshncss results In ruin to others
| ". 42). and also 10 the individual tvv.
~. 45 and 40. In either cnsc the Is.
sue Is ctcrnnl torment In he'll. Selfish.
ness is opposed 10 God, nnd TINT which
Is opposed 10 God must be ctcrnnlly
separated from him. Sclfrcnuncin.
ton should be so complete TINT we
should be willing to abandon the most
necessary md lawful things In life
hands. feet and cyes-vhcn they be.
come occasions for stumbling either 10
] ourselves or to others.