Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-09-12

tion)
LESSON TEXTS Matthew 5:13-16; 2s:1s-
20; Acts 1915.
GOLDEN TExT-Go We into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every
creature.-Mark 1918
DEVOTIONAL READING-P Philippians
2:5-16.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
MISUNDERSTANDING 1929; Psalms 96:3;
Isaiah 6:8; Daniel 1913; Luke 1892; Ro-
mans TIA; Philippians 2:4-16; James 5:19-
20.
|. The Disciples Relation to the
World (Matt. 5:13-16).
Christ saves with definite purpose.
The character of the subjects of the
Kingdom is set forth in the Beatitudes.
He gives character which will WELD
an influence. The whole mass of man.
kind is shown in the Scriptures to be
corrupt, and the whole world In dark
ness. The disciples are to live such
lives as will purify and enlighten.
Their responsibilities are set forth I'M
der the figures of salt, light, and a
city.
1. 'Ye are the salt of the earth"
". 13).
Salt is that which is opposed to cor
ruption. 1t prevents the progress of
corruption. The properties of salt are
| ID Penetrating; (2) Purifying; 80
Preserving.
Being salt, the disciples of Christ
should penetrate, purify, and preserve
society. Seeing on every hand the
fostering corruption of humanity, our
responsibility is clearly set before us.
The Christian should not go into Sc
| clusion. He should remain in the
world, but not be part of it. Let us
be sure that as salt we do not lose our
sadness. Christians cannot do good
after they cease being good
2. "Ye are the light of the world"
". 1N.
Light Eliminates and warns. It's
gift is guidance. This world is cold
and dark, Many are the pitfalls and
snares set by the devil. Christians
should so live, let their light so shine,
as to prevent the unwary ones from
falling into them. They should guide
the lost ones of earth so that they may
find the path that leads back home to
the Heavenly Fathers house.
8. The city set on a hill ". 14).
BY city is suggested a government
al and social order. Christian charac-
ter and service should be so as to give
the influence Of the hill-lifted city.
Christianity was not intended to be
hidden, but to be made so conspicuous
as not to be hidden, the grand objec-
tive being to glorify God the Heavenly
Father ". 16).
u. The Disciples Commission Matt.
4 % 1920.
l. What 1t is ". 18). 1t is to teach,
to make disciples. Christ's death on
the cross and triumphant resurrection
provided salvation for the world.
God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever
beiieveth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life" John 3:16).
This great fact must be proclaimed to
the world. The great commission Is
backed by the urgency of human need
and divine love and compassion for
this need. The disciples are to adj
minister baptism in the name of the
Trinity to those who believe, and teach
them to observe all things which Christ
commanded.
2. Its scope-all nations w. 19). 1t
is as wide as the world, and this obli-
CATION lasts until all the world is evan
gelized.
g. Its sustaining power-"all power
is given" w. 18). The divine energy
is back Of all those who go. Since he
is with those who go the enterprise
cannot fail. Opposition of the devil,
sickness and death cannot thwart. be-
cause it is backed by divine energy.
4. The experimenting providence
q am with you" ". 20).
Though the disciples may be scat
tered far and wide, the divine Christ
is always present to comfort, guide
and sustain. This presence is guaran-
iced to the end of the age.
III. Paul called to Macedonia to
Preach (Acts 16 :6-15).
l. Circumstances of wv. 6-8). While
pushing on the work of eyangelization
on his second missionary journey, the
spirit forbade Paul to preach further
IN Asia. Doors being thus closed,
here was nothing to do but to go down
10 Troas. The guidance of the Spirit
is as much by closing doors as OPEN
ing them.
2. How called " t3).
It was by vision Of man from
Macedonia saying: C ne over and
help us
g. What called to do ". 10Y.
4. First-fruits of Pauls ministry in
Europe wv. IA, 15).