Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1918-07-05
IMPROVED uxIFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNMSCIIOOL
LESSON
(By REV. p. b. FITZWATER. D.. d.
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright, 1913. Western Newspaper
Union.)
LESSON FOR JULY 7
sEolnNlNa THE CHRISTIAN LIFE,

LESSON TExT-Acts 16:13-S4.
GOLDEN TExT-Whosoever will, lei
him take the water OF life freely.--Revela.
ton a1:fT
DEVOTIONAL READING-John 1s:4-1s
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOB
THAcHERS-Acts 2:S-47; s:ss-4o; Romani
SILL
PRIMARY ToPIC-Loving and trusting
Jssus.-John 1:s5-5l
MEMORY vERsE-we love because hi
first loved us.-I John t:1s.
Z. How Lydia Began the Christian
Life WV. 1870.
Lydia was the first convert I'd
Christ in Europe. Hers was a typical
conversion. Note the steps thereini
l. Attendance at the place of pray.
er ". 13).
The accustomed place here was ~
the river side. The accustomed place
today 10 In church. God can and doe4
save men and women without ant
seeming connection with places Of es
tablished worship, but he appears q
most people at such places The ver1
fact that he has established and sus
tains churches here and there is an
urgent call to all men and women Il
place themselves in the way of saliva
ton. While no one can save himself
yet all can put themselves in the wal
Of salvation by attending church. read
ing the Bible. etc.
2. Listening to the preaching Of the
Word Of God wv. Is, 14).
Paul took advantage Of the oppor
tunity which was given him by thu
assemblage Of this group Of devoted
women to preach Christ to them. HI
was alert for and priced highly the op
portunity to tell the people about
Christ. He knew also how perilous
It was to neglect to witness for Chris
at time when unsaved people are
together. The opportunity is Gods
call to preach Christ.
s. 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 (JOhH
6:44. 45). While the salvation OF
every one is dependent upon this SOW
ereign act of the Lord, yet we can BIZ
sure that he is willing at all times to
do 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 ba
baptized While there is no salvation
in the water Of baptism, yet hearty
obedience should be rendered in this
respect (Acts 2 :38-41; SIP; Mark 49,:
16). Lydia brought her household to
Christ. This is as 1t 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 constraining them
to share the hospitality of her home.
n. How the PhiIippian JaiIer Be-
gan the Christian Life wv. 25-3D.
1. The occasion wv. %, 26).
The casting out Of the spirit Of d.
vination from the damsel landed Paul
and Silas in prison. The pain of bleed
ing backs, and Of feet in stocks, kept
them from sleeping; but not from
praying and singing. The Lord heard
their prayers and sent an earthquake
which shook the Jail, opened the doors
Of the prison. and loosed the bonds
from the prisoners hands.
2. The method (vv. 27-34).
~ Visitation of the supernatural
wv. 27-29). The jailer was awakened
from his sleep by the earthquake. This
earthquake was unusual in that II
loosed the bonds from the prisoners
hands. In his desperation the jailer
was about to commit suicide. This
was averted by Paul's assurance that
all were safe. The fact that the doors
were opened and the prisoners free
and yet no one escaped, showed him
that something unusual had occurred
Therefore, he came trembling and
prostrated himself before Paul and
Silas.
(2) The great question ". 30). In
the presence Of the supernatural be
cried out. "What must do to be saw
edy' Ones salvation is not far on
when he utters this cry with sincerity
(3) The vital answer WV. 81, 32).
Believe on the Lord jesus Christ
| ia the only way to be saved
| (Acts 4:12). Though the way
Of salvation is restricted, 1t Is simple
and easy. No one who has believed
ON Christ has failed to receive It The
jailer's faith was not blind faith, fol
they spake unto him the word Of thu
Lord. and to all that were In his house
They were taught the meaning Of be
| lief In Christ.
"a The evidence Of a transformed
life wv. 3S, 34).
(a) He was baptized w 3S). Al