The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-10-11

come w-skers for Jesus
INTERMEDIATE TOPlC-The work OF
d disciple
SENIOR AND ADULT TOTlC-Ways OF
winning men 10 Christ
!. Jesus Preaching in calilec wv. Il.
80.
The reason why he changed from
Judoa 10 Galilee was The growing OPP
position To him. The fate uf John the
Baptist he accepted aS forrshadnwin-
his own death. The rejection of the
forcrunucr meant the rejection of him
who's" advent he hcraldcd Prudence
moved him To Il more remote region,
whore h" would attract less attention
and he free from opposition. Besides
this it gave less favored people IN op-
portunity to hear the gospel. according
To the prophetic word GSa. OIL. y. II
foreShadowed the gospel To the Gen
tiles
!. What he preached ". ~. The
gospel of the Kingdom Of God, which
meant the good news of the near APP
proach Of the Kingdom of God. when
the rule of God as predicted by the
prophets would he realized. Ii should
be carefully noted that the gospel Of
| the Kingdom differs from the gospel
of the grace of God.
>. How he preached ". ~. ID
''The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom
of God is at hand" This meant that
| the time had now come for the appear
ance of the Messiah and the establish
ment Of his kingdom. (2) Repent"
This meant that the people should turn
| around. change their minds and atti-
| tude toward Christ the King and ac-
cept him as their King. This is mes
sage which needs To be sounded out
| today. People should be called upon TO
repent of their sins. (3) Believe the
| gospel" Then. as now. men need to
believe the gospel of ChriSt's death for
their sins and resurrection for justifica-
ton q Cor. Is: il; Rom. :25).
u. Jesus Calling Disciples to Become
Fishers of Men wv. 1920.
l. Who were called (vv. 16, 19). ST.
mon and Andrew. John and james. two
pairs of brothers. 1t is usually best TO
render the Lords service in fellowship
in pairs. This is not only necessary
for effective testimony, but for needed
fellowship on the part of workers and
protection of the witnesses. These all
had previously been called TO Christ
for salvation; they had become his dis
nh 4 ~
called to service. This is always his
way. We are first called To be dis
ciples. then called to have fellowship
with him in service.
>. From what they were called wv
16, POI. They were called from posi-
tons of definite service. God always
chooses lis servants from the ranks OF
the employed. The lazy man is moi
likely to have call.
5. To what they were called ". ~
To be Fishers of men" They M
: doubt had been successful fishers. Tn,
qualities which made them good fisher
men, namely. patience. bravery to fac,
the storm and night, and perseverance,
which led them to toll all night though
no fish were caught, would make then
good fishers of men. Ii requires pa
thence, bravery and perseverance L
win souls for Christ.
4. Their call to obedience wv. IS, 20)
To obey meant sacrifice, painful sep
aratiOn. TO give up all business inter
estS and leave their father behind. Re
CARELESS of the cost, they yielde,
prompt obedience. They gave up busi
ness and home. not even inquirng a
to where their salaries were to com
from. They put their trust in him VIII
called them, believing that he was abb
to supply all their needs.
5. Their reward ". ~. These fou
men have welded wondrous influenc
\ I'm the world. Their names have b,
e come immOrtaliZed. Had they remain
e ed at their business they would onl
> have been humble fishermen. Whe
4 Christ calls let us promptly obey, fC
: eventually II will pay. 1t will yiel
n one hundredfold in this life. and etc
: nal life in the world to come.