Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-06-19
IMPROVED umreRs INTERNATIONAL
SUNMSG1OOL
LESSON
By REV. p B. FITZwATER, d D..
Teacher of English Bible in the sody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
Copyright. 1919. By Western Nsmspapsr Union.
LESSON FOR JUNE u
LOVE.

LESSON TEXT Cor. 49,
GOLDEN TExT-Now abideth faith,
hope. love. these three; but the greatest
of these is lowell Cor. 1913.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Lev. 1918;
Deut. GA, 5; Joh3 1927; 3:16; John 4:7-z
PRIMARY TCPIC-How to Show Our
Love.
JUNIOR ToPIC-whom We Should
Love and How.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-The Greatest
Thing in the World
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-The
Strongest Bond Between Men and Women
The best gift of the Holy Spirit is
the love OF God shed abroad in our
hearts. Not all can teach, preach,
work miracles, speak with tongues :;
but the gift of love is within reach
of all. The more excellent way" of
the last verse of chapter Il is the way
Of love. Love is not a mere senti.
ment or emotion. but a mighty dy-
mamie which transforms the life, ex-
pressing itself in practical service TO
men.
!. The Pre-erInence of Love (vv.
1-3).
1t transcends:
(D Speaking with tongues. For
men to possess the loftiest eloGuence,
to be able TO speak in other languages
and to be lacking in love is to be as
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.
Pleasing and powerful speaking is de-
sirable, but to love is better.
(2) The gift of prophecy. To dis
close the events of the future, to be
able to unfold all mysteries-of nature
and providence-is good but to love
Is better.
(3) Faith OF the most vigorous kind.
Such as would remove mountains.
(0 Philanthropy Of the most gen
ereus sort, prompting one to surren-
der all earthly goods for the sake Of
the poor.
(5) Heroism which leads even to
martyrdom without love is profitless.
II. The Attributes Of Love (vv. 40.
1. 1t Is long suffering and kind. 1t
means not only to bear long but to he
kind all the while. Patience is a re-
markahle virtue 1t is much easier to
bear long than to show the spirit of
kindness all the while.
2. 1t is free from envy. Those who
love are free from that envy which Is
success of others.
8. 1t is free from empty Boosting.
Love has as its supreme aim the doing
of good to all and does not seek their
admiration and applause.
4. II is we'll behaved Love Is po.
behave at all times.
5. 1t Is unselfish. Love seeks the
good of others and Is forgetful of self.
q. Does not give way to passion.
1t Is not quick tempered. 1t is not
easily aroused to resentment.
Z. 1t takes no delight In evil; does
not impute evil motives to others; is
not suspicious, but forgiving
8. 1t rejoices In the truth. 1t sym
pathizes with that which is true and
has common JOY with It,
8. 1t beareth all things-that Is, 1t
incases itself with it's own mantle and
shuts all evil out.
TO- 1t is trustful. hopeful and firm.
IN. The Permanence Of Love wv.
S-13).
Prophecy, as prediction, will be full
filled; prophecy. as teaching, will be
brought TO an end IN the day when
teaching is not needed. And they
shall not teach every man his neigh
Dor, and every man his brother, say
ing, Know the Lord: for all shall
know me, from the least to the great
est" (Heb. 8:11; Ct. Jer. 81 :34).
Tongues shall cease. for as the Ian
guages of earth were caused by Gods
Judgment for sin SO shall Christs
redemption bring the nations back to
one tongue. Knowledge shall! be done
away with by a wider and nObler In
telligence The twilight shall be lost
in the day. Childhood shall be lost
in maturity, for at Christ's coming we
shall see him face to face and be like
him. Love will always abide, for God
is love.