Evening journal., 1919-01-30
| |/1M@7SIM WEEKLY TOPIC
lM Ms and
III SOCIETY ITEMS
IWANIwwZ/% ef be
WMNwwMw CITY AND STATE UNIONS
CITY AND STATE UNIONS

Topic: Greatest Things in Christian
EndeavOr, written by Mrs II. Framer
Smith OF Elsmere C. Z. Society.
The first scripture assigned for this
lesson Is Titus g. s, which reads:
This is a faithful saying, and these
things Will that thou affirm constantly.
that they which have believed In God
might be careful 10 maintain good
works. These things are good and profit
able unto men,"
Titus was Paul's "son after the com
mon faith" and q co-wOrker 20 whose
care Paul delighted to commit some OF
his own ministerial responsibility.
Among the Christian Endeavorers there
are many such Tituses. and among the
ministers with whom they co-lsbor no
few Pauls, in this sense at least, that
they. depend upon earnest endeavOrers
to constantly affirm" certain things
Just what things Paul desired that
Titus constantly affirm are set forth in
the seven verses Of this chapter, which
precede the one written above. And
whst results both in the church life
and for the world beyond the church
OF Christi Those who believe in God
are careful 10 maintain good works,
and these good works become good and
profitable unto men because they at
tract the unchurched to the Christ they
see in the churched. What an op-
portunity for the average Christian En-
deavor member and worker to become
Titus for the Paul Of his own immediate
church
The second scripture is Titus 2: ii-i4
Il reads:
"For the grace OF God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared 10 all men,
teaching us that denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts, we should live sober
ly, righteously, and godly in this pres
ent world; looking for the blessed
hope. and the glorious appearing Of
the great God and our Saviour, Jesus
Christ, who gave Himself for US that
He might redeem US from all iniquity,
and purify unto Himself a peculiar peo-
pie. jealous Of good works"
Here is the initial proposition re-
stated, with new emphasis. They that
believe in God are careful to maintain
good works because it was for this that
Jesus Christ gave Himself. From the
sin that made US once impure He re-
deemed US and we are now a peculiar
people. jealous Of good works. It Is
difilcult 10 take this blessed truth 10
ourselves because we are constantly
reminded Of our own Shortcomings.
But Christ has purified them that be-
lieve in God through Him; He has re-
deemed us; and He viii forgive every
shOrt-comlng once we confess to Him
our sin. If we confess our
sins He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins"
AS Christ came suffering once 20 re-
deem US so He is coming in glory again
TO claim US as His own. "For the Lord
Himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice Of the
archangel, and with the triumph Of God.
and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them
IN the clouds TO meet the Lord in the
air; and so shall we ever be with the
Lord" q Tess. 4-i6-i7l. Now they
that sleep in Christ will be in the
resurrection but the living, when He
comes, will not have corruption put on
interruption as they, but will have
mortality put on immortality 4 Cor.
IS: 53). Therefore, 1--WE should live
soberly. righteously and godly. in this
present world, looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing Of
the great God and our Saviour, Jesus
Christ"
Perhaps our lessons might be better
read IN the singular: The greatest
thing in Christian Endeavor, for surely
the greatest thing is TO emphasize those |
truths. In connection with the work Of
our churches and pastors. that are
profitable unto me in general. and that |
reveal us conscious Of our own purifl- !
cation by Christ to be a peculiar people. /
jealous OF good works. Above all the !
best thing in Christian Endeavor is the
opportunity Il affords the young man
and young woman TO live godly and in
daily expectation Of the appearing Of !
the Lord Jesus Christ, our Blessed !
Hope.
Next Sundays topic will be written
by the Rev. Joseph \. Irwin, pastor Of |
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church.
Each one Of us have our ideas OF !
what is best and most important in our |
society, although our ideas may not !
agree with someone's else.
One particularly good feature about |
Christian Endeavor Is that u adjusts |
itself TO meet conditions, II will do |
what is necessary in the church, In |