The Dolores star., 1919-07-04
LESSON FOR JULY 6
cHURcH: ITS LIFE AND WORK

LESSON TEXTs-Acts 2:l-i. a747;
Thess. 5;ll-l5.
GOLDEN TEXT-Christ also loved IN.
church, and gave himself for it-Enh
S:25.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Cor -.
4-3l: Eph. l:l5-23: +:ll-l6: 5:25-27: Rev. i:
1920
JUNIOR ToPIC-why We Should Low.
the Church.
INTERMEDIATE ToPIc-wha. tn.
Church Does for Us and What We SHOULD
Do for the Church.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-Tb,
Spirit and Mission of the Church.
!. The Origin Of the Church tAe,
2:l-4.
Fifty days after the passover while
the 100 men and women were with
one accord In one place" the HOLY
| Spirit came upon them and baptized
them into one body Il Cor. 12I9.
Thus was begun the body called the
church. The church had its beginning
at Pentecost. The believers were
united around the resurrected Christ
as head.
u. Conditions Of Entrance Into
the Church (Acts 2 2:37-4D.
After the coming of the Spirit at
Pentccost, Peter witnessed to the
death and resurrection of Christ.
Through this testimony the Spirit con.
vlcted these Jews of their sins. In
their desperate need they cried out:
"What shall we do?" Peters reply
indicated the steps into the church.
~ Belief in Jesus Christ us Savior.
His argument proved that Jesus whom
they had crucified was the Messiah.
(2) Repentance. Every one entering
the church should repent; should
change his mind and attitude toward
Jesus Christ.
(3) Be baptized. The dlvinely ap
pointed method for the public confes-
sion of Jesus Christ is baptism. Those
who have believed In Jesus Christ
| should receive this tangible ordinance,
which symbolizes our identification
with Christ in his death, burial and res
direction.
(4) Receive remission OF sins. Those
who have been united to Jesus Christ
have all their sins removed; there Is
an entire cancellation OF guilt They
have n standing before God which Is
absolutely perfect.
(5) Receive the Holy Spirit. The gift
Of the Holy Spirit is the birthright Of
every regenerated soul who Is obedl.
ent to Christ.
III. A Portrait Of the Primitive
Church (Acts 2 :42-47).
l. They continued in the apostles
doctrine ". 42). Instead OF being
taught by the scribes they are now
taught by the apostles. They have
turned away from their blind guides
and are following new ones.
2. They continued in fellowship
around Christ as the head ". 42l. The
breaking of bread illustrated the one
ness of believers In Christ. As all
partook Of one loaf so all believers
are one In Christ.
3. They continued In prayer ". 42).
The Ideal church Is praying church
4. They had community of goods
wv 43-45). They had all things in com
mon. Those that had possessions sold
them and distribution was made to
every one as he had need.
5. They were filled with praise ".
46). All those who have had the eI'
perience of the life Of God being
poured into them are filled with praise
and gratitude must express itself.
~. The Mutual Duties Of offieen
and Members Of the Church q Thess
5:1-15).
l. Mutual intercourse for comfort
and ediicatlon ". ny. There Is no
caste In the church Of Jesus Christ; II
is brotherhood.
2. Proper recognition should DC
given to those who are engaged ID
spiritual service ". 12). Only as the
grace Of God abounds do men and
women turn from their secular to splf
itual interests. Those who thus re
spond to the call OF God should have
popular recognitiCn.
3. Proper respect should be given
to church officials ". 13).
While we should not give worship
to those who gre leaders In the churcl
Of Christ we should give them proper
respect One of the signs of the ue
generacy of the age is lack OF Tt
spect shown Christian ministers.
Live In peace ". 13). Althousa
there Is In the church diversity
interests and personalities the love
Christ should 50 fill us that there W
no strife in his body. IL
5. Warn the disorderly ". 1D.
Christ chose twelve and one was
devil, so in the church there VIII "
those who are dlsorderly. All su''
should be lovingly warned. :,
6. Be not retaliative ". lo).
though others wrong us we should u"
retaliate.