Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-01-23
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNlISQ1OOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, d. u,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
Copyright, 1920, Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
PETER STANDS UP FOR TRUTH
AND HONESTY.

GOLDEN TEXT-Lying lips are abomi-
nation to the Lord: but they that deal
truly are his delight.-Prov. 2:22
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Ex. N:16;
Prov. Ill; Matt 6: "a; Gal. 81, 8; Eph.
Ais, Is, 30.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Telling the Truth.
JUNIOR TOPIC - Two Disciples and
What Became of Them.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Folly and Sinfulness of Lying.
In this lesson we see the new COM
munity now called "the church" ".
1D vindicated. In the boldness of
Peter and John we see that the break
with Judaism has come-the authority
of the Sanhedrin is repudiated with
the determination on the part of the
disciples to be led by the Holy Spirit.
1t is for this reason that the body now
gets the name Church" Since the
break has come it must be shown to be
a holy body; it must have recognition
as being sacred. The sanctity of the
tabernacle is transferred to the new
body, which is Gods dwelling place
(Eph. 2:19-22). The church itself, as
well as the people about, did not know
this until Gods judgment burst forth.
|. characteristics of the Primitive
Church a :91-35).
1. 1t was praying church ". 3D.
For every want annd every need they
betook themselves to God in prayer.
2. 1t was a Spirit-filled church ".
31). A praying church is Spirit-flled
church. The Spirit is given in an
swer to prayer duke 11:13).
8. 1t was a church which had great
boldness in preaching the Word of
God w. 31). The minister in Spirit
filled church will not offer an apology
for the Bible, but will fearlessly
preach it.
4. It was a united church ". 32).
They were "of one heart and one
soul.'
5. 1t was charitable and generous
church ". 32). AS needs arose sup
plies were given from a common fund.
6. Its ministers had a powerful tes-
timony ". 33).
Z. It was a church whose member
ship exhibited unblemished characters
". 33). For "great grace was upon
them ALL
II. The Sin of Ananias and Sapphire
wv. 1-11).
1. It's occasion wv. 1, p. This was
their hypocritical imitation of the gen
erous act of Barnabas a :36, 37). Be
cause of the peculiar distress Of the
, early church when the open rupture
! was made with Judaism, the members
/ for a time had community o.
goods" This was not universal mo-
) permanent; some continued to owl
their own homes, as for example JohI
2 Marks mother, who used her home II
which to entertain Christians. Anania
{ kept back a part of the money re
+ ceived for his land while pretending t
o have brought it all. His wife was
e partner in it. They wanted the homo
;, Of generosity without paying the price
;. 2. The Judgment (vv. 3-1O). Anania
s allowed satan to fill his heart and lie
o to the Holy Ghost in keeping back
t part of the price of the land. 1t wa
e most likely an acted lie. They wer
d not under obligation to sell their LAM
a or having sold it. to bring any of tn
T. money and place it in the commo
d fund. Peter declared that they we1
e absolutely free to do as they please
e with it. Love of praise is causin
many today to make the same drea,
full mistake. People are walking
the way of Ananias and Sapphir
l. when they make a profession of r
If ligion for temporal gain and pleasure
v or even preaching sermons not the
IS own. Frequently men preach the Sc
n. mons of Moody and Spurgeon withol
@. giving credit. Physical death was vi
ID tied upon Ananias and Sapphira fl
70 their sins. God is passing judgmel
Is upon many today for their sins Il Co
70 II :27-30). The mysterious deaths
,r men and women about us may be a
n. counted for in this way.
r. III. The Effect wv. 11-1e).
er 1. Great fear came upon the churt
to and upon all who heard of the
il things ". 11). Irreverence is an ou
n. standing sin of this age. The churt
n, should be recognized as holy-the vel
dwelling place of the Most High God
Z. MullltudeS OF men ana WOm'
were added to the Lord w. 14). Th
10 caused the fame of Peter to be spres
10 far and wide, so that the people we
anxious to come under his shade
ot Were the holiness of the body
Christ recognized, there would
10 many coming for pardon and salv
;e ton.
er 8. The hypocrites did not dare
il join ". 13). It is interesting to no
C. that this vindication of the holine
of the church did not deter any b
hypocrites from joining it. Nothil
unhallowed nor any unregenerate Dc
k son has a place in the church. I'll
re applies to our offerings as well as