The Dolores star., 1920-01-23
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
PETER STANDS UP FOR TRUTH
AND HONESTY.

LESSON TEXT-Acts 5:1-1s.
GOLDEN TEXT-Lying lips are abomi-
nation to the Lord: but they that deal
| truly are his delight.-Prov. 1922.
| ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Ex. 2o:16:
Prov. Ill: Matt 6: "a: Gal. 81. s: Eph
| AIS. IS, 30.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Teiilng the Truth.
JUNIOR TOPIC - Two Disciples and
| What Became of Them.
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
| 1C-The Folly and Sinfulness of Lying.
In this lesson we see the new COM
munity now called "the church" ".
~ indicated. 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
holy body; 1t 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 (4:31-35).
l. 1t was a praying church ". By.
For every want annd every need they
betook themselves to God in prayer.
2. 1t was a Spirit-tilled church ".
3D. A praying church is Spirit-filled
church. The Spirit is given in an
swer to prayer Uuke IL :13).
8. 1t was church which had great
boldness in preaching the Word of
God ". 3D. The minister in a Spirit
filled church will not offer an apology
for the Bible, but will fearlessly
preach it.
a. 1t was united church ". 32).
They were "of one heart and one
soul"
s. 1t was a charitable and generous
church ". 32). AS needs arose sup
plies We're given from a common fund.
g. Its ministers had a powerful tes-
timony ". 33).
| Z 1t was church whose member
ship exhibited unblemished characters
". 33). For great grace was upon
them ALL"
u. The Sin Of Ananias and sapphira
wv. Lily.
1. Its occasion wv. l. 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 time had community of
goods" This was not universal moi
permanent: some continued to own
their own homes, as for example John
Marks mother. who used her home in
which to entertain Christians. Ananias
kept back part of the money re-
ceived for his land while pretending to
have brought it all. His wife was a
partner in it. They wanted the honor
of generosity without paying the price.
2. The judgment wv. 3-10). Ananias
allowed satan to fill his heart and lied
to the Holy Ghost in keeping back
part of the price of the land. 1t was
most likely an acted lie. They were
not under obligation to sell their land.
or having sold it. to bring any of the
money and place 1t in the common
fund. Peter declared that they were
absolutely free to do as they pleased
with it. Love of praise is causing
many today to make the same dread
full mistake. People are walking in
the way of Ananas and Sapphira
when they make a profession of re-
ligion for temporal gain and pleasure;
or even preaching sermons not their
own. Frequently men preach the SER
mons of Moody and SpurgeOn without
giving credit. Physical death was Wis
tied upon Ananias and Sapphira for
their sins
III. The Effect wv. 11-16).
l. Great fear came upon the church
and upon all who heard of these
things w. ID. Irreverence is an out
standing sin of this age. The church
should be recognized as holy-the very
dwelling place of the Most High God.
.. MultitudeS of men and women
were added to the Lord ". 14). This
caused the fame of Peter to be spread
far and wide. so that the people were
anxious to come under his shadow.
| were tle holihess VI the Douy Vi
Christ recognized. there would be
many coming for pardon and saliva
ton.
3. The hypocrites did not dare to
join ". 13). 1t is interesting to note
that this vindlcation of the holiness
of the church did not deter any but
hypocrtes from joining it. Nothing
unhallowed nor any unregenerate per-
son has place in the church. This
applies to our offerings as well as to
| our perSOn.