The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1920-01-23

Prov. Ill; Matt. 6: "a: Gal. ST.. s; Eph.
Ais, 25 80.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Telling 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" ".
I'D indicated. In the holiness Of
Peter and John we see that the break
with Judaism has come--the authority
of the Sanhedrjn 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; 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 :31-35).
l. 1t was a praying church ". 80.
For every want annd every need they
betoOk themselves to God in prayer.
2. 1t was a Spirit-filled church ".
81. A praying church is Spirit-tilled
church. The Spirit is given in an
swer to prayer duke II :13).
8. 1t was a church which had great
holiness in preaching the Word of
God ". 81. The minister in Spirit
filed church will not offer an apology
for the Bible. but will fearlessly
preach it.
4. 1t was a united church ". 32).
They were "of one heart and one
soul"
5. 1t was a charitable and generous
church w.. 32). = AS needs arose sup
plies were given from a common fund.
6. It's ministers had powerful tes-
timony ". 33).
7. 1t 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. lily.
l. It's occasion wv 1, p. This was
their hypocritical imitation Of the gen.
erous act Of Barnabas (4:36, 81. Be
cause of the peculiar distress of the
early church when the open rupture
for time had a Community Of
goods" This was not universal NOT
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
If generosity without paying the price.
2. The judgment wv. 3-10). Ananias
allowed satan to fill his heart and lied
o the Holy Ghost in keeping back
part Of the price of the land 1t was
most likely an acted lie. They were
lot under obligation to sell their land,
n having sold it, to bring any of the
money and place it in the common
und. Peter declared that they were
bsolutely free to do as they pleased
With it. Love of praise is causing
many today to make the same dread
I'll mistake. People are walking in
he way of Ananias and Sapphira
Then they make profession of re-
gion for temporal gain and pleasure;
r even preaching sermons not their
wn. Frequently men preach the SER
IONS of Moody and Sturgeon without
living credit. Physical death was WIS.,
ed upon Ananias and Sapphire for
heir sins.
I'll. The Effect wv. 11-16).
1. Great fear came upon the church
nd upon all who heard of these
lings ". ~. Irreverence is an out
anding sin of this age. The church
lould be recognized as holy-the very
yelling place of the Most High God.
2. Multitudes of men and women
ere added to the Lord ". 14). This
fused the fame of Peter to be spread
n and wide, so that the people were
lxious to come under his shadow.
ere the holiness of the body of
hrist recognized. there would be
any coming for pardon and saliva
On.
8. The hypocrites did not dare to
in ". 13). 1t is interesting to note
at this vindication of the holiness
the church did not deter any but
-pocrites from Joining it. Nothing
lhallowed nor any unregenerate per-
n has a place in the church. This
piles to our offerings as we'll as to