The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-01-30
IMPROVED uNlroRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAS0lOOL
LESSON
tBy REV. r. b. FITZWATER. D. De-
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY l
PETER AND JOHN IN sAmARlA


MAY be used with missionary applica-
tions)
LESSON TExT-Acts 8A-25.
GOLDEN TEXT-Ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem. and in all
Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the ut
termost part of the earth.-Acts 1:s.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-II Kings
HA-31; Luke 10:33-35; John 4:1-42
PRIMARY TOPIC-Telling Others About
Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Peter and John in a
Strange City.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Three Missionaries and Their Tri-
umphs.
I. Preaching the Word Everywhere
". ~.
After the stoning of Stephen the
enemies of the Lord We're more active
than ever In their efforts to stamp
out the new faith. With Saul as their
leader they rushed back to the city,
dragged from their homes and i'm
prisOned those who confessed Christ.
In this the devil overreached himself,
for the believers took flight and went
time had come for the witness-bearing
to extend beyond Jerusalem and Ju-
dea. Preaching was not confined to
the twelve. The Lord thus makes the
devils wickedness to further his own
purpose. Frequently, in the hour of
trial, Christians see more clearly their
duty and bestir themselves to perform
1t. If Christians will not move on,
the Lord will shove them on.
u. Philip Preaching the Gospel in
Samaria. wv. 5-13).
Hitherto the gospel had reached
only Jews; now its scope broadens
and a Jew is preaching to Samaritans,
and Samaritans are rejoicing in the
gospel Of Christ proclaimed by Jew.
His preaching was fruitful for multi
tudes believed his message. Much joy
in this Samaritan city followed the re-
ception of the message. Both Samar-
itans and Jews were looking for
Christ, so they were glad to know that
the Christ had come. Christ is the
one name and person who will break
down race prejudice In him there
is unity and real brotherhood, for he
is the universal man. The only hope
OF the WOrlQ Is christ.
So great was Philips success that
Simon Magnus professed faith and was
baptized. Simon was a sorcerer who
by magical devices had made a great
reputation, gaining control of many
of the credulous and ignorant, SO that
they regarded him as some great one
from God ". 10Y. The people turned
from this sorcerer to the gospel of
Christ
~. Peter and John Sent to samar-
Ia (vv. 14-17).
The church at Jerusalem sent two
of its best men to encourage the work.
They discerned that the Spirit had not
yet fallen upon the believers, so they
laid hands upon them and the Spirit
was given unto them. These Samari-
tans were really converted. regener-
ated, but had not yet been filed with
the Spirits gift. Believers should
seek the Spirits gift at once. for this
will exclude the interests Of the world
The mission of Peter and John shows
the unity of the church-the mother
-ehurch gave sanction to the new work
III s5IlfidIid- NluCu VI tlc WOTh Ol tIit
modern evangelist is failure be-
cause 1t is not properly followed up
by those who will instruct and bring
the converts into relationship with the
living church.
~. simon's Wicked Request wv.
1920.
When Simon saw that the power of
bof xx-hf hn
sessed and that 1t was received
through the laying on Of hands, he Of
fered money for the gift. This act re-
veals the hypocrisy of this man. He
professed faith and was baptized, fol-
lowing after them for a selfish end.
To desire and seek the gift of the Spir-
1t for selfish aggrandizement is to be
guilty of Simon's sin. All traffic in
sacred things has been called Isl
mony," from the name of this sorcer-
er. Peter told Simon that he had
neither part nor lot in this matter,
that he should repent of his wicked
ness and pray to God for forgiveness.
He requested Peter to pray for him.
Simon practiced the art of sorcery
for gain and influence. Now that he
found his profits diminishing and his
influence waning. he endeavored to ac-
quire new power. All persons who
use their religion to further their am
billions to get gain are guilty of this
sin. Sometimes men join the church
for business, social, and political rea-
sons; sometimes official positions are
cOveted for the nrestipo and powar
they give. Let all who are using the
name Of the church for business pur-
poses be warned by Peters rebuke
Let Simon's doom be solemn warn
lag to all