Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1920-01-23
LESSON FOR JANUARY rs
PETER STANDS UP FOR TRUTH
Nj AND HONESTY. n st.s =


LESSON TEXT-Acts 5a-16 So
GOLDEN TEXT-Lying lips are abomf-
nation. to the Lord: but they that deal
truly are his 'delight.-Prov. 1922.
\ ADDITIONAL MATERIAL~-Ex. 2O:16;
Prov iii: Matt 8: "a: Gal. ST.. 8: Eph.
l4:15, 25, 30.
4 PRIMARY ToPIC-Teliing the Truth.
A JUNIOR sTOPIC - Two Disciples and
II What Became of Them.
II INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
lIC-The Folly and Sinfuiness of Lying.
In this lesson we see the new COM
munity now called "the church" ".
III vindicated. In the boldness of
\ Peter and John we see that the break
with Judaism has come-the authority
yof the Sanhedrin Is repudlated 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
Igets the name church." Since the
lbreak has come 1t must be shown to be
a holy body 1t must have recognition
as being sacred. The sanctity OF the
tabernacle is transferred to the new
W
(Eph. 2:19-22). The church itself, as
well as the people about, did not know
this untii Gods. Judgment burst forth.
Il I. characteristics Of the Primitive
Church (4:3I-35).
\ /. II was a praying church ". 31).
For every want annd every need they
betook themselves to God In prayer.
Y Q. 1t was Spirit-flled church ".
81. A praying church is Spirit filed
church. The Spirit is given in an
swer to prayer duke 11:13).
3. It was a church which had great
boldness in preaching the Word of
God (v. BY. The minister In a Spirit
filled church win not offer an apology
for the Bible, but will fearlessly
Ipreach 1t.
A. 1t was a united church ". 32).
They were "of one heart and one
soul"
I 8. 1t was charitable and generous
church ". 32). AS needs arose sup
piles were given from common fund.
g. Its ministers had powerful tes-
timony (v. 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
<vv. 1-1I.
1. It's occasion (vv. l. y. This was
[ their hypocritical imitation of the gen.
erous act of Barnabas a 49, 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 of
/ goods. This was not universal nof
/ 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 a part of the money re-
ceived for his land while pretending to
I have brought it all. His wife was
partner in 1t. They wanted the honor
Iof generosity without paying the price.
2. The judgment wv. 3-10). Ananias
Iallowed satan TO fiji his heart and lied
Ito the Holy Ghost in keeping back
Ipart 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 1t. 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 1t, Love Of praise Is causing
many today to make the same dread
lful mistake. People are walking in
THE way of Ananias and Sapphira
when they make profession of re-
Iigion 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
ited upon Ananias and Sapphira for
their sins.
III. The Effect (vv. 11-16).
II /. Great fear came upon the church
and upon all who heard Of these
things ". ~. 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. T.
2. Multitudes Of men and women
| were added to the Lord ". 14). This
| raused the fame of Peter to be spread
far and wide. so that the people were
NAnxious to come under his shadow.
AyVere the holiness of the body OF
hEhrist recognized there would be
smany coming for pardon and saliva
Etion. sfttt g
Il B. The hypocrites did not dare to
HDoin tv s18la 1t Is interesting to note
Rthat this vindfcatfon of the holiness
apf, the church did not deter any but
bhypocrites from joining 1t. Nothing
ehnhalIowed nor any unregenerate per
kon has place In the church. ThA
ppplies to our offerings as well as to
pur person.