The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-11-04
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER Z.
PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN LlN-
E. ING.

PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN LlN-
u ING.
LESSON TEXT-Matt. GILT; IA
GOLDEN TExT-Seek We first the king
dom of God and his righteousness: and All
these things shall be added unto you
Matt 6:33
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI~-Mark ID.
1874; Luke 1874: 12:22-32
PRIMARY TOP1C-our Heavenly IA
theirs Care.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jesus Teaching How
to Pray.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Golden Rules for Living.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Counsels for Daily Living.
Having set forth in the previous
chapters the standard of righteous
ness. Christ now exhibits the UNDER
lying principles which control the heir
to the kingdom.
I. As to Giving t6:1-4).
Doing, aims before men is not cor
demned. as that would contradict
Matthew SIG but the doing Of them
before men to be seen of them. To
seek publicity in doing our aims is
to miss the reward of our heavenly
Father.
II. As to Praying (6;s<15).
I. False prayer wv. s. y. This cor
! sists (r) in praying to be seen ana
heard Of men ". 81. ~ Using vain
repetitions ". ~. This does not mean
that we should ask but once. for we
have examples of Christ and Paul
| praying three times for the same thing
! (N1att. 26 :39-46; II Cor. 1927. 81. but
| the using Of meaningless repetitions.
| p True prayer ". g.. Since prayer
Is transaction of the soul with GOsi-
we should have real desire for fell
lowship with the Father, then go and
meet him In secret.
3. The model prayer wv. 9-15). This
involves (D right relationship-''Our
Father ". 81; (2) right attitude
(3) right spirit--"Give us our daily
bread" "Forgive us our sins" LEAD
us not into temptation'' (vv. lib.
~. As to Fasting wv. 1920.
The Lord knew the temptation
which would befall his children ia
their pilgrimage here below touching
wOrdliness, and the anxiety to which
it would lead; therefore, he sets forth
the proper attitude toward them:
I. The nature of earthly riches tvv-
10, Ply. H) Uncertain (vv 10. 2O3-
Earthly treasures cOrrode. or are taken
from us. (2) Seductive ". 21). Christ
called riches deceitful (Matt. IS :22D-
1t is not wrong to possess earthly
treasures but when earthly treasures
possess US they become a snare.
. n - .aoN,.,
22-24). ~ They blunt the moral and
spiritual perceptions (vv. 22-23): When
the heart Is upon earthly treasures n
is taken Off God. (2) They render
null and void all service ". 24)..
~. As to Faith in the Heavenly
Father (vv 25-34).
I. Be not anxious about food ana
clothing wv. 25-32). Because (1) il
shows distrust for God ". BOZ. 90
1t is useless ". 31). Anxiety cnn
bring nothing. (3) 1t is heathenlsh
". 32). Those who have not learned
to know God may worry over teEn-
poral affairs. but those who know him
as loving Father should be free
from care.
2. Be anxious to seek the kfngd0yD
Of God and, serve, him (vv. 33. 34l-
This does not forbid proper fore
thought in making a reasonable slp-
port for ones self and family
v. As to censorious Judgments
T:1-12).
1. The sin and folly of cenSOrious.
judgments. This does not forbid N:
making an estimate of the lives OF
those about us. for by their fruits
We shall know Them" neither does:
1t prevent us from administering re-
buke to those who deservs 4. re-.
Dukes that readiness to blan
and to magnify their reakneSH q
errors.
g The duty Of Discrimination :.
dealing .out holy things ". g.. The
gospel should he preached to all. hut
there should he discrimination. for
"flOgs and swine" have no cOmprehen
sion as to holy things.
3. Qualification for DETERMINATIONS
wv. 7-12). ~ a life Of prayer tvv.
for rightly divining the word Of truth
(2) A disposition 10 treat Others rs
one would be treated ". 12). cOnfu-
cius set forth this principle negatively.
but only the Christ could do Il posi-
'" lively. Between the negative and pos
tive sides Of this rule is found the
difference between heathenisIn and
Christianity. No man can live this
rule unless he has been born from
above and abides with Christ in the
school Of prayer, till he becomes like
him.