Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-07-07

into the world to, save sinners. Of whom
! am chief-I Tim. l;l5.
REFERENCE WATERFALL Cor. 1873
Gal. 1913. Phil. 34-6; Tim. l;l3.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Going to school In
Jerusalem.-Acts 22:3. 4. 5:S4-
NOR TOPIC - Saul Prosecuting
Christians.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Young Pharisee.
YOUNG PEOPLE AMI ADULT TOPIC
Saul Prosecuting the Church.
l.. Sau's Training as a Pharisee
(Acts - "a; 26:4.5)
/. Taught to love has own nation. Il
am jew" The Pharisees were
the nationalists of their day Those
who are intelligently loyal to their own
nation can more effectively help others.
2 Tatight to love Gods law. Taught
according to the perfect manner of the
law of the fathers" Love for the
Holy Scriptures is a valuable asset
in life. One may misnterpret it and
dangerously misapply it; but If he
has love in his heart for it there is
hope of getting him to come into right
relationship to it.
3. Was jealous toward God" The
root of the word Jealous signifies
ito boil" 1t means passion for God
and His work. 1t was zeal for God
that made Saul think Of and plan
| for his work This zeal for God eX-
pressed itself in persecution of the
Christians whom he regarded as do
ing that which was contrary to Gods
law and purpose. He spared neither
age nor sex, even to Imprisonment and
death (Acts 22:4).
II. Saul Thoroughly Conscientious
$3.50, 10).
In his cOnscientiousneSs he opposed
Jesus, for he regarded Him as an
impostor Saul is to be commended
in that he responded to his conscience,
but he is IT, be condemned for his
attitude toward Jesus; for there WAS
overwhelming evidence that Jesus was
Gods Son and came in fultilment of
the Scriptures. The resurrection of |
Christ was such an outstanding mira |
cle--a proof of the Deity of Christ,
III. Stephens Martyrdom (Acts Z:
"a; ~.
In order to understand the signiti-
canoe of his martyrdom we must OBJ
tain a synthetic view of his life.
l. Who Stephen was (6:1-O. He
was one of the seven who were APP
pointed to look after the temperate
ties of the church.
2. Why Stephen was opposed (G:S
15). In his work he testified of Christ
and by the Holy Spirit wrought mira
cles. These mighty works aroused
the people The following features
him: % Wisdom,
which means common sense; CD
grace, which means beauty of charac-
ter; CD power He had the ability
to do wonders and great signs and
speak the truth effectively. The men
of the opposing synagogues were not
able to withstand the wisdom and
he Spirit by which he spake." They
arrested and brought him before the
great council. Even here they could
not silence hin by argument, so they
decided to do ii by violence.
8. Stephen stoned G :54-60). Before
he council he made magnificent de- {
'enSe. This he did by tracing the I
history of Israel from the call of Abra-
nam to the cruCitiXion of Christ. His
lin in this review was to show that
iod never had been localized and that
he temple was but small part of !
iod's plan. In his address he did !
lot speak against the temple, but
bowed that God did not in the full
st sense dwell in it at any time. He
roved this from Scripture lisa. 81:
&, 9; | Kings B-2D. In his conclu-
ion he declared that the Jews had 4,
ways been "A stiff-necked people, re- -
listing the Holy Spirit, and now their
had reached its culmina- !,
ion in the betrayal, rejection and II
murder of the Son of God. This :
barge cut to the heart. His argu- =
rents were unauswerable. Being UNI !
illing to answer him and at the same
me to accept the truth presented,
leir anger was stirred to its highest u
Itch; so their only answer was stones. A
hey CRASHED upon him as mad dog. n
i this hour of trial God gave him 4
onderful vision. He was permitted Y
see into heaven itself, and there r
, got sight of the glorified Son Of IT
an standing at the right hand of
cd.
4. Stephens burial Glib. His
nth is described as falling asleep. ol
his is really all that death is to the il
lristian. Devout men buried him, Il
aklng great lamentation over him. to