The Holly chieftain., 1921-10-06

LESSON TEXT-Acts 19:1-1.
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt worship
the Lord they God. and him only shalt
thou servc.-Matt. l:10.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Rev. 2i-7.
PRIMARY TOPIC Paul = Loving
Friend and Minister.
JUNIOR TOPIc-Paul and the Silver
smiths.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Experience In Ephesus.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Planting the Gospel in a Center OF Pa
ganism.
I. Johns Disciples Become Chris
tians (vv. 1-T.
These twelve disciples had only
been taught the baptism Of repent
ance as preparations for the kingdom
Of God. Paul taught them to believe
in Christ, that is. to receive Him as
the One who had on the cross pro
vided redemption for them. When
they received Christ. Paul laid hands
upon them and they received the Holy
Spirit.
u. Paul Preaching In Ephesus
(yv. S-10).
/. In the Jewish synagogue ". ~.
His message is characterized by: ~
bOldness. He realized that God had
sent Him and that His authority was
back of Him. (2) Reason. He rea-
sOned with them. Gods message Is
never sentimental nor arbitrary. but
in accord with the highest reason. (3)
Persuasion. 1t is not enough to come
boldly with reasonable message; 1t
must be accompanied by persuasion.
~ Concerning the kingdom of God.
He did not discourse on current
events, literature, or philosophy, but
upon the message of salvation through
Christ.
2. In the schoolhouse Of Tyrannus
tyv. 9, 10). Paul's earnest preach
ing only hardened the Jews. When
they came out and spoke openly
against this way of salvation In
Christ Paul separated the disciples
from them and retired to the school
house of Tyrannus.
~. God Working Miracles by Paul
WV. 11-16).
So wonderfully did he manifest His
power that handkerchiefs and aprons
brought from Paul's body healed the
sick and cast out evil spirits from
those whose lives had been made
wretched by them.
~. A Glorious Awakening (vv. II
41).
l. Fear fell upon all ". 10. News
of the casting out of these evil spirits
created Impressions favorable to
Christianity.
.. 1t brought to the front those who
professed faith in Christ while not
living right lives ". 1S). They be-
lieved, but had not broken from sin.
Great blessing would come to the
to those whose lives are in keeping
with their profession, and cause them
to openly confess and make new
start.
3. Gave up the practice of black
arts ". 19). This means forms Of
jugglery by use Of charms and magi-
cal words. All such are In opposi-
ton to the will of God; therefore no
one can have fellowship with God and
practice them. They proved the gen.
uineness of their actions by publicly
burning their books. Though this
was an expensive thing-valued at
about $12, ,5O0-they did not try to sell
the books and get their money back
When you find you have been In a
wrong business, make Il clean sweep
of things; burn up your books on
Spirltualism, Christian Science, etc. !;
empty your whisky and beer into the
sewer, and have a tobacco party SIM
liar to the Boston tea party.
4. Uproar of the Silversmiths at
Ephesus wv. 23-41). ~ The occa-
sion wv. %. PAY. This WAS the pow.
er of the gospel In destroying the
Infamous business Of Demetrius and
his fellows. 1t was clear to them that
idolatry was tOttering before the pow
er OF the gospel. They were not In
terested particularly in the matter
from religious standpoint. but be-
cause 1t was undermining the princi-
pal business Of the city. (2) The
method (vy. 25-29). Demetrius, a
leading business man, whose business
was the stay of others Of similar
nature. called Il meeting and stated
that much people had turned from
idolatry and that the market for their
wares was materially weakening. He
appealed to his fellows (a) OIL the
ground Of business. saying "rhIs, our
craft, is In danger of being set at
naught." ". 2D. (b) On the ground
OF religious prejudice. He said "The
temple of the great goddess Diana
should be despised" ". 27). He be-
came quite religious when he saw that
his business was being interfered
with. His speech gained his end: the
whole crowd was enraged and yelled
In unison. Great Is Diana Of the
Ephesians." The mob was quieted by
the tact and good judgment of the
town clerk: first, he reprOved them
for yelling for two hours to prove
point which everybody admitted wv.
25, 26); second, he showed that Paul
and his company were not guilty OF
any criminal act (vv. 27-39) third, he
showed that the people were In danger
Of being cn,led to account for this riot,
should 1t come to the ears OF Caesar