The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1921-12-02

Rom. lis, 16.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Mark 1913;
Rom. 1:8-17.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The End of Paula
Journey.
JUNIOR ToPIc-The End of a Long
Journey
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Living in Rome
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Pauls Ministry in Rome.
!. The Shipwrecked Crew on Meiita
wv. 1-10).
Through the storm they lost their
bearings, and when they were safe on
land they learned that the island was
called Melita.
I. The hospitable reception of the
natives ". q. They built fire and
made them as comfortable as possible
from the cold and the rain.
2. Paul gathering sticks for fire ".
-3). This is fine picture Of the worlds
greatest preacher and missionary not
above picking up sticks for a fire. The
ability and disposition to serve natu-
rally In whatever way is the evidence
of capacity for great commissions.
3. Paul bitten by venomous SER
pent ". 81. With the sticks that Paul
gathered there was serpent. Per-
haps it had already curled itself up
for its winter sleep, but when the
warmth Of the fire aroused it it darted
at Paul and fixed its fangs upon his
hand. The natives expected to see him
fall down dead, yet he shock 1t off,
nothing harmed. At first the natives
concluded that he was an escaped
murderer and that this was retributive
Justice being meted out to him. When
they saw that he was unframed they
concluded that he was god.
4. Paul heals Publius' father wv. z
1O). These people are now getting
some return for their kindness. When
this man of note was healed others
came also and were healed. To this
they responded in appreciation by load
ing them down with necessary sup
plies.
u. Paul Arrives at Rome wv. 11-16).
When Paul landed at Rome Christ's
charge to the disciples was fulfilled.
After three months. stay at Melita,
Paul departs for Rome in the ship Al
exandria, whose sign was Castor and
Pollux. At Syracuse they were de.
layed three days, perhaps for favora-
BILE winds. At PuteOli he found breth.
rem, at whose request he tarried seven
days. At Appili-Forum and at the Three
Taverns brethren from Rome met him.
From PuteOli the news went before
Paul's coming. and so interested were
the brethren that they came more
than forty miles to meet him. This
greatly encouraged him, for which he
gave God thanks. No one, perhaps,
ever enjoyed more close fellowship
with God, and yet no man ever en-
jOyed more and derived more benefit |
from human fellowship than he. His
readiness to preach the gospel at |
Rome, which he had expressed in the |
Epistle to the Romans, written from
Corinth about three years before, was
low realized. He was treated with
great leniency at Rome, for he was
allowed to hire house there and live
alone except that the soldier that re-
NAMED his guard was constantly with
lin. Being chained to a soldier was
'ather irksome, but yet it gave him a
.hance to preach to the soldiers which
he could not have had any other way.
lie rejoiced in whatever circumstances,
ust so the gospel was preached.
III. PauI's Ministry in Rome wv.
7-31).
j. His conference with the leading
ews (vv. 1922. He did not, as
sual, wait for the Sabbath day to
peak to the Jews. He only allowed
ne day for rest. His object was to
ave fair understanding with them.
When they came he endeavored to
oncillate them. He told them that,
hough he came as prisoner, he was
OF a criminal. Though his own
had so sought his life, he
Id not come with an accusation
gainst them. The result of this inter-
lew was that the Jews cautiously
'ok neutral ground, but expressed a
esire to hear what Paul could say in
efense of sect which was every
here spoken against. The fact that
lis sect was spoken against is no evil
ence that it was wrong. Many times
thing may be wrong in mems minds,
acause their judgments are biased. If
thing is right in the sight of God 1t
alters not what men think about it.
2. Paul expounding the kingdom of :
cd and persuading concerning Jesus :
". 23-SD. He pointed out a real :
ngdom-the Messianic Kingdom with =
.sns as the King.