Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-04-14

LESSON IEAT-Mark 6:1-3: John SIT;
IL Thess. 3:6-13
ness; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord
Rom. 1911.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Ex. 2o:9-1l
Prov. 22:2s: 2ls; sl;l0-sl; Eph. AS.
PRIMARY TOPIC A Child Who
Helped.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Ant and the Slug
gard.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Workers and Strikers.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Labor Problems.
Work in relation to God has a diff
ferent meaning than in relation to
man. In relation to God it means
continued activity directed to some
purpose or end. In relation to man it
means manual labor.
!. Mighty Works Wrought by Jesus
Mark GLIB.
AS Gods obedient servant, Jesus
theoretically gave himself up to His
work
!. Teaching in the synagogue ". y.
This He did on the Sabbath day. He
could let no opportunity to do good
pass.
2. The result of His teaching wv.
2, -. IA The people were astonished.
liz their establishment they asked
questions: (a) From whence hath this
man these things? (b) What wisdom
is given unto Him? tc) Is not this
the carpenter? Cd Are not His sis
tiers with usf That His wisdom and
power were superhuman, they could
not doubt. The only answer to their
questions is Christ's absolute Deity
(2) The people were offended ". 81.
Not being able to answer their own
questions and to believe their own
eyes and ears, they rejected Him.
This rejection was not because they
knew Him too well, but because they
knew Him not at all. His country
men judged Him by His brothers, sis
tiers, and father, and therefore failed
to know Him.
II. my Father Worketh Hitherto,
and Work" John 5:1D.
Jesus had on the Sabbath day
healed an impotent man. They sought
to kill Him for this good deed, and
when He linked himself with God in
this they more earnestly sought to
kill Him. They tried to kill Him be-
cause He made himself equal with
God. The special points of equality
with God were:
l. Giving life to the dead. No hui
hot ho too
another from the dead. The Jews
rightly interpreted His claim to being
able TO raise the dead as a claim to
Deity.
?. Judging mankind. No human be-
ing is wise enough to judge his fellow
being Christ's claim to be the Judge
of mankind they interpreted to be His
claim 0 Deity. and they were correct.
~. The Man Who viii Not Work
Should Not Eat Gil Thess. 3:6-13).
Thffe had developed among the
Christians at Thessalonica a tendency
to, idieness. Some were neglecting
their lawful earthly callings-even to
the extent that they were becoming u
charge to the church From the con-
text of the Thessalonian epistles it
would seem that this serious condi-
ton was the result of wrong views
concerning the second coming of
Christ. Such as this is wholly wrong
and absolutely contrary to the signifi-
canoe of ''the blessed hope" The at
titude of those possessing an intel
ligent view of the Lords coming as
taught by Christ and the apostles, is
earnest attention to the present duty.
OCCUPY till / come, is Christ's
charge. Speculative stargazers have
brought this precious doctrine into
disrepute. Unceasing fidelity to all
the responsibilities of the present IS
the correct attitude Of those who are
waiting for the Son from heaven To
correct this wrong, Paul
l. Asserts his authority to COM
mand ". 81. This authority was
given him by Christ.
?. Commands them to withdraw
from those who thus walk disorderly
". O..
3. Pauls example wv. 7-9). Paul
pressed with great earnestness the
doctrine Of the Lords return, and yet
consistently continued in his lawful
calling. In order to not be chargeable
unto them he labored with great
earnestness night and day.
L. Those who will not work should
NOT eat ". 10). This is the right
principle upon which to base all works
of charity. 1t is the efficient cure, for
pauperism. The right economic order
has as its foundation principles Work
in order to eat. This should apply
to all classes, rich and poor.
5. Busybodies exhorted wv. IL, 12).
Idle men and women always become
busybodies. Pauls exhortation is that
they with qiietness work and eat their
own bread.
Mans Glory.
Mans glory lies in his striving after
the hest. hiS shame in oonton+p,ant