Middletown transcript., 1921-08-13
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si11nldaySc1loel
Lesson ' '
By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher Of English Bible IN the Moooy
Bible Institute of Chicago)
"a, 1921, Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR AUGUST IA
PAUL IN lcoNIUM AND LYsTRA

PAUL IN lcoNIUM AND LYsTRA.
LESSON TEXT-Acts A:1-2S.
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God, ard Him only shai'
thou serve.-Matt 4:1O.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matthe"
1O:16-1S.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Paul Heals a Grip
pie.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Paurs Narrow Escape
at Lystra. o,,o
EARLY Adventures in Asia Minor.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Examples of Paurs Missionary Metnoos.
|. Paul and Barnabas Preaching at
lconium wv. Id.
AS to their work in Iconium OBJ
serve:
/. Their manner of preaching. Ihls
is suggested by the little word 80" IN
verse l. They $50" spake that great
multitude believed. They were true
preachers. Only that which brings con-
viction of sin and induces decision tof
Christ can be truly said to be preach'
ing in the biblical sense. The same
is true of the Sunday school teacher.
Let every Sunday school teacher at all
times have as his supreme aim to pear
the gospel of Christ so as to induce
decision for Christ.
.. Their attitude toward opposition
This is suggested by the word there
fore' in verse 3. "Long time therefore
they tarried." The opposition did not
prevent their preaching, but inclted
them to continue preaching. Christian
workers should learn not to give up
work because of opposition.
3. The Lord accompanied their
preaching with miracles ". -. Since
the opposition was so fierce, special
help of the Lord was needed.
4. The effect Of their preaching
(v. ~. The multitude of the city was
divided. Where men faithfully preach
the gospel there will be division.
II. Attempt to Worship Paul and
Barnabas as Gods wv. 8-1S).
l. The occasion (vv. S-1O)-the heal
ing of the lame man. Gods gracious
| power exhibited in healing this lame
man occasioned a new difficulty. That
which ought to have been help was
turned into a hindrance. The man
was confirmed cripple. He had never
walked. He heard Paul's preaching.
which caused faith to be born in his
heart (Rom. 1O:17). When Paul per-
ceived that he trusted Christ, he called
with a loud voice that all could hear
for the man to stand upright. The cure
was instant, for he leaped up and
walked ". 1O). There was no mag
netic touch, no treatment, only the
command, and the naturally impossible
became the possible and the real.
.. The method wv. 11-13). They
called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mer-
curry, because he was the chief speaker.
The priest of Jupiter brought oxen
and garlands ready to offer sacrifices
unto those men ". ~. If they had
only known, in the person of Jesus
Christ God had actually appeared to
men John 1 IA; Phil. 2:7, 81.
3.'Their efforts frustrated wv. II
1S). This foolish act was happily
averted by the tact Of the apostles, as
exhibited in the address of the Occa-
sion. (1) They deny that they are di-
vine beings and declare that to wOr-
ship beings with like passion to them
selves is criminal. (2) They direct
them to turn away from these vain
things unto the living God who made
heaven and earth and has ever left
witness of Himself in that He has
always done good, giving rain and
fruitful seasons, filling their hearts
with gladness.
III. The Stoning of Paul wv. 1929.
Wicked Jews from Antioch and leo
MUM pursued Paul with relentless
hate to this place, where they stirred
up the very people who were willing
to worship them little while ago
This shows that satanic worship can
soon be turned into satanic hate. This
hatred took form in stoning Paul and
dragging him out Of the city for dead
God raised him up, and with undaunt,
ed courage he pressed on with his du.
ties as a missionary bearing the good
tidings to the lost.
Soon after this Paul turned back
and revisited the places where he had
preached, telling them that through
great tribulation they must enter into
the kingdom Of God.
w. The Organization Of Churches in
the Field wv. 1929.
Evangelization with Paul did not
mean a hasty and superficial preach
ing of the gospel but the establishment
of a permanent work. Elders were
appointed in every church. The work
of the missionary is not done until
there are established on the field
self governing and self-prOpagatins
churches.