The Jasper news., 1921-10-06

PREFERENCE MATERIAIr-Rev. 21-7.
PRIMARY TOPIC - Paul a 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 Center Of Pa
ganism.
!. Johns Disciples Become chrIs-
tians (vv. Id. "
These twelve disciples had only
been taught the baptism Of repent
ance as preparation 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-
vlded redemption for them.
u. Paul Preaching In Ephesus
wv. '8-10). %
1. In the Jewish synagogue ". 81.
His message is characterized by: Q)
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 a reasonable message; 1t
must be accompanied by persuasion.
az 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 sehoolhouse of Tyrannus
(vv. 8, 10). Paul's earnest preach
ing only hardened the Jews. When
they came out and spoke openly
against this way of salvation in
from them and retired to the school
house of Tyrannus.
III. God Working Miracles by Paul
(vv. 11-16)-
SO wonderfully did he manifest His
power that handkerchlefs 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.
w. A Glorious Awakening (vv. IT.
AZ.
1. Fear fell upon all ". ~. News
Of the casting out of these evil spirits
created impressions favorable to
Christianity.
2. 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.
8. 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.
ulneness of their actions by publicly
burning their books. Though this
was an expensive thing-valued at
about $12, ,500-they did not try to sell
the books and get their money back.
When you find you have been In a
wrong business. make a clean sweep
Of things; burn up your books on
Spiritualism, 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. %, 24). This was the pow
er of the gospel in destroying the
Infamous business OF Demetrius and
his fellows. II 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 a religious standpoint, but be-
cause it was undermining the princi-
pal business Of the city. (2) The
method wv. $500. Demetrius. a
leading business man, whose business
was the stay Of others OF a similar
nature, called a meeting and stated
that much people had turned from
idolatry and that the market for theii
wares was materially weakening. He
appealed to his fellows (a) on the
ground of business, saying ''This, ouI
craft, is in danger Of being set at
naught." ". 27). (b) On the ground
Of religious prejudice. He said "Tht
temple of the great goddess Dianu
should be despIsed" ". 2T. He be
came quite religious when he saw thai
his business was being interfered
with. His speech gained his end; the
whole crowd was enraged and yelled
In unison, "Great Is Diana Of thS
| EnhasiOna" The mOh was 0uieted bI