Cleveland County herald., 1921-08-18
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL Sl11nldaySchool ! ' Lesson ' (By REN. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D., Teacher of English Bible in the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
 co, 1921, Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR AUGUST 21.
PAUL PREPARES FOR WORLD
 CONQUEST.

CONQUEST.
 LESSON TEXT-Acts 15:1; 16:5.
 GOLDEN TEXT-But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved.-Aets 1511
 REFERENCE MATERIAL-Gal. 2:11-Z1; S:1-26 Eph. 2:4-2.
 PRIMARY TOPIC-Some of Paula Helpers.
 JUNIOR notwithstanding of the Sec ond Missionary Journey.
 INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC -Revsiting Friends in Asia Minor.
 YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC Paul Champions Christian Liberty.
 1. The Controversy in the Church at Antioch tvv. 1-5).
 This difficulty was a most serious one, for 1t threatened the disruption of the church into Jewish and Gentle divisions.
 The question was, Shall Gentle con verts be required to keep the Mosaic law as a condition of salvationY This issue was brought on by the coming of certain men from Jerusalem who declared Except ye be circumcised 
 be saved" (v. D, The question was so difficult that Paul and Barnabas were unable to put them to silence. These Jewish legalists had the letter of the Scriptures on their side; they could point to the commandments where this was enjoined upon believers (Gen. 17:14). Paul could not point to any Scripture where it had been abro- gated If Paul could plead that Abra- ham was justified before he was cir cumcised, his antagonist could say, "Yes, but after justification the rite was divinely imposed" The brethren at Antioch decided to refer the matter to the mother church at Jerusalem. Ac- cordingly Paul and Barnabas and others were sent as a deputatiOn to Jerusalem.
 II. The Deliberations of the Council (vv. CPD.
 l. Peters Speech (vv. 7-1D. He argued that God had borne witness to His acceptance of the Gentiles by giv- ing the Holy Spirit to them the same as unto the Jews. Since, therefore, God had not put difference it would be folly for them to do so. Gods action in sending Peter unto them was the unanswerable proof that there was no distinction to be made.
 9 Paul and Barnabas rehearse their experience (v. 12). They told how that God had set His seal of approval upon their preaching of salvation by grace through faith apart from works, by the working of signs and wonders through them.
 3. The argument of James (vv. 14- 21). He took the fact declared by Peter and showed how it harmoniZed with the prophecy of Amos He showed that the reception of the Gen tiles was not in conflict with Gods plan. but in strict harmony there with. Gods plan for the ages is as follows: CD Taking out from among the Gentiles people for His name (v. 14) This Is what is now going on the calling out of the church. CD After the church is completed and re- moved the Israelitish nation will be converted and restored to their land and privileges by the Lord himself at His return (yv. Is, ID. (3) Follow ing this will be the conversion of the world through the agency of con verted Israel (v. IT; ef Rom. H. 15). His judgment was that the Gen. tiles should not be troubled with things that are Jewish. but should he warned against the perils of heathen- ism, such as meat offered to idols, fornication, and blood.
 III. The Decision (vv. 22-29)
 The mother church at Jerusalem came to a unanimous agreement and accepted the resolution offered by James. They not only sent letter stating the decision of the conference, but took the wise precaution to send influential men along with Paul and Barnahas to bear the same testimony by word of mouth This letter de- nied the authority of the Judaizing teachers (v 2D, and declared the method by which this decision had been reached (vv. 25-2D.
 w. The Second Missionary Journey Begun d5: :36; 16:0:
 L Contention over John Mark (vv. 36-4D. Paul was suspicious of Mark because of his assertion on the former journey. Barnahas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia con firming the churches. The Lord thus overruled it to good for it gave an opportunity for wider dissemination Of the gospel.
 ?. Finding Timothy u6:1-5). This was at the very place where Paul on his first journey had endured cruel stoning. Timothy was with Paul through much of his work ever after ward, a great blessing to him.