Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-09-07
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sil1gldayScllool.
' Lesson '
Ry REV. p. B. FITZWATER. D. d.
Teacher OF English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicaso.)
Copyright. 1872. Western Newspaper unioa-
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 10
TEACHING THE LAW or GOD

LESSON TExT-Neh s:1-1s.
GOLDEN TExT-Teach me. o Lord,
the way OF thy statutes: and shall keep
il unto the end.-Ps. 1888.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Deut. 6:4-s;
Acts 17:1-9. 1c-15; Col. 1911.
PRIMARY rOPIC--The JOY of Learning
Gods Word.
JUNIOR roPIc-How . Whole City
Heard Gods Word
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Power OF the Word OF God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Community Bible study.
It win BE- Of interest and profit to-
present this lesson as an ideal Sun
day school class:
I. A Model Bible Glass (vv. 1-6).
I. The Eager Assembly ". ~. The
people gathered themselves together
and "spake unto Ezra to bring the
book Of the Law" 1t was not q mat
ter of the teacher urging the class
to come together. but the class with
yearning hearts requesting the teacher
to come with Gods Word.
2. The Representative Assembly
". p. The class was made up OF
men, women and children. The men
then did not leave the church-going to
the women. Neither were the children
left at home with nurses or to play
on the streets. Gods Word should be
taught to all classes, men, women and
children.
3. An Appreciative Assembly ". 81.
Their ears were attentive from morn
ing to midday. So eager were they
to know Gods Word that they did
not get tired although the lesson
lasted for five or six hours. There was
no pulling Of watches in that class.
4. Due Reverence Shown Gods
Word wv. a, 81. When Ezra opened
the Law all the people stood up. This
they did out of respect for the holy
book. The reason there is not proper
reverence for the Bible is that people
are not taught to believe it is Gods
Word. Reverence in the house of God
will only be when the Bible is regarded
as Gods very words.
5. They Joined Heartily in the
Prayer ". 81. AS Ezra led them in
prayer tHc pcopic JVincu Hcniuiy a.
saying "Amen Ameni' bowling their
faces to the ground.
II. A Model Bible Teacher wv. Z, 81.
/. He Stood Up Where the People
Could See Him ". o.. The position
and bearing of the teacher has much
to do with the attention and interest
Of the class.
2. He Read Distinctly ". 81.
Teachers should take particular heed
to this. Much Bible reading is greatly
to the discredit Of the Word and the
reader.
8. Caused the People to Understand
the Reading ". 81. The supreme
business Of the teacher is to make
the Word Of God 30 plain that all. old
and young, can understand.
III. The Impressions Made wv. g.
49,.
The effect of teaching Gods Word
Is most important. In this case 1t was
very encouraging.
1. Conviction of Sin ". 81. The Word
of God brings conviction Of sin (Acts
2:37). 1t Is quick and powerful (Heb.
4:12). The way to get conviction Of
sin Is by teaching the Word Of God,
not by appealing to the emotions by
telling death-bed stories. The people
had real cause for sorrow-they were
far from God. They not only had be-
come worldly and the rich were In
their greed depressing the poor,
but they were perplexed through
their mixed marriages.
2. Weeping Turned Into Joy wv. TO-
12). When sins have been perceived
and confessed God would not have
His children to be sad. Continued
mourning will not atone for the sins
that are past. 1t units one for pres
ent tasks and dishonors a pardoning
God. Besides, joy has salutary effect
upon ones entire being.
3. Shared Their Blessings With
Others wv. 1922. Christianity is not
having good time alone; it is shar-
ing our prosperity with others. True
joy manifests itself in giving to others.
Pure religion goes out to minister to
the poor Gas. 1: 2D.
4. The People Obeyed wv. 1919.
In their acquaintance with the Scrip
lures they found that the Feast of
Tabernacles had been long neglected.
AS soon as they understood the Scrip
lures they went forth to do as they
had been told. They went to work and
kept this sacred feast in way that
it had not been kept since the days
of Joshua ". 10. If the Scriptures
were read and made plain many things
could be found which have not been
complied with. In the keeping of this
feast they dwelt in booths, thus typi-
flying their pilgrim character and
bringing to their remembrance the
days Of their Wilderness journey.