Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-12-06
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 9
THE ouTREAcH OF THE EARLY
CHURCH


LESSON TExT-Acts S.4-S; t4-17; IS.
GOLDEN TExT-"Ye shall be wit
nesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the EARTH
Acts 1:S.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Philip Telling
About Jesus
JUNIOR TOPIc-The Gospel Spreads
to Samaria-
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
j IC-The Gospel Spreads Through Per-
secution.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Expanding Missionary Vision and
yaActivity
|. The Gospel Spreads to samaria
(Acts 8:4-S; 1917; 25).
L. Philip Preaching the Gospel in
samaria wv. 4-8). Following the ston-
ing of Stephen the enemies of the Lord
were more active than ever in their
efforts to stamp out the new faith.
With Saul as their leader they dragged
from their homes and imprisoned those
who confessed Christ, but the Devil
overreached himself in this, for this
scattered the believers everywhere,
and they preached the Gospel as they
went. The time had now come for the
witness-bearing to extend beyond Je-
rusalem and Judea as lie Lord HAD
commanded. The Lord permitted the
persecution so as to scatter them.
2. Peter and John Visit Samaria
wv. 14-17; 25). When the Apostles
heard of Philips work in Samaria they
sent two of their best men to encourage
it. These men had discernment to
know that the spirit rad not yet fallen
upon the believers, 50 they laid hands
upon them and the Spirit was given
them. These Samaritans were really
converted, regenerated, but had not yet
been filled with the Spirit. In this they
were like many church members today
4 without the Spirits gift
3. Philip Preaching to the Ethiopian
Eunuch (Acts 8:30-40). In the con
version of the eunuch we see the Lords
work still broadening The Gospel was
first preached to the Samaritans who
were nationally on the borderland be-
tween the Jews and the Gentiies This
Ethiopian was in all probability a Gen
tile, proselyte to the Jewish faith. In
his conversion we see the work reach
ing .afar, even on its way to the ends
Of the earth by divine direction Philip
left his great work in Samaria and was
directed to the eunuch. The Spirit OF
God directed him to go and join him
self to the chariot of the Ethiopian.
The coming together of these two men
in the desert was providential "a The
eunuchs employment on the way He
was reading the Word Of God (2) The
absolute need OF a preacher. The
eunuch was reading the ffty-third
chapter of Isaiah, one of the dearest
testimonies Of tho Messiah la the Old
Testament, yet was unable to under
stand it. The one thing needed in the
salvation of men is for the saved man
to bring the message to the unsaved
(3) The message Of Philip was Jesus.
He began at the Scriptures and
preached Jesus. The central theme of
the preachers message should be Je-
sus. "a The eunuch baptized AS
consequence of Philips preaching the
eunuch proposed baptism. Men who
accept the message Of salvation In
Christ naturally demand baptism.
II. The Conversion OF Saul (Acts O
1900.
The great apostle of the Gentfles IS
now laid hold of by the Lord Jesus and
made flaming evangel of the Cross to
the whole world. We thus see the Lord
making ready for the widest dissent
nation of the Gospel Of His grace.
III. The Gospel Spreads to Asia
Minor (Acts 9:31-15 :35).
1. Peter at Joppa (Acts 8 :32-43).
On his tour of evangeli2ing Peter came
down to Joppa and lodged with Simon
tanner. This shows the widening of
his sympathy in that a Jew was willing
to lodge with one of such an occupa
ton.
2. The Conversion of Cornelius (Acts
10Y. In the conversion of this Gentle
and the coming of the Spirit upon him,
the middle wall of partition between
Jew and Gentle was broken down.
The way Yves now open for the further
outreach of the Gospel.
8. PauIs First Missionary Journey
(Acts 10, 14). The Spirit of God now
came upon the church for the definite
purpose of preaching the Gospel to the
whole world. Paul and Barnabas with
John Mark went out preaching the
Gospel through the provinces of Asia
Minor.
4. The Conditions of Gentle Saliva
ton Settled (Acts 10 :1-35). Before the
Gospel could be preached to the whole
world the dispute in the church over
the condition Of Gentle salvation had
to be settled, SO council was held at
Jerusalem in which these conditions
were clearly settled.
In the Light Of the Bible.
DR.. A. G. Dixon is quoted as having
said: 1--WE have been studying the
Bible in the light of modern scholar
ship. The time has come for us to