Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-09-20
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sl11GldaySclaool
' Lesson '
By REV. P. B. FITzwATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
&c. 1929. Western Newspaper Unicn)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER %
TIMOTHY A GOOD MINISTER OF
CHRIST JESUS

LESSON TEXT-Acts I6:l-3; Phil.
2:1s-22; IL Tim. 1:1-6; II Tim. 3:14-15.
GOLDEN TExT-"Be thou an exam
pie of the believers, in word, in con-
versation. in charity. in spirit. in faith.
in purity."-I Tim. 4:12.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Boy Who Loved
the Bible.
JUNIOR Top1c-Timothy. Paurs
Helper.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Timothy Trained to Serve.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Christian Ministry as Life
Work.
!. Timothys Parentage (Acts 16:1).
His father was a Greek and his
mother believing Jewess. On his
mothers side at least, he had godly
ancestry. Usually the mother makes
the son. Two generations of maternal
pious grandmothers were back of
Timothy How thankful we ought to
be to God for a godly ancestry.
Christian heredity and training CON
stitute the essential elements for a
Christian life.
II. Timothy's Training (II Tim.
10; ii Tim. 3 :14-15).
His wise and faithful mother and
grandmother carefully nurtured him
in Gods Word He knew the Scrip
lures from his childhood through their
training. The faith which came to
him from his grandmother through his
ftey- n nm -,
of heredity, but through careful train
ing and teaching. Grace is not rea-
soned by the laws of heredity. The
factors involved in his training were
cody ancestors, Christian home, and
"a diligent study of the Scriptures.
III. Timothys Call (Acts 16 :1-3).
While on Paul's second missionary
journey in company with Silas, Tim
othy was found at Lystra near Derbe.
Perhaps he had been converted on
Paul's first missionary journey, but
hearing a favorable report of him by
the brethren, Paul took and circum-
cised him so as not to offend the
Jews, because his father was a Greek.
This was not contrary to the decision
of the Jerusalem council. 1t was
case where Cancellation could be made
without compromise of truth. From
this time to the end of Paul's life, he
and Timothy were boon companions.
They were as a loving father and
dutiful son.
w. Timothy's Character Reticent.
!. OF a Retiring Disposition. II
Tim. / g. Timothy had received gift
from God at the hands Of the apostle,
but it needed to be stirred up, that is,
famed into a flame. Such tempera-
ment would mature in touch with a
great personality like Paul. 1t Is high
ly important that everyone store up
the gift which God has given unto him.
2. Courageous. ii Timothy 2:1-8.
Having been stirred up, he was freed
from the spirit of fear and deliberately
identified himself with Paul in his
sufferings and trial. Courage is great
ly needed in doing the Lords work.
8. Faithful. He tarried In the diff
cult field Of Ephesus through many
years. He was the only man of the
needed fidelity to minister to the Phil
.ippians. philippians 2:20). The Sc
cret of his faithfulness In such posi-
ton was his fidelity to the Word Of
God.
v. Timothy's Ministry.
/. As fellow-missionary with Paul.
(Phil. 2 :22).
2. As pastor of church At Ephesus
Here he labored for many years tact
fully meeting the difficulties Of that
great church. The Christian minister
should believe in the Scriptures az
Gods Word and be able to rightly d.
vide 1t 50 as to meet the needs Of
those who hear him. This is the only
way to meet the difficulties that arise
in the pastofas labors. - X 0l
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