The Dolores star., 1923-09-07
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sun9daySchooel 4
' Lesson '
,,,. prv p "a FlTZwATER. ID. D..
srao,hsr Of English Bible In the Moody
BIbl. Institute of ChlcagoD
ia lg2a Western Newspaper union')
LEssON FOR SEPTEMBER 9
JOHN MARK

WIN
LESSON TEXT-Mark li:5l-52; Acts
l2l2: 25-l3.5; Acts lJ:36-S0. IL Tim.
All. -,
GOLDEN TEXT-"whatsoeycr thy
hand rndeth to do. do IL with thy
mlght."-Ercles. $40.
PRIMARY TOPIC-John Mark. one
OF Puuls Helpers.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Man VINO
Failed and Tried Again.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Wnrning and encouragement From
the I.fe of Mark.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT IollC
Marks Contribution to Christianity.
|. Marks Home Life (Acts l2:l2).
He had the wholesome influence OF
A Christian home, for his mother was
godly woman. There Is no heritage
to be compared to that of cody
home Nothing has such far-reach-
ing influence upon the life of II young
man as the memory of n praying moth
er Even when 1t was so perilous to
be known as follower of Jesus, she
was not afraid to have prayer meet
Ing in her home.
II. Mark With Jesus In Gethsemane
MARK IA :5l, 52).
At the sight of the Roman guard.
the disciples "all forsook Him and
fled" This timid lad still followed
the Lord till laid hold on by the young
men. He then fled, leaving behind
him his linen garment, This Geth-
semane experience doubtless had
decided effect upon his life.
III. Mark Servant Of Paul and
Barnabas (Acts L. :25-l3 :5).
Mark was with the company when
Peter told of his wonderful release
from prison. This, doubtless, made
great impression upon him and was
the beginning Of his desire to accom-
pany the missionaries of the cross.
lie was not missionary on the same
footing as Paul and Barnabas, but an
attendant upon them to look after
their needs.
~. Mark DESERVING Paul and Barna-
bas (ActS - :l3)
We are not told the cause of this
icsertiOn. Three cOnjectureS, one or
all of which had bearing upon his
action. are offered.
/. Iomesickness. His home was of
easy circumstances If not wealthy. AS
they We're carrying the gospel into the
rough, mountainous country, occupied
by rough, half-CivIIzed people, the
mettle of this young servant was tried.
We ought not to condemn him too
readily, for we know how trying 1t Is
to leave home when struggling against
the rough world. While sympathizing
with him, we must remember that
duty Is stronger than the tender ties
of life. The time comes when the sol
der must Spurn the ties which bind
him to father, mother, wife and chill
dren, in response to the call of duty.
The missionary must turn his back
upon home, native land, and friends in
his devotion TO his Lord
2. Disbelief in Foreign Missions.
There was common prejudice among
the Jews against taking the gospel to
the GentileS. When he saw that these
missionaries were going to the ire
giOns beyond" his prejudice may have
caused him to turn back.
3. cowardicc. The dangers before
them were not imaginary but real.
The missionary today faces awful dam
gers: climate, wild beasts, deadly ser
pents and insects, and savage and can
nibalistic men. However fear is no
excuse for c0wardce because we are
linked to the Almighty by faith; there
Is nothing in heaven or on earth that
can harm us. Courage is required of
! those who would do the Lords work
V. Mark With Peter in Babylon Q
| Pet. 5:l3).
S"me gears after Marks desertIon
When Paul and Barnabas were arrang-
ing for second evangelistic tour
they had sharp dispute over tbe
| question of taking Mark with them
Panl would not consent to Marks oc-
companying them, so "they deported
asunder one from the other" Mark
went with his uncle. BY this time he
must have been cured of his cowardice
tor we see him associated with Peter
| in Babylon.
VI. Mark Honored by Paul QI Tim.
| i:1D.
faul Is now an old man in prison
Mark Is middle-aged man associated
win Timothy at Ephesus. Mark had
proved himself, for Paul gives the
pleasing testimony that .'he is proft.
abie unto me for the ministry" Mark
,s an example of one who made good
III spite OF ais early backsliding.