Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-01-18

LESSON TEXT-Luke 15:u-N
| GOLDEN TExT-There is joy in the
presence Of the angels Of God over one
sinner that repenteth. Luke 1910.
/ REFERENCE MATERIAi-Psaim g.
Luke 1850; Rom. 5:1-11; Gal. 6:1-5
| PRIMARY TOPIC-A Fathers Love.
JUNIOR TOPIC-A Picture OF the
Heavenly Fathers Love.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| The Reach and Power Of Our Fathers
| Love.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT yoPIC
| How to Treat Sinners.
! ]. The Sons characterization ". 12).
There. is every indication that this
was happy home. But devil en-
tered it and stirred up discomfort in
the heart of the younger son. He be.
came tired Of the restraints Of home
His desire for freedom moved him to
wilfully choose to leave home-throw,
off the constraints of his fathers rule
| Sin is the desire to be free from the re-
straints Of rightful. authority and for
selfish indulgence It starts out with
wrong thoughts about God At the re-
quest of the son, the father divided
unto them his living"
II. The Sons Departure ". 1877.
| Having made the final decision he got
his goods In portable shape. Having
thrown off the restraints of his fathers
rule he eagerly withdrew from his fa-
theirs presence. This is always the
way sin works. He gathered all to1
gether." When the sinner casts of his
allegiance to God he takes all that he
has with him. He not only wastes his
money, but his character is sacrificed.
III. The Sons Degeneration wv. 134
14).
! He had good time while his money
lasted but the end came quickly. The
indications are that his course was
soon run. From plenty in his fathers
house to restitution in the far coun-
try was short journey. The sinner
is. soon made to realize the famine
when his very powers which minis
tered to his pleasure are burned out
Nv. The Sons Degradation wv. IS,
16).
He had no friends to help him when
his money was all gone, so he was
driven to hire out to a citizen to feed
swine. 1t was quite change from a
sonship in his fathers house to feed
ing hogs in the far country. SO it is;
those who will not serve God are made
slaves to the devil to do his bidding
(ROm. 6,16). In his shame and dis
grace the prodigal could not even get
the necessary food The coarse food
of the hogs was denied him.
v. The Sons Restoration wv. 1924.
When he reelected bit he was made
conscious that, though he had wronged
his father and ruined himself, yet he
was a son of his father. In the days
of his shining he was beside himself.
The world calls the sinner who leaves
off his evil ways crazy, but in reality
he just becomes sane. If we could
but get sinners to think seriously Of
their condition it would be more easy
to get them to turn from their sins.
2. His Resolution ". 49,. His re-
Election ripened into resolution. The
picture of his home, where even the
hired servants had a superabundance,
moved him to make a decision to leave
the far country and go home.
8. His Confession wv. is, 100. He
acknowledged that his sin was against
heaven and his father-that he had
forfeited his right to be called son,
and begged to be given place as a
hired servant. The sinner not only
should make a resolution; he should
confess his sin; for with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness, aiaa with
the mouth confession Is made unto sal
vation.
4. His Action ". 20). Action was
needed. Resolution will not avail un-
less accompanied with action.
5. His Reception by His Father
wv. 2O-24). The father had not for
gotten his son. During the years he
longed for his return. He must often
have looked for him, for he saw him
when he was great way off. So anx-
ious was he for him that he ran to
meet him and fell upon his neck and
kissed him. So glad was the father
that he even did not hear his confes-
sion through, but ordered the tokens
Of honor to be placed upon him, re-
ceiving him back into sons position
This parable makes bare Gods heart.
Every teacher should strive to present
this lesson SO as to shows Gods forgiv-
ing mercy-His willingness to receive
back His Maynard child.
Two Classes.
The race is divided into two
classes. those rshc go ahead and do