The Glenwood post., 1923-09-06

All.
GOLDEN TEXT-"whatsoever thy
hand fndeth to do. do it with thy
might,"-Eccles. 9:1O.
PRIMARY ToPIC-John Mark, One
of Paurs Helpers.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Man Who
Failed and Tried Again.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Warhing and Encouragement From
the Life of Mark.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Marks Contribution 70 Christianity.
i. Marks Home lie (Acts i2:12).
He had the wholesome influence Of
a Christian home for his mother was
godly woman. There Is no heritnge
to be compared to that of n godly
home. Nothing has such n far-reach-
ing influence upon the life of young
man as the memory Of a praying moth
er. Even when it was so perilous to
be known as follower of Jesus, she
was not afraid to have prayer meet
ing in her home.
IL. Mark With Jesus in Gethsemane
Mark IA :51, 80,
at the sight Of the Roman guard,
the disciples "all forsooll Him and
fled" This timd 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 a
decided effect upon his life.
III. Mark a Servant of Paul and
Barnabas (Acts u :25-l3 :5).
Mark was with the company when
Peter told of his wonderful release
from prison. This, doubtless. made a
great impression upon him and was
the beginning of his desire to accom-
pany the missionaries of the cross.
He 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 1919
We are not told the cause of this
desertion. Three conjectures, one or
all of which had bearing upon his
action, are offered.
l. Homesickness. His home was of
easy circumstances if not wealthy. As
they were carrying the gospel into the
rough, mountainous country, occupied
by rough, half-civiliZed people, the
mettle OF this young servant was tried
We ought not to condemn him toe
readily, Tor we know how trying it is
to leave home when struggling against
the rough world. While sympathzing
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
>. Disbelief in Foreign Missions
There was common prejudice among
the Jews against taking the gospel to
the Gentles. When he saw that these
missionaries were going to the IRE
-ions beyond,' his prejudice may have
cnused lin to turn back.
3. towardice The dangers before
Them We're not imaginary but real
The missionary today faces awful dan.
gers; climate, wild beasts. deadly ser
pents and insects, and savage and can.
nibalistic men. However, fear is no
excuse for cownrdice because we are
linked to the Almighty by faith; there
IL 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, J:13).
Scme gears after Marks desertion,
when Paul and Barnabas We're arrang-
ing for second evangelistic tour,
they had n sharp dispute over the
question of taking Mark with them.
Paul would not consent to Marks ac-
compNnying them, so they departed
nsunder one from the other" Mark
went with his uncle. BY this time he
must have been cured of his cowardice
for we see him associated with Peter
in Babylon.
vi. Mark Honored by Paul II Tim.
4:1D.
Paul is now an old man in prison
Mark is middle-aged man associated
with Timothy at Ephesus. Mark had
proved himself, for Paul gives the
pleasing testimony that 'he is profit
able unto me for the ministry" Mark
Is an example Of one who made good
in spite of his early backslidlng.