The Glenwood post., 1923-12-06
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 9
THE oUTREAcH OF THE EARLY
CHURCH

LESSON TEXT-Acts 8:4-8; 14-17; 25.
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 tho earth."-
Acts 1:8.
PRIMARY ToPIc-Philip Telling
About Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Gospel Spreads
to Samaria.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-The Gospel Spreads Through Per-
secution.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Expanding Missionary Vision and
Activity.
|. The Gospel Spreads to samaria
(Acts s:4-s; 14-17; 25).
1. Philip Preaching the Gospel in
Samaria wv. 4-S). 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
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 the 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 had not yet fallen
upon the believers, SO 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
without the Spirits gift.
3. Philip Preaching to the Ethiopian
Eunuch (Acts s:3O-4O). 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 Gentiles. This
Ethiopian was In all probability 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 PhiliI
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 mer
in the desert was providential. (D The
eunuch's employment on the way. He
was reading the Word of God. (2) The
absolute need of preacher. The
eunuch was reading the f1fty-thirt
chapter of Isaiah, one of the cleares
testimonies of the Messiah in the Ole
Testament, yet was unable to under
stand It. The one thing needed In the
salvation of men is for the saved mar
to bring the message to the unsaved
(3) The message of Philip was Jesus
He began at the Scriptures ant
preached Jesus. The central theme o
the preachers message should be Je
sus. (4) The eunuch baptized. AS Z
consequence of Philips preaching thu
eunuch proposed baptism. Men wh'
accept the message of salvation II
Christ naturally demand baptism.
II. The Conversion Of Saul (Acts Q
1-3O).
The great apostle of the Gentiles Il
now laid hold of by the Lord Jesus ant
made flaming evanSel of the Cross t.
the whole world. We thus see the Lor,
making ready for the widest dissent
nation of the Gospel of His grace.
III. The Gospel Spreads to Asi;
Minor (Acts 9:31-15 :35).
1. Peter at Joppa (Acts 9:32-43)
On his tour of evangelizing Peter cam
do to Joppa and lodged with Simon
a tanner This shows the widening o
his sympathy in that Jew was Willing
to lodge with one of such an occupa
ton.
.. The Conversion of Cornelius {Act
10y. In the conversion of this Gentil
and the coming of the Spirit upon him
the middle wall of partition betweel
Jew and Gentle was broken dowr
The way was now open for the furthe
outreacl OF the Gospel
3. Pauls First Missionary Journe
(Acts 13, 1D. The Spirit of God nov
came upon the church for the deflnit
purpose of preaching the Gospel to tn
whole world. Raul and Barnabas wit
John Mark went out preaching tn
Gospel through the provinces of Ash
Minor.
4. The Conditions of Gentle Saliva
| tion Settled (Acts 10 :1-35). Before tn
Il =, ~, u % Ia Il
world the dispute in the church owe
| the condition of Gentle salvation ha
to be settled so council was held q
| Jerusalem in Which these condition
| were clearly settled.