The Holly chieftain., 1923-12-06
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Sl11aldaySchool q
' Lesson '
tRy REV p. B. FITzwATER. d. D..
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
bible Institute Of Chicago.(
e Ina, W..,..r Ner.: Nnlna
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 9
THE oUTREAcH OF THE EARLY
CHURCH

LESSON TEXT-Acts s:4-s; 14-l7; 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 l:S.
PRIMARY ToP1c-Philip Telling
About Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIc-The Gospel Spreads
to Samaria-
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
ic--The Gospel Spreads Through Per-
socution.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Expanding Missionary Vision and
activity.
l. The Gospel Spreads to samaria
(Acts s:4-s; 14-l7; 25).
1. Philip Preaching the Gospel in
Samaria wv. 4-8). 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
scattered the believers everywhere,
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 80 as to scatter them.
| .. Peter and John Visit Samaria
| wv. l4-17; 25). When the Apostles
heard Of Philips work In Samaria they
sent two Of their best men to encourage
| 1t. 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 tbe Samaritans who
were nationally on the borderland be-
tween the Jews and the Gentiles. This
Ethiopian was in all probability Cen
tile, a proselyte to the Jewish faith. In
his conversion we see the work reach
ing afar. even on Its way to the ends
left his great work in Samaria and was
4 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 men
IN the desert was providential. az 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 flfty-third
chapter OF Isaiah. one OF the cleurest
| testimonies of the Messiah in the Old
Testament. yet was unable to under
stand 1t. The one thing needed in the
| salvation OF men Is for the saved man
to bring the message to the unsaved.
\ (3) The message OF Philip was Jesus.
He began at the Scriptures and
1 preached Jesus. The central theme of
| the preachers message should be Je-
sus. (4) The eunuch baptized. AS u
consequence of Philips preaching the
| eunuch proposed baptism. Men who
| accept the message of salvation In
Christ naturally demand baptism.
u. The Conversion OF Saul (Acts 0:
| 1901.
The grent apostle of the Gentiles is
now laid hold of by the Lord Jesus and
made flaming evangel Of the Cross to
the whole world. We thus see the Lord
making ready for the widest dissent
nation of the Gospel of His grace
~. The Gospel Spreads to Asia
Minor tActs 9:Sl-15 :35).
!. Peter at Joppa (Acts 9:32-43).
On his tour OF evangelizing Peter came
down to Joppa and lodged with Simon,
tanner. This shows the widening OF
mis- sympathy in that II jew was willing
to lodge with one OF such an Occupa- |
ton.
.. The Conversion of Cornelius (Acts |
10). In the conversion of this Gentle |
and the coming of the Spirit upon him,
the middle wall Of partition between
Jew and Gentle was broken down |
The way was now open for the further |
outreach Of the Gospel.
3. Paul's First Missionary Journe,
tActs IL, 14. The Spirit of God now
came upon the church for the definite
purpose OF preaching the Gospel to the
whole world. Paul and Barnahas with
John Mark went out preachihg the
Gospel through the provinces OF Asia
Minor
4. The Conditions of Gentle Saliva.
tion Settled (Acts 10 :1-35). Before the
Gospel could be preached to the whole
world the dispute in the church over
the condition of Gentle salvation had
to he settled, so II council was held at
Jerusalem in which these conditions
were clearly settled.