Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-07-30
Lesson for August 2
rHE EFIsTLE OF JAMES
Ess0N TEXT-Jas. l.l9-27.

/ LESSON TENT-Jas. l:19-27.
GOLDEN TEXT-tBe We doors OF the
word, and not hearers only Jas, l;22.
/ PRIMARY ToPlC-Loving and obey
ing
JUNIOR TOPICS Ye Doors of the
Word
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
! lC-Doers of the Word.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
! IC-Religion According to James.
The book of James was written to
Jewish Christians scattered abroad
who were passing through sore trials
and prosecutions. The pre-eminent
levers how to live in such trying
times. James recognized the difficult
ties of Christian living resulting from
the attitude Of TIE unbelieving Jews,
and knew also the added difficulties of
pride, jealousy and cowardly compro-
misses which might spring up within
! He showed that all these must be met
with the realities which inhere in the
religion of Jesas Christ
/. Eacciving the Cacrafted Word
(vv. 1920.
l. What Ii tie EaTrafted Word?
"Engraftedn means implanted. IN
verse is he speaks of having been he
gotten IS the Word. The Gsl;re is
that of a planting of the seeds of
truth. The Christian doctrines as con-
tanned in the Word, when quickened
by the Holy Spirit result in regenera-
twin IF
ton is the preaching of Gods word
made living and active by the Holy
Spirit
.. How the Word Is Received ".
1877
% BE swift to hear" This means
to be ready and eager to use every OPP
portunity to get acquainted with Gods
word
Obedience to this injunction will
make one diigent in the reading of
the Bible. and in attendance at the
church services whore the Word Of
God Is being taught.
CO SLOW to sneak" From what
follows we infer that this refers to re-
igious controversies 1t means that
whether In the places of worship or
in whatever circumstances, we should
give respect and thoughtful attention
to what our Christian brethren are
saying.
60 SLOW to wrath. Heated discus
sions sometimes develop in our con
ferences, even when we gather to con
slider the doctrines of Gods word.
Sometimes one may even fancy that
anger is justifable In such cases we
should remember the injunction, be
slow to wrath.
g.. The Reason for Receiving the
Word wv. 20-21).
1.-THE wrath of man worketh not the
righteousness of God" Angry debat-
ing among Christians never helped to
make known Gods righteousness.
Mans anger springs out of the foun-
tain of his depravity. Therefore its
expression can only have a blighting
effect upon those who listen, and even
upon the speaker in Its reaction upon
him.
II. Coming Into self-knowIedge wv.
22-25).
Receiving the engrafted Word
through swiftness to hear, and obey
ing it's. holy precepts will result in
that experimental knowledge of ones
self which brings true blessings. BY
"doers of the Word" Is meant those
who make obedience their habtual at
titude.
The truths of Gods word will per-
meate their very life and be expressed
in everything they do and say. Those
who hear and do not obey are self
deceived Those who go through the
form of religion without coming under
it's power are likened to men who
gaze into the mirror beholding the
natural face, and then go away and
forget how they look.
III. Pure Religion (vv. 26-27).
This means that those who have be-
come doors of the Word will in their
outer lives manifest the following
traits: 7sstasl @slssS,asss s.77s.~A,-~..--~-
/. Bridling the Tongue ~. 26).
This means that they will speak
with discretion. God gave man two
ears and but one tongue. The ears
are exposed, but the tongue is walled
In by the teeth T~st as the tongue
reveals the condition Of the physical
system, so the use of the tongue re-
veas the religions ndition.
.. sympathetic With and Helping
Those in Need " 70.
The widow and orohan are the sym
hols Of helplessnesS and need. Those
who have true piefy viii visit such
ara render the necessary aid.
3 Keeai9g Himself Cnspotted From