The Republican., 1925-06-11
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially For The Repub.
iican's Readers by Rev. U. S.
Wright, ID.
SUNDAY, JUNE IA, 1925.
THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH

THE LEAKING CISTERN.
A leaking cistern was the charac-
terization of Jerusalem by jeremiah
in the old days when God was at
tempting to pour into the city the
power of His purpose in waters fol
the worlds thirst. 1t had hewn-out
cisterns to keep the store instead OF
becoming a well of refreshing, and SC
faulty was the human workmanship
that it leaked thru the cracks in its
rocky floor. But what became of the
water? Once more God had attempt
ed the creating of a well and the liv-
ing waters had gushed up at Pente-
cost in an abundant stream. Pitchers
were filled; life took on new life and
power, and there was rejoicing among
its users. But must not be taken
away. Even those who drank must
use a Jewish pitcher. The leaks be-
gan to appear in the cistern and the
water level lowered. There came the
day finally when it was dry, but what
became of the water?
When a stream is lost it has only
gone down thru the rocky strata to
make its way to a new outlet. The
water is never lost, tho the place is.
Jerusalem died because of its lack,
but Gods supply, abundant as ever,
was merely seeking a new opening to
the thirsty earth. Choked in Jeusa-
lem it was gushing up in Antioch.
And if there is restriction in Ameri-
ca, if the Church ceases to be chan
mel and seeks cisternhood, then China
or India or Japan or some other place
will find new springs for the refresh
ing of the world.
Strange seeping it has alweys been.
The cleanest people in the world are
the city folk where more water is
used than any place else. Yet its
sources are in the hills and mountains
miles away. Jesus loved the country
and was man of the open as few
have been, but the faith of the coun-
tryman has been manifest in the city.
The streams from Nazareth broke out
in Jerusalem's street, and choked
there burst through the paving of
heather Antioch The little country
church still feeds the city's life
Cyprians carried its refresing and
were willing to share it with all COM
ers so that there was a great stir
among the dwellers in the midst of
the hurrying, pleasure-loving throngs
of the busy city, And real religion,
like water, knows no race lines and
has the same effect in all languages.
There was speedy growth and report
of the foliage came to Jerusalem
where there was much discussion as
to its kind.
THE NEW LIFE
Barnabas was also from Cyprus
and would be good judge because he
knew the folks. Coming into the
city, his chief desire was to find good
ness, for he was good man and full
of the Holy Spirit. Like seeks like
and finds it. He found the grace Of
God there and was not concerned
whether it was on the Jewish tree or
upon another stem. 1t was fruit he
wanted and he was careful to pro-
nounce it fruit. And he exhorted
them, not to be circumsized, but to
cleave, to stick to the Lord who had
redeemed them from the old practices
and the old faulty faith. So the shoot,
nourished by the living streams, con-
tinued to grow, and Barnabas found
that there ought to be more instruc-
tion given these converts in the moral
principles that underlay the life of
God expressed in men. SO he started
for Tarsus and hunted up Saul. Was
he out in the region round about
evangelizing? Was he helping in the
business in which he had ben trained
by his father? 1t may be that he
was doing both and was travelling
from hamlet to hamlet in Cilicia sell
ing cloth and buying wool and dis
tributing the Good News as he went.
For there were churches in the region
and it has been untouched in the mis-
sionary journeys so that it is proba-
bic that an apostolic peddler had trav-
ersed its roads and touched it's vii
lages. Possibly Saul was the original
"Gideon"-certainly he could well be
taken by them for their patron saint
But now he was in Antioch with no
other purpose than the teaching of
The Way" to those who desired to
walk in its joys and peace. Keen
minded Saul, good-hearted Barnabas.
unknown disciples were all channels
thru which the living waters flowed
into the life of the new center of the
Church of Jesus. And that is Gods
purpose for each of US.
THE NEW MAN
Names are markers upon the march
OF movement. The Church was
christened by heather. There is no
question about Antioch being wicked.
The Grove of Daphne, which was its