Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-01
Sunday School Lesson

TO Pauls preaching by making politi-
cal charge of treason against the apos-
tie. They distorted his words. claiming
that he preached Jesus as rival king
to Caesar.
Prosecutions Results.
They created riot that resulted in
the personal violence on Jason, who was
the apostles host. When they we're
brought before the city magistrates,
whom Luke calls by the name of poli-
tarch-a name unknown to the classical
authors, but Luke's accuracy as his
tOrian Is demonstrated by finding the
very name given them in text in an In
scription upon the triumphal arch-tlie
"burgomaster" was compelled to con-
slider any charge that would suggest
treason. While they may not have un-
derstood the correct meaning of Paufs
statement, yet he was forced to leave
Thessalonica because of the opposition
Of the people with a closed mind. who
allowed their preiudices and personal
desire for profit and power to keep them
from investigating the gospel Although
they were compelled TO leave Thessa-
lonica the apostle and his co-worker
left behind him a church, to whom he
sent his earliest epistle.
Forty miles away was Berea, that was
beautifully situated at the edge of the
mountains, where they rose from The
plain which stretched away IS miles to
the sea-" There they found company
of Jews in the synagogue Of more
noble mind. for they searched the
Scriptures TO find out the truth Of
Paul's statements. Perhaps it was due
to the fact that the people we're open
minded that the church organized at
this important center did not require to
have pastoral letters sent them like the
churches in Philippi and Thessalonica.
When Jews from his former fields Of
labor appeared in Berea and raised the
same charges against Paul, he was
forced by their persecution to move on
to Athens.
One of the principal results Of the
prosecutions which forced the apostle
to change his field of labor after he had
organized church in community can
be seen in Paul's letters to the churches,
which have been preserved for us
The apostle had the shepherd heart
that filled him with love for the people
with whom he ministered. He did not
try to please men, but sought to glorify
Christ and build not upon another
mans foundation. He found much joy
and comfort out of his work in Thes-
salonica.
In his letter to the Romans Paul gives
us, in the verses assigned for our lesson.
an idea of the methods he used in his
work. He selected strategic centers,
where the gospel had not been preached
He sought to win the Gentiles, but al
ways commenced with the Jews first.
He depended absolutely upon the pres
ence and power of the holy spirit TO
enable him to present fully the whole
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the
selection from the letter to the Thessa-
lonians, written few weeks after the
time Of our lesson. he outlines the ideals
and principles that ought to guide US in
our church life today. He calls for us
to love, honor and respect the officers
of the church. He urges that We pre-
serve peace among the members, the
exercising of mutual support. strength
ening and encouraging one another in
every good work and rebuking every
form of evil doing. He showed the pre-
eminent place that prayer should have
in the life of the Christian and church.
Rejoice always. In everything give
thanks. Happiness is the best adver-
tisement Of Christianity Quench not
the spirit" Look for His guidance and
be obedient to Him. BE enterpriSing
Test all new ideas. Reject what will
not stand the test" Avoid worldlines5.
Keep your own life and that of the
church pure by looking for the Masters
coming again.