The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-04-20


GOLDEN TEXT-Love worketh no Ill
TO his neighbour: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:lO.
PRIMARY TOPIC-My Playmates.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Test of Great
ness.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
1C-OtherS First.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Sin of Selfishness.
I. The Stupidity of Self-Seeking
tvv. 30-32).
Jesus with his disciples was on his
way to Capernaum for the last time.
He sought way of retirement in or
der to be alone with his disciples so
as to lead them to apprehend the
meaning of the cross. The teaching
which was interrupted at Caesarea by
Peters rebuke is now resumed and
with definiteness he declares the fu-
ture event as already present.
1. 1.-THE Son of man is delivered in
to the hands of men, ". 31).
2. "They shall kill him" ". 3D.
3. HE shall rise the third day"
". BY. While pressing continually
upon them the fact and necessity of
the cross, he always showed them the
bright side-his triumphant victory
over death in the resurrection from
the dead. The hearts of the disciples
were so stepped in selfshness that
they failed to grasp the meaning OF
his teaching.
u. The Wraneline of seIf-seekins
wv. 1880.
1. The searching question ". 33).
Because Christ was omniscient he
knew the secrets of their hearts. The
fact that the disciples were wrangling
about official position while the Lord
was facing humiliation and death for
them and for the whole world, shows
how completely alone he was in his
sorrow.
2. The silent disciples ". S4). They
were ashamed in his presence when
the selfshness of their hearts was re-
yealed.
3. The singing rebuke ". 35). IF
any man desire to be first, the same
shall be last of ALL" The greatest
men are those who are willing to take
the lowest place and serve others.
4. The striking illustration wv. SO,
37). He took child and set him in
the midst Of them, thus in concrete
way enforcing his teaching. The child
was an illustration of ignorance and
dependence BY example and word he
showed that true greatness Is ex-
pressed by willingness to aid the
weak, to enlighten the ignorant, and
to serve those in need. All who rem
der such service do it, not merely to
the needy ones, but to Christ and
God. True greatness. therefore. con-
sists not in self-seeking, but in rem
dering cheerful service to the needy
in the name of Christ.
~. The intolerance of seIf-seeking
wv. 3S-41).
1. Johns guilty conscience ". 3S).
In the light of the teaching Of Jesus,
John was disturbed over having for
hidden q worker for Christ who did
not follow after him. Doubtless. this
intolerance was in part due to jeal-
ousy for Christ, but also for selfish
ambition. Many times bigotry Is mis-
taken for zeal for Christ.
2. Whom to tolerate wv. 39-41).
a. Those who are casting out devils
". 39). We should really satisfy our
selves that supernatural works are be-
ing done. Are demons being cast out?
However, this is not final, for there
is a supernatural work not Of God
Matt. 1929.
b. Those who are doing supernat-
ural works in Christ's name ". 41).
All workers going forth In the name
OF Christ and for the glory of Christ
should be given GOdspeed, even though
not members Of our church or school.
''Forbid him mott
~. The Awful Issue Of Self-seekine
wv. 1850.
1. Ruin to others ". 42). Self-seek-
ing usually results in ruin to Others
2. Ruin to the individual wv. 43, As,
Az. In both cases the issue is eternal
torment. Selfshness is opposed to
God; and that which is opposed to
him must be eternally separated from
him. Self-renunciation should be so
complete that we should be willing
to abandon the most necessary and
lawful things in life-hands, feet.
eyes-when they become occasions for
stumbling either for ourselves or 9TH
ers. No matter how dear or how nee
essary the friendship. faculty, or pos
session, if it leads to disloyalty to
Christ, it must be forsaken. Spiritual
surgery must be employed even when
the loss is as great as the sacrifice
of a hand or foot. Better suffer the
temporary loss and pain of such sep
aratiOn than to suffer eternally.
Leaving the Gospel
"Wrong views Of Divine truth