The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1934-11-15
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAyI
CCHOOL Lesson
(By REV. p. B. FITZwATER. D. D..
Member OF Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of ChieaEo.l
q. Western Newspaper UAion.
Lesson for November Is
THE CHRISTIAN AS A CHURCH
MEMBER

LESSON TEXT-Matthsw s:1s-1s;
Acts 2:41-47.
GOLDEN TEXT-For we are mem
bers of his body, Of his flesh, and Of
his bones.-Ephesians $50.
PRIMARY ToP1C-Praising God in
His House.
JUNIOR ToPfc-What It Means to
Be a Church Member
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP
1C-Why Join the church,
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-Learning From the Early Church
The two Scripture texts selected by
the lesson committee are not quite Of
the same import. The one from Matthew
has to do with the relation Of Christ's
disciples to the world, especially his
disciples as members Of the Messianic
kingdom. The so-called Sermon on the
Mount, from which this unit is taken,
sets forth the laws which will obtain
in Christ's kingdom. This should be rec
ogniZed in Strictness Of Interpretation,
while at the same time these vital
truths have a definite relation to the
members of Chrlst's body. There is
NANSN NOAAASNbANAt LVhONSAS p4ASO OCSNo
Christ is the center in both cases. In
the first. he is the reigning King, and
in the second, the Head Of the organ
ism called the Church.
|. The Relation Of chrlst's Disciples
to the World Matt. 5:13-16).
The disciples are to live such lives
as will enlighten, purify. and preserve.
The responsibilities of the subjects of
the kingdom are set forth under the
figures of SALT light, and a city.
l. "Ye are the salt of the earth" ".
13). Salt arrests and prevents the
progress of corruption. Three proper
ties are outstanding: a. Penetrating.
b. Purifying. c. Preserving.
AS salt, the disciples Of Christ should
penetrate, purify. and preserve soci-
ETY.. The Christian should not go into
seclusion: he should remain in the
world, but not be a part of 1t.
2. I'VE are the light of the world" ".
14. Light Eliminates and warns. Its
gift is guidance The world In which
the Christian lives Is cold and dark.
Many are the pitfalls and snares set
by the devil. Christians should so live,
should so let their light shine, as to
prevent the unwary ones from falling
into them.
3. "A city set on a hill'' ". 14). By
city is suggested governmental and
social order. Christian character and
service should be such as to give the
influence of the hill-lifted city. Chris
tianity was not intended to be hidden.
II. The Christian Church an Evan.
geIizing Agency (Acts PAD.
1t is not enough that believers should
receive the life of God and enjoy the
blessings Of his grace. but they should
evangelize the world The Great Com.
mission Matt. 2S:1S-20) makes 1t clear
that disciples should be made of all the
nations, and that such disciples should
be baptized and then taught to rem
der obedience unto God. 1t is charac-
teristic of a saved man that he pro-
claims the salvation enjoyed to those
who are lost. The unmistakable proof
of the experiencing of the life of God
is that the good news is being pro.
claimed.
III. A Portrait of the Primitive
Church (Acts 2 :42-4O.
l. They continued in the apostles
doctrine ". 42). Instead of being
taught by the scribes, they were now
taught by new teachers, the apostles
of Christ.
2. They continued in fellowship
around Christ their Head ". 42.)
The "breaking of bread" illustrated
the oneness of believers in Christ.
3. They continued in prayer ". 42).
The ideal church is a praying church.
4. They were together" w. Az.
They were together because they were
baptized by the Holy Spirit into the
one body, of which Christ was Head
Il Cor. 1919. The oneness of this
body was symbolized by the breaking
of bread.
5. They had community of goods wv.
A, 45). They sold their possessions
and goods, and parted them to all men,
as every man had need. This proved
that they were under the power of the
Holy Spirit, that is, that the super
natural was being manifested; for it
is not natural to abandon ones title
to possessions.
6. They were filed with gladness and
singleness Of heart ". 49,. All those
who have had the experience of the
life of God being poured into them are
filled with praise, and gratitude must
express itself.
Z. Favor with all the people, ".
AZ. Such unselfshness gained the at
tention of the people, inducing them
70 yield themselves to God, and thus
God added unto them daily such as were
being saved.
Let us not forget that Christ also
loved the church, and gave himself for
1t that it should be holy and
without blemish."