The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-10-15
Lesson for October Is
THE SPOKEN AND THE
WRITTEN WORD

LESSON TExT-Acts l7:I. sill: Thes.
salonians 2:7-l2. :.
GOLDEN TExT-The Word of God is
quick and powerful. and sharper than any
two-edged sword. Heb 4:12.
PRIMARY TOPIC-When People Read
JUNIOR ToP1c-The Power of Jesus
Name.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How May I Win Others to Christ?
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Evangelism and the Bible.
The persecution at Philippi served
not to discourage Paul and Silas,
but rather to send them forward
into new territory with the gospel
message. Passing through two
cities they came to Thessalonica,
then as now a city of considerable
Importance. After a successful
though stormy ministry there they
journeyed forty miles to Berea,
where the Word was gladly received.
The portion of our lesson from
the Book of Acts relates how the
Word was preached and received
in these two cities, and the excerpt
from the letter which Paul later
wrote to the Thessalonian church
shows what manner of life the
preacher sought to live among
them.
I. Preaching the Word (Acts II; /,
5-8).
Paul's experience at Thessalonica
presents an excellent illustration of
l. How the Word should be
preached wv. l, 5-8).
This section is incomplete with
out verses "a, which are omitted
from the printed portion but should
be included in the study of the
lesson. Notice four things concern
ing his preaching.
a. The place ". ~. Paul went
to the synagogue, not by chance
or because it was a great religious
holiday, but because it was his
"custom." The synagogue was the
center of Jewish worship, and there
Paul met those who were ready to
receive the Word of God.
Some Christians are content to
remain comfortably in church and
forget to 60 out into the highways
and hedges, but there are others
who have become so accustomed
to going elsewhere that they neglect
the opportunity for spiritual min
istry in the church.
b. The method wv. 2-3). 'Rea-
Soning from the Scriptures" No
better method has ever been de-
vised. It is Gods method. Let
us get back to exposition Of the
Scriptures-"opening" them to men
and women, alleging" or setting
out in order the truth.
C. The subject ". -. He
preached three fundamental doc
trines-the atonement, the resurrec-
ton, and the deity of Christ. Scrip
ture preaching will be doctrinal.
d. The result wv. 4-8). Faithful
preaching of Gods Word brings one
of two results in the hearts of men
they are either persuaded" and
converted, or they become angry
and prosecute. Those who rightly
received the truth were glad to join
with Paul; the others raised hue
and cry because Paul and Silas
were turning "the world upside
down." AS a matter of fact the
world was already wrongside up,
and Paul sought to set it right.
It is still upside down in our day.
Coming to Berea, we find Paul
experience there an illustration OF
2. How the Word should be re-
ceived wv. 9-1).
Good hearers are as important
as good preachers. How should the
Word be received?
a. With readiness of mind ".
1D. This is a mark of nobility.
The world regards the sophisticated
doubter as the learned man, but
he is not. Noble is the mind and
heart that receives Gods truth.
b. Carefully and thoughtfully ".
1D. There would be less error and
folly in the pulpit if there were
more intelligent Bible study in the
pew. Do not assume that what
some learned professor, or distin-
guished radio preacher says is true.
Check his message by the Word.
In the final portion of our lesson
Paul tells the Thessalonians that
when he was with them he was
concerned not only about preaching
the Word, but also about
ii. Living the Life Il Thess. 2:7-1O.
Paul did not contradict his
preaching by his living. His was a
/. Sacrifcial. service wv. 7-9).
The man who breaches for his
own glory-or gain-is not a true
preacher of the gospel.
2. Consistent example wv.
1922.
The minister of Christ must be-
have "holily, righteously, and I'M
blamably" if his people are to "walk
worthy of God"