The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-04

| ing. Luke brings this issue square
ly to the fore: in his preface. He
there states that he is writing his
tory, and that he is writing it af-
ter careful investigation of his
facts. When we remember that
Luke wrote his Gospel within
thirty-fve years of the Crucifix-
ion we see that he was. near
enough to the events he recorded
to check them as to. their truth
and accuracy. Matthew, Mark,
and Luke are genuine historical
documents, produced while people
who knew the facts were still liv-
ing, Matthew himself being one
of the twelve apostles. Then, too,
the apostle Paul stands out as an
incontestable witness for the his
toricity of Jesus. Paul himself is
accepted as an historical fact. He
was man of intellect and Gull
ture. 1t was to his interest to dis
prove the fact Of Jesus, and he
would have done so had it been
possible. He must have known
much -about-the ministry-of Jesus,
certainly about His crueifixion.
About six years after this event
Baul became a. lChristian, and
built the remainder Of his life up
on the fact of Christ. The teach
ings Of this great man rests upon
the historical reality of Jesus
Christ. Paul is not interpreting a
mythical. personality, The fact of
Jesus as given in the Gospels is
the only adequate explanation of
Paul. The existence of the Chris
tan, church throughout the GEN.
turtles is further evidence for the
truth of our theme. The church
rests upon the fact that Jesus
Christ lived in the world as the
Gospels tell US. The Christian re-
ligion is an historical religion that
stands or falls with its facts. The
church has witnessed in all gen
erations to the fact of Christ. All
its enemies ever needed to do was
to prove that Jesus never lived
and that the Gospels wer record
of fables and the church would
have persisted without another
weapon being raised against it.
The fact that it is here today is
testimony to the truth of it's
witness, not to the absence of en-
emies who would overthrow it.
The church stands today a wit
ness to the Christ who was, and
is, and is to be.
TEACHING THE LESSON
In teaching these chapter les
sons with their several items it
will be important to focus, the
items at one point for. effective
ness. In this lesson it is possible
to do this in the Song of Mary,
which is a song of praise in view
Of what God isabout to do in the
world through the coming Of
Christ. The entire chapter has to
do with the steps taken in prepa-
ration for this glorious manifes-
tatien Of Gods mercy-and grace,
and the reaction of the righteous
to it. The thoughtful teacher can
so converge the entire content Of
the, chapter that the pupil can get
it"all at the point of conveyance.
Only in this way can we get the
Goriplete picture of Jesus Christ
given by Luke in his Gospel. r. j
:. General " Dues tions: . Tiyn2
+ { WHAT is 1.-THE IMPORTANCE of
Luke's preface { to" his Gospel?
Who was Theophilus? What other
book of the. New Testament is
addressed to him? What was the
Importance Of this. occasion? How
was Zacharios stricken?. Why?
What was the, Annuhciation?
What does this chapter reveal as
to the CHARACTER of Mary? What
is the, Magnificat? What is the
Benedictus? How 20 they agree
and differ2 How is the early life
of John the Baptist here describ-
ed? What are the tpermanent
values of this chapter? Excerpts
from 1.-THE Earnest Worker, AZ
Presbyterian Committee lef Pub