The Coolidge examiner., 1936-12-03
pN@VWN%@%O@eN
Improved 4 SUNDAY
Uniform cC,rO~-
-:-LESSON = =
BY REV. HAROLD L. LUNDOUIST,
Dean OF the Moody Bible Institute
Of Chicago.
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for December 6
PAUL'S PARTING COUNSELS

LESSON TEXT Timothy 6:6-16; II
Timothy 4:16-18.
GOLDEN TEXT have fought a good
fight, l have finished my course, have
kept the faith. II Timothy Al.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Pauls Last Let
ter.
JUNIOR TOPIC - Paul Awaits the
Great Adventure.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Passing on the Christian Torch.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
IC-Transmitting the Gospel Heritage.
The apostle Paul was an example
in many things, and not the least
important of these is the manner in
which he was constantly on the look
out for young men who by the call
and blessing of God would take up
the gospel ministry. He realized
that there was much to be done and
that if the Lord tarried he and his
co-Workers would pass on, and the
work must needs be carried for
ward by younger men.
Not only did he seek out such
young men but he followed
through" giving them encourage
ment, instruction, and opportunities
for service. How shortsighted is
the church that fails God at this
point, or which, for the sake of local
and present usefulness, hinders
young men and women from obtain
ing the needed training for Chris
tan service. The fields are white
unto harvest but the laborers are
still few. Let us pray them out and
help them on their way.
Our lesson centers around the
counsels of Paul to his young friend,
Timothy. Written near the end of
his life, the letters are filed with
all the sweet earnestness of his
great soul. They present four i'm
portant truths which merit the care
full attention of every Christian, and
particularly of the Christian worker.
/. The Gain of Goodness q Tim.
6:6-8).
In a world which knows little
but the urge to gain material riches
we need to emphasize the fact that
it is still true that a man is not
profted if he gain the whole world
and lose his own soul.
The great gain of godliness is
that inner fellowship with God
which brings true contentment of
spirit
III. The Snare of Riches Il Tim.
6:9-1D.
The pages of human history are
full of the names of those who have
fallen into this trap of Satan. Sad
to say, not a few of them have been
Christian leaders.
Notice that it is not the money
itself, or the amount of it that con-
stitutes the danger. 1t is the desire
or the mind to be rich" and "the
love of money that lis a root of
all evil" Hence Paurs admonition
comes to each one of us to flee
these things and follow after right
eousness, godliness, faith, love, pa
tience, meekneSs." What sermon
in a dozen Wordsl
HI. The Fight of Faith (VV. 12-16).
Christianity is not only an inward
grace which reflects in goodness
with contentment'' and in fleeing
the snare of riches, but it is daily
fighting of the good fight of faith.
1t is imperative that there be "a
good confession " l2), coupled
with a keeping of Gods command
ment without spot, without re-
proach, until the appearing of our
Lord Jesus Christ
The servant of Christ, in view of
the coming of the One who is the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords"
is to live a consistent, clean, and
irreproachable life.
Nv. A Divine Deliverance QITim.
4:16-18).
"All forsook me-" says Paul
How tragic! How weak and unde-
pendable is the arm of flesh! But
the Lord stood by me-" How glori-
ousl How mighty and gracious is
our God!
The follower of Christ may find
himself without a human friend or
supporter. Those who stood by in
younger and more successful days
may have disappeared. But let us
remember that our trust is in God
who has never failed any one of his
children. HE abideth faithful, he
cannot deny himself" 0I Tim.
2:13.