The Coolidge examiner., 1936-09-25

| PRIMARY IOPlC-1OW the GOOd
News Spread.
JUNIOR TOPIC - How the Good
| News Spread.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
| TOPIC-Christianit Reaching Out.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
! TOPIC-The Spread of Christianity
in Western Asia.
Review Sunday provides a
needed opportunity to determine
not only whether the class mem
bers have learned and retained the
truth taught, but, what is of equal
importance, whether the teacher
has accomplished the purpose in
mind at the beginning of the
series.
What was the aim set before us
for the three months? ITO lead
the student to an understanding OF
New Testament Christianity, and
to beget in him the desire and
purpose to live the Christian life
and to win others to faith in the
Lord Jesus" While one might diff
fer with the mode of expressing
the aim or purpose one must give
hearty approval to it.
The test which we apply as the
twelve lessons of the past quarter
pass in review is
AS student, have I seen in the
spread of Christianity the opera
ton of a gospel of salvation which
is the power of God for my saliva
ton? Or, if l am saved, have l
been stirred to more earnest
Christian life and real passion
for the salvation of others?
AS a teacher, have I really used
my opportunity to win the mem
bers of my class to faith in the
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Have 1 brought to bear on the
lives of those in my class who are
Christians the Word of God, STIR
ring them to holiness of life and
zeal for Gods cause on earth?
If we cannot reply in the af-
frmative, should we not ask
whether our efforts to teach have
been largely fruitless? But let us
not be discouraged, for even as we
now review the lessons we have
studied together the Holy Spirit is
ready to do His work and apply
the truth to hearts and lives.
To many teachers the prepara-
ton and presentation of the review
lesson is the most difficult of any
during the quarter. To the student
who has given little or nothing to
the preparation of weekly lessons
it is often a rather disconnected
and uninteresting recapitulation of
twelve lessons.
A suggested method of gathering
up the essential teachings of these.
lessons is to group them around
the following seven points:
The spread of Christianity after
our Lords departure into the glory
was distinguished by the fact that
l. 1t was by the preaching Of
faith that began and continued
in the power and demonstration of
the Holy Spirit. God honors such
preaching and teaching in our day
but we need more of it.
2. 1t was a spiritual movement
that demonstrated it's God given
power by thriving on persecution.
One wonders whether much of the
activity of the church in our day
has not fallen into the doldrums
of pious reSpectability. Perhaps we
need a little persecution.
3. 1t was not the propagation of
theological theory or of religious
sect or party. 1t was a movement
of the Spirit of God which saved
men, and saved them to win and
serve their fellow-men. True
Christian service is nobler and
more sacrificial than any non
Christian social service.
4. 1t was a movement in which
laymen as we'll as religious work
erS had a place. Philip the lay
man served with Paul the apostle.
Laymen and women, let us be
awake to our responsibilities and
privileges.
5. Difference of opinion was not
permitted to hinder Gods work.
Do we know enough to let God
work among us, even if he does
not work just as we think he
should?
6. The missionary spirit of the
preacher was carried over to the
convert. This is succession
which God has continued to our
day. Are we cooperating and
helping it forward?
7. The gospel is for all men,
Gentle as well as Jew, whether
yellow, red, black, or white. The
great commission is still our COM
mand and our authority to pray,
give, and go, that all men may
hear the gospel of the Grace of
God.
RnaI pOUartv