The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-11-18

LESSON TEXT Corinthians S:1U-lo;
GOLDEN TEXT-And let us not be weary
in well doing: for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not.--Galatians SO.
PRIMARY TOPIC-In Our Church.
JUNIOR TOPIC-What Can Do to Help?
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
What Can Do for Christ and the church,
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Need for Christian Workers.
"Laborers together with Cod
such is the glorious and distinctive
title of true Christians, according to
the verse just preceding our as
signed text. Unfortunate is the all
too common error of regarding only
pastors and missionaries as the
workers in Gods vineyard. While
we recognize that there is special
calling for some men to leave their
vocations and devote their entire
time to the Lords work, let us be
sure properly to stress the impor-
lance of every Christians being a
worker for God.
The portions assigned for our
study present the privilege and re-
sponsibility of Christians as fellow
workers with Christ, under the fig
lures of builders and of seed sewers.
I. Builders of the House Il Cor.
3:1O-15).
The first requisite of building is
a foundation and it must be strong
and true. Builders for Christ have
a sure foundation stone in Him.
/. The Foundation-Jesus Christ.
There is only definite assurance
in Pauls word concerning the foun-
dalton. It is perfectly clear to him
that there can be no Christian faith
without Jesus Christ. Such a state
ment sounds almost childish. One
might well assume that no intelli-
gent person would claim to be one
of Gods builders, and reject his
foundation stone. But, alas, many
are they who claim to be Christians,
who profess to be raising structure
of Christian life and testimony, but
who have set aside the only possible
foundation on which to build.
2. The Master Builder-and his
builders.
Paul was pioneer. He declares
his ambition and calling to be "to
preach the gospel not where Christ
was named, lest I should build on
another mans foundation" (Rom.
1925. Such a privilege does not
come to all men, but let those who
thus serve learn of this "wise mas
ter builder" that they may lay only
one foundation-Jesus Christ.
'Let every man take heed how he
buildeth thereupon." 1t is serious
matter to serve the Lord as build
er, for it is possible to go badly
astray at this point as well as in
laying the foundation.
3. The materials-good and bad.
Whether we apply Paul's words to
the building of our personal spiritual
life or to the work we do in the
church they are equally serious and
urgent. "The day''-when Christ re-
turns, and we shall stand before
him to give account of the deeds
done in the fesh-will reveal by
flaming fire whether we have been
faithful, true and diligent in preach
ing Gods Word, in prayer, in sac
rifcial service for Christ, or have
sought to introduce into our lives
and into the churches we serve the
''wood, hay, and stubble' of unspir-
itual schemes, neglect of Gods
Word, prayerlessness.
Saved? Yes, but entering into
Gods presence as man who has
escaped from his burning house with
nothing but his life.
II. Sewers of the Seed (Gal. &c.
10Y.
The figure changes. No longer are
we builders-but rather sewers of
seed. Would that it were all good
seed that were soWn-but we see
the sowing to the flesh as well as
to the Spirit. This is true
/. In our own lives. The inexora-
BILE law of sowing and reaping pre-
walls in the moral realm as truly
as it does in the physical. Men who
would never expect wheat to grow
where they have planted thistles,
seem to expect that they may sow
in their own lives the seeds of selfish
indulgence, of careless neglect of
the things of God, and still somehow
reap the fruit of good character and
noble living.
2. In the lives of others. We may
be tempted to take attractive by
paths and shortcuts to win the in
terest and allegiance of men to our
selves and the church, but they will
prove to bring but corruption and
destruction. Spiritual seed will al
ways produce spiritual life.
8. Waiting for the harvest. Har-
vest must be patiently awaited. We
know it to be so in natural things;
the same is true in the spiritual
realm.