The Coolidge examiner. [volume] (Coolidge, Ariz.) 1930-current, 1938-05-05

! against US is on our part.-Mark $40.
| PRIMARY TOPIC-When We Want to
Be First.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Not in Oar Class.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Working with Others for Christ.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
| TOPIC-Co-operating in Service.
That there is strength in united
and cooperative effort is a truth so
obvious that in the affairs Of the
home and of the office we would not
attempt to make progress with "a
house divided against itself" But
with strange and destructive incon-
sistency some who are engaged in
the propagation Of the Christian
faith. and often the very folk who
speak much Of love and fellow
ship and sacrifcial service, fight one
another with cunning and often Bit
terness OF spirit, and all in the
name Of Christ whom they profess
| to serve.
No one VINO is awake to the real
issue involved would ask any true
believer to cooperate in Christian
work with those who, while holding
the name and outward symbols of
the followers of Christ deny His
deity and His Word. But surely
there is need for loving cooperation
between all those who truly love
the Lord, who believe in Him and
in His Word. Why should we per-
NIT non-essentials to divide us when
the world is dying without Christ
and without hope? May this lesson
bring many true Christians who
may not see eye to eye on some
point of church polity or interpreta-
ton into fellowship and united
strength for God.
I. A Dispute by the way WV 30
34.
Jesus had taken His disciples
from the Mount Of Transfiguration
by secluded roads through Galilee
so that He might instruct them in
the all-important truths regarding
His death and resurrection. One
could hardly conceive Of a more
propitious arrangement for their
growth both in knowledge and grace.
Did they profit by it? No; they
| not only did not understand what
He told them but they used their
time to dispute among themselves
who should be the greatest" ". 34.
Possibly James, Peter, and John
were a bit pulled up by their ex-
perience on the Mount, or perhaps
the others were jealous because
Jesus had taken them with Him.
Or perchance it was just another
unprovoked expression Of the sinful
pride that is so close to the surface
of the human heart and mind. AM
bition to be great for God is COM
mendable, but how small is the
man who seeks to vaunt himself in
personal vainglory.
ii. An Example of Humility wv
35-3O.
True greatness consists
not in attaining the first place in
the notice and praise of the world,
not in being served by many, but in
being willing to stoop down to
humble place, not for the sake of
self-effacement, not in timid diff
dence, but in order to serve others
La oh nf 90 rI9N ny
Note carefully that it is the receiv-
ing Of a little one in the name of
Christ that brings to us the glory Of
His presence with us. Every deed
of kindness and love is commend
able and has its own reward, but
there is vast difference between
it and humble service in the name
and for the glory of Christ. How I'M
fortunate that the church has gotten
itself into so much social service
and has sometimes forgotten to do
the work of Christ in His name.
III. A Lesson in Cooperation wv.
Bad.
JOIlIls QClCh W dppI GlSIlu spiritual
truth, sees in the teaching of Christ
concerning the little child the con-
demnation Of something he had
done If indeed it be true that to
receive a child, an ordinary every
day child, is to receive Christ, and
to receive God said John within
himself, what did l do when l for
babe that man who in the Name
was casting out a demon?' Verify,
the light had broken in upon him"
(Morgan).
The man who casts out demons,
or who gives the disciple of Jesus
a cup of water, in His name-that is
with true faith in Christ, and in His
power, and for His glory-must be a
believer. He may not belong to our
group or circle, he may not speak
our language, he may not use our
methods, but if he is serving Christ
we should not forbid him or speak
evil of him. God has at times
called a man to witness for Him,
who has done so in a manner dis
tasteful to others, and these in turn
have aligned themselves against
him and hindered his full usefulness