The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-06-26
LESSONS FROM THE EARLY
CHURCH

LESSON TEXT Corinthians Bills.
GOLDEN TEXT-For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid. which is
Jesus Christi Corinthians 3:11.
Corinth in the time of Paul was
great city, as renowned for its COM
merce and culture as it was notori-
Gus for its vice and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Here on his second missionary jour
ney, Paul, with Silas and Timothy,
spent l8 months winning many to
Christ, in spite of the hostility of the
Jews and the opposition of wicked
men.
The church established in Corinth
became the victim of a factional
spirit which divided the loyalty of
the people, hindering spiritual
growth, destroying discipline, and
resulting in low standards of life.
Paul found it necessary to write to
the church regarding its difficulties,
and we may well learn salutary les
sons from his epistle.
/. A Lesson in Spirituality wv.
1-4).
The further a man drifts from his
place of spiritual power and useful
ness, the more apt he is to try to
keep up front" to take up any
possible means of justification. The
Corinthian church was divided into
four groups, each one priding itself
on being right There was "a Paul
inc party, overzealousfo the founder
of the church; an Apollonian party,
beWitched by the oratory of Apollos;
a Petrine party, which, claiming
Peter as authority, was bent on mix
ing Jewish ideas with Christianity;
and Christ party, which, in antag
onizing other elements, became it.
self faction" (Moore). (See 1 Cor.
1:11-13) All this activity was cover
ing up the fact that they were hav-
ing.
l. Milk Instead of Meat wv. l,
p. In other words they were spir-
itual babes when they should have
been grown-ups. Milk is a marvellous
food, but there is need of stronger
food for virile men and women.
How true it is that many ministers
must spoon-feed or bottle-feed a lot
of spiritual babes who should long
since have grown up to the place
where they can feed themselves and
help others.
2. Strife Instead of Stability wv.
8, ~. God does not want Chris
tians to be like other men. When
will we learn that lesson? One of
the sure ways to stifle spiritual
growth in church or in an individ-
ual life is to engage in strife. Let
us heed Paurs admonition and put
away our chickering's, that we may
become strong in the Lord
II. A Lesson on Service wv. 5-15).
Here is helpful instruction to
the minister regarding his calling.
Brethren, let us judge ourselves in
the light of it lest we hinder Gods
work by having the wrong attitude
or encourage our people to think
carelessly on this important subject.
/. The Minister wv. 5-9). There
is no higher or holier calling than
that to the ministry. We should not
forget that, and will not, but will
rather glorify the calling, when we
realize that minister" ". 81 means
servant" attendant" or "wait-
er." So Paul and Apollos, men of
highest Office and highest gifts, were
Gods walters, to bring forth the
bread of life; His servants, to plant
and cultivate His field; and His
builders, laboring on His building.
Ministers are only instruments in
Gods hands, but they should be
clean, well-prepared, and submits
sive instruments in His hands.
2. The Manner ". 10) The ser
want of God must take heed how he
builds. If, like Paul, he has the
privilege of laying the foundation, he
must be careful that it is the true
foundation and is properly laid. He
who builds must also be careful that
every stone he lays is fifty placed
and well-chosen.
8. The Materials wv. II, 12).
How important it is that the materi-
ais of a building be right. If that be
true Of a physical building, it is a
thousand times more important in
Gods building.
First Of all there is only one foun-
dalton which the true minister can
lay-Jesus Christ. 1t is the only
foundation upon which anyone can
build lasting life structure for time
and for eternity.
But there are other materials in
the building which need to be chosen
with care. 1t will not do for the
minister to substitute the wood, hay,
and stubble of his wisdom or the
philosophy of men for the gold, sill
yer, and precious stones of God S
Word Terrifying shame and loss is
all that can result from such folly,
for remember there is a day of judg-
ment coming.
4. The Manifestation wv. 1879.
Flaming fire will one day reveal how
we have built. The "wood-hay-and-
stubble" preacher or teacher of
Gods Word may himself be saved,
but, oh, the tragedy of coming into
Gods presence after years of serv-
ice like a man who has escaped from
a burning building empty-handed /;
saved from the fire himself, but
ashamed that he has SO built as to
suffer loss.