Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-11-26

a...
Tho church IA the greatest Inalliu'
ton In all the world, with the most
widespread membership and mhu'
ence. That Ii true from Z purely +
secular or worldly standpoint Then \
when We realize that here u more
than human organization, Tor u
Ii In fact 4 divine organism; that
II Is the means through which God
IL now manifeating this power To-
ward men, We see tho supreme In.
portance OF understanding ihc
church and our relationship 70 II.
This week We stress the mission
Of the church We note seven things
1. Holiness Of Life MAT, iolib.i7).
In time when general standards
Of docency and honesty arc low,
and no one wants 10 be his BROTH
er's keeper. the church needs 70 DO
reminded that part Of ~ mission
il 10 maintain holiness IN life and
the relationship Of one 10 another,
Notice that mans attitude toward
his fellowman ID nrst matter Tor
personal attention, then II becomes
Of real interest 10 the church, and
II no response II found there, Tho
offending individual Il excluded and
put IN the hands " God. De sure 70
observe that ali this Il dono 70
gain" or win him back, not for re-
| vengo ar ia bitfoFnoea
II. Witness In Divine Power facts
i;8).
The witness bears testimony 4
that which he has experienced, q.
IN the case Of Christian exporlcI
he II assured Of divins power
carrying out his sacred task
The world would have lAu
land possibly did) al the idea
small group Of humble bel
making the gospel effective
by telling others about The ~
but II worked, because Gods
or was In II.
III. Unity In Faith and Practice
tActs 2i42).
The early church had not yot been
split up by the philosophers Of men
and the vagarles Of doctrine. which
have since divided Gods people Il
was Ills purpose that Ills pevpiu
should be one In Him, something We
should recall before W. divide them
just 10 promote some theory Of IN
depreciation.
Unity Ia not only matter Of be-
lief. II must reach Into the practice
Of daily life. They we're eteadfast
not only IN doctrine, but IN CONS
munion and prayer. A BIZ more
unity there might bring us closer
together IN belief,
~. Service, Spiritual and Social
Acts 0ii.4),
The church rightly put the emphns
sis on the spiritual, The leaders
who had gifts for ministry 81 The
Word did not permit themselves 10
DO diverted into social service, Too
many IN the church have failed ~
that point Even the good may be
the mortal enemy Of the best,
Al the sans time The early church
did not neglect social needs Men
we're appointed 70 care for them.
In all too many instances The mod.
ern church has failed 70 minister 10
the social needs even " " own peos
pie and has weakly land one fears
gladly turned tbefn over 10 social
agencies, What q pityl
v. Love--in Deed ~ Well ~ IN
Word tActs iiiM.30).
Talking about the need Of others,
Wishing them Gods blessing, say
Ing desultory prayer asking God
10 bless and help them, ID not sufs
ncient, IN fact II IL not Christian ~
all tsee james 2ii4.i7).
Love acts. n gives. II aeftes,
II proves faith ny works. II trans.
lates the gospel Into a language an
unbelieving world can understand.
VI Obedience 10 Tho Holy Spirit
(Acts 1919.
God has certain plans Tor The
work Of The church IN The world,
and DO sure that they are no small
or Indifferent plans, Ills mighty
agent In bringing Ills viii 70 pass
In The world II The third person of
the Trinity, The Holy Spirit II the
church Will respond 10 Ills guidance
and DO subject 10 Ills control, the
work Of God may 80 on unhindered.
fjut Just there, Christian friends, the
church has most lnglorlouniy failed.
The early church was directed N
the Holy Spirit 10 sol apari Paul
and DarDabas for The work N mis-.
slonafies and evanRellats. Knowing
~ We do The marvellous results 0f
their mlnistH, We shudder ~ me
thought Of What might have hap
pened II The church had disobeyed
The Holy spirit that dayl
VII Fellowship a John fis)
Here 10 The grent secret NJ splflltp
Al life and growth Christian fellow.
ship. And notice with oafe Inc place
for Il IA IN The church. n va % moi
come 70 the church We deprive our
selves and others " ire opportunity
for fellowship, The matter N church
attendance land fwlee Oh Sunday q
not TOO muohj needs 10 30 DH on
our eongcleuces laal ~ bv on AZ