Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1944-08-03
Lesson for August 6

Lesson subjects and Scripture texts Sc
Iected and copyrighted by International
Council of Religious Education: used by
permission.
POWER THROUGH SELF-DISCI-
PINE TEMPERANCE LESSON
LESSON TEXT-Proverbs 1:7-10; Jer-
emiah 35:5-l0; Corinthians 9:zi~7;
Thessalonians 5:22.
GOLDEN TEXT-And every man that
striveth for the mastery is temperate in
all things.-I Corinthians 9:25.
Discipline - that word doesn't
sound exactly attractive, does it? 1t
makes us think Of punishment for
wrongdoing, when in reality it is a
very helpful word which means
teaching. Disciples learn, and thus
are disciplined, so that life becomes
safer, simpler, and more efficient.
When the Moro Castle caught
fire, there was time for everyone to
escape, but 1874 out Of the 500 on
board persisted because they fought
each other. When the President
Coolidge sank in the South Seas 4,500
soldiers escaped alive. What made
the difference? Discipline. that's all.
but it was enough.
There are many kinds OF disci-
pine, and all have their important
place in preparing men to live well
ordered and useful lives. The dis
ciplined life has power to meet trials
and temptations We find in our les
son three kinds of discipline:
1. Home Discipline (Prov. 1:7-10.
The training received by the child
early in life from its parents is Of
the utmost importance in forming
character. Children should learn the
true standards Of life, and be held
to obedience to them If they are
later to walk in the right way.
It is here that they most effec-
lively learn the danger Of the use
of intoxicants and the importance
of keeping their bodies clean and
strong for the service Of God and
country.
Some parents POSSIBLY misled by
attractive, but false theories of edu-
cation) think that the correction or
punishment of child is not to be
permitted. They assume that they
are being kind to a child by not
limiting his development, or trying
to direct it. These are the people
who curse their children with kind
ness" which is In fact the greatest
of unkindness.
Only a fool ". y will despise the
instruction of his parents, and only
a fool Of a parent will fail to give
that training which is like IAN orna-
ment Of grace" ". 81 in the life of
the young man or woman.
But the discipline of the home
needs the support Of
II. Social Discipline Ger. 35:5-10).
The social order, which concerns
our relation to our fellow men, dis
ciplines each of US. It makes many
and what sometimes seem burden.
some demands of US In order that
we, as well as those around us, may
have the privilege of living ordered
and useful lives.
Wise is the man or woman who
draws from his fellowship with 9TH
ers that helpful training which gives
him stability and grace.
The Rechabites had made a vow
that they would not drink intod-
cants, and as tribe they stood by
that VOW even when tested by Jere-
miah. Note that we say tested, not
tempted. He knew they would
stand.)
Fine family traditions have great
value In guiding and controlling
young people. We should, like the
good man Jonadab ". 81. establish
q tradition Of abstinence from in
toxicants which will make all of our
descendants say, mo one in our
family ever drinks"
The training of home and Of
society has one great goal and that
Il
III. SeIf-Discipline Il Cor. 9:24-27;
I Thess. SGD.
In the life of every one of us there
should be that determined purpose
that life shall not be lived In care
less disorder. or be permitted to run
out at loose ends.
We are all running a race ". 24),
and 1t IL for US so to run that we
may achieve success. We cannot
run with uncertainty ". 26), we
must know where we are going.
We are fighting a fight, and at
times 1t Is desperate, life-and-
death struggle. We must not beat
the air ". 20, but strike home the
telling blows which will bring VIC
tory over our enemies, the world,
the flesh, and the devil.
To do this calls for training and
seif-discipline. 1t means bringing the
body and its demands into SUBJ
lection. The man who runs in a race
does not destroy his chances for
victory by using intoxcants, or other
detrimental things. Surely we who
run the race for Christ must be
even more determined that self shall
be disciplined for Gods glory.
The standard for the conduct of
the Christian is higher than is COM
monty supposed, for he withdraws