The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1958-03-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
March %, 1858
BY Rev. Geo. A. Harper

EVANGELISM. Matthew 28:18-
20; Acts 1918; Romans 1:14-18.
Print Matthew 28:18-20; Acts
1918; Romans 1:14-18.
MEMORY Selection-Go we
therefore, and teach all ma
tons, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 28:19). The "there-
fore" of this commandment is
based on the promise that all
power in heaven and earth was
given to Christ. Those who go
will have the assurance of this
power to stand back of them,
and in addition to the promise
of His power being assured us,
His presence also is assured to
be with those who 60 forth to
evangeliZe. The power and the
presence of Christ are assured
to those who go and this will
continue throughout both time
and distance throughout this
entire age.
JESUS Gives the Great Com
mission: "And Jesus came and
spake unto them, saying, All
power is given unto me in hea-
ven and in earth" "Power" is
delegated authority, not inner
ent strength. A policeman does
not have the strength to stop a
truck at crossing, but he has
authority to do so. Jesus sent
his church to do his work I'M
der his authority given by the
Father. go We therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Faith
er, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost" The main verb
of this sentence is teach"
which really should be trans
lated make disciples Of" The
regular word for teach" oc-
ours in V. 20. Going" chap
tizing," and teaching" are all
part of making disciples. Note,
too, that the text says Gin the
name Of" not Gin the names
OF" There is one God in three
Persons, not three gods, as
sumed in this commission.
Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever l have COM
manded you: and 10, l am with
you always, even unto the end
of the world. Amen" "World"
does not mean the material
earth and sky, but rather the
age or era in which we live.
Unto the end of the age" would
be a more accurate translation.
BARNABAS and Paul or
dalned for missionary work:
Now there were in the church
that was at Antioch certain
prophets and teachers; as Bar
nabas, and Simeon that was
called Niger, and Lucius of
Cyrene, and Manaen, which
had been brought up with Her
cd the tetrarch, and Saul" The
church at Antioch was blessed
with gifted men who were do
ing a great work within their
own locality. Prophets" means
that they were able to explain
Gods mind to the people; ''tea-
chers," that they could instruct
IN truth already revealed. GAS
they ministered to the Lord.
and tasted, the Holy Ghost said
Separate me, Barnabas and
Saul for the work whereunto | |
have called them" Fasting or
going without food, was not in
frequent in the early church.
Ihey were SO intent on their
prayer meeting that they of
ten did not eat. "And when
they had tasted and prayed.
and laid their hands on them.
they sent them away" Barna-
pas and Saul were commission
edby the church for their new
task. Laying hands on them
was a public recognition of
Gods call to them, and a sign
Cndt tney mad the blessing of
the entire church as thew be-
gan their labors.
RIGHTEOUSNESS of God
Through Faith: ct am debtor
both to the Greeks, and to. the
wise, and to the unwise." "Bar-
barians" here does not mean
brutal persons, but implies a
lack of culture - the opposite
OF Greek, who was the educat-
ed man of the Western world
so as much as in me is. I am
ready to preach the gospel 70
you that are at Rome also"
Paul had been preaching the
gospel to people of different
levels, some high and some
low. He had no intention of
discriminating against the Ro-
mans who were as much en-