Newspapers / The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, … / Jan. 1, 1948, edition 1 / Page 6
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wd sympathy during —• *>f our and grandfather, John A. * ; " Sr^ * " ■ MRS. A. a JOHNBQN ^ cmumBN. — Sunday School Lesson JANUARY 4, 1948 By Dr. Paul Caudill BKLIBF8 that matter Scripture: John 20:80-31; Acta 16:11-15; 1 Tim. 4:16; 1 John 5:14s In a preview study of the uniform lessons for the first quarter, 1948, Dr. Clifton J. Allen has this to eay: 'The lessons for thts quarter constitute a topical unit. They are based upon Bible materials setting forth the basic | docrine8 of our Christian faith. [ This means, naturally, that near| ly all of the Bible material is | taken from the New Testament. The passages selected for each lesson are not exhaustive, but they do contain the heart of the New Testament truth bearing upon the teaching or doctrine being studied." Our opening lesson is taken from the writing of John along with brief passages from the Acts and 1 Timothy. ■ That Ye May Believe In the closing verses of tbe twentieth chapter of John, the writer sets forth his purpose in giving to the world the fourth gospel: "These things are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son ol God; and that believing ye may hare life in His name." "John wrote his gospel to lead people to believe in ieaafl aa God's Son and as Saviour. Faith in Christ as Saviour means new life. This faith produces Christian character and gives power to overcome the world." Faith and life then are Inseparable. If one believes that Jesus 18 Christ the Son of God. ard believes with all his mind and heart, then it follows, as the day the night, that he will hare liffe "in his name." We need to get his point clear In our Christian thinking. We believe on Jesus to the end that we may partake of the better life. Jesus declared that he had come into the world to the end that we, his followers, might have life and have it more abundantly. Notice that John Qualifies the word "Believe." We are not merely to believe in Jesus, for instance, as a good man, or as a moral leader, or as a great teacher; we are to accept him as "The Christ." He iB to be for us the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy—the promised Messiah. The modern Jew may regard Jesus as a great man and as a peerless moral leader, but he -loes not accept him ag the Messiah. There is the rub. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and nothing short of that in the eyes of his followers will do! Opened By The Lord Luke's account of the conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:11-15) is a gripping example of the power of God. It shows how a simple evangelistic message can make its way, under God, into the heart of a person and bring forth abundant fruit. j "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple,, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed (into the things which were spoken by Paul. And when she was baptised, and her ^household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." Too often the Sunday school teacher, or preacher, or Christian witness, lacks assurance and confidence as he delivers his message. This lack of confidence is due to a lack of t ilth. Any power that the gospel message may have is due not to self butv to the Spirit of God, for it is the Holy Spirit that convicts the ■ The I on the heart , of Lydia, that she gave "heed unto the things which were spoken by] Paul." So genuinely was she transformed that she presented herself for baptism and the depth of her experience touched even those of har own household. There ig no need (or us to go on month after month with unsaved pupils in our Sunday school classes. They can be reached tor Christ. The power of the Lord will as surely open their hearts —if we have faith enough, and work and pray to that end—as it opened the heart of Lydia in the tong ago. God's arm has not shortened with the passing of time; neither has his power been diminished. better Take Heed "Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee" (1 Tim. 4:16). Here is an exhortation that ought to make its way like an Irreversible arrow into the heart of every Sunday School teacher in the land. Think of the implications of Paul's words: "thyself"—"thy teaching." Are we as Sunday school teachers ready for our mission on Sunday morning? Have we made the careful preparation of our own hearts and lives that the Scriptures would demand and that the occasion would justify? Just as the preacher cannot expect to prepare and deliver an effective sermon without preparing first his own life, even so must the Sunday school teacher make much of the preparation of self. When those of us who are appointed to stand before the lost world as ambassadors of Christ deliver our message, we should reflect in every word and gesture the glort of Christ and the mean ing or unnst ror Human lire. "Continue In these things," said John, "for In doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear ye." There Is, then, a double blessing: the blessing for the teacher, and the blessing for the hearers. Overcoming The World The true Christian knows no such thing as abject failure In his mission for Christ. He may fall in the eyes of the world, but the future will tell a different story. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, his enemies thought the end had §ome. They believed that they would hear no more of the lowly Nazarene. But they could neither destroy Him nor His message. All they did was let Him loose in the world! "And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:5). As we witness for Christ, therefore, we take our places a~ mong thobo whom John would call "overcomers." It is not men of military might who overcome the world—they have no promise of ultimate victory. They who constitute the "overoomers" are those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." Let us make this central fact clear in our message wherever we go with it and unto whomsoever we proclalm it. ^ The novel is probably more than 21 centuries old, according to the Encyclopaedia Brltannlca. Aristldes wrote six books called "tales of Miletus," the town In which he lived, consisting of humorous and sarcastic episodes of contemporary life. These early novels were written In the second century B. C. NOTICE, MILL MEN! •* ®Ilce P*T following prices for Crow Ties. AH Ties to be trimmed to proper length, not tinder 8-4" or erer 8*6 • All Ties not trimmed and all bark removed will be lie per Tie less. T. A. GROUP V ALL KINDS OP OAK, ASH, HICKORY, LOCUST AND BLACK WALNUT Ne. 3 Ties, each $1.05 No. 4 Ties, each$1.50 No. 5 Ties, each $1.75 T. C. GROUP BEECH, BIRCH, CHERRY, GUM, SOFT AND HARD MAPLE, ELM, HACKBBRRY, AND SYCAMORE ). 3 Ties, each $ .55 rsfiofl No. 5 Ties, each $1.50 81E US FOR PRICES ON SWITCH AND BRIDGE TIES, AND EXPORT. WE ALSO ARE IN THE MARKET FOR 8 AND 12-4 OAK AT GOOD PRICES J. H. MYERS TIE AND LUMBER CO. * West Jefferson, N. C. _ W. M. S. The W. M. 8. c church met with Mrs. A. for the December program. The! home vu beautifully decorat for the Christmas season. Thirteen members were present. As «. special feature Jamie Clark and Alene Parsons sang a loveiy Christmas carol and "8tar of Serrlce" was given by fire Junior girls led by Mrs. Ernest Walker. Mrs. A. T. Nichols had charge of the business session. For community missions it was agreed that we all help a needy family in the community and also send fruits to three shutlns for Christmas. The Bible study was given by Mrs. Ernest Walker. The program was in charge of Mrs. Clark. A number of Christmas carols, were , sung and especially enjoyed. The January meeting will be| held with Mrs. Cecil Kllby. Mrs. Clark and her daughters served delicious refreshments during the social hour.—Reported J Round Table Club In Dinner Party The members of the Round I Table Book club, with their husbands, enjoyed a delightful < ; ■ , ■TT. Christmas dinner party on Saturday evening in the prfvate dining room at the Carolina Reatanrant. The table was attractively decorated in poinsettas, white candles, and trailing ivy. At each lady's place was a shoulder corsage of red carnations, as gifts from the club's*, president, Mrs. W. A. Hardister, and Mr. Hardister, and favors for each one small Christmas baskets filled with mints. Following the dinner the groap went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Swofford where bridge was played at five tables. Prises for high scores went to Mr®. Ivey Moore and Dr. W. K. Newton, and low scores to Mr«. Hardister and Mr. Staton Mclver. Mrs. R«fus Church received the prise for honors, and Mesdames Mclver and Hardister bingo awards. During the evening at the Swofford home record Christmas J f »» » music and carols < were i and Coca-Colas, mints and candles were served by Card's younger son, Jimmy. An exchange of gifts was made by the entire group, gift* having been placed beneath a beautifully lighted tree. Mr®. W. K. Newton and Mrs. Swofford acted aa hostesses for the party. 4 Cell For m JIM BREAD
The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, N.C.)
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Jan. 1, 1948, edition 1
6
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