Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 12, Number 32, DeMotte, Jasper County, 18 June 1942 — IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson [ARTICLE]

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson

By HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST. D. D.

Of The- Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.)

Lesson for June 21 Lesson subjects and Scripture texts selected and copyrighted by Internationa! Council of Religious Education; used by permission. THE TASK COMMITTED TO THE DISCIPLES LESSON TEXT—Matthew 28:16-20: Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:49-53. GOLDEN TEXT—Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every’ creature.— Mark 16:15. Witnesses of the resurrection—that privilege of the disciples carried with it the responsibility of declaring the good news of completed redemption to all the nations of the earth. In doing so they were destined to meet opposition and unbelief, to feel weariness and to know discouragement. So the Lord, before leaving this world for His present ministry at the Father’s right hand (Mark 16:19; Heb. 7:25), prepared them by giving them a divine commission, which they accepted and acted upon with the assurance of His power and blessing. The lesson is summarized in the words, “Go ye’’ (Matt. 28:19); “They went forth” (Mark 16:20); “And He blessed them” (Luke 24:50). I. “Go Ye” (Matt. 28:16-20). God’s plans are never small plans. World evangelization, nothing less, was the goal He had in mind, and to which Christ commissioned this little group of humble folk who were His disciples. It was not only a commission, but a daring one. Back, of such marching orders there must be authority and power —and Christ had them (v. 18) —all pvwer and all authority. No need to measure or compare, for His is the ultimate and complete authority. This is the One who said, “Come unto me”; then, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” and who now says, “Go.” If we heed one command, should-we not absolutely obey the others? The message is His message, the gospel (Mark 16:15). It is the only message! The witnesses of Christ are not called to educate and civilize the heathen without winning them to Christ. To do so is only to prepare stronger and more Skillful enemies of all that we count holy. But a great program means nothing if it is not carried out; a great commission is only words unless it is accepted and obeyed. We read of the disciples that—--11. “They Went Forth” (Mark 16: 14-20). The call and command are given in this passage. The power is made clear and somewhat in detail, but the significant thing is that they actually went forth to preach. The response of these early Christians was immediate and enthusiastic. Would that such a spirit had characterized the church through all the generations since then, for if it had, the commission would long since have been carried out. Dr. R. A. Torrey has estimated that if everyone in a church of 2,000 were to win one soul a year, and each convert win one soul each year, the world would be evangelized in less than 35 years. But while on the whole the church has failed, there have been valiant souls all down through its history who have given themselves to the business of soul-winning. With them, as with these of the first century, the secret is ever “The Lord working with them.” We read that as He was leaving this earth and His disciples, He lifted up His hands—--111. “And He . . . Blessed Them” (Luke 24:49-53). God has always honored those who in faith have obeyed His command. The whole history of missionary endeavor bears eloquent testimony to that fact. Sometimes we marvel at the success of a great movement, such as that founded by John Wesley. The answer is that God found a man, or a little group of men or women, willing to take Him at His word and step out in earnest purpose to obey Him. “For forty years John Wesley carried on his mission of canvassing for Christ ‘as a parliamentary candidate canvasses for votes in his constituency in the strenuous three weeks before an election’ ” (Arnold’s Commentary). Little wonder that with the blessing of Christ upon his work brings joy to many even to this day. Note that the disciples who had been made sad and despondent by their parting with Christ at Calvary now went away in joy. The joy of the Lord is the strength of the Christian worker. It gives him abundant grace and power in the hour of need and makes him a fruitful servant..