came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ií For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. WHe was the woman mentioned v. 7? vs. 4, 5 Who was born there? v.7. Mat. 1: 18-25 What was a manger? ANS. A stable. Why was he laid in a manger? v. 7, 1. c. Why did the Lord of life and glory come into the world in so humble and mean a condition? 2 Co. 8: 9. How are we made rich by his poverty? Ga. 4:4, 5. Ro 8: 17. 1 Pet 1: 4. What did they call his name? Mat. 1: 25. What is the meaning of Jesus? ANS. A Savior. Who were there in the same country? v. 8. What are shepherds? ANs. Persons employed in keeping sheep. What were they doing by night? Who came upon them? v. 9. What shone round about them? How did they feel? What did he bring them? If you were in prison, condemned to death, what would you call the news of pardon? In what condition are we all by nature? Ro. 5:18. Ga. 3:10. Through whom can we have pardon? Ep. 1: 7. What then should we call the news of his birth? To whom did the angel say these good tidings should be What did he mean by all people? Ro. 9: 24. Who did he say was born that day? v 1. In what place was he born? What city was that? 1 Sa. 20: 28, 29. What is a Savior? Is. 19: 20, 1. c. He 5: 9. A: 15. What need have we of a Savior? Mat. 18:11. Ro. 3: 23 Who did the angel say the Savior was? v. 11, 1. c. What was Christ anointed to do? ch. 4: 18, 19. What sign did the angel give the shepherds, to prove hi words true? v. 12. What was there suddenly with the angel? v. 13. What is meant by the heavenly host? Ps. 103: 20, 21. What interest do the angels take in the salvation of man kind? He. 1: 14. 1 Pe. 1: 11, 12. What were this multitude of the heavenly host doing? v. 13, 1. c. What did they say? v. 14. How did the birth of Christ bring glory to God in the highest? Is. 40: 5. Ph. 1: 11. How does the coming of Christ bring peace on earth? Ro. 5: 1. How does it show good will to men? Jn. 3: 16. 1 Jn. 4:10. What must you do, in order to have peace in Christ? Ac. 3: 19. Jn. 3: 18. LESSON XIII. The New Heart. JN. III. 3-8. 3 Jesus answered and said unto nim, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, ne cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unte thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Ye must be born again. 6 The wind bioweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound WITH Whom was Jesus talking? v. 1. What did he say unto him? v. 3. What is the kingdom of God? ANS. The reign of Christ, in the hearts of his people, in his church, and in his kingdom of glory in heaven. What does reign mean? ANS. To rule or govern. What is it to be born again? Ep. 4: 24. Is there any good in us, by nature? Ge. 6: 5. Can we then have any righteousness, till we are born again? Ro. 3: 10. Can we have any peace, till we are born again? Is. 57: 21. Can we have any joy in the Holy Ghost, till we are born again? vs. 5, 36, 1. c. If the kingdom of God is not set up in our hearts on earth, can we enter into his kingdom of glory above? Re. 21: 1, 2, 27. What did Nicodemus say unto him? How did Jesus answer him? What is it to be born of water? Mat. 28: 19. Ti. 3: 5. Can any one enter into the church of Christ on earth, without being baptized? Does Christ require all his followers to be baptized? Mar. 16: 16, f. c. Ac. 2: 38. Can any one enter into the kingdom of God, by being born of water, if he is not also born of the Spirit? v. 5. What is it to be born of the Spirit? Ro. 8: 14-16. 1 Co. 6: 11. What is that which is born of the flesh? v. 6. What is meant by flesh? Ga. 5: 19—21. With what dispositions do we come into the world? Ps. 51: 5. Can we do any thing pleasing to God, till the natural dis positions of our hearts are changed? Ro. 8: 7, 8. What is that which is born of the Spirit? At what did Jesus tell Nicodemus not to marvel? What is it to marvel? ANS. To wonder. Ought we to wonder that Christ should say we must be born again, when there is no good in us by nature? What does the wind do? What do we hear? What cannot we tell? What is like this? Can you hear the wind blow? Can you see it? Can you see any thing that the wind does, when it blows? Can you tell how the wind works, to shake the trees, when you cannot see it? Do you ever doubt that the wind blows, because you cannot see it? Can you see the Holy Spirit? Jn. 1: 18. Can you feel his influences in your heart? Can you tell how he works, to change our hearts? What dispositions does he work in us, when he changes our hearts? Ga. 5: 22, 23. How then are the operations of the Spirit like the wind? How may you have the Holy Spirit? Lu. 11: 13 LESSON XIV, Conviction. Lu. xvii. 9-13. 9 And he spake this parable unto | are, extortioners, unjust, adultercertain which trusted in them-ers, or even as this publican. solves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men 12 I fast twice in the week, 1 give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. UNTO whom did Christ speak this parable? Is it certain that people are good, because they do not see themselves to be sinners? Pr. 30: 12. Why are we in danger of being deceived about our selves? Je. 17: 9. What does the Bible say of him that trusts in his own heart? Pr. 28: 26, f. c. What does God say of those that think they are better than others? Is. 65: 5, 1. c. Did Christ come to save those that do not feel sensible that they are sinners? Mar. 2: 17. If you think you are not a sinner, can you feel your need of a Savior, who came to save us from our sins? Will Christ save those that trust to their own righteousness? Ro. 10: 3. What righteousness must we have, to be saved? Ph. 3:9. Who went up into the temple to pray? v. 10. What was a Pharisee? ANs. One who took pride in having others think him very religious. What was a publican? Ans. Publicans were collectors of taxes-men who were generally despised. How did the Pharisee pray? What did he thank God for? With whom did he compare himself? Did he think he was better than the publican? Was he any better, in the sight of God, than the publi can, whom he despised? Mat. 23: 25-27. What did he say, in praise of himself? v. 12. If you were to fast twice a week, would that save you? Mat. 5: 20. If you were to pray all the time, would that recommend you to God? Pr. 28: 9. While your heart is not changed, can you do any thing to recommend you to God? Ro. 8: 8. How did the publican feel, when he came to pray? v. 13. Where did he stand? If he had thought as well of himself as the Pharisee did, do you think he would have stood afar off? Why do you suppose he would not lift up his eyes to heaven? When you have injured another, do you like to look him in the face? When a person sees how great his sins against God are, how does he feel about looking up before his Maker i Da. 9: 8. |