LOVE FOR THINGS LOST

4 18. LOVE FOR THINGS LOST. Luke 15: 1–10.

1.

Do you care more for a thing when it is lost, or when it is not lost?

2. (a) Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near to him to hear him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And he spoke to them this parable, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and hav ing lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it upon his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15: 1-7.

(b) Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. Even so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:8-10.

3. Tell the parts of the story in substantially the Bible language, and have each part reproduced and named. Associate with this loss of one out of a hundred sheep, and one out of ten pieces of money, the story of the Wayward Son (3 23; 4 12), where one of two sons is lost. Name the story.

4. Conclusion. Jesus loved good people so much that he tried to make good people out of bad ones; and so he loved bad people for the hope he had of making them good.

5. Text. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Show one or more pictures illustrating the lesson, such as Tissot's Good Shepherd, N., 33; Molitor's Lost Sheep, Wilde, 102; or Millais' Lost Piece of Silver, Wilde, 103.

7. Place in the notebooks the name of the story and its subtitles, the reference, the conclusion 4, the text 5, and the picture.

4 19. THE TALENTS. Matthew 25: 14-30.

1. How do men know whom to select for the great offices? By seeing who has done well in the little ones.

2. (a) Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven is as when a man, going into a far country, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. Straightway he that received five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. In like manner he also that received two gained other two. But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. Matthew 25: 14-18.

(b) Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst to me five talents. Lo, I have gained other five talents. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst to me two talents. Lo, I have gained other two talents. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:19-23.

THE TALENTS

(c) And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter. And I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, thou hast thine own. But his lord answered and said to him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents. For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from every one that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:24-30.

3. Tell the three parts of the story, and have each reproduced separately in scripture language, giving a brief title to each and a name to the whole story. In telling and explaining the parable, lay emphasis upon the following conclusion.

4. Conclusion. God gives us all different tasks and different powers; and we are judged by how we use our powers on our tasks.

5. Text. Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.

6. Place in the notebooks the title and subtitles, reference, conclusion 4, and text 5.

At the next period review these five "Parables of Jesus."