After this question is disposed of, ask the next question. "I now hold in my hand a letter for the Disciple who first brought another to Jesus" (Andrew.) "I hold in my hand a letter for the Disciple who was called the "Son of Thunder" the first martyr—who was he? (James.) "I have a letter for the Disciple who took Mary away from the crowd on Calvary, to his own home. Wrote five books of the New Testament and was especially dear to Jesus. Who was he? (John.) "I have a letter for the Disciple who brought the second Disciple to Jesus, Can you name him?" (Philip.) "I hold in my hand a letter for the Disciple who was an Israelite indeed and was also called Bartholomew. What was his other name?" (Nathaniel.) "I have a letter for one who was a doubter. What was his name?" (Thomas.) "I have one for the Disciple who was a collector of taxes and wrote one of the Gospels. Can you name him?" (Matthew.) "I hold in my hand a letter for a Disciple who was perhaps the brother of Matthew, and the son of Alphaeus. Can you speak his name?" (James, the son of Alphaeus.) "I have a letter for the Disciple who had three names whose father's name was James. What were his names?" (Judas Thaddeus Lebbaeus.) "I have one for a Disciple who belongs to the zealots. What was his name?" (Simon of Cana.) "I have a letter for the Disciple who committed suicide and betrayed his Lord. Who was he?" (Judas.)
This is a good scripture exercise and can be used in the number of ways. If you so desire you may fasten their envelopes on some background in full view of the audience and ask the questions a week ahead of time, so they might have time to look up the questions and come prepared to answer them. It is a good drill for children which will enable them to learn the names of the Disciples and something about each of them. Study it out well, and then try it out.
CHAPTER XXVI
THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THE CANDLE
Objects used: A Large Candle, standing for the story of Joseph and His Brethren
THERES A MESSAGE IN THE CANDLE
ONE day a candle spoke out from a shelf in a minister's study and said "I see you watching me and with your eyes you seem to say—what shall I say next to the Juniors. Listen to me and I will answer your question." And the Candle said "Well now, Mr. Preacher-man, I will take your place next Sunday and preach for you. I have a message hidden away for your people." Then I though as I watched the candle that a hidden hand, holding a lighted taper thrust itself out from the mystic land, and glowed and throbbed as a little star of light which crowned its upright form. Then said I "Now, Mr. Candle, what will you tell the people?" and it said "Hold me above your head and thus exalt me, or debase me by putting me on the floor, I will still keep on shining. In whatsoever state I am, I shine just the same. Men may honor me by placing me on the King's table before the lords and ladies, or place me in a humble cottage window, to help the pilgrim of the night to see his way onward, I will still shine. I was made to shine. It is God's will that I shine—just shine." Learn, ye people, the lesson. It is a message from the candle. This is true goodness. This is pure Christianity. This is Jesus' way—no matter where—just shine." "That is beautiful, good prophet," said I, as I drew out a golden dart from my own heart. "That arrow of light pierced me." "But," said the candle, "Do you know my true name? Well, I will tell you. My name is Joseph. I was shining long ago when the race was just tumbling over the side of the cradle of infancy. I was there and did what I ask you to do. When I was in Father Jacob's home, or in the field tending sheep, or carrying messages to my brother shepherds, or when I was hated by my home folks, or cast into the pit with creeping things and devouring mouths, or sold into Egypt as a slave, or robed in grandeur as a mighty ruler with Pharaoh, or when I was covered with the poisonous lies, or cast down into prison, or when I stood before Pharaoh, and made clear his dreams, or when I was exalted to Pharaoh's side, and lived in untold glory, or when I met my brethren who sold me into slavery, and with whom I could even up the old score and sore, or when I stood face to face with my dear old father in Egypt land, and found myself and the boys and home folks all united under the royal canopy of Pharaoh's care, I just kept on shining all the time. Up or down, in or out, over or under—just shining all the time. Go thou and do likewise." Then I saw the mystic hand come out from dreamland, and remove the white robed priest, and I heard him exclaim as he was removed out of sight—"Here endeth the sermon of the white candle." When at last my thought spoke out, I said, "God was with the white minister and his message was like an echo of the sermon on the mount." To visualize the lesson, place a plain candle on the table, and be seated a little distance from it. Secure a good reader, who will not be in sight, to speak the part the candle says, and you in turn make the answer. Make it a dialogue with the object.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
Objects used: A Tall Candle and a Stub of a Candle