Tools-high quality, sharp, shining, well-kept, multiple-use tools ! What would a workman, no matter how skilled or experienced, do without them? Tools suited to every need and made for every contingency—hammers, squares, saws, planes, chisels, braces, bits, drills of every size, crowbars, snips, pliers, and wrenches—tools for every purpose and every emergency. How would a carpenter ever build without them? How could he lay out and construct the foundation? How could he erect a strong superstructure and crown it with a sturdy roof? How could he lay the floors and frame out the windows and doors and put on the base, the trim, and the molding if he did not have his tools?
Tools for preachers, teachers, Bible instructors—high-quality, sharp, shining, multiple-use, well-kept tools. What would we do without them? What can a gospel worker do without a well-rounded range of books—books specifically suited to his needs; books prepared for every contingency. He needs books for his own soul, and books for helping others—books on preaching with power; on .effective sermon building ; on the Book of books; on the all-sufficiency of the everlasting gospel; on the distinctive 'features of our faith; on the changing times and our adaptation thereto; on the Spirit of pfophecy for remnant-church counsel and guidance; on the historical, scientific, and archaeological support of the faith; on missions; on health and temperance; on pastoral, evangelistic, and Bible instructor problems; on the science of public work; on the art of personal work; on the basic larger import of the prophecies; on Christ-centered preaching; on prayer and the Holy Spirit; on service; on more effective speech; on pastoral counseling and on Biblical problems.
Lo, these are but part of the range of imperative tools that the gospel worker needs, and which have fortunately been made available through our annual Ministerial Reading Course. What a godsend this provision has been and is ! Every field listed, and many more besides, has been covered in the past twenty years for the benefit of our denominational workers, at the rate of four or five a year. The majority of these have been specifically prepared by our strongest and most experienced and successful men, and some from specialists not of our faith. Years of toil and preparation lie behind each one of them. These have then been made available in attractive and enduring form.
No other movement in the entire history of the Christian church has gone to such pains to help its preachers. None other has ever put such an investment of time, thought, and money into systematic help for its worker group. Fortunate the lot of the Seventh-day Adventist worker today. And happy the provision for 1948. No stronger, better balanced, and practical set of reading course books has ever been presented to the field. These books encompass a definition and defense of the faith, a fresh study of the Spirit of prophecy in operation, our ministerial accountability and opportunity on revival preaching, and a study on the Bible as literature. Practical, diversified, interesting, and up-to-the-minute, they are bound to stimulate and to strengthen, inform, and inspire.
We cannot but be better workmen for God for having read and studied them. Come one and come all—to change the figure—to the feast of good things provided. It is indeed a satisfying and nourishing banquet—all the way from soup to dessert. This is your formal invitation. Enroll now, for all things are ready. Every book in this set will be ready. There will be no delays, no split sets this year. You will never regret the time and the investment. Let us march on together. There is power and progress in this united study plan for the Advent workers. There is increasing strength in this cumulative study plan. We are counting on you.
