Minister-Layman Series
By the editors
With this issue of The MINISTRY we start a series of articles by Arthur E. Lickey on the general topic of minister-layman cooperation in soul winning. As a pastor of long experience in our large city churches, as well as in districts of churches, Elder Lickey has developed practical plans in the training and directing of laymen in cooperation with his public work.
Most of our workers know that Elder Lickey is the author of the 20th Century Bible Lessons used in our local conference correspondence schools in America, as well as in other sections of the world field. These courses total fifty les sons, giving a well-rounded-out presentation of the gospel message for our day. More and more these courses are being used by both ministers and laymen, and this series of articles lays out a program for the use of these and other les sons for minister-layman cooperative work.
Course A of ten lessons is designed to arouse interest and to present the fundamental principles of personal salvation, along the lines of Steps to Christ. Our evangelists are finding these lessons of outstanding value. They are obtainable also in filmstrips of natural color at the Mayse Studio. (See announcement, p. 53.)
Course I of thirty lessons is the main doctrinal course presenting our message. As in the case of Course A, it abounds in illustrations, and provides material to round out a presentation in addition to the text given.
Course II of ten lessons is a baptismal class set. It is also available in natural-color strips at the Mayse Studio, and is very practical for a fifteen- or twenty-minute class conducted before a public meeting on any given night. It is also practical for a full hour class.
All these courses come with folded lessons, punched for a three-ring notebook, 6 by 9*4 inches. Test papers are detachable, and appropriate certificates are available upon completion of the various courses.
Plans for the use of these lessons by workers, laymen, and young people in a variety of ways are discussed in Elder Lickey's new book The Minister-Layman Movement.
The series of articles in THE MINISTRY, beginning this month, will lay out the general groundwork, together with specific plans for minister-layman cooperation.
All supplies for this work are available through the regular Book and Bible House channels.
Pivotal Points of Time
By ARTHUR E. LICKEY, Author of the Tzventieth Century Bible Courses
Blessed is the man who in the work of God believes that "to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Eccl. 3:1. Few things can give more soul satisfaction and bring more concentrated power than to believe that you were born to fulfill a mission, and that you are, to the best of your ability, working in harmony with that sacred purpose. Oscar Rennebohm, governor of Wisconsin, once said, "Let no cynic tell you that j'ou were born at the wrong time. Rather let the historian someday say of you, thankfully, that you came to us precisely when we needed you most."
Every worker for God has the privilege of knowing that he is doing the work he should be doing, at the time he should be doing it, and to some degree in the way it should be done. "It is the essence of all true faith to do the right thing at the right time in the right way."
This is an exact picture of Christ, His life, and His work. "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son." Gal. 4:4. As Christ went forth in His public ministry He proclaimed, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1115. With this consciousness of His divine mission Christ launched His work with such zeal and intensity of purpose that His disciples recalled the saying of David, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." John 2:17. To these chosen men He said, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4.
Again He urged, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth." Mark 1138. Later He took another step forward in His plans. It is recorded in Luke 10:1: "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come." The plans of Christ were simple, but progressive, with definite forward steps taken with definite aim. In the work of God today there are likewise pivotal points of time when the methods and plans for soul winning are to swing to special emphasis on certain specific ways of working.
We all recall the situation of World War II. Blackouts, gas rationing, and long hours of labor made our regular, full-time evangelistic program extremely difficult. What occurred? The Voice of Prophecy went nationwide and more. Local broadcasting took on new life. The Voice of Prophecy Bible Correspondence School and the 2Oth Century local conference correspondence schools sprang into existence. Where is a Seventh-day Adventist today who does not believe that the almost phenomenal response to this specialized effort was not foreseen of God? It was timed to the need and the hour.
With the wonder of local, national, and international radio, and the thrilling stories of Bible correspondence schools, a great temptation came. It always comes with added gifts. It has been easy for us to convince ourselves that if we simply passed out enrollment cards, the radio angel and the correspondence school angel — one flying in the air and the other riding the trains and planes — would finish the work by themselves.
God bless the two good angels. May their wings be extended, and their flight becomes more widespread. Undoubtedly television will next be added to our program. But in addition to this remarkable program, God given and God blessed, the time is here, we believe, for a yet greater preaching of the message by ministers in the pulpit, and by laymen and preachers who come face to face with men and women.
The Next Forward Stride
It is my sincere conviction that the next great forward stride, the next pivotal point of time, is minister and laymen cooperation, in a signal effort under God to bring the final preaching of this everlasting gospel.
"With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our cooperation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man." — The Desire of Ages, p. 297."The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church- membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers." — Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 117.
Every minister will agree that this must mean more than putting out handbills, attending our preaching services, and following the general routine. Laymen are to perform a mighty work in teaching the truth to others. Upon us as ministers rests the primary responsibility to train and direct laymen in this service. The time is here for this work. The season is immediately upon us. "The work that centuries might have done must crowd the hours of setting sun."
Juniors' Corner in Sermon
By L. M. NELSON, M.V'. Secretary, Southern Union Conference
There is a crying need in many of our churches for pastors and elders who will take a more active interest in the boys and girls. The messenger of the Lord has counseled us that there should be a corner in every sermon for the children. Many times we feel inadequate to prepare junior sermons because of the common idea that they are difficult to secure. But junior sermons are of a simple nature, and very easy to prepare and deliver.
The following junior sermon is a typical ex ample of how easy and simple such a sermon may be, and yet it is filled with lessons of interest to both young and old. All that is needed is a bag of seven apples and a jackknife.
"This morning, boys and girls, I have something of interest to all. In this bag is something that every junior likes, especially around dinnertime! Perhaps you will think I am an old 'Meany' to show you these just before dinner, but I am wondering whether any boy or girl can tell me what is in this bag. Let me see your hands. Yes, here is a boy. Apples! Right you are. I wonder how you could smell them that far away. You must really be hungry. Now let us see how many apples there are in this bag. I want every junior to count them as I place them on the edge of the pulpit. One, two, three, four, five, six, and seven. Seven beautiful apples!
"Now can you tell me what it is that every boy and girl has that is equal to seven apples. That is right. Seven days in the week. There is [pointing to each apple in the line] Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Fri day, and this last one is the Sabbath. If these apples were really the days of the week, how many of them would be ours to do with as we please? Six of them. Isn't the Lord good to us? Jesus is not selfish at all. He gives us six apples, and asks that we give Him only one, the seventh—the Sabbath."
Our Lord is not selfish as some boys and girls that I know. They usually keep everything for themselves. In watching such children one soon discovers that they are selfish with God. They take each of the six days for work and play, and then when the Sabbath comes they want that too! I want you to watch carefully as I cut this apple, representing the Sabbath, into three parts, so you will understand what I am talking about. Now, then, this section represents Friday evening, and this part is Sabbath morning, and of course this piece is Sabbath afternoon.
"Just now I'm thinking of several juniors who would never think of missing Sabbath school or church and giving out literature on Sabbath afternoon, but before Friday night comes, what a different story! They forget to shine their shoes, to get the wood in, and sometimes even forget to take their bath before sun down, and so they take one third of God's apple, or the Sabbath, and seem content to give God only the other two thirds. [Hold up the sections to illustrate.] Isn't that a dreadful thing to do to Jesus?"
I know of other juniors who are very careful to make sure that all is ready when the sun goes down Friday evening. Yes, sir! They are all cleaned up, and everything is in order, while they sit quietly for family worship. But would you believe it—when Sabbath morning comes around they just can't get out of bed in time to get dressed for Sabbath school or church, and so they stay home, and they too rob God. They take out this part of the apple, and give God what is left.
"There is still another type of junior I've run across who is always faithful to see that Friday night is carefully kept holy. He is always 'at Sabbath school on time and pays good attention in church. But after dinner he decides that God has had enough, so he takes this part out of the apple, and hands God the rest. He runs out to play ball and ride his 'bike,' and forgets all about the Sabbath.
"Boys and girls, don't you think we ought to give God every bit of the apple? I believe that all the Sabbath is His. We should not be selfish. God has given us six wonderful days, but the seventh is His. How many junior boys and girls will lift their hands with me and say, 'I want to give all of the Sabbath to Jesus?' "
Do you, as leaders, long to see the children and even the youth respond to your preaching services? Then try the children's sermon before you preach next Sabbath. Watch the difference. Do not make it any longer than three to five minutes, and then thrill with joy as Johnny and Mary and Sue gather around you at the close and whisper, "My, but that was a good sermon today."
