RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
By: R. Allan Anderson
"No one has said that we shall find perfection in any man's investigations; but this I do know, that our churches are dying for the want of teaching on the subject of righteousness by faith in Christ, and on kindred truths." —Gospel Workers, p. 301.
Notice, the Lord's messenger does not say our churches are dying for want of work, or of better buildings, or of money. No! "Our churches are dying for the want of teaching on the subject of righteousness by faith." This is surely a challenge to us. We have been teaching our people, but all too many are still famishing for the true bread of life. Every sermon we preach should be couched in language that sets forth the tremendous truth of righteousness by faith. And this should be more than just a doctrine. Instead, every doctrine should either stem from or lead to this revelation of God's provision for lost men. The whole gospel is righteousness by faith, and we should study to discover ways of leading our people, not to burnt-out pastures, but into green pastures, where by the still waters they can know the joy of soul restoration.
TRAINING THE LOCAL ELDER
By: Ben Glanzer
As a church we have an excellent practice of ordaining local elders for their special duties in the church. But are we not forget ting something? Ordination alone will not fit them for their duties. True, they may have had a great deal of experience, but would it not be well for the pastor now and then to plan a class of instruction for his present and prospective local elders, and perhaps include all church officers?
Those of you who" make a practice of this know that your church officers welcome the opportunity of starting the new year with a series of instruction classes. Worship, church activities, the purpose and techniques of campaigns, are themes that can be made intensely interesting. Why not try such a plan where possible, setting aside a night or two a week for a month or six weeks? Classes in public Bible reading can also prove a real inspiration, when local elders and others can practice reading the Bible before the group and then receive helpful suggestions from the pastor and the members of the class. And even the method of announcing a hymn might be a part of this classwork. The art of leading worship services is vital. And included in this you could study how to pray in public. Sample prayers might well be written out and studied.
R. Allan Anderson, our editor and secretary of the General Conference Ministerial Association, teaches such a class in the Theological Seminary here at our headquarters. His syllabus opens up this tremendous field, and is available at cost ($.75) to those pastors who might wish to "brush up" on this subject or who might like to give some thought to organizing such a class in their churches. If you are interested, address the Ministerial Association, General Conference of S.D.A., Washington 12, D.C.
"BUT GOD . . ."
By: R. Allan Anderson
Real preaching is not the setting forth of the ideas of men but rather the proclamation of the mighty acts of God. We need to remember this, for it is easy for us to make our sermons a magnification of the might and power of evil rather than a revelation of the mighty power of God. To trace the tragedy of the centuries, to set forth in lurid language the horrible deeds of Antichrist, is not truly preaching. Preachers have been called to show how God, in spite of all the efforts of the enemy, has wrought to accomplish our salvation. Not only did He do this at Calvary, but over and over again throughout the centuries He has turned the most forbidding out look into a glorious victory for the right and for the truth.
Here is an example: Joseph said, "You meant it for evil—but God——-" It is true that the wicked threaten, yet through it all God is calmly working out His eternal purpose.
When we open our evangelistic campaigns it is well if we present a positive message, painting our word picture with bold strokes, restraining more of the details. Watch the impressionist artist as he paints. He doesn't include in his picture all the feathers on the fowls, all the leaves on the trees, or all the individual blades of grass. Instead he takes his brush and by bold sweeps creates an impression.
Should not our preaching be like that? Not in verbal artistry, but in the clear setting forth of great truths, lies the power of preaching. Our work is to lead men out of darkness into light. And to do that, we must make men see what is the mystery of the gospel.
Begin by preaching in bold outline, and later you can add the necessary details. If ever it could have been argued that it was wise to fill the minds of listeners with all the frightening things of the present and the future, this certainly is not the time. Our listeners read the same newspapers and listen to the same newscasts as the preacher. What they need is not a reviewing of tragedy but a revelation of the God of love. Times are bad, and our hearers know it. We must be sure that with our interpretation of the times we bring them the comfort of the gospel. Do not feel an obligation to drag out all the skeletons from the closet or to tell all the horrifying details of the Antichrist of the ages. Lead your audience to see the plight we are in today, and then emphasize the truth by saying, "But God will lead us out of our dilemma, not only by and by, but here and now. Although man may feel himself homeless and hopeless amid a jungle of machines and untamed forces, yet God has made a way for him to get back home. Preaching becomes real when it leads men homeward.
