Sabbath Services Evangelistic Opportunities

Sabbath services afford an opportunity that all too often is not taken advantage of. Is there a way we can present our cardinal doctrines during this part of the service?

H. O. OLSON, Field Director, Narcotic Education, Southern California Conferenc

In many places it is becoming extremely dif­ficult to attract the public to a series of eve­ning meetings. Some ministers are heard to say that through Bible studies in the homes, and not through preaching, the work must be fin­ished. No one will dispute the importance of Bible studies in the home. This certainly has an important place in the winning of souls for Christ, as do also radio broadcasting and tele­casting, medical evangelism, and literature evangelism. But preaching can be and still is the most effective means of spreading the Ad­vent message. All other things are aids.

Sabbath services afford an opportunity that all too often is not taken advantage of. Present­ing the cardinal doctrines of the Advent mes­sage calls for special preparation, if one would keep the service in a definitely worshipful mood. But when well done, such a plan does much to establish our own people in these vital fundamental truths. Many who formerly heard these truths presented forcefully by enthusiastic evangelists have through the years become hazy in their understanding of the message, and often quite casual in their attitude toward it.

A few months ago one of our brethren said to me that he felt very weak on Adventist doc­trines. "Six years ago," he said, "I joined the Adventist Church, coming from another church. There we heard doctrines; but good though the sermons have been in the Adventist Church, they have been no different from sermons I could hear on Sundays in other Protestant churches. I feel starved for the Adventist ser­mons that brought me into the Adventist Church." Such may not be the general condi­tion of the members, but all too many are somewhat lukewarm.

When the great preacher and writer, Harry Rimmer, was pastor of a large Presbyterian church in Duluth, Minnesota, he preached a series of Sunday morning sermons on "The High Lights of the Westminster Confession." These were advertised in the newspapers, this general subject being given. I attended one of these services and found the church filled to capacity. I learned that each Sunday the meet­ing was equally well attended. The subject pre­sented that day was "Baptism."

Could we not in our churches advertise a series of sermons under a general subject such as "The High Lights of the Protestant Refor­mation," and present the great doctrines that have made us a people, showing how each truth was emphasized by some leader and how its rediscovery led to the rise of a new religious movement? The subject could be "The High Lights of Adventist Belief." If such a series of messages was advertised, it could well create an unusual interest on the part of some who have never heard our message, and at the same time help to warm the hearts of our own dear people. Where such a program has been fol­lowed there have been gratifying results.

Nothing so stirs our people as to hear "the good old Advent message" as they sometimes say. But special care must be exercised in plan­ning such a program. One large church doubled its membership in three years, largely by this method of what might be regarded as Sabbath morning evangelism. At the close of practically every Sabbath sermon an altar call was made, and the invitation was given for those to come forward who knew God was calling them, and thus signify their desire to serve and obey Him. Those who responded were placed in the bap­tismal class. And without exception every such call for surrender brought some response.

Not every pastor could work in this way. But the plan has real possibilities. It takes much thought and preparation to preserve the spirit of deep devotion and at the same time to preach an inspiring evangelistic sermon. A pro­gram of this kind presents a real challenge, but such a challenge accepted will bring real bless­ings to the preacher and the congregation. The spirit of true worship does not need to be de­stroyed because some great doctrine is being unfolded. On the contrary, if we rightly understand our doctrines, we will see them all in their relation to our exalted Lord and Saviour and radiating from Him, and our hearers will be led to worship Him who is Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus

H. O. OLSON, Field Director, Narcotic Education, Southern California Conferenc

March 1957

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

The Worker's Greatest Need

The unction of the Holy Spirit as the key ingredient to effective evangelism.

Hinduism Needs the Gospel

How to win Hindus for Christ

Needed: Giants for God

The need for men who can appropriate the promises of God and make their stewardship count is urgent.

Public Relations

A review at the events of the North American Public Relations Council.

The School of Graduate Studies

Meeting the changing standards and needs of educations.

The Lord's Prayer

A look at John 17 and Christ's intercessory prayer for His disciples.

Beware of Mechanizing the Bible Study

A look at a special danger that we are facing in our missionary endeavor--the presentation of our message by means of projectors and recorders.

Preaching a Christ-Centered Gospel

Presenting the distinctive truths of the third angel's message with more emphasis on Christ.

Japan's Open Door

We should now feel the responsibility of laboring with intense earnestness to impart to others the truths that God has given for this time.

The Gift of Tongues

In view of the interest concerning the gift of tongues and its relationship to the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, it is most timely that we search the Scriptures diligently to learn the truth concerning the bestowal of this sacred gift and its place in the furtherance of the gospel.

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up

Recent issues

See All