The Preacher was wise. . . . The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words" (Eccl. 12:9, 10, R.V.).
This is your hour!
Days of preparation are ended. Careful study completed. The Holy Spirit's unction is invited. Today, alert in mind and body, you bear God's message to the people. Today you are their teacher, their prophet, their seer, their apostle. Through you this day God speaks to all a message from heaven. No human fantasy will pass your lips; you will speak only what you believe to be a divinely given and inspired message.
As you stand in the pulpit you are conscious that this is your calling. You could not, dare not, be anything but a preacher. Thought races after thought. Words tumble over each other crying eagerly in your mind, "Use me, use me!" Quickly you select or reject, placing in lucid, forceful order each word, each idea, each sentence. This is the fruitage of careful preparation, of experience and the assurance of God's presence with you. You are a preacher of the gospel. This is your calling. It is life itself. For this brief hour you are God's man. Through "the foolishness of preaching" some this day will be led closer to the divine will for man.
Now! Mr. Preacher, meet your congregation!
Most of them you know by name, almost all by sight. You have met them at the door of the church many times, at their homes, and in social gatherings. But, Mr. Preacher, have you really met your congregation? Come, let me tell you some more about some of them.
Brother Robinson you know, of course. He was an Adventist years before you were born. He knew some of the old pioneers personally. He has watched the work of God grow with the pattern of changing years. One by one his friends and contemporaries have passed off the scene. He is old and lonely. The pace of modern events has left him behind. Today he has come to hear again of the old paths, to learn of the promises he loves so deeply. Mr. Preacher, spare a word or two in your sermon for the old, the widowed, the lonely. His Amens are fervent and loud when you speak of the triumph of God's cause. He is one of God's saints. Feed him and you will feed well all your people.
"You know me, Pastor. I am the woman wearing the large hat in the third row from the front. The way has been, and is, hard for me.
One of my sons is buried in France, another was lost in Korea. Events have made my husband bitter and disillusioned. He scoffs at religion and 'your God'—as he puts it. This week has been especially difficult. This morning my husband reviled me for coming to church. 'What good does it do you or me?' he asked. 'It won't bring the boys back.' I don't ask for much, Pastor, just a word or two, some hope, a promise that I can take with me through the week. Something that will help me overcome the temptation to doubt and to be discouraged. Have you something in your sermon for me today?"
See that line of young people near the back, Pastor? They don't talk much to you, do they? Most of them are the children of Adventists. Brought up in the church, you might think they are safe for the church. They all come to Sabbath school and church and almost all of them attend MV meeting. Tonight they will be at the church's social gathering. But in that row of youngsters there is a problem for every person. Some problems are small, some large. Stewart and Carol are attending movies. Peter is losing out because of reading novels and comics. Jimmy, the elder's son, is facing a real temptation. He is a research chemist, remember? This week his firm offered him promotion and a big raise in salary if he will work on Sabbaths for a few weeks on a special project.
Oh, they are wonderful young people. They will follow you anywhere. They love a challenge. What such an army of youth rightly trained could accomplish is beyond our comprehension. And they want to be good, they want to do what is right. In your life, in your message today they unconsciously will be looking for the challenge of the living Christ. Is it there for them?
"Of course you know me, Pastor. Tom Bagnall, your biggest tithepayer, bastion of the church, elder, financial contributor number one. Business is good, profits are too. I will be glad to help with the new organ. It gives me a good feeling to be able to help. I sent $500 to the conference for mission work this week. You do not know it, but this week I faced one of the biggest crises that I have ever met in all my life. A business acquaintance of mine offered me shares in a big deal. Plenty of profit for us both and not much work. Would have meant a lot for the church too. But there was something about the tax angle that worried me. I didn't say Yes straight off. Took the proposition home and thought about it—and also prayed about it. It was something that you said some weeks ago that decided me against the partnership. You helped win that victory, believe me, Pastor. Have you got something for me today that will help in the temptations and pressure of business?"
"I don't know if you know us, Pastor. John and Mary Barker—the new people.
We came to church to get away from a problem. This is a new start for us. A few weeks ago our marriage seemed broken, a divorce certain. Only the church held us together. And we need help, desperately need it. Please, Pastor, give it to us today."
Mr. Preacher, see that mother and father there. Know them? You married them, and you dedicated their three children. They have been Adventists all their lives but that does not mean that they have no problems. Three children under the age of five is problem enough. They are trying to bring up those children the right way. But the mother is so tired, and there is not too much money to spare. They are easily discouraged, but a little help makes all the difference. Last week one of the children got out of hand a little in church. So the mother almost decided to stay at home this week. Seemed it was better to stay home than upset the people nearby, especially after the glares they got. In your sermon today you can put a word of encouragement that will make all the difference in their outlook.
This is just a sampling, Pastor, but there are others too. Mr. Smith is having a battle with smoking. Janos and his wife are having a hard and lonely time settling in their new country. Mrs. Thomas is to undergo heavy surgery this week. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have heard that their son who was injured in a car accident some time ago may never walk again. Harry Simpson is trying to interest his wife in the message. Then there are the boys and girls. Anything special in your sermon for them today, Pastor? Tradesmen, laborers, businessmen, professional men, secretaries, university students, housewives, old, young, middle-aged, married, widowed, and unmarried—all are looking to you today for spiritual help and guidance. They will snatch at the morsels of truth, the grains of wisdom from your lips. Under God's blessing all can this day find the help they need.
Today for thirty minutes these people will look to you as their leader, the chosen to stand between them and their God, to tell His message to their hungry hearts. Will you feed God's sheep today? Or will you just organize, promote, or regiment and do no more? Your message may be doctrinal, inspirational, or promotional; your preaching propositional, exegetical, or expository, but it must feed the sheep. Otherwise, this week they will hunger. Have you thought about the needs of your people as individuals, or have you prepared some new, startling subject?
It is a little too late now to change your sermon, Mr. Preacher, but today, whether you like it or not, you must meet your congregation.
How can we who are chosen to the highest of all callings meet the many varied needs of the flocks given to our care? There are all sorts of limitations placed upon the scope of our preaching. Campaigns, special days, the church calendar—all need to be cared for. Any congregation, whatever the size, is a challenge to a minister's ingenuity, and makes him realize his insufficiency. With such a wide variety of trades, professions, personalities, and problems, it makes the preacher very conscious of the need for divine aid in feeding the flock of God.
"'Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over His household?' Can we answer? Am I the steward, faithful to the sacred trust which is committed to me?"—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 236.
What are the principles of successful pastoral preaching that should underlie all our efforts?
1. Thorough preparation for each sermon.
"The word is the preacher's light, and as the golden oil flows from the heavenly olive tree into the bowl, it makes the lamp of life flash with a clearness and power that all will discern. Those who have the privilege of sitting under such a ministry, if their hearts are susceptible to the Holy Spirit's influence, will feel an inner life. The fire of God's love will be kindled within them."—Ibid., p. 340.
The minister "will not venture to come before the people until he has first communed with God."—Ibid. Preparation begins in the heart. It should be thorough for each sermon. Not only should our notes and Bible references be well organized, but our hearts should be thoroughly cleansed from sin. We should seek the Lord's blessing not only for the study we are to present but also for the manner in which to present it.
2. Bible-centered sermons.
Not even the Spirit of Prophecy writings should take the place of the Bible in our sermons. H. M. S. Richards tells the experience of his father, who knew Ellen G. White personally. Once he asked her how he should use the Spirit of Prophecy writings in his sermons. Her counsel was to take his sermon from the Bible. Find all the texts needed dealing with the subject, then read what the inspired writings have to say about them. Then preach from the Bible. The Spirit of Prophecy writings should be used abundantly in preparation, sparingly in preaching. Our people do not want a series of quotations from Mrs. White as their sermon for the day. The Word of God is the bread of life. She herself says, "I have words to speak to the young men who have been teaching the truth. Preach the Word." —Evangelism, p. 214. "I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. By that Word we are to be judged. God has, In that Word, promised to give visions in the 'last days'; not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth."—Early Writings, p. 78.
Our people should not be fed with a social gospel, a political treatise, an archeological survey, or a university lecture on philosophy. They need spiritual help. The fundamentals of the gospel are that which will give them what they need. Base every sermon on the Scriptures. Many sermons are built on a verse or thought from Scripture and then nothing more is given from the Word. Make sure that each presentation is interwoven with the golden thread of Holy Writ. Thus you will clothe your words with the garb of divinity. You will become more than just a man speaking to other men. You will be transformed into a man of God.
3. Christ-centered preaching.
Fundamental to all Adventist preaching is this concept: All roads through the Scripture country lead to Christ. Not that we should spend every Sabbath speaking about the life of Christ, but every doctrine, every illustration, every thought, should have the one aim of leading the hearer to recognize his dependence for salvation, life, and eternity upon Jesus. Listen again to this familiar quotation from Ellen G. White, "Theoretical discourses are essential, that people may see the chain of truth, link after link, uniting in a perfect whole; but no discourse should ever be preached without presenting Christ and Him crucified as the foundation of the gospel. Ministers would reach more hearts if they would dwell more upon practical godliness."—Gospel Workers, pp. 158, 159. "There should not a sermon be given unless a portion of that discourse is to especially make plain the way that sinners may come to Christ and be saved."—Evangelism, p. 188. "I present before you . . the Son of God uplifted on the cross. This is to be the foundation of every discourse given by our ministers."—Ibid., p. 190.
It was this that Paul spoke of when he said, "We preach Christ crucified" (1 Cor. 1:23). Jesus said. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden." When we preach Christ we will give rest to the weary, comfort to the sick, happiness to the sad. Christ can fill every need if we will just uplift Him as King and Saviour.
Around these three principles we may build the other essentials of successful preaching. Illustrations, stories, anecdotes, all will fit into your sermon. There will be a special illustration or story for the children, not as a separate entity, but woven into your preaching so that they will look for it there and not think that they are a group apart from the congregation.
Finally, remember your congregation. Think about them during your preparation, not as a sea of faces but as men and women, boys and girls, who find the way to the kingdom particularly difficult. None find it easy; some find it very hard. If you remember their complex and personal problems you will be able to help them. Of course, you cannot deal with each individual problem. You would not want to, in any case. But remembering their needs will condition your thinking and preaching so that it will uplift them and bring them closer to Christ. From the warmth of your knowledge and experience will flow comfort, healing, and inspiration.
Where I heard the legend first I do not know. It is one of many stories that came out of old India telling of the great wealth of the old rulers of that country. A British general was once visiting a maharajah who was reputed to be the wealthiest in all the country. After partaking of the hospitality of the Indian prince, the general asked a special favor.
"Sir," he said, "would you show me the most precious of all your jewels and works of art?"
Because the general was a guest and be-. cause of the prince's friendship with the British, the prince consented. Down into the great vaults of the treasure house under the palace went the two men. Through the great doors into the treasury itself. There the general gasped in amazement at the great piles of silver and gold, the works of art, and curiously wrought gold and silver filigree and idols. It was all beyond belief.
At any moment he expected the maharajah to stop and point out any one of the beautiful objects as his most prized possession. But he led him past them all—past the diadems of pearl, gleaming with their soft radiance, the barrels of diamonds, the caskets of rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Past them all—until he came to the innermost part of the vault. There from a shelf he took down a small black box.
"Here," he said, holding out the box to the general, "is my most priceless treasure. Open it and see."
With wondering heart and trembling fingers he opened the box not knowing what to expect.
"Not this! Surely not this!" he exclaimed as he looked into the box. There nestled in the rich silk was a little shriveled-up white pea. "This the treasure of the wealthiest man in the world!" thought the general.
The maharajah smiled. "Take it in your hand, so. Now place it inside your jacket and let it gather warmth from your body for a few moments. There, that's right. Now take your hand out."
With wondering awe he gazed at the object in his hand. The transformation was beyond human comprehension. No longer dead and wrinkled, it now was a pearl, gleaming and glowing with a rich translucent light. Again the prince spoke:
"It is the warmth of your heart that transforms."
If you feel with them, if you understand and know their needs, if you yourself have been held in the hand of the Christ and warmed by His great heart of love, your congregation will be warmed. More than that, through you will flow the transforming power of God's love. Weak lives will be strengthened, tired hearts refreshed, youthful vigor directed, the sorrowful comforted, the perplexed reorientated, the harried relaxed. "The Preacher was wise. . . . The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words."