Church Missionary Work

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 11, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 50.

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Church Missionary Work

The Fourth Sabbath Home Missionary Service, Dec. 27, 1913

Suggestive Program

OPENING SONG: “Christ in Song,” No. 395.

PRAYER.

BIBLE STUDY: Missionary Work.

SONG: “Christ in Song,” No. 583.

READING: “Sowing Beside All Waters.”

READING: “A Missionary Revival.”

REPORTS of work done by members.

PLANS for work.

COLLECTION for home missionary work.

CLOSING SONG: “Christ in Song,” No. 396.

BENEDICTION.

Missionary Work

1. WHAT is the object of missionary work? Luke 19:10; Acts 26:18.

2. How many should take part in this work? 2 Kings 7:9; Judges 5:23; Matt. 25:25–27.

3. What motive should actuate those who engage in it? Luke 16:5; 2 Cor. 5:14; Ps. 116:12.

4. In what ways may all help? Isa. 6:8; 2 Cor. 1:11; Prov. 3:9.

5. In whose strength is the work performed? John 15:5; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:13.

6. What should be the spirit of those who enter upon the work? 1 Chron. 29:9.

7. What will be the reward of the workers? Prov. 11:25; Job 29:13; Matt. 25:23.

8. What will be the result of the work? Matt. 24:14; Hab. 2:14.

Sowing Beside All Waters

THE commission that Christ gave to his disciples was not merely for the building up of his cause in a few places. Every nation in the earth was to have the light of sacred truth. The churches that have not been light-bearers to some needy part of the Lord’s vineyard have failed to fulfil the commission of Christ.

Had the money and labor that have been given to the cause in other lands been confined to the work in the home land, the church would have lost materially in spiritual life. God has been honored by the work that has been done for the people in distant lands. We must increase our liberalities to missions. And while we increase our labor and gifts for foreign fields, we must not neglect the work that needs to be done at home.

Our field is the world. Repeat it again and again: Our field is the world. We rejoice for those who have made a willing offering of their property to the Lord. We encourage all to help with their means in the cause of God. Christians who are fully awake to the needs of the work will not spend the Lord’s money needlessly. They will consider the great missionary field to be worked, and, viewing their obligations in the light of the cross of Calvary, they will consider no sacrifice too great to make for him who gave his life for the life of the world.

The Lord is calling upon his people to take up different lines of missionary work. Church-members are to do evangelistic work in the homes of their friends and neighbors who have not received full evidence of the truth. The presentation of the truth in love and sympathy, from house to house, is in harmony with the instruction that Christ gave to his disciples when he sent them out on their first missionary tour. By songs of praise to God, by humble, heartfelt prayers, by simple presentation of Bible truth in the family circle, many will be reached. The divine Worker will be present to send conviction to hearts. “I am with you alway,” is his promise. With the assurance of the abiding presence of such a helper, we may labor with faith and hope and courage.

All who surrender themselves to God in unselfish service for humanity are in cooperation with the Lord of glory. This thought sweetens all toil, it braces the will, it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall. Working with unselfish heart, ennobled by being partakers of Christ’s sufferings, sharing his sympathies, they help swell the tide of his joy, and bring honor and praise to his exalted name.

Precious are God’s promises to those who minister in his name. He says, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.” Thy light shall rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

MRS. E. G. WHITE.