Plain Sermons

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 23, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 37.

"Plain Sermons." A volume of twenty discourses offered to the reader by Daniel Sommer, a preacher of the gospel of Christ. Published by Daniel Sommer, Indianapolis, Indiana.

It is not often that books of sermons are very interesting; but to the one religiously inclined, these sermons are strengthening, helpful, and interesting. What Dr. Sommer has to say is said in a very plain way, easily understood. The sermons are readable, and some of them are strong. Here are some of the titles, for instance: "Is the Bible an Up-to-Date Book?" "Is the Bible a Defensible Book?" "Paul's Example of Personal Discipline;" "The Highest Motive for Doing Good;" "The Meaning of Belief in Christ;" "Infallibility in Religion;" "The Fairness of Truth;" "God's Purpose in Placing Men on Trial." The two things which Mr. Sommer has emphasized, perhaps, beyond others, is the all-sufficiency of the Bible, and the fact that immersion is baptism. On page 38 we note that he goes out of his way to give a wrong construction to Deut. 5:15; but on the whole the sermons are loyal to the Word, helpful, and uplifting. He points out the dangerous tendencies there are in the church at the present time; cites the instances of those who would like to join a certain church if they were religious, because the church does not see any harm in dancing, and of those who thought of joining a church but wished to know if the church had any objection to playing cards. Mr. Sommer believes, and certainly the Bible teaches, that God's purpose in creating man is to bring man into perfect harmony with His will, so that God's will shall be his delight, and man shall glorify Him with a character like his divine Lord.