PREACHING TO CHILDREN by E. A. Baker

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 18, 1880

PREACHING TO CHILDREN.

By E. A. Baker

This was the topic at one of the Monday morning "Ministers' meetings," in this place (Minneapolis, Minn.), and was very ably discussed, all present taking part in the discussion. The pastors were unanimous that the "lambs" must be fed; that the children have claims on the Christian teacher, and that the minister of Christ cannot afford to forget the "little ones" in his ministration in holy things. Three methods of accomplishing this very desirable object were suggested:—

1. That a five-minute sermon be addressed to the children before the regular Sabbath morning discourse.

2. That special lectures or sermons be preached for children monthly, or otherwise, to suit necessity and convenience.

3. That much of the lofty style, and pomp of learning, and book phrases be driven from the pulpit, and that men be natural, plain and simple; that they make the truth so simple that the smallest capacity in the congregation can understand it, and by doing this there need be no fear but that the learned and refined will discover the way of life.

In addition to this, let there be a part of each discourse directed particularly to the children present. May the Lord stir up all our hearts to look after the children under our care. Oaks are hard to bend—anything may be done with twigs, comparatively.—E. A. Baker.