Gospel Workers' Department
By A. G. Daniells
Their divine calling, qualification, and preparation. Methods of labor, plans, etc.
Conducted by A. G. DANIELLS Council of City Evangelists
The Scriptures; Their Value, Place, and Use in Preaching Our Gospel Message
ONE of the questions that received very careful consideration in the council of city evangelists was the value, the place, and the use of the Scriptures in gospel work. In placing the subject before the members of the council, the chairman called attention to the following points:— "Let us consider this question from three viewpoints: First, the value of the Bible to the worker personally; second, personal, original study of the Bible in the preparation of subjects; third, the use of the Bible in the presentation of subjects. "The whole tendency of human nature and of the age in which we live is away from the Bible. There is nothing in this world that leads toward God's Word. Everything, almost, in intellectual and commercial affairs, and also in the moral conditions around us, leads away from the Bible. How can we avoid this drift away from the Bible? How can we live without being affected by it personally, unless counter-influences work upon our minds and our hearts to lead us in the other direction? "No doubt we all realize from personal experience that the current is powerful, and that it affects us. We find a tendency to be occupied with other things rather than with the Bible. It is easier at the beginning of the day to go at our work than to take up the Book of God. We naturally swing into the busy activities ties of life rather than occupy ourselves with the Word. The pressure of the age and the strenuous conditions around us encourage this tendency. There is so much to do, so many activities of varied kinds that are pulling on us all the time, that we have to struggle to keep from drifting away from the daily, personal contact with the Scriptures. "We must fight against these influences. Seventh-day Adventist ministers should be mighty men in the Scriptures. Their ministry must be attended by the power of the Word of God. But that will be true only to the extent that the minister comes in daily, personal contact with that Word. He can not live on past experience and study. Day by day he must obtain personal instruction, help, zeal, and enthusiasm from the Scriptures. "How shall we study the Bible in the preparation of our sermons? Shall we study our subjects principally from the books that are written? or shall we use them as aids and helps as far as we can, making the Bible itself the main object of our earnest, deep study? "Then in delivering our message, what direct use shall we make of the Scriptures? Shall we swing into the general custom of a very sparse use of the Scriptures in preaching? or shall we follow closely the methods adopted by the pioneers in our cause, who made much use of the Scriptures, being so familiar with them that people who heard them were deeply impressed that these men were giving them the Word of God?" G. B. Starr: "I believe we must have the Word in our own hearts in order to preach it. We ought to make the impression upon the people that we have a message from that Book. This will give us power with the people. I believe in the old method of holding the Bible in our hands and reading from it. I believe it has a better influence if we turn with sacred reverence to the Word itself and read it just as it is written." K. C. Russell: "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.' We teach this to people, exhorting them that, if they want spiritual vitality, strength, and power, they must partake of that Word daily. I believe that it applies infinitely more to the man who delivers this message to others, and that in our tent work we must constantly be getting light and truth from the Bible. We must study the Bible alone and together, feeding on it continually, and thus receive power and inspiration from it." W. W. Prescott: "I would raise the question whether we study the Bible, or whether we study certain subjects upon which we think we must preach. When we have preached on all the subjects of a certain list, have we presented the subject, the real theme? The real subject is salvation through Jesus Christ; and when we do not teach that, no matter what we do teach, I think we get away from the real subject of the Bible. Whatever phase we may emphasize at any particular time, it seems to me that one subject we should aim to teach in every lesson is personal salvation, and how to obtain it." K. C. Russell: "I have long been impressed that we should make personal salvation stand out prominently in our evangelical work. While we are criticized for protesting against many things, it is well to let the people know that we believe19in personal salvation, as most denominations profess to believe, and that we consider that the great object of the gospel is to reach the souls of men. Personal salvation is the objective point of every subject of Scripture." C. H. Edwards: "Many of the doctrines we as a people hold, are antagonistic to the general belief of the Christian world. Many times we build up an argument for the purpose of convincing the mind and showing the distinction between truth and error, taking so much time to present arguments and build up a particular theory, that when we get to the real thing itself,—personal salvation,—the time has come to close the meeting." A. J. Clark: "There are two great subjects in the Bible that we have to give to the people to-day,—the general truth of personal salvation, and the present truth of the coming of the Lord,—and both should be made prominent." M. H. Serns: "I find that people will take an interest in the truth when they learn that we believe in personal salvation. Many who do not accept the truth are those who suppose we preach nothing but doctrine." C. S. Wiest: "I have been much interested in studying the Bible in book form, noting the relation that each book sustains to the entire Bible. I believe that every book has a peculiar setting in the Bible, and I have been concerned to know the reason why certain books have been contained in the Scriptures, and what their bearing is upon the message for to-day." C. Sorenson: "Failure in properly presenting a subject often results from failure to study the subject. Sometimes we are so anxious to have some argument and clearly cut presentation of doctrine that we fail to study the Bible as a whole. If we study the books, one by one, we shall find that each book is permeated with the idea of salvation through Christ. While we need to give definite texts, I believe we present our doctrines a little too much by piecemeal." G. B. Thompson: "I find that I can always handle my subject to better effect if I turn to the texts and read them out of the Bible, even though I may be able to quote them correctly. A great many, at least of the common people, have respect for the Bible. It is better to read texts, centering the attention of the people on the Bible. It is the most interesting book in the world. We should study it, to find not some curious thing to interest people, but that which will help the people. The study of the Scriptures should be a personal benefit to us. We should feed on the Word of God ourselves, then we can make it a great blessing to others. We should not seek to impress people with the facility with which we can quote many texts, but should rather draw their attention to the Scriptures themselves." S. B. Horton: "I shall never forget the first sermon I heard on present truth—'Man's Nature and Destiny.' The preacher presented the subject very thoroughly from the doctrinal standpoint, and then wove in practical statements, making the application, and then drawing lessons. He handled the subject in such a way that I made a covenant with the Lord that night that, if he would permit me to handle the Scriptures as that man did, I would work for him." W. M. Campbell: "I find that it makes a better impression upon the minds of the people if, when they ask questions in regard to certain subjects, I turn to the Scriptures and read to them, rather than tell them the answer myself." J. L. McElhany: "Special emphasis should be placed upon the point of reading the Word to the people and fixing their attention on what the Bible says. This appeals to me as I listen to other men preach. I believe that in our personal work, if we sit down with the people, and place the Bible in their hands and have them read the Word, it will carry great weight. Some people believe that we have a Bible of our own, different from others; and if we quote largely, they may think we are quoting from our own Bible." A. G. Daniells: "The preacher is a man with a message. His message is in the Book. He must therefore be a man with the Book—the word of the living God. He must live with that Book. He must understand and know that Book, and he must give that Book to the people. In view of the discussion we have given this subject, would it not be well to express our views in some brief, definite form?" A committee composed of G. B. Thompson, M. H. Serns, G. B. Starr, and L. T. Nicola was appointed to formulate a brief statement. They presented the following report, which was unanimously adopted:— "We are deeply impressed through the instruction given during this convention, with the importance of the proper presentation of the great gospel message, which we are commissioned to carry to all the world. We believe that our threefold message is founded directly upon the Bible, and that it will be made most effectual in warning, converting, and saving the lost when the Scriptures are made the basis of authority and appeal; and we know that we can not effectually teach the gospel to others without having by diligent study, aided by the Holy Spirit, acquired a personal knowledge of the Scriptures themselves. We, therefore, express our deep convictions as follows:— "1. That we, as laborers, should give ourselves 'continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.' Acts 6:4. "2. That we should daily give prayerful study to the Scriptures for the deepening of our own personal experience, and the increasing of our knowledge of the things of God. "3. That we may truly be workmen that need not to be ashamed, more fruitful in the work of winning souls, we solemnly urge the importance of making a thorough preparation for our ministry, by earnest, original study of the Bible as a whole, as well as the special truths of the message. "4. That in the public presentation of the gospel, we follow the example of Jesus, who, when preaching in the synagogue, 'opened the Book,' and when he had 'found the place where it was written,' read the word to the people; and that we encourage a clear, reverential reading of proof-texts in support of the truths presented, instead of merely alluding to, or quoting from memory, the texts used, that the attention of the people may be closely, devoutly directed to the clear statements of the written Word." A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman:
THADDEUS LEGG. Secretary.