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8-1-1975 Preacher's Magazine Volume 50 Number 08 James McGraw (Editor) Olivet Nazarene University

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This Journal Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Church of the Nazarene at Digital Commons @ Olivet. It has been accepted for inclusion in Preacher's Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Olivet. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AUGUST • 1975

Preacher's MAGAZINE

THE GIFT OF TEARS The Editor

THE PASTOR AS PREACHER Herbert McGonigle

SERVANTHOOD: PREACHING THAT CONNECTS C. S. Cowles

AWAKE, THOU THAT SLEEPEST , Charles Wesley

PORTRAITS OF PAUL II. BROTHER BELOVED J. Melton Thomas

WHEN THE COLLEGE TEAM COMES TO YOUR CHURCH W. Dan Witter

SO YOU’RE HAVING AN ANNIVERSARY Elsie E. Buckmaster THE PREACHER’S flMGAZinE

JAMES McGRAW AUGUST, 1975 VOLUME 50 NUMBER 8 Editor

GEORGE E. FAILING DONALD SHAFER CONTENTS Associate Editors 1 The Gift of T e a rs ...... Editorial

Contributing Editors 3 The Pastor as Preacher...... H erb e rt McGonigie Eugene L. Stowe Orville W. Jenkins 6 The Life of a Pastor’s Shoe ...... D a v id Riley Charles H. Strickland Cowles V. H. Lewis 7 Servanthood: Preaching That Connects .... c. s. George Coulter 10 Awake, Thou That Sleepest (Wesleyana) . Charles wes/ey Edward Lawlor General Superintendents J. M elton Thomas Church of the Nazarene 12 Portraits of Paul, II. Brother Beloved .. . 14 When the College Team Comes J. D. Abbott tO Your C h u rc h ...... W. D an Witter Robert W. McIntyre Virgil A. Mitchell 15 How Much Do We Love People? ...... Joseph t. Larson Melvin H. Snyder General Superintendents 16 I’m Looking—W here Is It? (p o e m )...... Phiicory The Wesleyan Church 16 Prayer Requests—a Sweet-smelling Savor P ractical Points

Olen Ellis 17 A Prayer for My Pastor and His W ife ...... Gwen Fodge Norval Hadley Lora Lee Parrott Russell Myers 18 Interview with Rosemary G re e n ...... John L. Robinson 20 So You’re Having an Anniversary ...... Elsie e. Buckmaster Superintendents Evangelical Friends Churches 22 “Are You Sure, Lord?” ...... Wayne e. Duncan

23 The Starting P o in t...... c. Neil strait

25 Looking at Our Lord in Luke ...... Ralph Earle

DEPARTMENTS Preacher’s Wife, p. 18 □ In the Study, p. 25 □ Timely Outlines, p. 29 □ Bulletin Barrel, p. 30 □ Here and There Among Books, p. 31 □ Preachers’ Exchange, p. 32 □ Among Ourselves, inside back cover

Published monthly for Aidersgate Publications Association by Beacon Hill Pres* of Kansas City, 2923 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Mo. 64109. Editorial office at 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, Mo. 64131. Subscription price: $3.00 a year. Second-class postage paid at Kansas City, Mo. Address all correspondence concerning subscriptions to your denominational publishing house. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send us your new address, including “ ZIP” code, as well as the old address, and enclose a label from a recent copy. Authors should address all articles and correspondence to James McGraw, 1700 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64131. ■ F k o ™ . f k e - - y E D I T O R

The Gift of Tears

he Puritans prayed three centuries ago for a “ gift of tears.” They T sensed a danger in forgetting how to be sorry. Today’s pastor needs to pray for this most neglected of all “ gifts,” for there has never been a time in human history when men of compas­ sion were more sorely needed and so seldom to be found. There are not many Jeremiahs around who are crying, “ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jer. 9:1). None of us seems to have time to join Jesus as He sits looking over the wicked city and cries, “ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37). Too many of us are so accustomed to misery that we have become numbed by it. The broken man in our office becomes a mere “coun- selee,” a challenge to our therapeutic skills. The distraught mother who permits us to see her naked grief is just another in today’s long list of “ appointments.” The young woman who so frequently seeks our help is “ neurotic.” The teen-ager is rebellious. The board member is negative. The Sunday school superintendent is lazy. The choir director is a prob­ lem. Thus we bestow upon human beings one label or another, and they tend to become objects rather than people. Bombarded as we are by the sheer volume of media news and enter­ tainment, it is small wonder we tend to become less sensitive. Surveys reveal that the average 18-year-old youth has watched 15,000 hours of television and seen 500 feature-length motion pictures. He has spent nearly 16,000 hours with these two media alone. But from his kindergar­ ten days through high school his total exposure to educational instruc­ tion is less than 11,000 hours. He has spent much more time with the

August, 1975 1 “ tube” and other media than with his teachers in the classroom. Someone should conduct a survey to reveal the profile of the aver­ age pastor. He does not spend as much time as the teen-ager allowing the messages from a secular society to penetrate his spirit, but he is af­ fected by them. And he can become benumbed. He watches the news­ cast and sees a man killed, but there is no blood on his carpet. He sees expressions of unbearable pain and horror on the faces of starving babies in Africa or India, but 30 seconds later the scene changes and he is hear­ ing about the superiority of a certain brand of dog food. He is even per­ mitted, through the magic of trick photography and slick advertising techniques, to hear it from the dogs themselves. This brand is “numero uno over at the kennel!” And so it goes. He sits down to a nourishing dinner, promises himself he is going to start watching his weight one of these days—and the babies go on starving. Two-thirds of the world’s population, by the way, is always hungry. Every day 20,000 people die of malnutrition. In India alone, 50 million will starve in the next 10 years. Someone may be thinking, “What can I do about it? Do you want me to stop eating and begin starving with them?” Certainly not. But maybe we can all pray for the gift of tears again. There might be more weeping among the men of God than there seems to be. When 90 percent of the Christian ministers are devoting their energies in behalf of only 10 percent of the world’s population, we could weep about that. We cannot all go where the 90 percent are, but we might do more praying and weep­ ing for them, and recruit more of our young converts to help us reach them. We are distributing more Bibles than ever before, but people are not reading them. A recent survey revealed some startling facts regard­ ing popular acceptance of the Scriptures. Hundreds were asked which of two descriptions they would choose for the Bible: “ a great piece of liter­ ature” or ’’the revealed Word of God.” Eighty percent said it was the revealed Word of God, but less than half of them could name even one of the first four books of the New Testament. One might weep over that condition. We weep when we are aware that the earth’s population grows at a more rapid rate than the growth of the body of Christ. We mourn over the millions who have never heard of the Lord Jesus, and countless oth­ ers who have turned to Satan worship in these perilous times. A brainwashed generation of so-called intellectuals balks at believ­ ing the doctrine of the virgin birth of our Saviour, but meekly accepts the word of Einstein that E = MC2. Is it cynical or pessimistic to mention these matters? We do not in­ tend it to be. Nevertheless, to borrow the words of the Preacher, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1, 4). There is indeed a time to weep. Ours is a day that calls forth the best in the Spirit-anointed preach­ er of the Word. This is not the time when he should forget how to be sor­ ry. Instead, he may well return to the spirit of the Puritans as they fervently prayed for the “ gift of tears.”

The Preacher’s Magazine We preachers are entrusted with the care of souls and their spiritual welfare must not be taken lightly

The Pastor as Preacher

y its preaching, Christianity While the pastor who is alert to B stands or falls.” Such was the these things will not despise any verdict of P. T. Forsyth, perhaps help that can be given him as he the most influential British theo­ seeks to grapple with the supreme logian of this century. It is a tragedy of human sinfulness, he verdict that can and must be sub­ dare not lessen the passionate con­ stantiated. We who are called of viction of the pastoral office—that God to be preachers dare not be un­ it is by the foolishness of preaching certain on this point. that God is pleased to save men. Periodically we will hear that the Preaching is important, preaching is day of preaching is past, that the pul­ vital, and preaching is the indispens­ pit has lost its power, that the able climax of the pastoral minis­ average modern congregation is ei­ try. ther no longer capable of giving We have not seen preaching from sustained attention to a pulpit min­ a New Testament viewpoint until we istry, or simply does not wish to see it as an ordinance of God for the have preaching included as a part of saving of man. Paul declared that public worship at all. The advent of he and his fellow workers were television and the widespread use “ ambassadors for Christ, as though of audiovisuals (especially in the God did beseech you by us: we pray church) which require a minimum of you in Christ’s stead, be ye recon­ concentration have contributed to ciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Preach­ the decline in the value of preach­ ing is nothing less than a ing. These things, together with continuation of the work of Christ; both the rapid growth of pastoral God makes His appeal to men counseling based on a psychiatric through preaching. Listen to Paul approach and the clamor for group again, writing to the Thessalonians: participation in religious dialogues, “ . . . when ye received the word of have militated against the central­ God which ye heard of us, ye re­ ity of the Word preached week by ceived it not as the word of men, but week by the man sent from God. as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). Preaching should be central in worship. There is an unfortunate tendency sometimes to regard wor­ by ship and preaching as two quite dis­ Herbert McGonigle tinct and unrelated activities. But Pastor this is a false dichotomy. Preaching Church of the Nazarene is a part of worship, the climax of Leeds, Yorkshire, England worship, and it is in the context of worship that preaching finds its

August, 1975 3 true place. “ To worship,” said Arch­ under which the town lies. There I bishop William Temple, “ is to quick­ offered Christ to about a thousand en the conscience by the holiness people, for wisdom, righteousness, of God, to feed the mind with the sanctification and redemption.” This truth of God, to purge the imagina­ is not a definition of preaching, nor tion by the beauty of God, to open was it meant to be, but we see Wes­ the heart to the love of God, to devote ley the preacher offering Christ to the will to the purpose of God.” men—Christ the answer to their But all of that could with equal need: His wisdom for human folly, truth be said of preaching. Preach­ His righteousness for human pov­ ing is an inseparable part of true erty, His sanctification for human worship, not something added to it, defilement, His redemption for hu­ and not something that takes place man need. when worship is concluded. This entry in the Journal is from What are we seeking to accomplish the first year following Alders- when we stand up to preach? Re­ gate; and it is interesting to note membering that the man who aims that in the Minutes of Conferences, at nothing is always on target, revised by Wesley for the last time what are we aiming to do in our in the year of his death, 1791, to the preaching? Perhaps it would be a question, “ What is the best general good discipline for many of us who method of preaching?” we find this preach if for a time we were to stop answer: “To invite. To convince. To preaching and give our preparation offer Christ. To build up and to do time to a careful examination of these in some measure in every ser­ that important question: What is mon” (Works, 8:317). preaching? Is there any difference No single one of these descrip­ between a sermon and a religious tions adequately summarizes essay? or between a sermon and a preaching, but together they gath­ lecture? er up its chief elements. The con­ “If anyone would attempt a defi­ tent of Christian preaching is the nition of preaching,” says the great grace of God in Christ. The newly appointed Archbishop of purpose of preaching is to make men Canterbury, Dr. Coggan, “let him see the availability of that grace make sure of the centrality of and persuade them to surrender to Christ; let him see that preaching it. The preacher is a man sent by is anchored to the written Word; God, equipped by the Spirit, and al­ let him remember the element of ready a partaker of that grace him­ persuasion and of volition, as well self. as of mental and emotional re­ The very nature of the Christian sponse; let him insist on the fact gospel demands preaching. God’s that preaching is a divine activity, breaking into history, Christ ap­ and, moreover, that God, in the mys­ pearing in our flesh, the mighty tery of His wonderful economy, has acts of Good Friday and Easter entrusted it to His men.” Sunday, the coming of the Spirit, There is an entry in John Wesley’s and the hope of eternal life—if we Journal for July 17, 1739, that gives believe these great truths, we can­ us some insight into his understand­ not but preach them. “Preaching is ing of his mission. “ I rode to Brad­ the natural overflow of our reli­ ford, five miles from Bath. . . . gion,” says James Black, and how Some persons had pitched on a con­ right he is. “ We have received good venient place, on the top of the hill news and we long to tell it to oth­

4 The Preacher’s Magazine ers. . . . The reason and passion of a change of sphere but no change of preaching is that a great and won­ mission. The line of purpose con­ derful thing has come into our lives tinues unbroken. In visitation, the in the love of God through Christ, preacher is still a messenger carry­ and we can find no rest until we ing good news; he is still an ambas­ tell the world. Preaching is tell­ sador, bearing the decrees of the ing someone else, one of many, eternal God. His audience is smaller; about Jesus Christ and opening out his business is the same.” “ I bear the mind and will of God.” witness,” Jowett adds, “to the spiri­ The pastor as a preacher indicates tual good which has come my way a special relationship between the through ministering to sick and trou­ preacher and his congregation. It is bled people and to those who were a relationship of trust and under­ beaten and crippled by the way. All standing and care, a relationship the way along, it has quickened and built up through a continuous min­ deepened my communion with God” istry of prayer, visitation, fellow­ (The Preacher, His Life and Work, ship, and preaching. It is this special pp. 179, 207). relationship that concerns us now, We preachers are entrusted with and it is quite different from the the care of souls and it is no light relationship between a visiting thing to be responsible for the spiri­ evangelist and the congregation or tual welfare of our people. “ The Prot­ a guest preacher and his hearers. estant doctrine of the priesthood of While these ministries are important all believers,” writes Skevington and have their place in the work of Wood, “ must not be twisted so as to the church, our interest now is in permit the pastor to dodge his plain the pastor’s role as a preacher—the duty with respect to his flock. God preaching ministry of a man who has charged him with the care of the knows his people and who is known people. Let him see to it that he need and trusted of them. not be ashamed at the day of reckon­ The pastor must know his people. ing.” A handshake at the church door, an When Bishop Gore of Birmingham occasional hurried word on the tele­ addressed candidates for the Angli­ phone is not enough. We must know can ministry, he spoke words that our people—their heartbreaks, their none of them was ever likely to for­ sorrows, their fears; and to these we get: “ Tomorrow I will say to you, must bring our compassion, our time, ‘Wilt thou, Wilt thou, Wilt thou?’ and the grace of our Lord Jesus But there will come a day when An­ Christ. James Denney once remarked other will say to you; ‘Hast thou, about Cardinal Newman: “ Mr. New­ Hast thou, Hast thou?’ ” man knows man very well. He does Commissioner Brengle was greatly not seem to know God at all.” As used of God in bringing believers in­ pastors, we have to know God and to the blessing of heart holiness. I be­ man, and here I make a plea for pas­ lieve that even today we can still toral visitation, believing that until learn from him. “ A few months after I have met a man across the fireside I got the blessing of holiness,” he of his own home, I cannot preach to wrote, “I felt almost gloomy about him as effectively as I might. my inability to get people sanctified. Speaking of pastoral visitation as I knew, beyond the possibility of a a necessary complement of preach­ doubt, that I had a clean heart, but ing, John Henry Jowett said in his somehow I felt I couldn’t properly Yale lectures on preaching: “There is teach others how to get it.

August, 1975 5 “One morning I met a certain day I went to my people loaded with brother who gets more people sancti­ truth, backed by love and faith, and I fied than any man I know, and I fired as hard and straight as I knew asked him: ‘How shall I teach holi­ how, and lo, twenty people came to ness so that my people will get it?’ the penitent form for holiness. From His reply was: ‘Load and fire. Load then til now I have attended strictly and fire.’ to my part of the business and trust­ “Light broke in on me at once. I ed God to do His part, and I have had saw that it was my business to pray some success everywhere I have and study my Bible and talk with gone” (Helps to Holiness, p. 95). those who had the blessing and then Let us pray that in our preaching fire away as best I could and that it ministries, and particularly in was God’s business to make the peo­ preaching Christian holiness, that ple receive the truth and become ho­ the Lord will enable us to load and ly. That was on Saturday. The next fire.

The Life of a Pastor’s Shoe

Hi! I’m the pastor’s shoe. As far as I know, my ancestors were pastors’ shoes also, so I’ve been around the parsonage a long time. When I was younger, my fa­ ther told me about his “ master” talking about a place called heaven and saying that people’s souls go there. I thought that must be really a great place with so many “ soles” in it, so I decided to become a pastor’s shoe and learn more about it. It’s really not a bad life. There are lots of things I have to go through. Every day I get up early. After my owner has breakfast, we usually go down to his stu­ dy. I have to sit there doing nothing for a couple of hours while he works. After a quick lunch we go to the hospital. There are several people to be vis­ ited. I have to go along to their rooms which smell like medicine. The pastor talks to the sick person awhile and prays with him. When they talk I hear a lot of sick stories. In the emergency room there is a lot of blood. I have fainted a couple of times. When I faint, it makes my owner’s foot go to sleep. When he walks, it wakes me up. It’s from the hospital to the homes of people that have missed Sunday school and church. We visit two or three people and hear their excuses. I get pretty smart just hearing excuses. I’ve learned to tell whether it’s the truth or not. Some stories I hear would make an interesting book. Some other interesting stories come from retired people about 60 or 70 years old. They tell what life was like around the turn of the century. We stay in their homes longer than the other places because they are lonesome. We sit around hearing stories of the “ good old days” —how they had to work hard every day ex­ cept Sunday. There are a lot more places that I have to go that would take a lot of time to mention, such as board meetings, church parties, ball games, camp meetings, assemblies, and outings with the family. There’s not much time to rest. But there’s one good thing about this whole business, and that’s on Satur­ day nights. I get a nice, peaceful bath in shoe polish. I just lay there splashing around in my shoe polish so I can look my best on Sunday. After all, that’s my owner’s most important day. —D a v id R il e y , age 11, Jamestown, N.D.

6 The Preacher’s Magazine GILL TO S€RMhNTHOOD

C. S. COWLES, Pastor, Church ot the Nazarene, Covina, Calif.

6. PREACHING THAT CONNECTS “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart.” Acts 2:37

t was a sight to behold. There he gold brick to be mined and minted I stood behind a huge pulpit that out of the mountain of God’s Word. seemed to fill the tiny classroom, lec­ Then, come the Lord’s Day, it is to turing three junior boys and a dog. be hurled at the hapless people from The problem was that the teacher on high and far back—the higher the was a very short man. So all I could pulpit and the greater distance from see as I opened the door was a tuft of the people, the better. unruly hair protruding over the top It is not my intention to cast asper­ of the pulpit and two arms striking sions upon the traditional homileti- out in various directions. So en­ cal sciences. Rather it is of vital grossed was he in his sermon that he importance that we extend our con­ didn’t even notice that I had come in­ cern regarding preaching to the pew, to the room, nor was he conscious of to the individual listener. If he is not the fact that nobody was listening. hearing and understanding what is Nevertheless I am sure that he deliv­ preached, then it makes little dif­ ered his soul and went home spent, ference if we have spoken with the but happy. tongues of men and of angels—we In a flash the humor of the moment still come across as “ blaring brass or died in me. For in that absurd situa­ crashing cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1, Phil­ tion I saw myself—passionate lips*). preacher of sermonic gems, deliver­ The miracle of Pentecost was not ing my soul from the top of Mount manifested in a confusion of esoteric Sinai amid thunderings and light­ languages but rather in the commun­ ning. The question that raced like ication of the gospel in language both fire through my mind was this: Is heard and understood. With a pas­ anybody listening? sion I covet the gift of tongues—a We are all deeply indebted to the tongue that can speak the idiom of rich tradition which has imparted to the people clearly and can clothe the us in splendid detail the craft of ser­ words with that special emotional mon preparation and delivery. But garment which will penetrate their recently I surveyed some of the lead­ understanding and pierce their ing textbooks in this area and was hearts. The Lord knows that I do not surprised to discover how little atten­ need any more of glossolalia—ecsta- tion was given to my question con­ cerning whether or not anybody is *From The New Testament in Modem English, listening. It is almost as if the author­ copyright © by J. B. Phillips, 1958. Used by permis­ ities considered the sermon a great sion of the Macmillan Co.

August, 1975 7 tic utterance, unintelligible speech— 6. Intellectual needs: desire to than I already possess; what I desire know and understand is the gift of being heard and under­ 7. The aesthetic needs: beauty, stood. music, etc. In striving after this superlative To this list we could add spiri­ gift of the Spirit for preachers, I have tual needs which people may or may been discipling myself along two not be conscious of: lines. 1. Need for peace of mind First, to be heard, one must first 2. Need for absolution of sins, free­ listen. Ezekiel was lifted up by the dom from guilt Spirit and deposited among the ex­ 3. Need for a sense of purpose in iles in Babylon by the river Chebar. life He did not immediately commence 4. Need for understanding the ul­ to prophesy. Rather he says, “ I sat timate dimensions of human exis­ . . . there astonished among them tence seven days” (Ezek. 3:15). Jesus lis­ 5. Need to realize the inborn tened for 30 years before He began to “ ought” (Immanuel Kant) preach. Paul listened for three or 6. Need to cope with fate more years after his conversion be­ 7. Need to cope with death and all fore he plunged into his missionary of its preliminary anxieties in regard task. to physical health. In Albert Camus’ essay The Silent This list is not exhaustive, nor does Men, he describes the apparent rap­ it include an enumeration of needs port which existed between the em­ imposed upon man by the revealed ployer and his employees in a certain and given Word of God—i.e., need small factory. But one day strife for reconciliation, need to be born broke out. In the ensuing struggle, again, need to receive Christ as Lord, they all understood what strangers etc. But before men will be ready and they had always been. Yvars, the able to hear their condition in God’s subject of the story, muses concern­ eyes, they must first come to trust us ing his employer: “ He liked his work­ as men who offer them help and hope men, no doubt, and often recalled the in dealing with their more elemen­ fact that his father had begun as an tary personal, psychological, and apprentice. But he had never gone to spiritual needs. “ Come unto me, all their homes; he wasn’t aware.” ye that labour and are heavy laden, We must listen for people’s needs. and I will give you rest” (Matt. People are inclined to listen to some­ 11:28). Jesus listened to human need, one who speaks to their needs. A. H. and His heart was moved with com­ Maslow has indentified these from a passion upon bruised and broken hu­ psychologist’s point of view and has manity. He reached out to them first organized them into a hierarchy of at the point of their needs. human needs. We can only summa­ Second, to be heard, one must rize them as follows: catch people’s attention. Interest 1. The physiological needs: hun­ must be sparked, curiosity piqued, ger, sex, sleep, etc. and spiritual appetites whetted. This 2. The safety needs: self-preserva- is a momentous challenge facing us in tion, security, etc. a day when so many are competing 3. The belongingness and love for people’s attention. I resist the needs urge to survey the manifold and var­ 4. The esteem needs ied ways by which prophets and 5. The need for self-actualization preachers in the Bible awakened peo-

8 The Preacher’s Magazine pie to their message. That would be a read it a second time, and we re­ study in its own right. Suffice it to peated it after her in a kind of litany. say that biblical servants of God al­ The sanctuary fairly rocked with the ways kept in close touch with the shout of the people, “ For I am per­ people and had the interests of their suaded ...” audience in mind as they proceeded. Some teens suggested several Our problem is complicated by the months ago that we go to the beach fact that every conceivable human for our next baptismal service. Two emotion has been already virtually weeks ago on Sunday evening we did. wrung out and every sensitive nerve The beach was crowded and my peo­ already touched by the insidious as­ ple were apprehensive. But we made sault of modem media. Techniques a place for ourselves beside the water that enabled preachers of previous and began. As we sang together in generations to capture and keep the tempo with the waves crashing on the attention of their congregations do sand, all fear vanished, and the peo­ not always carry over—particularly ple responded with uncustomary pas­ as they played upon dramatic emo­ sion. There were spirited, loud, tions. unashamed testimonies. We knelt in There is one area, however, that I the sand and prayed. I preached to have been exploring which seems to my people—and several hundred cu­ hold promise toward helping me to rious onlookers who gathered around gain and keep the attention of my —with unusual freedom. Then I people when I am preaching; that is, waded out into the surf and baptized involvement. People have been 32 people while the congregation “ spectatored” to death! They are snapped pictures, laughed, and wept. ready for action. As I prepare my ser­ Seldom in my ministry have I vices now—not just the sermon but sensed more keenly the power of the the whole service—I am always Holy Spirit in the midst of His peo­ thinking about how to draw people ple. Even as I write this, chills are go­ into the center, help them to partici­ ing up and down my back as I recall pate, and encourage them to contri­ those beach-cliff walls resounding bute something. Of course, it is with the echo of our people shouting, simply not possible in most of our “ Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord! Jesus is churches to actually get everybody to Lord!” That was one service nobody do something special, but people do will forget. feel involved—which is just as good Our church allows us maximum as the real thing—when they see oth­ freedom to preach what the Spirit is ers participating. Allow me to be directing, plan the services as we de­ specific. sire and proceed in any manner that Last Sunday I began worship by is appropriate and in keeping with coming down off the platform in front the dignity and beauty of holiness. If of the people and asking them to join we are not exploiting that freedom me in a “scripture meditation” in­ toward getting people involved in stead of an organ meditation (worked worship, then it is our own fault. out well since the organist was on va­ My observation is that once people cation). They responded immediate­ are awake, once the adrenalin has ly, rising to their feet, sharing a verse begun to flow, then there is good rea­ or two of scripture. One dear old gen­ son to believe that when the Word is tleman quoted from memory the par­ delivered, somebody will be listening able of the 10 virgins. Another lady and, hopefully, will hear and under­ read Romans 8:38-39. I asked her to stand.

August, 1975 9 IDesleuana

Awake, Thou That Steepest

By Charles Wesley

(It may have escaped the notice of save! “ Shake thyself from the dust.” some readers of John Wesley’s Ser­ At least, let the earthquake of God’s mons that John includes one that threatenings shake thee. Awake, and Charles preached on Sunday, April 4, cry out with the trembling jailer, 1742, before the University of Oxford. “ What must I do to be saved?” And Charles spoke from Eph. 5:14, and never rest, till thou believest on the developed the sermon textually, as Lord Jesus, with a faith which is his homiletics teachers would say. The gift, by the operation of his Spirit. sermon has three divisions: I. Who If I speak to any one of you more are those who sleep? II. An exhorta­ then to another, it is to thee who tion for sleepers to awake; III. The thinkest thyself unconcerned in this promise to those who receive Christ. exhortation. “ I have a message from The entire sermon is designated as God unto thee.” In his name, I warn Sermon III in Volume One of Wes­ thee to “flee from the wrath to ley’s Sermons. A portion of the ex­ come.” Thou unholy soul, see thy hortation [division II] is reprinted picture in condemned Peter, lying here to indicate the evangelistic fer­ in the dark dungeon, between the vor of Charles’s preaching, as well as soldiers, bound with two chains, the his repeated direct quotations from keepers before the door keeping the Holy Scriptures. It should be re­ the prison. The night is far spent, the called that Charles was not only the morning is at hand, when thou art to writer of over 6,000 hymns but served be brought forth to execution. And in as pastor for 20 years of the Bristol, these dreadful circumstances, thou England, church, erected in 1739, art fast asleep: thou art fast asleep in and the oldest Methodist church in the devil’s arms, on the brink of the existence.—Associate Editor George pit, in the jaws of everlasting destruc­ E. Failing, editor of the Wesleyan tion! Advocate.) Oh may the angel of the Lord come Awake, awake! Stand up this mo­ upon thee, and the light shine into ment, lest thou “ drink at the Lord’s thy prison! And mayest thou feel the hand the cup of his fury.” Stir up stroke of an almighty hand, raising thyself to lay hold on the Lord, the thee, with “ Arise up quickly, gird Lord thy righteousness, mighty to thyself, and bind on thy sandals, cast

10 The Preacher’s Magazine thy garment about thee, and follow the new? Art thou clothed upon with me. Christ? Awake, thou everlasting spirit, out Hast thou oil in thy lamp? Grace in of thy dream of worldly happiness! thy heart? Dost thou “love the Lord Did not God create thee for himself? thy God with all thy heart, and with Then, thou canst not rest till thou all thy soul, and with all thy mind, restest in him. Return, thou wander­ and with all thy strength? Is that er! Fly back to thy ark. This is not mind in thee, which was also in thy home. Think not of building tab­ Christ Jesus? Art thou a Christian in­ ernacles here; Thou art but a strang­ deed? that is, a new creature? Are old er, a sojourner upon earth; a creature things passed away, and all things of a day, but just launching out into become new? an unchangeable state. Make haste. Eternity is at hand. Eternity depends If it offend thee, be thou assured, on this moment. An eternity of hap­ that thou neither art a Christian, nor piness, or an eternity of misery! desirest to be one. Nay, thy very In what state is thy soul? Was God, prayer is turned into sin; and thou while I am yet speaking, to require it has solemnly mocked God this very of thee, art thou ready to meet death day, by praying for the inspiration of and judgment? Canst thou stand in his Holy Spirit, when thou didst not his sight, who is of “ purer eyes than believe there was any such thing to to behold iniquity”? Art thou “ meet be received. to be partaker of the inheritance of Yet, on the authority of God’s the saints in light” ? Hast thou recov­ word, and our own Church, I must re­ ered the image of God, even righ­ peat the question, “ Hast thou teousness and true holiness? Hast received the Holy Ghost?” If thou thou put off the old man, and put on hast not, thou art not yet a Christian.

SERMON RATING

A New Yorker cartoon shows a television operator saying to a cler­ gyman, “ It seemed like a splendid sermon, Doctor, but of course we won’t know until we’ve made our audience survey.” This, of course, is the thinking of Madison Avenue, center of the advertising world, where millions are spent to debase the American public and reduce the nation to the level of a robot, unable to do anything but follow advertising slo­ gans that will keep cash registers ringing. When Christ preached His first sermon, He finished no more than the first few sentences before the audience, “ filled with w rath,. . . rose up, and thrust him out of the city,” and attempted to murder Him (Luke 4:28-29). The success of a sermon does not depend on the Trendex rating but on whether it brings men un­ der conviction so that they will turn to Christ or turn from Him. The ser­ mon that leaves an audience merely complacent is a sermon that has failed. —Eternity magazine

August, 1975 11 Portraits of Paul

II. Paul, Brother Beloved

The story is told of a little boy who this he teams the word “brother” was carrying another boy almost as with the word “ beseech.” Paul pleads big as himself. When asked if the that the brethren be dedicated, be load wasn’t too heavy for him, he re­ diligent, be disciplined, be depend­ plied, “ No, he’s my brother.” able. The idea of “ brother” is prominent The plea begins at Rom. 12:1, “ I in scripture and nowhere more prom­ beseech you therefore, brethren, by inent than in Paul. He thinks of his the mercies of God, that ye present fellow Christians as being brothers, your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, as being similar to him, as being his acceptable unto God, which is your allies in a common cause. Nowhere reasonable service.” Brethren, I be­ do we find Paul portraying himself as seech you, be dedicated! master. It is “ brother” that identi­ No man in any area of effort has fies him repeatedly. Hardly a chapter done much of anything, to say noth­ without Paul making reference to his ing of notable achievement, without brethren. a singleness of purpose relative to Ten times in the Book of Philip- that thing. He has been character­ pians alone, Paul invokes the brother ized by ardor in action. He has been concept. It can also be found in many impelled by passion in pursuit. He other places. has been marked by a “ magnificent I call attention, however, to one el­ obsession.” ement, referred to in this way only Now Paul pleads with his brethren four times: It is that Paul pleads on to accept a reasonable service, to be­ the basis of brotherhood. He does not come a living sacrifice, to live accord­ give a directive; he makes a plea. For ing to a calculated dedication. He calls them to a point of decisiveness —a decision. He challenges them to give themselves away! The plea is continued in 1 Thess. 4:1, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received by of us how ye ought to walk and to J. Melton Thomas please God, so ye would abound more Evangelist and more.” Brethren, I beseech you, Mount Vernon, Ohio. be diligent! As Rom. 12:1 is a call to dedica­ tion, so 1 Thess. 4:1 is a call to dili­

12 The Preacher’s Magazine gence. In the one the plea is to a great would include all world affairs. act of self-giving to God. In the other It would include personal trials. And it is for the life issuing from the act. the principle is, Don’t be shaken; “ So ye would abound more and don’t be troubled. In other words, be more.” disciplined. Remember that in quiet­ This diligence was to appear in nu­ ness and confidence is the greatest merous areas, one of which is salva­ strength. tion itself. “Brethren, give diligence All of this issues in the final plea. to make your calling and election “ Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; sure” (2 Pet. 1:10). Christian charac­ for I am as ye are: ye have not injured ter is included: “ And beside this, giv­ me at all” (Gal. 4:12). Brethren, I be­ ing all diligence, add to your faith seech you, be dependable! virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and The background of verse 12 is to knowledge temperance; and to found in the preceding verses (9-11). temperance patience; and to pa­ After the Galatians had known God, tience godliness; and to godliness they had turned back to certain ele­ brotherly kindness; and to brotherly ments of the law for salvation. Paul is kindness charity” (2 Pet. 1:5-7). driven to say, “ I am afraid of you, Good works are to receive attention: lest I have bestowed upon you labour “ . . . if she have diligently followed in vain” (Gal. 4:11). “ I am afraid of every good work” (1 Tim. 5:10). The you . . . I’m not sure I can depend on diligence is to be along the entire you.” journey, even to the time when Jesus Of all the virtues dependability is comes: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing close to the greatest. Now the ques­ that ye look for such things, be dili­ tion is, Are you dependable? In the gent that ye be found of him in peace, realm of character, are you sterling? without spot, and blameless” (2 Pet. Can family, friends, church count on 3:14). you? Howard Arnold Walter ex­ To live in such manner requires a pressed determination in this area in third plea, and Paul makes it. “ Now these words: we beseech you, brethren, by the I would be true, for there are coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and those who trust me, by our gathering together unto him, I would be pure, for there are that ye be not soon shaken in mind, those who care. or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor The question of dependability by word, nor by letter as from us, as arises in the area of service. Can the that the day of Christ is at hand” pastor depend on you? Are you one of (2 Thess. 2:1-2). Brethren, I beseech his right hands? Are you one of the you, be disciplined! people he knows will not fail in the Now see this picture. Some spirit crunch? Can the church depend on of the age, some irresponsible word, you? Practically? To pay tithes and some sincere but misguided letter give offerings? To faithfully attend had stirred the church about the the means of grace? To give needed coming of Jesus. Paul takes advan­ service in your area of ability? Final­ tage of the situation to state a prin­ ly, can God count on you? To hold ciple. It involves the coming of the the vigil of prayer, so greatly needed? Lord, certainly, but is more inclu­ To carry concern, and bear burden? sive. To witness winsomely to what Christ It would include the present state has done? of the nation. It would include the Be dedicated! Be diligent! Be dis­ threats to peace from all quarters. It ciplined! Be dependable!

August, 1975 13 When the College Team Comes to Your Church

By W. Dan Witter*

he visit of a college singing and rived? Usually only the announce­ T preaching team can be an excit­ ments and offering. If the group has a ing experience if several steps are preacher, then by all means let him considered in advance. do the preaching. Young ministerial The first step is preparation. Com­ students need to know and feel the municate as often as need be with the burden of preaching to a congrega­ team, by phone or letter, concerning tion before they enter the ministry— the date, time of arrival, and format and chances are, even if the speaker of the service. Let your needs be is not eloquent, he will be a blessing known—whether they be evangelis­ to your congregation. This is a time tic or ambassadors for Christian ed­ for the pastor to have his own soul ucation and the college. The team fed, and in every way possible to give that knows what its ministry is to be the student speaker encouragement. can do a better job in preparing. It is important for the pastor to en­ Ask for printed information con­ joy himself along with his people on cerning and promoting the college, this special Sunday. Praise the Lord and inform the team that a table will —publicly or privately—that youth be ready for a display area in the ves­ love the Lord, that they inspire other tibule or other appropriate place. youth to serve God, and that our The second step, prior to the church provides education that is team’s arrival, is publicity. Let your spiritual as well as intellectually cen­ congregation know in advance so tered. they can make a special effort to in­ When the team has finally finished vite people in for the service. This preaching, singing, praying, and win­ can be done both from the pulpit and ning souls, be sure to thank them. Do in the weekly bulletin. Make sure your best to cover the cost of the trip, your teen teachers promote it during plus more for their personal expen­ Sunday school in an effort to invite ses if possible. Then last but not those who usually leave after the les­ least, gather them together and pray son. Don’t forget special advertise­ that God will give them traveling ments in the newspaper—especially mercies as they go back to the col­ if you can secure the team’s picture. lege. This is, without a doubt, the What role should the pastor take in high point for them—when the pastor the services when the team has ar­ gathers them in a circle and prays for them. *Mount Vernon Nazarene College. I know—I’m on a college team!

14 The Preacher’s Magazine Godlike people will love other people in spite of their sins and imperfections

How Much Do We Love People?

By Joseph T. Larson*

braham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Jesus knows everyone’s need and Al address said in part: “ That gov­ shows compassion for the lost and ernment of the people, by the people, erring ones. “ When he saw the mul­ for the people, shall not perish from titudes, he was moved with compas­ the earth.” sion on them, because they fainted, A certain speaker was repeating and were scattered abroad, as sheep this remarkable speech in his mes­ having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). sage, and at its close an elderly man People are important in God’s approached him and said, “ I was sight because He created man in the present when Lincoln gave that beginning (Gen. 1:26-28). He led speech. He emphasized the words ‘of Israel through many trials, dangers, the people, by the people, for the peo­ and testings. He was much concerned ple. ’ ” Abraham Lincoln loved people about His people, Israel, and later and was concerned about their future about the Church of God. He tender­ in our beloved nation. ly listens to their prayers, provides Lincoln was called the Great for their needs, manifesting His love Emancipator because he set 4 million through the death of His Son (John slaves free over 100 years ago. 3:16). But there was another Great A mother had lost her husband Emancipator, Jesus Christ, who on through death. She had four children the cross of Calvary set millions of for whom she had to provide food and people free from their sins and hab­ shelter. That evening she gave the its. He fully paid the price for their children the last food in the house. redemption. He gave his life a ran­ She prayed that God might send her som for many. $400.00 for her needs, and it seemed Jesus Christ loved people enough a very unlikely request. to set them free (John 8:32, 36). He After putting the children to bed, came to heal the broken in heart she stepped out of the house. Her (Luke 4:18). He died for them with a foot stumbled against a package. She broken heart. He fed the multitudes. found almost $400.00 in the package. He taught them the truths of life Later she was advised she could keep and of salvation. He loved them the money. God had answered her enough to shed His blood for them, prayer because of His compassionate and even wept over the people of concern, and because she was one of Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37; Luke 19: His children, desperately in need of 41-44). “ He is despised and rejected help. of men; a man of sorrows, and ac­ How much do we love other peo­ quainted with grief’ (Isa. 53:3). ple? Is our love chiefly for our own *Tucson, Ariz. interests? Jesus admonished His

August, 1975 15 people to love the Lord their God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and their neighbors as themselves (see Matt. 22:37-39). Practical that make These, He said, are the two greatest commandments. Godlike people will Points a difference love other people even in spite of their sins and imperfections. Even unsaved people can discern whether God’s servants have the love of God in their hearts. Most people do respond to that kind of love (Rom. Prayer Requests—a 5:5). A ragged boy in D. L. M oody’s Sweet-smelling Savor Sunday school was asked why he attended. He replied, “ Because they Dear Son: love a feller over there.” God gives Our pastor remembered what R. V. to every believer the Holy Spirit, DeLong did years ago at Northwest causing him to love with a divine Nazarene College, and started the cus­ love even as Jesus did. How much do tom in our congregation. we love people? He had a box made with an opening large enough for prayer requests and asked that we place them in the box at I’M LOOKING—WHERE IS IT? any time and report when the prayer was answered. Two reports came the I’m looking— where is it? first week—and a stream ever since. I’ve looked into the staring faces They are requests that by any extent of a thousand people, of the imagination only God could an­ and seen nothing. swer—and God is at work! I’ve looked and searched in At the close of the year we will all recorded words of men, go outside and burn the box of requests and found nothing. as a “ sweet-smelling savour” to God. I’ve listened to men speaking, Now we know that this is a lot of believing they had something to say, symbolism and that God answers and heard nothing. prayer apart from boxes and shrines. I’ve given myself to a cause, But I will have to admit that the sym­ searching for its deeper meaning, bol pointed me to the reality of prayer and felt nothing. in a new way— and that’s what really counts. I’ve bent my back to share in this world’s treasure store, By the way, Mother and I gave our and gained nothing. pastor a side of beef last week—and were blessed in the doing. Your turn is In desperation I fling myself to earth, next. reaching upward, crying in despair— “ 0 God— if You are there— Love, Where is it?” And suddenly, sweetly, quietly, gently— IT IS THERE!

P h il C ory

16 The Preacher’s Magazine FO R P A S T O R S NAZAR and LO C A L CH U RC H LEADERS

Compiled by the Genera/ Stewardship Commission | DONLw^L D °^fffce eEdUoer Dlrector

General Superintendent Stowe The Servant Role of the Minister

HE CURRENT emphasis on the leadership responsibilities of the T minister is both biblical and practical. An increasing number of books, seminars, and conferences stress the dynamics and methods which will enable the man of God to more efficiently assume this role. Our Lord took note of this need and laid appropriate stress upon it in His training of the shepherds who would lead the first flock. But to balance our ministry, there must be a corresponding emphasis on the role of servant. This is just as scriptural as the other. In the discourse recorded in Luke 17:7-10, Jesus clearly indicates that our service to God is basically like the relationship of the employee to his employer. Just as a hired man would not expect his boss to pre­ pare dinner for him at the close of his working day, even so we should not expect preferential treatment from our Master. The words of verse 10 put the whole matter in the proper perspective: "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'" (NIV).* Failure to reckon with this role will sooner or later destroy one's effectiveness as a minister. A young man with better-than-average ability and training opted out of the ministry on the eve of his ordination. His reason? "I want a life of my own. I don't want to be at everyone's beck and call." Somewhere in his preparation he had failed to note this requirement of discipleship: "But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to m inister. . ." (Matt. 20:26-28). Anything else than this kind of love-slavery is less than New Tes­ tament ministry. Nothing else will supply the proper motivation for selfless service, which is the only satisfactory service. *Fro m The N ew International Version, copyright © 1973 by New York Bible Society International. Used by permission. Outstanding features * making this WILSON OVERHEAD PROJECTOR practical for use n your church

Super-wide projector gives almost twice the picture size Allow 4 weeks -X- Balanced-lens, 600-watt quartz lamp for for uniform image delivery Air-baffle speed airflow maintains cool Shipping waiting stage charges Quality all-metal construction, baked-on enamel finish extra from South Holland * Exclusive hinged fresnel holder for easy maintenance Illinois Lightweight—less than 20 pounds—for instant portability For additional specifications, consult our latest " Master Buying Guide" or send for free descriptive folder. FULL-COLOR TRANSPARENCY VISUAL AID MAP PEN SET Eight colors. Leaves sharp image "The Holy Land on acetate. Wipes off with moist in the Time cloth. In vinyl pouch. H-4003 Pencils $2.50 of Jesus" H-4021 Felt-tip M arker $4.75

Accessories included at this TEACHER'S DO-IT-YOURSELF low package price ... TRANSPARENCY KIT MOBILE PROJECTION ACETATE ROLL Includes: 40 colored and 10 TABLE clear acetate sheets . . . 8 color 24" high, 15 x 20" shelves; pens . . . 4 color pencils . . . 2 4 " swivel casters black markers . . . 3 packages of towels . . . 14 transparency ROLL HOLDERS frames. Comes in an attractive attach^ case (15 x 13 x 3") with molded recessed compart­ ments. E-240-OT $49.95 plus postage

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NOTE: For other related items, consult our latest "Master Buying Guide," or send for free personal copy.

NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE Post O ffice Box 527, Kansas C ity, M issouri 64141 16B EVANGELISM

THROUGH EVANGELISM AND STEWARDSHIP

To qualify for the Evangelistic Honor Roll you must re­ ceive a number of new Nazarenes equal to 10 per­ cent of your average Sunday school attendance as reported to the previous assembly. This does not in­ clude the outreach classes. 16C HOME MISSIONS I

PASTOR, Do you need a tool to help your people get a vision of the mission fields which surround them? Here are two answers to your problem. HOME MISSION^

MISSION FIELDS AT HOME (FS-7317)— 35-mm.—cassette sound. Every Christian is a missionary, and there are unreached mission fields in every community. True life stories of laymen who have found mission fields close to home. Purchase price, $10.00; rental, $2.00.

MISSION MEANS MULTIPLY (FS-7316)— 35-mm.—cassette sound. A grain of wheat multiplies . . . again and again to produce a bounteous harvest, as does outreach seed in multiplying the king­ dom of God. The true mission of the Church is to win others to Christ. Pur­ chase price, $10.00; rental, $2.00.

YES, PLEASE SEND ME: ______Mission Fields at Home (FS-7317) ______Mission Means Multiply (FS-7316) Rental ( ) Sale ( ) If rental, specify first and second choice of dates. First-choice date: ______Second-choice date: ______N a m e ______A ddress Street

City State Zip C h u rc h —Send your order to— Nazarene Publishing House Film Desk Post O ffice Box 527 Kansas City, M o. 64141 CHURCH SCHOOLS

Make family devotions a part of your daily schedule. TABLE TALK provides a family altar plan for every home!

You can choose how to use the devotionals: 1. Read the scripture and its explanation; discussI the ques­ tions; think about the "Thought for Today"; and have prayer. 2. Read the scripture and its explanation; think about the "Thought for Today"; and have prayer. 3. Read the scripture and have prayer. Adjust when you have to—but don't give up! * O rder TABLE TALK on your regular church literature order blank. % * *NEW ife MEMBERS need * to* have access * to information about * * the * history, doctrine, ritual, and polity of the Church of the Nazarene. Why not keep a supply of the 1972 M anual on hand to present to those joining the thurch for the first time? A significant remem- brance of an important occasion. H Durably bound in black cloth board with gold-stamped title. % Tk f l H &ft H i #| Bar-thumb a, Church indexing for instant reference Manual to 12 different sec-

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# 16f * # * * WORLD MISSION THE EMERGING NATIONAL CHURCH Top 10 World Mission Fields Annual Statistics, 1975

Net Gain, Church Membership Church Membership (does not include probationary) (does not include probationary)

Korea 8,659 Korea 4,064 Haiti 7,396 Guatemala N.E. 614 M ozambique 6,400 Philippines 501 Guatemala N.E. 4,212 Cuba 405 Japan 4,153 N.E. Mexico 282 Bolivia 3,695*Mozambique 261 Peru 2,887 Argentina 204 S.E. Mexico 2,675 Guyana 190 C. M exico 2,573 Nicaragua 187 N.E. Mexico 2,332 Peru 179

Average Sunday Fully Self-supporting School Attendance Churches and Missions

Korea 9,685 Mozambique 167 Haiti 8,823 Guatemala N.E. 93 Africa, Coloured Bolivia 82 & Indian 8,380 Peru 81 Guatemala N.E. 8,270 Korea 56 Peru 8,100 Japan 46 M ozambique 7,616 Philippines 28 Swaziland 7,258 Haiti 25 R.S.A.—North 6,892 Swaziland 25 Cape Verde 5,302 Barbados 16

Bolivia 4,037 *1974 statistics. 16C NAZARENE WORLD MISSIONARY SOCIETY THAT ALL N i s

H. T. Reza _ t <, < r 0 , M N f3 -V o AND NOW

16H NAZARENE WORLD MISSIONARY SOCIETY IAY HEAR hge ■ ■ ^ % SIS d , L * - r \ k '

u. I nu ri n y pc Hl / pc Ru c a i ri r i n u so

r \ GOAL > n e $145,000.00 HRISTIAN SERVICE TRAINING

NEW READING CERTIFICATE PROGRAM A new Reading Certificate Program has been launched to encourage reading in the area of devo­ tional and inspirational books. A person may receive one credit toward a Read­ ing Certificate for each book read from a recom­ mended list. Upon the completion of 10 books reported to the CST office, a Reading Certificate will be sent. Write for complete details today. STEWARD

. PASTOR'S PROGRAM PLANNER

• 1975-76 STEWARDSHIP KIT

If you do not receive your free Icopies, please write to: GENERAL STEWARDSHIP COMMISSION Church of the Nazarene 16K 6401 The Paseo Kansas City, Mo. 64131 rOUTH fou Follow Up een Campers?

J y W ' 4 ^ G d b f n p

/7t6url a*ud -jlaAA*Lff~ a, fU a f ZZfiiL.. -TTlantf. Photo by Fussle rfu jn da * aw ,

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16L LIFE INCOME

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16M A 50-M IN U TE FEATURE FILM portraying the story of the Church of the Nazarene in Europe

A NAZARENE COMMUNICATIONS FILM PRODUCTION HOME MISSIONS

A project of the Departments of Home and World Missions produced by the Nazarene Communica­ tions Commission AVAILABLE FREE

This moving documentary of the birth and growth of the Church of the Nazarene in Europe is available free from the Nazarene Publishing House. A freewill offering on behalf of European Nazarene Bible College is requested.

Begin now to pray that the message of this film will move hearts, including your own.

YES. PLEASE SEND “ MISSION: EUROPE"

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NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE Church Box 527 District Kansas City, M o. 64141 m , 0 % % I | Si| 1,4. PASTORS, have you or your music direc­ tor heard, or heard about, these out­ standing musicals, collections, and ilcc! cantatas? They were previewed during recent years by members of the LILI S8 > LENAS CHORAL CLUB. Current mem*: bership, over 3,500. For a small $5.00 annual fee the member (preferably the one responsible for selection of choir music) receives (1) g A -m one free copy of each new Lillenas c* choral publication, (2) practical and in­ iiagfissw"’* formative music leadership techniques, and helps, (3) advance notice of Lillenas Music Seminars held by nationally known e& t - jP church musicians, and (4) up-to-date in-j q q i j o m t i v e form ation about all other new Lillenas Musicreations such as solo books, key­ Q bir board volumes, hymnals, etc. There’s not a better plan anywhere tor' keeping abreast of the new and the best Am at the choir director’s convenience. Each 1974 member, for instance, received $45.00 worth of choral materials. *•» Also, much of our music is recorded on . J *a u S top-quality TEMPO albums. An addi­ tional $10.00 will bring a minimum of six' review copies of these choral albums for: J « r s listening analysis and pleasure. NOTE: Applications accepted through the end of October will receive all re­ leases for the calendar year. I „ 0 0 . 1 T " ' ’ ' (T4ec7/appy^ ,^e

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LILLENAS PUBLISHING COMPANY • Post Office Box 527, Kansas City, Missouri 64141 Music Division of the Nazarene Publishing House A Prayer for My Pastor and His Wife

By Gwen Fodge*

I’ve been meaning to talk with sitting in the front row supporting You, Father, about two people You him. Even when they do not feel like placed on my life’s road: my pastor it, they are there. and his wife. I guess I just want to Our pastor’s wife is often at the thank You for their special talents piano or singing or counseling an and the qualities that make it a joy eager group of teens, then off to the to be in their church. I know that missionary meeting, and home just in their gifts come ultimately from You. time to type the bulletin. For instance, whenever one of us in Our pastor finds himself sur­ the fold is very ill, or dying, they are rounded by junior boys who are look­ always present, giving strength and ing for a man who cares—and he hope through the avenues of prayer does. and Your Word. On the other hand, Together our pastor and wife visit they never fail to be truly joyful on the hospital or a new mother or a occasions such as weddings and grieving family. Midnight finds them births. Lord, thank You for always across town telling a wife her hus­ giving them just what they need to band has just been killed. On another give to us and always just at the late evening they counsel someone right time. who couldn’t wait until morning. Al­ Occasionally spiritual illness most every meal is interrupted by strikes members of the flock, and phone calls from people with a multi­ they care deeply about that too. I tude of questions they want answered know they are often in prayer about —now. all of us. I know that sometimes You But my pastor and wife never give have spoken to me because of their up. They are living proof of Your prayers. I’ve noticed, though, that never ending strength. they don’t feed only the soul and Theirs is a hard task. They give, neglect the body. Several times they give, give. We take, take, take. Help have organized all of us into groups us to take less and give more. Help responsible for providing food or me to remember them in prayer each clothing for others in need. They be­ day. I ask that You pour out a full lieve it is more blessed to give than measure of Your blessing on them to receive. They have learned this right now. Because they are so dedi­ from You and continually teach it to cated to Your work, I pray that they us. will never be wanting. Besides giving Each Sunday morning, without them what they need to give to us, fail, our pastor is in the pulpit talk­ please give them blessings just for ing about You. His wife is always themselves. They’re special, Father, so please watch over them carefully. *Melba, Ida. Thank You.

August, 1975 17 An interview with Rosemary Green, wife of song evangelist Jim Green. Her career in suitcases and special meetings makes her a very unusual preacher’s wife.

Lora Lee Parrott: I doubt if very many vive the road weariness if a woman song evangelists have been active contin­ allowed herself to become negative. uously as long as you and Jim. Just how Lora Lee: That brings up the next nat­ many years have you been singing in ural question. Don’t you get weary of revival meetings and summer camps? this eternal traveling? Rosemary Green: Actually, 1974 was our silver anniversary. We have traveled now Rosemary: I think we all get weary of more than 25 consecutive years in the anything which is repeated time after work of song evangelism. I guess I have time after time. I’m sure there are pas­ stayed in every kind of parsonage, hotel, tors’ wives who get weary of staying at and motel there is. And incidentally, home. I do sometimes get tired of travel­ before Jim and I were married, I traveled ing, except I feel this is our place of ser­ with my aunt, Wilma Geeding, who also vice and a responsibility God has given was an evangelist. to Jim and me. That makes us very much aware of the special compensations that Lora Lee: Besides old-time religion, come in our kind of ministry. what is the most important quality of the traveling wife of an evangelist? We have hundreds and hundreds of pastors and their wives as our friends Rosemary: Well, first of all, it is nec­ because we have stayed in their homes. essary to have some expertise. The wife We have had opportunity to see the of a pastor in a settled ministry is United States and Canada in ways that loved and appreciated by the congrega­ few people are ever privileged. Then tion for herself. She may or may not most of all, we are in the constant atmo­ have special abilities in music, teaching, sphere where souls are saved and sanc­ or something like that. But with us on tified. And in these last years there have the road, people expect me to carry my been many special events with which God fair share of the responsibility of the has blessed us both. For instance, we service. For me this includes playing the worked very hard on the music for the piano, organ, singing with Jim, and work­ last evangelism conference in Kansas ing with the choir. But beyond this, the City. This was a year-long responsibility most important quality of the wife of a besides our regular slate. song evangelist is a positive, happy atti­ tude. I think it would be impossible to Lora Lee: What changes have you seen keep slated in meetings or to even sur­ in 25 years?

18 The Preacher’s Magazine Rosemary: For one thing, the revivals an occasional Monday. That is hardly have been shortened and intensified to time enough to get milk in the refrigera­ meet the needs of people who seem to tor. However, my mother shares our have much more competition for their home, and things are running smoothly evenings than was true 25 years ago. when we get a chance to be there. When we first began, revivals generally Lora Lee: Is there any revival meeting started on Tuesday night and lasted over that stands out above all others in your two Sundays. Now almost every church minds over the past 25 years? starts the meeting on Monday or Tues­ day and closes the following Sunday. Rosemary: Yes, there is one. It was in However, I must say that in many ways Walla Walla, Wash., with evangelist Ray it seems that we achieve as much spir­ Hance. I think the reason for this out­ itually in these shorter meetings as we standing meeting was that the people used to do in the longer ones. Maybe seemed to be desperate for revival and other evangelists would not agree with had prayer meetings in the church and me on this. And I think it is necessary in their homes all during the revival. today to have more skills and to be They had really prepared for it. That is more specialized than it was in the be­ where we first used the song “ How Great ginning. More of our people have music Thou Art.” Incidentally, my favorite song training. The level of music and pro­ at the moment is “My Tribute,” by grams in our churches has been raised Andrae Crouch. We are using it with our considerably. Many churches have full­ choirs. time ministers of music. I guess we just Lora Lee: I understand you have a very have to be better at what we’re doing now special kind of diary. Can you tell us than we were at the beginning. about it? Lora Lee: I am sure that for a woman Rosemary: Yes! We are captivated with the matter of your meals and lodging is something that we started 25 years ago. more important than for a man. How are At each revival, Jim takes a picture of the arrangements in most of your meet­ the pastor and his family, the evangelist, ings? and all other special workers. We also Rosemary: Things are much better now save a piece of the advertising. This goes than they were in the beginning. Usually into a special book which is a pictorial we stay in hotels and motels and eat our diary of all the places where we have meals in restaurants. With as many held revivals. Some families are in the hundreds of thousands of miles as we book several times, and as these meetings have logged, it almost becomes necessary are separated by years, it shows the to have some privacy for time alone and growth and development of the family. away from people. I guess we need to We enjoy these very much. When we have a place and time for our souls to first started out, the first book covered catch up. This is much more possible two years of revivals. Since then, we have gone to a book for each calendar year. staying in a private room than with an active family in a parsonage. Of course Lora Lee: Do you have any final word we must have time to work on our music for pastors’ wives concerning the wife of arrangements for both the orchestra and the evangelist who may be in their the choir. But as for meals, I rather en­ church? joy going to someone’s home. Pastors’ Rosemary: Not really. Pastors’ wives wives are some of the best cooks I have have been generous and considerate ever experienced. toward me through all of these years. I Lora Lee: Where is home when you can love them all. I know they work very go home? hard and in their own way are working Rosemary: Canton, 111. just as hard during the revival as Jim and I. I just hope the Lord gives all of Lora Lee: How often do you get there? us lots of love for each other, continued Rosemary: We are there for two weeks good health, and lots of common sense in June, three weeks at Christmas, and as we work to win souls for Him.

August, 1975 19 Church Archives Idea—

So You’re Having an Anniversary

By Elsie E. Buckmaster

E u s e d t o live next door to an 3. Almost any record of the early W elderly lady whose main topic years of any church is precious be­ of conversation was her age. We were cause as a rule only a few written quite young, and with that affinity records will remain. Also, most that sometimes exists between the churches probably took group pic­ young and the old, she would talk to tures more often because the groups us about her age. She told everyone were smaller, and it was easier to do. she was 87, going on 88. Finally her Usually more printing was done with birthday came, and we asked some­ photographs. what teasingly, “How old are you, The problem has now gone full did you say?” circle. With mimeograph or other She replied, “ I’m 88, going on 89.” duplicating equipment, so much So your church is having an im­ printed material is now turned out portant anniversary. But each day it that it becomes a problem to be selec­ will keep on getting older. Have you tive and choose wisely what has given any thought to keeping perma­ permanent historical interest and nent records for the future? Most what is temporary. Many churches churches have a somewhat less than and individuals may be preserving ideal record system. Probably only a fewer records because of this abun­ few have records that are concise and dance. It could be more difficult to chronological, mostly because there find records of the last 10 or 20 years seems to be no printed guides avail­ than of the earlier years. able. Many pastors keep an elaborate 4. Make decisions about what record of their ministry, but when should be preserved and set up some they leave the church, the record goes sort of temporary file or storage box with them and leaves the church with to keep the material in. nothing. 5. Set up a picture file. One word Following are some suggestions to of caution: Don’t do anything to pic­ help a local church maintain its own tures or other memorabilia that can’t historical record. be undone. Don’t rush for the paste 1. The church board should ap­ or glue or the new type self-adhesive point a church historical committee scrapbooks. You will want to re­ as a permanent committee each year. arrange the material several times 2. The committee should collect before you get it in final form. (You those sentimental mementoes of the may never get it in final form!) early beginnings and keep them pre­ Ordinary file folders will be better served in a file or storage cabinet than scrapbooks or photograph al­ which is kept exclusively for this bums because the material can be committee’s use. If the storage is fire­ reproduced or displayed if needed. proof, it is even better. The material should be collected for

20 The Preacher’s Magazine the church’s occasional enjoyment so should not take over two or three should be available rather than put pages of typing and could be kept in a away too permanently. folder or binder and indexed by year. You may prefer to use a three- Above all, date and label every­ ring binder with extra-large rings, thing as you go. Add the year to and place the material in plastic your date on revival advertising. As see-through envelopes punched for a soon as any photographs are re­ binder. As more material is donated ceived, identify everyone in the pic­ to the committee, it can easily be ture, if it is a small group, and write inserted in the proper sequence by the date, the names, and the occa­ date. The use of a binder makes a sion on the back. more permanent-type volume and The pastor or church secretary also has the advantage of being easier should be encouraged to keep a to look through and to carry around. chronological list of members re­ The plastic envelopes make it pos­ ceived, not just an alphabetical list. sible to see both sides of printed Most churches probably have at material without the need for han­ least one person who likes to keep dling and are excellent for programs, this sort of record. With goals defined revival advertising, or similar mate­ and an outline of what is needed, the rial. committee can seek donations of ma­ 6. If your church is younger, or if terial. The archives of any church older churches have the records, it could be preserved for future years would be fairly easy to set up a without a lot of trouble—if you begin yearly typewritten record with such now. items as this preserved for each year: How many churches have such minimum records as a good picture a. Name of pastor (date of arriving of each pastor that has served the or leaving if there is a change) church, or pictures of different build­ b. Names of church board mem­ ings if the church has changed loca­ bers and departmental officers tions, or a complete list of Sunday c. Revivals held, with names of school superintendents, NYPS and workers and the dates NWMS presidents? d. Other special occasions or im­ We forget sometimes that today portant services will be history tomorrow. Don’t forget e. Probably the important busi­ to keep records and pictures of today ness or progress of each year could while you are trying to piece together be summed up in a par graph or two. the yesterdays. Why not get it all The whole record for each year together before it is too late?

Ever stop to take note how our girls and our boys Tread along in the paths we have led them, How their spiritual stature and physical form Bear the marks of the food we have fed them?

Well, my brother, remember the Lord has ordained That each man leave his image behind him; And our children are blessed above all if they’re left With a heritage rich to remind them! —Roy E. McCaleb

August, 1975 21 "Are You Sure, Lord?”

AM A YOUNG MINISTERIAL Student at didn’t seem to fit. I prayed and I a holiness college. I am studying attempted to prepare a totally new in the field of evangelism, as my wife sermon, but it wouldn’t come. For a and I feel at this time that this is preacher to know that within a few our calling. hours he will stand before a congre­ Recently we had the rare experi­ gation without a sermon he feels ence of holding revival services in clear about is quite a shock— a feel­ conjunction with vacation Bible ing between wanting to run away and school. I was asked to give a closing wanting to cry. I felt great pressure. presentation to the children at VBS. Then a strange thing took place. At first I was reluctant, as I knew My attention was being drawn to the age group would be so varied and that children’s devotional of a few the attention span so short that it days earlier. I began to feel I was to would be a tremendous job for the use that same message for the adults best of speakers—let alone a student. on Sunday morning. I began to ques­ After much prayer, consideration, tion God. and reading, I sat down late one “ Are You sure, Lord? It seems so evening to prepare the devotional. irrational. How will adults react to a The more I tried to put thoughts on children’s message?” Yet I felt as cer­ paper, the more I realized it wouldn’t tain about it as anything I had ever do. Then in my struggle God gave done for God. I went to bed confi­ me an insight for the presentation. dent that this was what God wanted. During the delivery I was amazed. As I waited through the prelim­ I had almost everyone’s attention the inaries, I don’t remember ever being entire 10-12 minutes. An invitation so nervous. The message was de­ was given and nearly 50 children livered in almost the same style, al­ came to the altar. Many shed tears most word-for-word as during VBS. as they asked Christ into their lives. As the altar call was given, I began The next few days all went well to pray silently. Never had I felt with both the revival and the VBS. more at ease after any message. I Then late Saturday night as I pre­ had delivered myself before men in pared for the Sunday morning ser­ the presence of my Lord. I had given vice, I felt the sermons I had just the simple to the ears of the pro­ found. I didn’t understand why until a man and his wife began weeping and came forward to open their lives com­ pletely to Christ. I stood in amaze­ ment at the living Saviour. I didn’t by understand it or why it worked that Wayne E. Duncan way. I would have done it differently. Bourbonnais, III. Yet I was glad to have felt His gentle leading and His using my life to en­ rich the lives of others.

22 The Preacher’s Magazine THE

m m m

By C. NEIL STRAIT ______Pastor, Taylor Avenue Church of the Nazarene, Racine, Wis.

Anything Worthwhile and came across an abandoned sec­ tion of railroad track. Each in turn Is Worth Paying For tried walking the rails but would I gathered this from the Christian eventually lose his balance and fall. Athlete and Gary Warner: Then two boys decided that if they “Anything worthless you enjoy held hands—balancing each other— first and then pay for. they could walk the full length of the “ Anything worthwhile you pay for track without any difficulty. first and then enjoy. Here is a beautiful picture of the “ Anything worthwhile is worth unity and support needed within the paying for” (Gary Warner, “Only Church. I am reminded of Reuben One Check Left,” Christian Athlete, Welch’s book We Really Do Need Nov., 1974, p. 31). Each Other. Gary Warner even put some “fill­ The church family should be sup­ ing” in. He supports the first state­ portive, helpful, caring—they should ment—“ Anything worthless you balance each other in the hard mo­ enjoy first and then pay for”—by ments. referring to Moses and how he had the choice to “enjoy . . . sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25) but decided not Getting Ready to Travel to. And Rom. 6:23 reminds us of the In Josh. 3:1-6, there is the story of price paid for sin—death. Joshua getting the people ready to Warner closes his column with cross the Jordan. The context finds these tremendous words: “Lord, we the people coming from Shittim to come as athletes and coaches who are Jordan, and then this phrase occurs: spiritually bankrupt. We’ve only one “ They lodged there before they check left, Father. Help us realize crossed” (Josh. 3:1, NASB*). that if we’ll write it on Your account The following verse reveals that we won’t have to worry about it they were there at least three days. bouncing.” But I see in this the planning, prep­ aration stage so necessary for any We Really Do Need journey. Too frequently the excur­ sions of life are made without proper Each Other plans, without forethought, without a I came across this interesting story destination in mind. in Bits and Pieces, a small maga­ * All quotations from the New American Standard zine that crosses my desk. A troop of Bible, copyright © The Lockman Foundation, 1960, boy scouts were hiking in the woods 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, are used by permission.

August, 1975 23 The second necessity for any spir­ itual journey is revealed in verses 3 Twenty-fifth Wedding and 4, where it speaks of the ark—or Anniversary Ceremony a symbol of the presence of God. It is a beautiful thing when a couple Every spiritual journey is doomed to have been joined together in holy matri­ disaster without God’s guidance. mony for a quarter of a century. Tonight The third necessity for any spir­ ------are celebrating their twenty-fifth itual journey is a promise. There is a year as husband and wife, and we are fantastic one in verse 5: “ Consecrate honored to witness a renewing of the yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord covenant these two made to each other will do wonders among you” 25 years ago. You have shared many joys and sor­ (NASB). The promises of God are rows, hard places and smooth, through strength and support for the journey. these years. These experiences have Our journeys with God ever take us served to draw you closer to each other. over untraveled roads and into new I charge you tonight to reaffirm the country. Joshua reminded the people meaningful covenant you made 25 years that they had not “ passed this way ago and to let it live again in a new before” (v. 4, NASB). freshness. As you continue to express complete trust in each other, may you So our personal preparation—by experience the very rare and ardent de­ way of commitment—and following sire and limitless abilities to put yourself His presence, and drawing strength always in the loved one’s position and to from His promises, will bring us to act from that viewpoint. Never let a day our destination. And while it may be go by without saying, “I love you,” in unknown, it will be the right place some word or act. And finally, may you for us. continue to bring Christ into every detail of your life that He may live through your love for each other to bless and en­ The Challenge of courage others as long as you both shall live. Preaching Song: “Whither Thou Goest” John Killinger has written a valu­ Now you will repeat the vows for re­ newing your covenant: “I , ------, renew able book, The Centrality of Preach­ my covenant with y o u ,------, to have ing. In the book he quotes what a and to hold, from this day forward, for man said of his minister: better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in I cannot stand to hear him preach, he sickness and in health, to love and to tortures me so. It is as though he looks cherish, ’til death us do part, according through a window in my heart and knows to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto I exactly what I feel, exactly what I am pledge thee my faith.” thinking. He senses feelings in me I have At the Last Supper many years ago not even realized I felt, so that they strike when Christ was with His disciples for me with the force of sudden recognition. the final time, He instituted a remem­ I cannot stand it. But neither can I stand brance of himself. We call it the Lord’s not to hear him. When I miss a week, as Supper or Holy Communion. Tonight I sometimes must, I feel as if some un­ this represents not only communion with bearable heaviness, like a fog or a mist, the Lord, but for these two—after 25 had settled on me for the week (John years— it represents a renewing of their Killinger, The Centrality of Preaching in communion with each other. (Commu­ the Total Task of the Ministry, Word nion is served while the organist plays Books, 1969, p. 21. Used with permis­ “The Lord’s Prayer.” ) sion). Prayer.

What a challenge preaching really Submitted by Earl Paul Robertson, Pastor, is. Church of the Nazarene, Arvada, Colo.

24 The Preacher’s Magazine IN THE ^ S TUDY

Looking at Our Lord in Luke

A ugust 3 self-indulgence so that he was incapaci­ tated for hard labor; and his position car­ A SHREWD MANAGER (1 6 :8 ) ried high status—he didn’t want to join S c r ip t u r e : Luke 16:1-12 the beggars on the street. Suddenly it came to him. “ I know what I ntroduction : This is one of the many I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, parables found only in Luke’s Gospel. It people will wecome me into their houses” is usually called the parable of the un­ (y, 4, NIV). He called in each of his just steward (or the dishonest steward). master’s debtors. To the first he said, The Greek word for “steward” literally “How much do you owe my master?” means “ house manager.” So the heading (NIV). for this paragraph in the New Interna­ The man replied, “ Eight hundred gal­ tional Version is “ The Parable of the lons of olive oil” (NIV). This seems to us Shrewd Manager.” like a large amount. But in those days From time immemorial this passage olive oil was used with food, as a balm, has been a difficult one to interpret. and for fuel in clay lamps. Jesus seems to be condoning dishonesty, The manager toid the man, “ Take your if not indeed commending it. So we need bill, sit down quickly, and make it four to look a little more carefully. Certainly hundred.” In other words, he was to dis­ the Master was seeking to teach a valid count it 50 percent. lesson. But what was it? Then he asked the second man how I. T h e M a n a g e r ’ s P r o b l e m (vv. 1-2) much he owed. “A thousand bushels of Jesus told a story about a rich man wheat,” the man answered. whose manager was accused of wasting To him the manager said, “Take your his master’s possessions. So the proprie­ bill and make it eight hundred”—a 20 tor called him in and asked, “What is percent cut. this I hear about you? Give an account Someone has suggested that the re­ of your management, because you cannot duced bills may have represented the be manager any longer” (NIV).* It was a crucial moment. The man saw that his game was up. n . T h e M a n a g e r ’s P r o p o s it io n ( w . 3 -7 ) At first the manager was deeply dis­ tressed: “What shall I do now? My mas­ ter is taking away my job. I’m not strong By Ralph Earle enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg” Professor of New Testament Nazarene Theological Seminary (v. 3, NIV). His had been a soft life of Kansas City, Mo.

*A11 quotations from The New International Ver­ sion, copyright © 1973 by the New York Bible Society International, are used by permission.

August, 1975 25 correct amounts, the manager having the right use of their money, so that at “ padded” them by the 100 percent and the close of their life on earth they might the 25 percent. Such dishonesty was very be “ welcomed into eternal dwellings” (v. common in those days, to say nothing of 9, NIV). Now He gives a graphic illustra­ now. If this suggestion is correct, then the tion of one who failed to do this. Con­ manager actually received what was due trasted with him is a poor man who was him, and the debtors were obligated to helpless. The two men were widely sep­ show their gratitude to the manager. arated in life, in death, and after death. Changing these amounts on the bill was a very simple matter. Farrar explains I. Two M en in L ife ( v v . 19-20) what was involved: “ Since Hebrew nu­ One can hardly imagine a greater con­ merals were letters [of the alphabet], and trast than there was between the two men since Hebrew letters differed but slight­ Jesus described. The rich man “was ly from each other, a very trivial forgery dressed in purple and fine linen and lived would represent a large difference.” in luxury every day” (NIV). “ At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, cov­ HI. T h e M a s t e r ’ s C o m p l im e n t (v . 8 ) ered with sores and longing to eat what “The lord” doesn’t mean Jesus or God, fell from the rich man’s table” (NIV). but rather the master of the house. The Only the dogs took pity on him. Sym­ correct translation of this verse is: “ The pathetically they licked his open sores. master commended the dishonest man­ Perhaps some antiseptic qualities in their ager because he had acted shrewdly. For saliva was actually a blessing. They were the people of this world are more shrewd more “ human” than the hardhearted rich in dealing with their own kind than are man. the people of the light” (NIV). This statement of Jesus poses a real II. Two M en in D e a t h (v. 22) challenge to us as Christians. We might The main truth that this verse suc­ put it this way: “ Are we as eager, en­ cinctly but vividly portrays is that all thusiastic, and persistent in seeking to men must die— the wealthy as well as the win people to Christ as successful sales­ poor, the educated as well as the igno­ men are in closing deals?” (Earle, rant, the cultured as well as the crude. “ Luke,” Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Death is no respecter of persons. 4:298). The secondary emphasis is on their difference in death. It may well be that C o n c l u s io n : On first sight, verse 9 seems Lazarus starved to death, while the rich obscure. It should read: “ I tell you, use man ate and drank himself to death. We worldly wealth to gain friends for your­ don’t know what happened to the body selves, so that when it is gone, you of Lazarus; perhaps the dogs ate it. But will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” his spirit was carried by angels to Ab­ (NIV). Farrar comments: “ We turn raham’s bosom. On the other hand, we mammon into a friend, and make our­ are told that the rich man died “ and was selves friends by its means, when we use buried” — probably with great pomp and riches not as our own to squander, but as ceremony. Pallbearers bore his body in a God’s to employ in deeds of usefulness long procession to the cemetery. In Tai­ and mercy” (The Gospel According to wan today, the wealthier a man is, the Luke, p. 35). more pallbearers there are in the funeral procession— up to 32 at times.

III. Two M en A f t e r D e a t h ( w . 22-31) A ugust 10 Immediately after death the positions of these two men were radically reversed. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS The rich man found himself in “ hell”— (1 6 :2 5 ) Greek Hades, the place of departed spir­ its—“ in torment.” He looked up and saw S c r ip t u r e : Luke 16:19-31 Lazarus in paradise. Being a Jew, he I ntroduction : In the previous parable called out, “ Father Abraham,” and asked Jesus had warned His hearers to make to have Lazarus come and cool his tongue

26 The Preacher’s Magazine with a drop of water, “because I am in so that they might again join the com­ agony in this fire” (v. 24, NIV). munity of family and friends. The two opening words of Abraham’s II. Ten Men Healed (v. 14) reply, “ Son, remember” (v. 25), consti­ Jesus called back to the men, “ Go shew tute the text for today. One of the worst yourselves unto the priests.” Only a aspects of hell will be the gnawing worm priest could pronounce them clean and fit of memory. To remember missed oppor­ to be in society again (Leviticus 13). tunities for being saved—that will be hell Obediently they started out. But “ as they indeed. Someone has said that the went, they were cleansed.” The lesson we saddest words are, “ It might have been.” need to learn is that obeying Jesus always Abraham’s answer was that an im­ brings blessing. And He healed them all; passable gulf separated the two men. there was no discrimination. This underscores the awful fact that after death everything is fixed and irrevocable. III. Only One Man Thankful (w . 15- It is either paradise or torment forever. 19) And the choice is made in this life. When the 10 lepers discovered that The former rich man in his agony then they were healed, one of them “turned asked that Lazarus go and warn the back, and with a loud voice glorified man’s five brothers so that they would God.” Falling on his face at Jesus’ feet, not follow him to the place of torment. he fervently expressed his thanks for the The striking truth of verse 31 is vividly miracle of healing. illustrated and proved in the case of “ And he was a Samaritan.” This inci­ another Lazarus who did rise from the dent is found only in Luke, the Gospel dead. Instead of listening to him, the of the poor, the sinner, the Samaritan people tried to kill him (John 12:10). (compare the parable of the Good Samar­ itan). Evidently one of Luke’s purposes in relating this story was to show how the Samaritans were actually sometimes bet­ A ugust 17 ter people than the legalistic Pharisees. And this contrast is still true today. THE SIN OF INGRATITUDE (17:17) Looking down at the grateful man Scripture: Luke 17:11-19 lying before Him, Jesus asked the perti­ nent twofold question: “Were there not Introduction: What is the most inexcus­ ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” able sin? One might make out a fairly Where were they? Ungrateful wretches, long list, but he would probably wind up they went on their way without even the with ingratitude in first place. It is the common decency of a “thank you.” sin for which there is no excuse. We condemn them readily. But how of­ I. Ten Men in Need (vv. 12-13) ten does God bless us and we forget to As Jesus was heading toward Jerusa­ thank Him? Ingratitude is a major sin lem for the last time, He encountered 10 and we are too easily guilty. lepers. They “ stood afar off,” as required The one who returned to express his by the law (Lev. 13:45-46). thanks was a “ stranger” (v. 18), that is, Calling loudly so as to be heard, they a “foreigner.” Are people outside the said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” church more thoughtful and courteous The Greek word for “ Master” is epistata, than those inside? found only in Luke’s Gospel (six times). Because he came back to show his It means “ chief’ or “ commander,” a title gratitude, this Samaritan received an of authority. Evidently these lepers be­ added blessing. Jesus said to him, “ Arise, lieved that Jesus had power to heal go thy way: thy faith hath made thee them. Probably they had heard how He whole.” The verb literally means “ has had healed others. saved you.” It may well be that Christ These 10 men were in desperate need. conferred spiritual salvation on this one They had a disease that separated them whose body had been healed. No one from society. Isolated and lonely, they ever thanks God without receiving more longed to be cleansed from their leprosy for which to thank Him.

August, 1975 27 August 24 ished with it. This is a solemn warning to all of us today. REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE (1 7 :3 2 )

Scripture: Luke 17:20-32 Introduction: One day the Pharisees A ugust 31 came to Jesus, asking when the kingdom of God was going to come (v. 20). They THE GREAT SEPARATION (1 7 :3 4 ) meant the Messianic Kingdom, which Scripture: Luke 17:33-37 the Jews were eagerly awaiting. Introduction: Life is full of separations, The Master’s reply was, “ The kingdom many of them painful and some trau­ of God cometh not with observation” ; matic. Death brings separation, often ac­ that is, with outward show or by observ­ companied with deep sorrow. But the ing the skies. Rather, “ The kingdom of Second Coming will also be a time of God is within you.” In the person of millions of separations. Christ it was already in their midst. Also the true kingdom of God is inward and I. Two in One Bed (v. 34) spiritual, the rule of God in the hearts of The word “ men” is italicized, indicat­ people. ing that it is not in the original. Actually Jesus went on to warn His hearers that both “ two men” (v. 34) and “ two wom­ the time would come when they would en” (v. 35) are exactly the same in the long to see “one of the days of the Son Greek—the single word duo, which sim­ of man,” but would be disappointed. ply means “ two.” Then He declared that His coming would In today’s society the application be like lightning (v. 24). But first the would primarily be a man and wife. One Messiah must suffer (v. 25). will be taken, the other left. Everyone familiar with the Church knows that I. The Days of Noah (vv. 26-27) there are thousands of devout Christian Those were times of extreme lawless­ women with unsaved husbands. Unless ness. We read in the Old Testament: there is a change, these husbands would “And God saw that the wickedness of be left behind if Jesus should come to­ man was great in the earth, and that night. This should stir Christians to every imagination of the thoughts of his pray more earnestly and sinners to repent heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6: at once. 5). This description fits altogether too large a segment of society today. Are we II. Two on One Job (v. 35) in “ the days of Noah” ? We have much Clearly the “ two” here would be wom­ reason for giving an affirmative answer to en, for only they would be “grinding to­ that question. gether.” The reference is to the little hand mill that the women used for grind­ II. T h e D ays o f L o t (vv. 28-29) ing grain each morning to make fresh What kind of days were these? We read biscuits. We have seen two women in that the people “ were eating, drinking, Palestine sitting side by side on the buying, selling, planting and building” ground. They both had their right hand (NIV). What’s wrong with all this? The on a knob which turned the upper mill­ answer is, “ Nothing.” But the fact was stone. The two millstones were about as that they ignored God. Secularism is one large as dinner plates in circumference. of the greatest threats to the Church Jesus said that these two women, work­ today. ing so closely together, would be sep­ Moreover, we know from history that arated at His second coming. What a the besetting sin of Sodom was sodomy tragedy! And it will all happen so quick­ —what we now call homosexuality. The ly. phenomenal upsurge and acceptance of this sin in recent years spells ill for the III. Two in One Field (v. 36) future of Western society. This verse is not in most of the Greek “Remember Lot’s wife” (v. 32). Be­ manuscripts of Luke’s Gospel. But it is cause her heart was in Sodom, she per­ found in Matthew 24:40, and so we in-

28 The Preacher’s Magazine elude it here for a balanced sermon out­ shows us one great truth—that without line. the Holy Spirit there can be no complete In those days both men and women Christianity.” worked in the fields, as in many coun­ Has the Holy Spirit come upon you? tries today. So this reference is more D e r l G. K e e fe r general than the others. Today it might mean two people to­ gether in any legitimate walk of life. At Keep Me, O Lord the Second Coming there will be many separations. Scripture: Psalm 141

The important lesson in all this is a T e x t : V v . 3 -4 warning to us to be sure that we are the one who will be caught up with Christ, I ntroduction : not the one who will be left behind. There 1. Satan a very real enemy is no price too high to pay for this cer­ 2. We need help when he assaults tainty. 3. Turn to God I. Plea for Protection— “ Set a watch, O Lord” A. David recognized a need for pow­ er beyond his own. B. He turned to the God who had called him to holiness that He might help him attain that call­ ing. C. We pray to God who alone is able Finding the Truth to answer prayer. About the Holy Spirit D. Prayer is not a mere psychother­ apy—it is real communication. Scripture: Acts 18:24— 19:7 E. It is to God that we must commit T e x t : “ When they heard this, they were the keeping of our souls. baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. II. C oncern over th e M outh and L ips And when Paul had laid his hands upon A. Jesus warned that what was in­ them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and side defiled a man, and it would they spake with tongues, and proph­ evidence itself through the esied” (Acts 19:5-6). speech.

Introduction : B. David was not concerned with 1. Background scripture and explana­ covering evidence but wanted a tion of Apollos. deeper watch. 2. Paul visits Ephesus soon after Apol­ C. His speech would be clean be­ los leaves. cause he was clean. 3. Paul encounters the 12 disciples. Give background on identity of these III. Purify the Desires —“ Incline not my men. Show that they are believers. heart” 4. Paul asks the question, “ Have you A. All sin begins with desire. received the Holy Spirit?” B. Without God we tend to desire evil. I. These 12 searched for truth about C. Presence of Holy Spirit in fullness the Holy Spirit. will purify. II. These 12 prepared themselves for D. Temptation more easily resisted truth about the Holy Spirit. in early stage than later on. III. These 12 received the truth about IV . H e D esires P urity in T wo A reas the Holy Spirit. A. Practicing wicked deeds Conclusion: As William Barclay so ade­ 1. Does not want to commit evil quately stated, “ The whole incident 2. Part of miracle of new birth

August, 1975 29 B. Partaking in the fruits of wicked­ the minister to find him. It’s against the ness rules for anyone to tell the minister where 1. There is temporary gain in sin. this person is. If the minister loses the 2. Wants nothing to do with even game, the member enjoys the victory by the results. telling everyone, “ I was in the hospital for 3. Wants to be pure afterthe fact. two weeks and the minister didn’t come C. By avoiding these, he would avoid to see me the entire tim e.” judgment on these sins. KICK BAWL: Purpose: to demoralize

C onclusion: the whole church. A small team is enough 1. David enjoyed a fellowship with God to play. Object: Kick about everything to the extent he loved righteousness. that is done and bawl if you are asked to 2. Satan still assaulted him. help. 3. He recognized his need of help. Submitted by Billy W. Johnson 4. He committed his way unto God. 5. He determined to do righteousness * * * (v. 10). 6. We may have to stand alone but it MODERN AGE is worth it. P a u l N. V a il This is the age Of the half-read page And the quick hash And the mad dash. The bright night With the nerves tight, BULLETIN C J BARREL The plane hop And the brief stop. The lamp tan In a short span, GAMES The big shot CHURCH PEOPLE PLAY And a good spot.

D R O P THE HANDKERCHIEF: In this And the brain strains game a person accepts a responsibility, And the heart pains then goes around the circle until he can And the cat naps drop it behind some unsuspecting person, Till the spring snaps— whereupon he runs very fast (usually out And the fu n ’s done! of town every Sunday) so he won’t get caught. * * * TAG: This is a real fun game because it puts ministers at a disadvantage where HOW TO GET ALONG the odds are 1,000 to 1. The rules are WITH YOUR PARENTS very simple— in fact there is only one: Don’t be afraid to speak their language. Every time you visit me, I’ll come to Try using strange phrases like: “I’ll help church one Sunday. Or “ Tag me at home; wash the dishes,” “Yes,” “Thank you,” I’ll tag you in the pulpit.” . Sounds fair and “Please.” enough; except with one person playing Try to understand their music. Play against several hundred, the minister has Glen Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” on a hard time knowing who’s “it” all the the stereo until you become accustomed time. to the sound. HIDE AND SEEK: Here is a game with Be patient with the underachiever. lots of excitement and personal satisfac­ When you catch your dieting mom sneak­ tion. A member of the church hides in a ing salted nuts, don’t show your dis­ bed in a room down a long corridor on the approval. Tell her you like fat moms. upper level of a hospital. The object is for Encourage them to talk about their

30 The Preacher’s Magazine problems. Try to keep in mind that to Remember, parents need to feel they are them things like earning a living and loved. paying off the mortgage seem important. * » * Be tolerant with their appearance. When your dad gets a haircut, don’t A Sunday school class was being feel personally humiliated. Remember, quizzed on the story of the prodigal son. it’s important to look like his peers. The teacher asked, “ Who was sorry when And most vital of all: If they do some­ the prodigal son returned?” thing you consider wrong, let them know After some deep thought, little Joe it’s their behavior you dislike, not them. said, “The fatted calf.”

AMONG BOOKS

Conducted by the Editor

All books reviewed may be ordered from your Publishing House

Ephesians (An Exposition) sonably explain. There is much homilet- By W. A. Criswell (Zondervan Publish­ ical material in this book for pastors who ing House, 1974. 308 pp., cloth, $6.95.) need sermon starters and expositional This is not a word-by-word examina­ helps. tion of Ephesians, but rather a commen­ J. M. tary on its doctrinal truths. Originally delivered as sermons, the chapters deal with such subjects as the reality of God, The Master Theme of the Bible the doctrine of predestination, the new creation, the mystery of the Church, the By J. Sidlow Baxter (Tyndale Publish­ unspeakable riches of Christ, filled with ers. 336 pp., cloth, $5.95.) the Spirit, and others. His message on There is little doubt that Christian “The One Baptism” will not offer com­ scholarship learns a great deal by the fort to those who believe this means only methods of Bible students like Baxter, “water baptism,” as he points out that it who “zero in” on a theme like “The goes deeper, and includes what water Doctrine of the Lamb” as The Master baptism symbolizes—the Spirit’s bap­ Theme of the Bible. He interprets tism. His chapter on predestination is prophecy in those passages which treat also fair, as Arminians would agree basi­ “ the Lamb of God.” He naturally spends cally with his interpretation of God’s a great deal of time and effort in Revela­ sovereignty and man’s free moral agency. tion. Criswell concludes that both are true, This reviewer wonders: “Their eternal although apparently contradictory. The salvation as human souls is altogether of paradox is something men cannot rea­ grace,” p. 123 (in light of context); and,

August, 1975 31 “It fulfils every moral obligation of those who are seeking help in individual governmental righteousness, and effects or group Bible study. an eternal security,” p. 249; and, “ It is J. M . because, by the Cross, he brings us not only forgiveness but regeneration to new spiritual life, and the eternal salvation of ourselves,” p. 291. Is this unconditional security surfacing? This book can be profitable IF one is not too much influenced by some not-so- Preachers’ Exchange pronounced theological bias. J . R ay S hadowens FOR SALE: Bible Looking Glass, excel­ New Men in Christ lent condition, beautiful binding, pub­ lished 1876; How to Be Saved and How to (Studies in Ephesians) Be Lost, by R. A. Torrey; The Double By Herschel H. Hobbs (Word Books, Cure, by M. W. Knapp. Best offer ac­ 1974. 130 pp., cloth. $4.95.) cepted.—Rev. Nellie Ewell, 1032 S. Brad­ A verse-by-verse exposition of Ephe­ ford St., Dover, Del. 19901. sians by one of the outstanding ministers of the Southern Baptist church. The Items for this Exchange may be either WANTED or FOR SALE, but must be confined to old periodi­ author deliberately attempts to avoid cals and out-of-print books. All response should be being technical, hoping to appeal to the directly with the advertiser and not with this office average pastor and layman. This book or the Nazarene Publishing House. We are glad to uses the King James text, and sets a de­ render this free service on these terms. This service not available to bookstores or laymen. votional mood. Not a book of sermons, nor a commentary, it meets a need for

■ . 'r - :- ■ ■ • Beyond Bitterness ' V- * The most difficult experience a pastor V can face is to be treated as though he : ; : ■ : is unworthy of trust; but he can over­ come. • The Pastor Deals with Resistance llli 1! The way he faces resistance to his plans and opposition to the program is £ * the key to an effective ministry for any COMING pastor. '■> ■ • Preaching That Provides next month a Balanced Diet A God-guided analysis of our preach­ ■ ■ B a i l iiif! ill ing may help us to produce healthier ,, 4 ■llllllllli diets for the flocks we feed. • Pastor Jones, Superstar The secret for the liberation of the laity is found in a philosophy of “everybody, everywhere, every day.”

32 The Preacher’s Magazine Happy is the pastor in whose congregation are lay people who pray for him. Such is the pastor of Gwen Fodge, who wrote a warm and moving “Prayer for My Pastor and His Wife” (p. 17). If there should be more such prayers (and less destructive criticisms), there would without a doubt be a renewal of effort in every pastor’s performance. He would carry his burdens better, and react creatively to every obstacle (p. 1). He would give preaching its proper place in his list of priorities (p. 3) and his preaching would hit its target every time (p. 7). Free from the necessity of “ defend­ ing himself,” the pastor would be able to direct his energies toward real needs, and the result would be “love in action” (p. 15). We keep getting this type of thinking each month in Neil Strait’s “ Starting Point” (p. 23). He reminds us today that anything worthwhile is worth paying for. Somehow, as this truth is kept before us, everything else falls into its proper place and we keep right on running the race that is set before us. To all of you our brother ministers (winners, every one, we think), our prayers and best wishes are for an exciting month of August. Yours for souls, £= = j O O > Ifl > _otxO ju *— oS a> £= ^ o £ o « 05 * - O £ - r i 0 0 3 . — ^ QJ S . * 5 roiZ 0 . o - £ : * 05 05 00 • (/ 1 r— £ § © « £

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