Professor Wicher of the theological seminary in San Anselmo was scheduled to preach, but sent word of his inability to come to Fresno in time and Rev. Hinman was to be substituted. Parts of the sermon are reprinted below. Paul had a weak body and people said that his speech was contemptible, but he was ever seeking spiritual strength and urging people to be strong in the Lord. Folks today, as then, must be strong to resist, strong to achieve, and strong to comprehend. Demoralizing influences surround them on all sides.
Some people think that the church is a hospital, or a species of life insurance society.
It is really a gymnasium to train live people to survive. One who doesn't grow strong in the service of Christ is not much of a Christian. What Paul specifically urged was growth in spiritual capacity that would enable understanding of spiritual truths which would seem impossible to untrained minds. He said that his great purpose was to reveal the mystery of Christ - namely, that Gentiles had equal opportunity with the Jews in the benefits and priviledges of the gospel. When Paul said there was no difference beween the Gentile and the Jew, he was credited with as rank heresy as one who would say today that there is no difference between the American and the Oriental.