The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-24
K Sermon by Rev. O. C. McCuIloch Answering
the Question of Why the Church and Work
ingmen Are Not More Closely Related.
Rev. III. A. Edson's Discourse Last Even
ingon "Labor and Political Economy"
Rev. ]. Albert Rondthaler's Sermon at Taber-
nacie Church on Ideal Womanhood"-
Notes of the Different Services.
PREACHING AND CONVERSION.
Two Sermons by Rev. E. j. Gantz in Autici
ustion of sam Jones's Visit.


The subject of Rev. Z. ]. Gantz's sermon at
Central Christian Church yesterday morning
was, What Is It to PreachY' and the text
chosen for the discourse was III Timothy. iv, 2.
AS preface to his sermon, ME-. GantZ said:
Ny object in announcing and preaching this
series OF sermons at this time is that my hear
ers, if affected at all by the labors of
Mr.. Jones during the next month, may be
affected for good, and by this means
may, perhaps receive larger degree of
help. I think that enough is generally
known about his work to justify the remark
that in ali cases the result of his abors is not in
the highest degree satisfactory. While
lie does not intend to destroy the faith
of any, or to affect it for evil,
still / am convinced that without care
upon our parts the faith of many of his hearers
In the church, and it's God-approved methods
and means of grace, will be shattered 1t is to
save the members of this congregation from such
n sad state that deliver these sermons prior to
Che coming of Mr.. Jones. I am. indeed sorry
that thought such sermons necessary. Indeed,
his is one of the worst things that can be said
against his course: that we have to prepare our
selves, that his labors may benefit US and not in
IRE our faith. do not purpose to analyze the
~,rmons of the evangelist. Really, If allude
10 them at all, it will be simply to show to this
audience the vast difference in his spirit, as dis
closed by his language, and that of our Savior
md His apostles.
II discuss this morning" Mr.. Gantz said, 'the
question: What Is It To Preachg say frat.
the primary object is to make men disciples Of
kAo s,-s<
do in Matthew. xviii, 19. On this commission
DR.. John Hall, in his book on preaching, consist
ing Of a series of lectures deved IN Yale College
IN 1875. says: Our translators made no discrim-
ination in the two Greek terms of the apostolic
commission, for which they have given the one
word teach But there is a real distinction.
In verse 10 we have the Greek word mathaten-
gata. make disciples. When believed and
became disciples, the ordinance of baptism into
the name of the Father. Son. and Holy Ghost
gave opportunity to join the Christian soci-
ETY., and avow discipleship, and now
they became pupils to be taught.
and another word altogether is employed,
didaskontes teaching. 1t is plainly seen,
therefore, from this statement and by the very
nature of the work of the church, that the object
of preaching is two-fold. First, to reach men as
missionaries do, and secondly, to instruct them
as teachers do. The preacher, however. is not
10 be missionary. carrying any and all kinds of
Belfselected facts or truths but is pertinently
expressed by the apostle Paul, in my text to
preach the word. IT, then, the preacher is to
make disciples with the word given him, he be-
comes simply an AMBASSADOR, a messenger. /
should say. therefore, that one of the first
things to be observed by the man who at
tempts to preach. since he is merely an
agent, would be that he be true to the
commission by which he is authorized to act
Again, before he can announce the message, it
seeing reasonable that he should understand
many things about it, that he may create faith
In it. both within himself and his nearer. He
Bhosld understand its nature its purpose and its
power.
Paul, in the verse Immediately proceeding my
text charges the evangelist Timothy, before
God and the Lord Jesus Christ. who shall Judge
the quick and and the dead at his appearing and
his kingdom, to preach the word. Some way
he preacher is answerable to God for his preach
ag. God. therefore, must be the one that au-
iorizes us to do the work which he desires
me- and for the doing of which he holds US
countabe.
The fact is, this is Gods word, given to do
tsods work. This being the nature of the mes
lge, what reverence we ought to show for it!
No minister treat it IRE verently and lightly.
Phillips Brooks, in his Lectures on Preaching"
says: 81 think there is another creature who
ought to share with the clerical prig the contempt
of Christian people. / mean the clerical Jester,
in all the varieties Of his unpleasant existence.
He appears in and out of the pulpit. He lays
his hands on the most sacred things and leaves
deflement upon all he touches. He is full of
Bible jokes. He talks about the church's sacred
symbols in the language of stale jests that have
como down from generations OF feeble clerical
testers before him. The doctrines which, if
they mean anything mean life or death
TO souls, he turns into material for
chaf that flies back and forth like the traditional
banter of the Thames, between the clerical water
men who ply their boats on this side or that side
of the river of theology. There passages in
the Bible which are soiled forever by the touches
which the hands of ministers who delight in
cheap and easy Jokes have left upon them"
The other fact that man needs to know ere
he understands what it is to preach, is the pur-
pose and power of this word of God. 1t does not
require much Investigation to learn that its pur-
pose is to reveal our God, His plan Of salvation,
through Christ, from sin and all its fearful
consequences, and that it is Gods pow
beiieyeth. God dignifes man by thus
addressing him. aud communicating to MS his
wonderful desires In our behalf. The means
God adopted. his.word and the adoption of any
means by our Heavenly Father at once augurs
system. A single glance at nature teaches US
unquestionably that our God IS both orderly aud
systematic. We naturally, therefore, look for
both order and system in his word. Understand,
therefore, that to preach is delivering orderly
arranged message to the two classes of hearers
Iquote again from Phillips Brooks: Look at
the way in which the pulpit teaches. You
minister. and you are TO instruct these people in
the truths of God--to bring Gods message to
them. Ali the vast range of Gods revela-
toa ouu VI uhue uuty Is open DeIore
you And how do you proceedl If you are like
most ministers there is no order, no progress. no
consecutive purpose in your teaching You never
egin at the beginning and proceed. step by STEP
the end OF any course of orderly Instruction
on fioat over the whole of truth and plunge
ere and there. like gull, on any subject that
liner suits your mood, or that some casual and
uperhcial intercourse with people makes you
.onceiye TO be required by a popular need No
other instruction ever was given Sc" Truer
words were never spoken on this topic The two
classes of hearers are those not vet disciples. and
those that openly confessed learners of
Christ Theseareto be systematically instructed
Every system known to me is made up of
Shree things. namely: facts, truths and duties
Certain things done and completed are to be an
nounced to both classes Of hearers. but certain
things do not always apply TO the classes equal
BY. Some things annot apply to those who have
accepted our Saviour as a basis for truths that