The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-30
THE FoOLIsIiNEss oFpREACnING


at Pleased God by tho Fooiisbness Of
PrenchinE 10 save Them That Be-
Iieve." list Corinthians, 1-2t.
The Wilmington Nj. +. Conference
has closed, Its labors are ended for
the coming year, the appointments Of
ministers to their fields OF labor arc
settled, and the various couGreg atiOns
are awaiting the new minister, and
perhaps revolving In their minds the
Question, What manner OF man he Ia,
or will be to them. II as we believe,
yea, as we know; the appointment OF
men to preach the Gospel, notwith-
standing the human fundamentally
used In their selection. the power and
direction of Gods Spirit Is the primal
agent behind and underneath 1t all.
then IL becomes important for us to
learn, and learn 1t well, what preach
ing In the Bible sense is. and what 1t la
intended to accomplish and how FOR
us to get out of 1t all that God in his
wisdom and goodness has promised,
and will make sure to US, II we believe
on Him, whom he has sent to redeem
us.
Then what 1s preaching In the true
and only sense the word OF God would
have US understand II? Panl tell us
the preaching OF the cross is to them
that perish, foolishness. but unto us,
which are saved, 1t Is tho power OF
God" and farther he says But we
preach Christ crucitled, unto the Jews
Ia stumbling block. and unto the
Greeks foolishness, but unto them
which are called both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power OF God and the wis.,
dom OF Cod Then bible preaching
Is the presentation Of Christ as the re-
deemer of men, 1t is the power OF God
1T is the wisdom Of God to all who
believe, even though 1t pass as fool
,ishness among those who arc wise
after the flesh. and perish forever
Through their own wisdom, their own
unbelief. their own stubborn reiec-
ton OF the preaching OF the cross,
which la the power OF God.
Is 1t not, then. a subject OF the mos
vital Importance. calling for our mos
serious contemplation and prayerfu l
meditation at this particular time
when new preachers and new congre-
cations meet. as co-workers in the
vineyard oil the Master, that We take
to the Lord 10 earnest prayer the
whole matter of our new relationship
as pastors and christian workers for
God in the church that the new
preacher may come as Paul came to
the Corinthians determined not to
know anything among you, cave Jesus
Christ and him crucified" and preach
ing demonstration Of the Spirit and of
power. and that through the foolish
ness of his preaching God may save
them that believe.
Aud we. II we are Christ's indeed and
i'm truth, must receive him as God ia
special agent to minister to US In
holy things, and act as IL were to-
wards. him.as spiritual body-guard to
uphold. defend, guard aud surround
with holy hands, and thus make pas
tor and flock one grand unit In preach
Ing Christ the wisdom and power OF
God to the perishing world. May God
LESS every christian congregation in
Wilmington.
May he bless every pastor. and as
new pastors meet new congregations,
may the spirit of the Lord come upon
them In great power and weld them
together In holy Christian unity, that
the cause of Christ may be moved
forward and that righteousness may
more and more abound, and that
through the fooilshness of preaching
It may please God to suve many unto
life eternal. And may each congrega-
ton feel that they have the best min
ster. only because he lie filled with
The Holy Ghost to preach Christ in all
his fullness and power to save. and
demonstrate the Gospel to be the
power OF God unto salvation to every
one who belleveth. N. l.. JANSEy.