The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-03-13
Outline of Sermon Preached by Rev.
w. G. SchOppe, Sunday Morning,
March 10. 1895

March 10, 1895.
SUBJECT: Growth through the knowledge
of Christ
and in the knowledge of our Lord, and Savior,
Jesus Christ. to whom be glory both now and
forever"
These are the last recorded words of Peter
wonderful change was wrought in his life
Compare the Peter. who denied his Master,
with the one who stood bravely before the
Council; and at last was loyal unto death -
and they seem like two different men.
This man has RIGHT to speak of GROWTH
IN GRACE. The grace of God kindles holy love
in the soul of man. This FIRE in the soul makes
ea'e in sin impossible, and impels in Christian
service.
First. THE CHURCH NEEDS MORE UNIFORM
ITY. Many people have their weak points. If
pressure is brought to bear upon it, the charac-
ter will be broken. A man is not stronger than
his weakest point. There he needs to build.
Pressing upon EVERY life is the boundless love
of God. This Infinite motive may be brought
to bear on any point in life it leaves no excuse
for continued weakness.
Second. THE CHURCH NEEDS CoNsTANcY.
There are plenty of people to work. when
there is general excitement. But who will stand
by when the work goes hard, and they are most
needed?
Third. THE CHURCH NEEDS INTENSITY
How many members give less for the Church
than for their Club or some other organization?
How many give less for missions than for cigars!
There is one principle to govern Christian
life DO what Christ would do were he in
your stead. That is to be Christian. When
the church bell rings. what would Christ do :?
When allurement comes, what would Christ do?
When the poor suffer. or your neighbors are
sick, what would Christ do?
But how far short of this ideal do we come
1t can only be reached by growth. Christian
life is an organism; it grows from within out
ward. Jesus Christ is the seed planted in the
| soul, and the ultimate end is Christ like char
acter. Christian life unfolds as spontaneously
| as plant lie. Ruskin said do not see, on
the front of all great works, evidence of ease :?
They seem to say, not that there has been great
effort here, but great power here. Also, we
think we can do great things by the help of iron
bars and perspiration BY this method we only
lose few pounds of our own weight"
Christ said, Consider the lillies''-not how
beautiful they are. though they are beautiful
not how fragrant they are, though they are fra
grant-but "how they GRow"-from within
outward, and spontaneously.
Such is Christian life with Christ in the soul
Strong upward growth needs deep root In hu.
mility. This priceless virtue is cultivated by
comparison. Put your life by the side of some
broader, richer life; by the side of your idea o.
what you ought to be; or by the side of the
lite of Christ, and learn humility.
An ancient artist had under his direction az
apprentice he one day found him sitting before
a picture he had painted, weeping. When ask
ed why he wept-for the picture was remarka
BILE for one of his experience-he replied: a.
can see no defect; l have reached my ideal
and can rise no higher.
Thus, Tor the conceited, there is no growth
but there is large hope for him who can see hi
defects, and will press toward the mark.
The means by which we are to grow in grac
is through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Th
power OF that revelation of Himself was a trans
forming influence in the life of these early dis
ciples; therefore, study the record of His life
Paul went to Jerusalem to see Peter, an,
abode with him fifteen days. Perhaps the
walked to Calvary. then to the lonely home a
Bethany, and beheld many of the scenes mad
sacred by Christ's presence. Paul wanted tn
picture in his mind. So get the picture OF Jesu
Christ in the mind; commune with Him, VIII
is ever present work into the soul the savin
truths of His Gospel and by so doing you vii
GROW IN GRACE.
When Domer was preparing his great wor
on the person of our Lord. his friends say
would sit wrapt for hours in wonder and admir-
alton. Christ was present with him his spiri
was bathed in Heavenly light. Thus men gro1
in grace by growth in the knowledge OF GU
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ To Him b
glory, both now and forever.