Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-06
INITIAL SERMON.
Rev. Everett Lesher's Ideas Of Success for
Pastor and People.

During the course of his initial sermon
as pastor of the State Street Free Bap
list church, Sunday morning. Rev. Ever.
EFT Lesher gave his new people his idea
by which a successful pastorate might
result, both to the pastor and people
Rev. Mr.. Leshers manner of speaking il
very pleasing and at times he apparently
becomes SO wrapped up in his sermon
that he is entirely oblivious to what is
taking place in. the church. While his
manner of speaking is never rapid it is
with such force that it carries the mem
bers OF the congregation along with him
In commencing his sermon, he said the
pleasantness of the day seemed to him tc
be emblematic of the relation of the pas
tor and people, Continuing, he said that
every life had a mission to perform in
| this life, and that the only way for 4
successful life was to find this mission
and see that it is fulfilled. The failure OF
the lives of some people he attributed tC
the failure to find this mission.
He took as his text, John XXX 81: "As
My Father has sent Me, so have | sent
you" He then said in substance: Every
life has mission. It's place is to find
this peculiar work to do. While some
lives may have Il greater mission thar
others. yet each has its necessary place
In order for a life to be successful, it is
necessary to find this mission. Some
never discover it and for that reason
their lives are aimess and without d pur-
pose.
While the mission is determined by cir
cumstanceS in part yet each Is partially
determined by God mission. When the
mission is determined then harmony with
His will will produce the greatest good.
He then passed on to Christs mission
in life saying that His life was the be-
ginning of a new era in the life of the
world He knew what His mission in
life was and no arguments could change
His purpose. He had faith in His mis-
sion.
The church is Christ's ambassador. If
it was Christ's mission to establish sal
walton, it is our duty to carry on the
work. AS Christ was sent, He now sends
us to declare His mission. The pastor
has no other mission to preach than
Jesus Christ and Him crucifed. The pas
tor has no right to make the church u
place of entertainment or place to have
a good time, except as a place where the
people may rejoice for their salvation.
In speaking of the difficulties in life, he
said the Cross was necessary in this life.
He could see how angels might be sent
on a mission and have no difficulties. He
could not see how mortals could.
What. then" the speaker said, lis the
mission before us?' His answer was:
The world for Christ and it is the
work of the church to accomplish this
mission"
In reply to the question as to how this
church should accomplish its part of the
work he said that if the church members
followed out Christs example they might
be sure of success. If we see a person
suffering and pass by on the other side
without giving assistance our lives will
be injured. The way TO get the most
pleasure out of life is not by seeing how
much pleasure we can get ourselves, but
by seeing how much pleasure we can
give others.