Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-11-27
A SPLENDID SERMON ON MISSIONS.
Preached by Rev. W. W. Rowe, at Lower
Stone, Sunday. November 18th.

The following sermon wa
D preached by Rev. W. W. Rowe
pastor of the East Rowan Charg
of the Reformed church, at Lowe
Stone, November 18th, 1907. A
the request of many people, wht
heard him on that occasion, the
sermon is hereby published to bs
preserved for future reference
Mr.. Rowe preached at Bear Greek
church, in Stanly..county, for two
years and a half; organized Boge1
congregation; and is now pastor
of Lower Stone, Ursinus and St.
Luke congregations, near Rock
we'll, in Rowan county.
| Acts 1921, 1T must also see
Rome"
Next to Jesus Christ stands the
Apostle Paul as a great mission
larry. We never think of his life's
work, without thinking of his
three famous missionary tours.
During these missionary journeys
he visited many places. He tra-
versed the island of Cyprus and
several provinces of Asia Minor.
He visited many important cities,
Ephesus, Athens, Corinth and
other places of minor Importance,
preaching the gospel, establishing
and strengthening the churches.
Towards the close of his third
tour, "when he had passed through
Macedonia and Achaia to go to
jerusalem" realizing that the
most important city of the world
at that time had not been reach
ed, he said, II must see Rome.'
Rome, being the strategic center
of the world at that time, and
Paul being the leading mission
sry, it was very necessary that he
should see the place and preach
the gospel there also. Paul re-
ceived his great zeal for mission
ary activity from the original
and sole master missionary.
This person is our Lord Jesus
Christ, and as Lord of his king
dom he has put his own divine
commission upon his followers.
It is, "Come." "Go." T o
commands in one. "Come learn
of me-" "Gopreach the gospel
Discipleship and apostleship are
one and inseparable. AS Phillips
Brooks interprets it: discipleshlp,
which sits at his feet to learn,
and apostleship, which goes out
into the world to work. We
learn but to teach; we know of
Jesus, but to tell of Jesus. We
commune with him, but to COM
municate him. Ever so are we
sent as he has been sent.
The church is a coin from the
divine mint. One side shows the
likeness of it's Lord; the other
side the map of the world. 10
efface either destroys it. The
world itstelf Is to be finally shap-
ed into that divine likeness,
Christ is at once Authority and
Pattern, Inspirer and Organizer,
Author and End Of missions.
Apart from him we can do moth
ing. Through him we can do, and
teach all men to do, all things
which he has commanded us We
should rem ,m!,er that missions
are no discovery, OF redlscovery of
what was lost in the 4th or 9th
century. There have been times
of forgetfulness, stagnation and
corruption. Many false methods
have been employed. Yet the
golden thread has not been broken,
the prophecy has not failed. The
sway which christianity exercises
in the world today is the result of
over nineteen centuries Of contin-
uous effort and achievement There
has never been q time since the
worldwide commission was given
when it's appeal has ceased to ring
in the ears and find response i'll the
hearts of some of Christ's follow.
ers, when at least individual mem.
bers of the church have not been
planning or winning fresh conqnests
for him. ''This gospel of the
kingdom shall be preached in al
the world unto all the nations
and then shall come the end
Thus he announces that his effort'
shall be continuous. And tht
great apostle with that burning il
his heart exclaimed, Il mnst alse
see Rome"