Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-07-29
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Aug. 2, 1908.
BY REV. S. II. DOYLE.

Beginning Aug. 2, 1908.
BY REV. S. II. DOYLE.
Topic.-Songs of the heart.-vIII. How
can We serve the church?-Ps. lxxxiv.
(Consecration meeting)
1t is not true that church interest
and church attendance are less today
than in bygone days. The Christian
church was never SO well attended,
and interest in its work was never
greater, especially upon the part OF
men. Men-strong, successful business
men, men who occupy high and lowly
positions-were never more interested
in the church at any time since the
days of the apostles than today. It's
the people who never attend the
church or. if so, but seldom and those
who never take any interest in its
work, that never see behind the scenes.
that claim in their ignorance that the
church is losing its hold. They have
drifted from it, 1t has lost its hold
upon them, and they judge millions by
themselves. But TO those who know
from experience, to those who live on
the inside of the church. with its active
organiza tons, it is veritable beehive
Of industry.
The great problem of church life to-
day is not how to get the workers. but
how to get the places for them TO work
in. They have been saved to serve and
are willing to serve, and the question
that confronts them and the church is.
How can places be found in which
81 I,,x
there is always some work to do and
some service to be found for those
truly converted and deeply consecrated,
l. We cannot serve the church on
the outside of it. To serve the Lord in
the church we must become identified
openly and publicly with it No man
can successfully serve an organization
Of which he is not a member If
man wanted to serve in any cause rep
resented by an organization the best
and in most cases the only way would
be to join the organization. In most
cases he would have to do so. No
man can say Il am a Mason at heart
or I'm an Odd Fellow at heart" and
cooperate with either organization
X4C NoulQ iiol pc dlloNCd " cHlbl ii
meeting, much less become an active
participant in its work. Nor can one
say I'm a Christian at heart" and
stay out of the church and serve it to
the best of his ability. Membership in
the church is an essential element in
serving it.
2. We cannot serve the church, by
~.
only dead branches and are usually
cut off from it. Irregularity in attend
ance, absenting ourselves upon the
slightest pretext or none at all. win
never make us servants of the Lord in
the church. Church services, which
We have promised to attend. are en-
gagements with God and in Gods
house and on his day, and every man
should promptly keep his engagements
and. above ALL those with God. Many
men boast of their business prompt
ness with men and come into church
fifteen to twenty minutes late or alb
sent themselves altogether and treat
the matter lightly. Engagements with
men are serious; engagements with
God are trifiing. What an absurdity.
3. To serve the church we must low,
1t as God and Christ loved it w,
must appreciate its blessings an
amiableness. We must glory in its or
dinances and realize Its Importance to
others and lead them to 1t. 1t is Gods
house. There We meet Him. 1t is
Christ's body, and there we see Him.
Let US make new conSecra tion VOW
Of service to the church and keep it.
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps. xviii. Is; lxxxvii, II; c. Is; cxvi
1919; Matt xviii. 10, 20; John xiv
SIG; Acts xiii, 1-3; ROM xii, Ill; Matt.
XIV, 1870.