The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-12-18
THE MARION DAILY MIRROR MONDAY, DECEMBER 49, 1911
REV. J. w. MILES.


sign among the people were the words
from which Rev. j w. Miles rcceiv.
cd the inspiration for one of his SER
mons Sunday
The theme of his discourse embraced
the thought that one of the great mis-
takes Of the church has been made
through the over eagerness OF the pas
tor in personal pastorate work. He
has, taken too much responsibility up
on himself and given to the laity toe
little to do. AS the responsibilities of
such pastorate increase the pastor
finds himself overrurdencd and has
no one on whom he can depend to
assist him. lie should. in the thought
OF rev. Miles educate his helpers to
assume responsibility in this work. He
said in parts:
one of the greatest mistakes the
church has made in tne past | think,
was that 1t has not developed the Ia
tent power Of the laity. Too many
reople have been idlcrs in> the vine
yard of the Lord. one reason why
this has been so is the fact that many
of us pastors have found it easier to
do the work ourselves than to depend
upon inexperienced helpers from the
rank and file Of the church This
has encouraged in some degree en-
forced idleness upon many Of the
members of the church. Moses was
guilty of undertaking to settle all the
difficulties of the nation which he was
leading. But one dav his father-in-law
came to visit him, he soon discovered
that Moses WAS undertaking TO do
more than any man ought to under
take and suggested that, he set apart
helpers TO assist in this important
work. This was the beginning of the
development of the great nation that
as given to the world some priceless
lcgacies.
The smae condition obtained I'm the
Apostolic church. The apostles were
burdencd with the business RESPONSE
lillties Of the fast growing church.
and Of course neglected some of the
important details OF the ministration
&C. the temporal needs OF the people.
| The spirit of God suggested that there
1 be selected certain men IRON the lay
members to attend to this work, 50
/ stephen and his associates were given
this task. This but opened the way for
, the development of one Of the great
est laymcn the church ever had i'm
her fold who will dare to say just
I what influence the testimony of this
! splendid man Of God had upon that
/ young man of T'nrsus, who held the
clothes of the young men who stoned
stephen to death. May we not ven
turC To assert that the conviction
thrust upon his hcart that day the
! impress Of that face which shonc like
the face of an angel. may 1t not have
followed him until God got another
Chance of making known his glory ia
him on his way DOM to Dcmascas
THAT the faithful discharge OF
the lower duty will lead to the On
trustmcnt of a higher one. 1t is al
ways wise to begin with work tha
we can do, and from this lead out in
90 new paths.
We learn
2.-Iu the service Of Christ we must
depend upon God for grace that W,
may have power with men. "Stcphet
was fun Of grace and power.
3.-Christian contrcvers:ty has it'
place I'm sacred service stephen dis
puted with the enemies of his Lord
think that God is expecting his ser
wants to defend his name and caus
In the world.
4-Error when IL Is soctcd in IN,
scul. Is often only aggravated by tn
CNhibition of the truth.
| 5.-DevotcdnCss is sometimes radian
with heavenly Brightness. stephen
face shone because his heart was ful
lC the Spirit of his Lord,
IL we want our faces to reflect tn
glory of our God we need to seek an,
Gnd his grace which fills the heart
This is a great need of the churcl
today, My God give us longing
desire to have that need supplied.