The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-01-28
SATURDAY NIGHT
&; SERMONS
. REvSAMUEL
W.pURvISDl
THREE FAULTY FOLLOWERS.

room for thrOngs who had come out OF
city and village eager to see and hear
the famous NaZarene, whose wonder.
full preaching and marvellous miracles
were the common talk of the region.
Never man spake like he. Sublime
oratory. He could give sight to the
blind hearing to the deaf. food to the
hungry. even raise the dead to life.
He was a magnet for the crowd Ev-
cry public leader knows the danger of
popularity and the vagaries and many
motives OF his followers. Even the
twelve had some unworthy thoughts
as to the rewards they were going to
get Christ had hundreds Of admirers,
some willing to accept his fortunes at
once. few who secretly determined to
call him master. The tides of excited
feeling must have swept many to his
beach. A man who could feed 5000.
quiet the sea with a word. who was
going, so folks said. to occupy the an
cient throne Of David and sweep the
Roman intruders into the great sea
yonder. was worth while. OF course
many would follow Christ
The UncaieuIatins Follower.
Lord. | will follow thee whitherso-
ever thou goest" He was enthusiastic,
warm blooded. impetuous-the kind
that leap before they look; they answer
you, before you have finished your SEN
tence. He may have been Of some
prominence and thought he was honor
ing Christ But he would also be q
big gamer. Large visions of success
hoated before him. He was quick
pulsed and felt the magnetic hypnotic
swing of the crowd. So he makes his
wholesale offer "Whithersoeverv' How
little did he comprehend what was
involved. He saw distinguished So
ciety. homes of wealth and culture,
gratitude Of the healed and needy. GER
tain victory over I'LL obstacles. OF
course "Whithersoever" wasn't bit
too broad. How quickly Christ an
swers him. and truthfully. That's the
kind of physician to go to- Il have
nothing here. Not so much as the
beasts and the birds. Better think a
moment. Today | have home. to-
morrow none. Today I'm popular. an
Jesus then was not-nor is it today-a
holiday excursion. Christ did not want
to drive him away. nor did he want
him to start out with wrong idea. l
think we need the message today. To
my city is coming the greatest evangel-
let nf n
the danger of this type of followers.
emotional. quick raised hand. thrill Of
rapid heart beat. the shelter and re-
specta bility Of Christs name. but when
it comes to sacrifice and service it is
different 49,.
The Delaying Follower.
This second man was called. He
heard and needed and wanted to go,
but-tirst. And didn't he have the best
of reasons? His father was dead
Everything else gives way to funeral
At the busiest season your boss will
let you off-"Death in the family"
Street cars are not allowed to block a
funeral. One Of the horrors Of war is
that you can't take time to bury the
dead Was Christ harsh? Not at all.
At least not so with Mary and Martha.
4 and the widow of Main. and Jairus.
Even if the young man had used only
a popular saying that meant mot as
long as my father lives" Ii he was
dead the mourning period was thirty
days. Living folks are Of more i'm
portance than dead forms. The living
must care for the living. Thirty days
from now. days spent absorbed in
lamenting the dead. the young fellow
would be~a different man. Which
would you rather. said Christ. WELD
the grave diggers shovel or blow the
gospel resurrection trumpet? The first
man was too quick; this one was too
slow-he's been in my after meeting.
Now. preacher. before the weeks out,
this series of meetings. before the
years done or the winters over. I'll
follow Christ There's something have
to attend to first" a certain place
is said to be paved with good inten.
tons. Seek ye first the kingdom OF
Godv'
The Half Hearted Follower.
; Il will follow thee. but let me &C
; home and say farewell to them that are
at my house" oh, that word "butv
What fearful possibilities are wrapped
up in it! 1t has the power of tbs
keys to the kingdom of heaven. This
young fellows request seemed straight
enough But Christ knew him. Ii
No. 2's grief was n danger this man:
pleasures were fateful. He was social
. popular. the delight of his set If BIZ
went back among his old friends tt
say farewell-and those oriental fare
, wells We're something elaborate. NJ
, quick. sharp Anglo-Saxon "goodby:"
was numberless salaams and endles.
palaver to every one in the village {:
tribe of relatives and host Of &c
quaintances). then feasting and return
feasting-he never would have 20
: through. Then. too. the possible hostil
.ty Of his relatives and friends to hi
: following Christ, Our missionaries So,
: natives coax converts to 60 visit thei
; relatives before they are baptized
Vixen they do they never return. M
. maa." said Christ to him. having pu
, his hand to the plow and looking bacl
:. is fit for the kingdom of God" Pillow
, ing requires undivided attention. Yol
r can't do 1t and look back And tn
t Kingdom OF God requires full surrep