Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-08
SUNDAYS SERMON TODAY

| ~ ~ - - a n - ~
"Bnly" Sundays sermon in the First
| Presbyterian Church, Princeton, N. D.,
! this morning was given before the stu
dents OF the Princeton Theological SEMI
! nary. Very few other persons were ad-
mltted. II was largely an Informal talK'
during which the evangelist said, in part;
1T ought not to Ne difficult matter
for a preacher to d hd subject upon
which TO preach. II ne Is faithful IN MS
pastoral work, doesn't simply talk about
the Gather, the crops the paper on the
wall and the decorations, 1t looks to me
as II he ought to have plenty of sub
jects awaiting attention.
II believe that he will find as he gets
his fingers on the pulse OF the average
congregation that some of his people are
worldly, some are malicious; some are
Indifferent, some are unforgiving some
ere lnslncere, some are censorlous, while
some are unrighteous and absolutely un-
charitable. There are also number
who are distrustful and not to be counted
upon. Some are buffeted with doubts,
some pray too little, some have wagging
tongues. ON the other hand there are
many who are hungering and thirstlng
after rlghteousness-who are anxious to
learn how to do right-who are anxious
to become Christians but don't know
how to start Others want to be whole
hearted spiritually, and are making little
headway because they need practical
hints along the line of Bible study.
"The preachers will find others who
would soon become splendid church
workers. with a little wise direction
about how to begin. You will find others,
plenty of them who would become good
givers If shown how to give in way
that will bring them a blessing. And
knowing all these things about the peo-
pie to whom he breaches, the pastor
needn't scratch out much of his hair
trying to hit on something to talk about.
LAS soon as a doCto- learns that the |
patient has headache and cold feet |
with hot fiushcs, and cold streaks chas- |
ing each other UP and down his spine, |
a pain in his side, buazing In his ears. |
low pulse, bad taste in his mouth, no |
he ought to know what the matter Is
with the patient and out of what bottle
he should take dose to hit something
that's troubling mis- man.
LIKE YOUNG DOCTOR.
There are cases, of course, where
preacher has for years been giving a
lose of everything without appearing to
make things better or worse. Like
'oung doctor l once heard of who was
'alled to prescribe for a baby. After
he child was dead he turned to the
parents and said I cannot imagine
What made that baby die-I gave 1t all
he medicine l mad ever heard Of
1t is necessary to have an aim In life,
md an aim dn your preaching. Preach
ng is sometimes like shooting squirrels,
i'm straight at the objeCt--don't fire In
ha TRY and make the hell ring |
hat 1t will land under the fifth rib. The
rouble with some sermons is that they
re never intended t. hit anything, and
hey never do.
First thing necessary Is teXt-a sub
ACt. Some decide on the subject first,
hen hunt up the text, like the young
elbow who buys q necktie and then goes
ut to buy socks to match his tie. Some
hoose @ text and then find the subject
I that text,
Much depends upon the man as to
hat he hopes to accomplish and which
lethod is best, Just as 1t depends whether
ne farmer chops wood, digs pote -oes or
'hether he takes an ak or a hoe.
Some can preach for an hour without
ext or subject and keep it up for years.
ONE take the text, and from it they
reach on anything under the sun.
II once heard of local preacher of this
ind His hobby was infant baptism.
he pastor of the church said to him that
G Cthe pastor) would be away the follow
lg Sunday, and asked this local preacher
} take his place. But said the preacher,
II pick out your text The local
reacher replied, All right, any old text
ill do They were all the same to
i'm. The pastor said, I want you to
reach on the text All Flesh is Grass
.e thought that would keep the young
,llow away from the water. Sunday
forming came and he opened the Bible,
'oked over his audience, AID child
ke, bland smile came over him as he
lid. Beloved, you Will notice this text
vides itself into two heads-Flesh and
rass. which reminds us OF two kinds of
lptism, adult and infant.
with many preachers the choosing of
text is the hardest part Of making the
,rmon. Once they get good subject
le sermon almost makes itself, just the
lme as the trimming becomes a small
after to woman after she decides upon
lie goods.
Some preachers find 1t a great help to
sep a garden for growing sermons they
ave O place where they plant ideas and
sep subjects incubating all the time.
''As you read books, find something per-
nent make n note of 1t on a slip of
Iper, giving the page. Don't try to be
aniel Webster 1t won't pay. You'll get
'tter results II you try to be yourself.
sus was heard by the common people
adly. Didn't take a theologian. He
1t up the bread of life in small slices
Id put II On the lower shelf In trying
feed two or three intellectual giraffes
the congregation you'll find the rest
the sheep will starve.
Avoid complexity OF outline. The sim
er you make 1t the better. Have your
ltline as simple as two-foot rule. A