The Detroit times., 1916-01-13

nrst hEure IN the present lesson con
cerning the most famous sermon
preached since the ascent OF Christ
Two months before, Peter, ths
preacher. scared by a vomAns quss
tion. mad stood in Jerusalem cursinl
and swearing and declaring that b,
had never known this Jesus. A
clustering renegade was he. II
cowardly fashion he had cut him
self Of from his best Friend, In IN,
hour when that Friend needed hin
most.
Now We behold him, forgiven and
restored back In his old fellowship
and displaying hts characteristic
qualities Of initiative and leadership
Like the words Of redeemed men In
the rescue missions, his utterancs
was direct, personal, vital and as
sured AS We look upon Peter. the
preacher at Pentecost. and the
spokesman OF the infant church, We
may not forget that he exemplifies
The great truth that Gods grace en-,
ables many men 20 come back" re
stored 10 peace and power
There is one church known 10 me
which still follows the practice OF
Pentccost in that the other officers
Of the church surround the preacher
on the pulpit. When Peter stood
up, the ether eleven Apostles stood
with him The authority and en-
dorsement OF the whole body were
behind the preachers words. Many
a clergyman nowadays has TO speak
in spite Of his officers, instead OF by
their cooperation. They ere among
the critics down in the pews. II is
great thing when a congregation
speaks unitedly 10 the community
Just Plain Preaching.
That was q great day IN the hts
tory OF the world when Peters mes
sage. following the sensation OF gift
Of tongues, made three thousand
converts for the little company OF
Christ's friends. II has always been
high-wster mark and a standard
for the church
There Is an Gp-to-Aate message IL
the story. For Il was not a news
paper editorial. nor a learned essay
nor an enactment OF the legislature
nor a scheme OF the chamber OF com
merce that wrought this wonder, but
Just plain preaching. Whenever
read the occasional editorials and
magazine articles about the pass
ing Of the sermon" I smile to my
self: for great sermons OF the Peter
st-Pentecost type, still have theil
old time power. True, our day Ii
hard upon commonplace preaching
and upon sermons got up" but I
spends as OF old TO a man of Go'
declaring with power the truth o
Gods redemption for man. The mar
Of parts who goes into the pulpit
goes into the place Of greatest pow
or on earth.
Some things that should mark ev
cry sermon characterized Peter
message that day. First, he told th'
story of Christ, and In plain words
No amount OF intellectual brillianc!
can sake the place Of tho telling o
the facts. Most modern sermons ar
long OH exhortation. and short OF
facts. II is the story that is win
ming the world Peter quotes
Scripture oppositely. Il is passini
strange how little Bible gets int
the pulpit discourses Of our day. es
pecially in the light OF the fact tha
the people who know most about th
Bible best understand the war new
from the east.
into the teeth OF his hearers Pc
ter hurled the brave truth that the.
had crucifed he Messiah. No ear
tickIer or trimmer was the fer.
apostle. He dared rebuke sin. TheI
he preached repentance and baptism
and the salvation provided By
Christ. Soon a multitude OF thre,
thousand were crying out, 'Wha
shall we do?"
The Sermon Itself.
Better than any comment upor
II is Dr. Luke's report OF Peters ser
mon Itself.
But Peter, standing up with the
eleven, lifted up HIS voice, and spaks
forth unto them. saying. Ye men oi
Judsea. and all ye that dwell al
Jerusalem, be this known unto you
and give ear until my words. Fol
these are not drunken az ye sup
pose; seeing Il Is bat the third houi
Of the cay; but this is that which
hath been spoken through thu
prophet Joel:
And II shall be in the last days
saith God.
I viii pour forth OF my Spirit upoI
all flesh.
And your sons and your daughter
shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see Vi
sions.
And your old men shall dream
dreams;
Yea and on my servants and on M
hand maidens In thoee days
VIII pour forth OF my spirit; an'
they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders IN th'
heaven above.
And risns on the earth beneath;
Blood, and FIRE. and vap1r Of smoke
The sun shall be turned into dark
ness.