South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-19
DR.. EDWARDS DELIVERS
SPLENDID SERMON
Appeals to Congregation to
Become Workers in Cause
of Christ.

A fOrcitie appeal 20 the members
Of his congregation to dedicate at
least a portion of their liv[ 10 the
cause Of Christ as He mad done in
the cause Of His disciples. was made
at the morning sermon Sunday by
the Rev. Loren VI. Edwards. d. D..
pastor of the Methodist Memorial
church The Works of God" was
the divine's subject. the text of
which was taken from John. 62S:
They said therefore unto him,
What must we do, that We may
work the works Of God p
Or. Edwards said in part:
IF We may be convinced Of the
sincerity of these questions many Of
us here today will instantly make
common cause with them and join
in this significant inquiry. But,
mores the pity. the men who di-
rected the question OF this text TO
Jesus were not sincere. At best
their anxiety had no spiritual con-
tent, but was physical, temporal,
worldly. Let US look at the con-
text.
1T was at Caperuaum on the day
following the feeding of the 5000
people. Jesus fame and popularity
were at their height. His star at
last was in the ascendancy and
wherever He went He was followed
by thrOnging multitudes. He had
healed the sick. restored the manned
and dumb and blind, cleansed the
lepers and raised the dead. A great
wonder worker was He. a supreme
magician. a wizard with marvellous
power over nature and over mind.
And people looked and wondered
like those who watch the deXtrOus
feats Of the sleight-of-han per
former. Finally they had eaten of
the bread that He had increased
from five small loaves into a suffic-
iency for 5000 people. And so, with
an enthusiastic clamor, the people
had sought TO force upon Him tenn
poral kingship. They wanted Him
TO lead them into temporal power
and worldly affluence. And now
they come greedy to do big things,
eager for Christ's secret of miracu-
lous performance. And so they
came 70 Him upon His return TO
Caperuaum from the eastern shore
of Galilee with this Interrogation:
What must we do that we may work
the works of God?'
Finally Gets Following.
ITO more fully appreciate the per-
sonal application of this incident
brought to our attention let us con-
slider 1t first from Cbrists stand
point. After being Misunderstood
by neighbors and reIa es. pursued
by relentless enemies. -fiticized, ma
ligned and rejected, He had at last
secured a hearing and a following.
But the perceptive powers of the
people did not go deeper than the
merest eXternalities
I'VE are now better prepared 10
feel the force of the Savior's mes
sage as He replies to the people
who come sursing upon Him, and
say: What must we do. that we
NAV work the works of GOd?' The
reply of Jesus. which precipitated
the crisis. is distinctly applicable 10
us today. For, 1 take it. we are and
have been asking the substance OF
this very question How may we
work the works of GOd?' In other
words. how may we help to carry
! on the Lords work. Not how may
we work miracles, not how may we
do spectacular things, but. in all sin
cerity. how may we do Gods work -!
Faith in Christ is the first essential
A faith which seizes His promises
for personal salvation and which
believes that He is able. ready and