The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-14
REV. PALMER
PREACHING TO
LARGE CROWDS
First Presbyterian Church
Packed to Overflow at Sun
day Evening Service

Preaching to a congregation that
filled the First Presbyterian church
to overflow, Rev. Stephen Palmer,
guest preacher, Sunday evening de-
livered message with convincing
logic and great power. Using as his
theme the words, "Not good if de-
tached," he illustrated his talk with
railroad ticket which had been de-
tached from the coupon to which it
belonged and was therefore Of no
value. Relating that example to the
Christian life, the speaker declared
that apart from Jesus we can do
nothing.
II am going to talk about three
tickets tonight," he said. 1.-THE first
ticket is the one every church men,
Der holds. It is a ticket to the King
dom Of Jesus Christine Kingdom
that comes into our hearts and the
hearts of all men. We don't know all
he has in store for US but we have
something offered. US by the fact
that We are connected with Him and
it is automatically Cancelled when we
become detached from Him. We don't
know all about the destination or the
route over which that ticket carries
US. We don't know what this week
'has in store for US, or what test our
Guide is going to put US to in this
week or this year. There may be
blessings in store for us-some in
crease in material means that God
gives US for one specific purpose
ito increase our spiritual life.
Regular Attendance Needed
1--WE may be members Of Parent
Teachers association or Of q lodge
Int mi ~
ings we lose interest. If that prin-
ciple holds good in everything in
life then how much more it is true
in our connection with the church.
There are good Christian people who
come to church when they feel like
it and when not convenient they stay
home, and they wonder why they do
not find the spirit of power in their
own life-not good if detached.
"The next ticket I want to speak
about" he continued, lis the biggest
ticket the world ever received--thc
Aticket Jesus offers all of US. 1t car
'ries us through all the growing, ma
turing, development Of life. would
rather bear testimony Of what Jesus
has done for me and my life than
anything else 1 know"
Then he told of his own cxper-
ience when in the army in France,
detached from the good influence of
home and loved ones, how he felt
himself slipping and losing his
ideals. But" he related, "when l
was there alone with my God, some
how He laid His hand on my Shout
der and there was a new dedication
of my life. That is an experience
that Jesus offers to all Of Us.
Great Opportunity
"Thc other ticket 10 the ticket
Jesus offers to every one of US
through His church. This is the
route over which we use the ticket
Jesus gives to us. There is power in
getting together with others who
have that same purpose in life. If,
during the world war, every man got
a gun and started to France on his
own hook what failure we would
have made Of it. 1t is just as ridic-
ulous for US to try and serve the
Lord in our own way without using
Lhe organization Of the church, inn
perfect though it may be.
my friends, not person came
into this church tonight to congrat-
ulatc himself for being perfect
man. We came because we we're sim
ncrs saved by grace and because we
want the power Of Jesus in our life.
We gather into the church and join
the church to combine our power
with the power of the church and
the community. We know the church
is not perfect and we are not per-
feet, but when Jesus began his min
istry he began it in the church of his
time. Jesus Christ offers US the
great opportunity of joining the fel.
lowship Of His people and there is
nothing that brings so much joy as
dedicating our life to Him and trust.
ing Him as our Leader and our
Guide."
1The special services will continue
through this week. Tonight will be
young peoples night and the young
people will have a prominent part
on the program. 1t is also expected
that Mrs. Mackley, special soloist
from Minot, will be here for the eve
ming service.