The Coolidge examiner., 1937-11-11

&c = Why and How Ministers Are
Trained.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
IC-The Christian Minister in the Mod
ern World.
The Christian Minister there
is no greater calling among men,
but none is more often the target
for Misrepresentation and abuse by
those outside. and all too often the
victim of the carelessness, weakness,
and sin of those within its own cir
Gle. On the other hand it has had,
and continues to have to this day,
within its ranks such noble army
Of faithful and sacrifcial men as
would probably be impossible to du-
plicate in any other calling.
The study of today's lesson should
arouse in the hearts of Christian
people a high regard for the minis
try as a calling, and kindly pur-
pose to aid their minister to live
up to its glorious possibilities. Every
true minister who studies it will
find his spirit humbled before God
in thanksgiving for the privilege of
service, and in prayer that he may
be forgiven for his failures and en-
powered for the work Of the future.
The need for such a study is indi
Gated in the verses just preceding
our lesson, namely, Timothy AIS,
where we read of the express warn
ing of the Spirit of God that in the
latter times there should be teach
ing and preaching which departed
from the faith, substituting mems
wisdom for Gods Word. One who
looks around him cannot but feel
that we have fallen upon that evil
day. We do well to give heed to
the clear teaching of our lesson re-
garding the ministry.
I. What to Preach q Tim. 4:6-9.
The good minister of Jesus
Christ" breaches the words of God.
To do this he must himself be
''nourished" by them. Spare your
preacher the necessity of running
errands, serving on boards and
committees, and encourage him to
study his Bible.
Preacher. are you studying Gods
Book, learning and teaching good
doctrine? If so you will have no
interest in or time for ''profane and
old wives fables"
ii. How to Preach q Tim. 4:l0-
12).
/. Scientifically ". l0. The man
who regards the ministry as a nice.
easy, respectable occupation is not
in the same calling as was the apos-
tie Paul. In fact, there is nothing
to indicate that he is in the Chris
tian ministry at all, for in that call
ing there is labor and suffering Of
reproach. This is not something to
be borne in spirit of resigned SUBJ
mission. The minister knows and
trusts in the living God" and
gladly bears every responsibility
with which God may entruSt him.
2. Authoritatively ". I'D. The
minister Of Christ speaks for God.
In doing so he teaches with assur-
ance and is to command" men in
the Lords name. All too often the
servants of the Lord feel and act
like "grasshoppers' (see Numbers
1889, and everybody else regards
them as feeble and impptent, when
they should be "strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus" QI Tim.
I'D.
8. Actively ". l2). Whether young
or old, the minister is to be an ex-
ample, pattern in his active daily
life. Note how discriminating is the
scripture. He is to be pattern for
others in speech. manner of living,
in love, in spirit, in faith. and in
purity of life.
III. Who Is to Preach Il Tim.
4:13-16).
/. The man who is divinely called
". 1N. God called Timothy; men
recognized that call and ordained
him to give his life to the exercise
of his God-presented gift. This is
the right order for our day.
2. The man who is properly pre-.
pared wv. 13, 1910. The ministry
calls for the best preparation that
a man can possibly obtain. He must
know how to read Gods Word, both
publicly and privately. He is to be
skilled in exhortation, and in teach
ing Christian doctrine.
In conclusion, let us consider the
portion from II Timothy 2 which
properly presents the work of the
minister as that of soldier at war
against the world, the flesh, and the
devil. He must be prepared to bear
hardness, and he must not yield tc
the temptation to get into side
lines" no matter how digniied anc
profitable they may be. His sole
business is to serve and to please
God.
Paurs overhowing heart pours out
upon Timothy, and upon true Chris
tan soldiers of awaiting centuries, q
food of heartening counsel prom
ises of grace sufficient to meet al
certain affections and prosecutions
The age of subtle persecution Of vi