138
The Voice in Speech and Song
The great masses of the people are more ignorant on this point than
is supposed. Among graduates from college, eloquent orators, able
statesmen, men in high positions of trust, there are many who have
given their powers to other matters, and have neglected the things of
greatest importance. When such men form part of a congregation, the
speaker often strains every power to preach an intellectual discourse,
and fails to reveal Christ. He does not show that sin is the transgression
of the law. He does not make plain the way of salvation. That which
would have touched the hearts of his hearers, would have been to point
them to Christ dying to bring redemption within their reach.—
Gospel
Workers, 170
.
Importance of Obedience to God’s Commands—So plainly is
the truth to be presented that no transgressor, hearing it, shall be
excusable in failing to discern the importance of obedience to God’s
commands.—
Gospel Workers, 148
.
Well-Defined, Clear Sermons—If you have the quickening grace
[218]
of Christ to energize your movements, you will put earnestness into
your sermons. Your subject will be clear and well-defined in your
mind. You will not be lengthy in your remarks, neither will you speak
hesitatingly, as though you did not yourself believe what you were
saying. You must overcome slow hesitation, and undecided, sluggish
movements, and learn to be minute men.
The subjects which many of our ministers present before the people
are not half as connected and as clear and strong in argument as they
should be.—
The Review and Herald, April 6, 1886
.
No Artificial Embellishments—God calls upon the ministers of
the gospel not to seek to stretch themselves beyond their measure by
bringing forward artificial embellishments, striving for the praise and
applause of men, being ambitious for a vain show of intellect and
eloquence....The more clearly ministers discern Christ, and catch His
spirit, the more forcibly will they preach the simple truth of which
Christ is the center.—
Evangelism, 181
.
Praying Too Little, Studying Too Much—They [ministers] in-
jure the work, injure the effect of the truth that they would advocate,
by crowding into one discourse so much and making so many points
that minds cannot always appreciate or follow them. More success
would attend their labors if they riveted one or two points in the minds
of the hearers and make these points of vital importance, press them