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XIV.
Christian Service
Chapter 150
:
Preaching the Gospel
1. BEFORE leaving His
disciples, what great commission did Christ give
them?
"And He said unto them, Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature." Mark 16:15.
NOTE.-The word gospel means good news, or
glad tidings.
2. What is the gospel
of Christ?
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to everyone that believeth." Rom.
1:16.
3. How extensively and
for how long did Christ say the gospel should be
preached?
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall
be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come." Matt. 24:14.
4. Why was the gospel
to be preached to the Gentiles?
"Simeon hath declared how God at the
first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of
them a people for His name." Acts 15:14.
5. How are those who
preach the gospel described?
"How beautiful upon the mountains are
the feet of that bringeth good tidings, that
publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of
good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto
Zion, Thy God reigneth." Isa. 52:7.
6. What was the object
of Christ's ministry?
"I the Lord have called Thee in
righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and
will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of
the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to
open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners
from the prison, and them that sit in darkness
out of the prison-house." Isa. 42:6,7.
7. For what purpose did
Christ select the apostle Paul, and send him to
the Gentiles?
"And He said, . . . I have appeared
unto thee for this
purpose, to make thee a minister and a
witness . . . to open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them
which are sanctified by faith that is in Me."
Acts 26:15-18.
8. What is the
Christian minister commanded to preach?
"Preach the word." 2 Tim. 4:2.
9. Of what did Christ
say the Scriptures testify?
"They are they which testify of
Me." John 5:39.
NOTE.-Every one, therefore who preaches the
word aright, will preach Christ. Paul, who
faithfully preached God's word, said he was
determined not to know (i.e., to make known)
anything" save Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified." 1 Cor. 2:2. Jonathan Edwards was
once asked by a young minister what he
thought of a sermon he had just preached.
"It was a very poor sermon, indeed," said
Mr. Edwards. "Why?" asked the young
minister. "Because," said Mr. Edwards,
"there was no Christ in it." All the
great truths of the Scriptures center in
Christ. Rightly understood, all lead to Him.
Christ, therefore, should be presented in
every discourse as the alpha and omega, the
beginning and the end, of the great plan of
salvation.
10. How does God expect
His ministers to preach the word?
"He that hath My word, let him speak
My word faithfully." Jer. 23:28.
11. How did Christ
present the truth to the people?
"And with many such parables spake He
the word unto them, as they were able to hear
it." Mark 4:33.
NOTE.-Ministers should learn to adapt their
labors to those for whom they labor- to meet
the people where they are.
12. What rule for
teaching doctrine is laid down in the Bible?
"For precept must be upon precept,
precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon
line; here a little, and there a little." Isa.
28:10.
13. How should the
servant of God labor?
"And the servant of the Lord must not
strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to
teach, patient, in meekness instructing those
that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will
give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth." 2 Tim. 2:24,25.
NOTE.-While the claims of the law of God are
presented to the sinner, ministers should
never forget that love- the love of God- is
the only power that can soften the heart and
lead to repentance and obedience, and that
to save men is their great work,
14. As a preparation
for their work, what did Christ do to the
apostles?
"Then opened He their
understanding, that they might understand
the Scriptures." Luke 24:45.
15. For what did He
tell them to tarry in Jerusalem?
"But tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from
on high." Verse 49.
16. How did the
apostles preach the gospel?
"With the Holy Ghost sent down from
heaven." 1 Peter 1:12.
17. What was the result
of this preaching?
"Many of them which heard the
word believed." "And the word of God
increased; and the number of the
disciples multiplied in Jerusalem
greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith." Acts
4:4; 6:7.
18. What promise is
made to the faithful gospel minister?
"He that goeth forth and weepeth,
bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with
him." Ps. 126:6.
TO
EVERY clime, where lost by sin,
The grace of Christ a soul may win,
From here Thy messengers go forth
From east to west, from south to north,
Perchance, in heaven one day to me
Some blessed soul may come and say,
All hail, beloved! But for thee
My soul to death had been a prey.
Ah, then what sweetness in the thought
One soul to glory to have brought!
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