Churches of Christ -- Sermons; Sermons, American -- 20th century
You will agree with me that if we should depend entirely upon Lord’s day
preaching and upon protracted meetings, we would never reach all the
unsaved even in our own community. God has not prescribed that our
efforts shall be confined unto these methods. He has given us a general
charge to preach the gospel to all the world. He expects us to use some
intelligence and some good judgment in carrying out this command.
And, friends, he expects us to use every means which is at our disposal
in order to make the job complete. Of course, I mean every Scriptural or
legitimate means. For no other sort of means would accomplish the
purpose intended. We would make a very serious mistake, then, if we
relied upon any one method alone. God expects us to use every method
that is legitimate within its nature in order to carry out this charge.
What are some of the other things which can be done along this line?
First, we can make a greater effort to get people to come to the
meetings—supplement the public meetings by putting on a special effort
to get people to attend them. Newspaper advertising would be very
helpful. Personal visits and invitations to attend the meetings can be
used to good advantage. Another means of attracting people to the place
where the gospel is preached, is publicizing reports of what is being
done. Nothing succeeds like success. And _if a church will do what God
intends for it to do, it will be news_!
One preacher blamed the churches themselves for not getting more
newspaper publicity. He said “If there were a church which practiced
what it preached, it would get its name in the headlines of the daily
paper.” If you’ll stop to analyze his statement, you’ll almost have to
admit that he told the truth. We are not seeking publicity for its own
sake, but the Bible says “Let your light shine,” and condemns the
putting of your candle under a bushel where no one can see it.
When the church does something which is worthwhile and would serve as a
fine example for others, it is our duty to give it the publicity which
it deserves in order that others may profit by the example. Such is
authorized by the commandment, “Let your light shine, that others may
see your good works and glorify God.”
IV
Radio and Press
Another means which might be used to carry out this charge is radio
preaching. Of course, there has been much of this done already in the
city of Nashville, but there are many other places where it has not been
done, and where it should be used as one of the methods of carrying out
the commandment to preach the gospel to the whole world. Wherever the
radio is used every possible effort should be made to form personal
contact with those who become interested.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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