- Preface
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- Young Men in the Ministry
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- Canvassing as an Education For the Ministry
- Bible Study Necessary to Efficiency
- Young Ministers to Labor with Older Ministers
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- For Further Study
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- The Good Shepherd
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- The Shepherd's Work
- Bible-Readings with Families
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- The Minister's Wife
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- Teaching the People to Be Liberal
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- The Influence of Diet Upon Health
- Ministers to Teach Health Reform
- How to Present the Principles of Health Reform
- The Minister and Manual Work
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- Danger from Overwork
- For Further Study
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- The City Mission Training-School
- Thoroughness
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- Discussions not to be Sought
- Defective Methods
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- Religious Liberty
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- Work for the Jews
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- Less Preaching, More Teaching
- Sowing and Reaping
- For Further Study
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A Division of Labor
A serious and perhaps unsuspected hindrance to the success of the truth is to be found in our churches themselves. When an effort is made to present our faith to unbelievers, the members of the church too often stand back, as if they were not an interested party, and let all the burden rest upon the minister. For this reason the labor of our most able ministers has been at times productive of little good. The very best sermons may be preached, the message may be just what the people need, and yet no souls be gained as sheaves to present to Christ.GW 196.1
In laboring where there are already some in the faith, the minister should at first seek not so much to convert unbelievers, as to train the church-members for acceptable co-operation. Let him labor for them individually, endeavoring to arouse them to seek for a deeper experience themselves, and to work for others. When they are prepared to sustain the minister by their prayers and labors, greater success will attend his efforts.GW 196.2
Nothing lasting can be accomplished for churches in different places unless they are aroused to feel that a responsibility rests upon them. Every member of the body should feel that the salvation of his own soul depends upon his own individual effort. Souls cannot be saved without exertion. The minister cannot save the people. He can be a channel through which God will impart light to His people; but after the light is given, it is left with the people to appropriate that light, and in their turn to let it shine forth to others.—Testimonies for the Church 2:121.GW 196.3