- 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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The Church a Sacred Trust
When Christ ascended, He left the church and all its interests as a sacred trust to His followers. And the work of the church is not to be left to the minister alone, or to a few leading men. Every member should feel that he has entered into a solemn covenant with the Lord to work for the best interests of His cause at all times and under all circumstances. Each should have some part to act, some burden to bear. If all church-members felt an individual responsibility, greater advancement would be made in spiritual things. The solemn burden of responsibility resting upon them would lead them to seek God often for strength and grace.GW 200.1
The real character of the church is measured, not by the high profession she makes, not by the names enrolled on her books, but by what she is actually doing for the Master, by the number of her persevering, faithful workers. Personal, unselfish effort will accomplish more for the cause of Christ than can be wrought by sermons or creeds.GW 200.2
Let ministers teach church-members that in order to grow in spirituality, they must carry the burden that the Lord has laid upon them,—the burden of leading souls into the truth. Those who are not fulfilling their responsibility should be visited, prayed with, labored for. Do not lead the people to depend upon you as ministers; teach them rather that they are to use their talents in giving the truth to those around them. In thus working they will have the co-operation of heavenly angels, and will obtain an experience that will increase their faith, and give them a strong hold on God.GW 200.3