RESPONSIVE READING: 557
HYMNS: 20, 267, 154
CALL TO WORSHIP: "If with all your hearts ye truly seek me, ye shall surely find me"; thus saith our God. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
COLLECT--OR PRAYER: O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgement, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou shouldst have us to do, that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
SERMON:
This being Higher Education Sunday, I was asked by our Pastor to speak to you this morning on the subject of education. In a small sense I feel qualified to speak on the subject, having served Nottingham Church for almost 20 years in a teaching capacity in the Church School. And I am presently engaged as teacher of the Adult Class and serve as Chairman of the Commission on Education.
My talk this morning will not be in the form of the usual three point sermon. There are many "small" points that I would like to touch on and leave with your consideration instead.
First I would like to say positively and emphatically so that we might understand from the start the overall tone of this message, that the learning process begins at the birth and continues to the grave.
The new born babe begins it's learning process almost at once, and by the time you take that little bundle of joy home from the hospital he has learned how to manipulate his parents. When he becomes hungry or is uncomfortable he discovers that if he cries he gets the attention he needs. So he cries and he either gets fed or a retread in the diaper department.
This learning process started at so tender an age continues on thru childhood, youth, adulthood, and on to the grave. To many people however when they reach adulthood and have completed the necessary formal education required of them, feel that the learning process has now ended as far as they are concerned. Let me try to explain my reasons for making this statement. In my position as Chairman of the Commission on Education I am continually challenging people to study, yes if you will study the Bible, and to seek out with other people the moral and spiritual lessons and guides to life that can be found in study and discussion. This is so necessary if we are going to apply these guides to our lives and therby be assured in our hearts that our lives have meaning and purpose.
But what is the answer to this challenge to study that is fed back to me by a great majority of the adults that I speak to concerning this business of study? Can you guess? Let me tell you---it goes something like this---I went to Sunday School when I was a kid---Sunday School is a good thing---I make sure that my kids go--but I had my share of it when I was a kid growing up. Most of you here this morning have either heard or used this excuse.
If I was to ask for a show of hands this morning, for all those who have attended schools beyond high school and college level, for the purpose of increasing their knowledge and skills for the work that they are engaged in daily, I think you would be amazed at the response that we would have.
Would those of you that have been engaged in this type of study within the last year please raise your hands---thank you--20 people with an average of 3 hours of study a week, that's 1200 hours spent by the people of this congregation in study only in the last year.
Now I want to make it clear that I think this is wonderful and I would encourage this entire congregation to participate in some educational program. And don't be afraid that you will overtax your brain. Medical science tells us that the most brilliant men we have known die having used only 1/3 of their capacity to store and use knowledge.
Many of the people that feel that church school is for kids and not for adults, are also in many instances people who feel it is necessary to continually school themselves for the world of business. I ask you can it be right to neglect the study of the Bible and it's related studies and expect to have joy in our lives. I believe that if we limit our learning activities to the purely material things of life, by putting all our efforts into personal advancement our joy will be a hollow joy. There can be no real joy, no real purpose in life, if that life is not properly divided between the material and spiritual aspects of life.
Administrators of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren schools and colleges were told at a meeting in Los Angeles in January that the "only defensible reason for the church to be directly involved in higher education is to add the dimension of meaning to knowledge." Yes, the total of education is more knowledge. The truly educated man must possess knowledge--but he must also be a man of wisdom and of understanding.
Question---how can the adult come to an understanding of the meaning of life with the wisdom and understanding of his youth?
It would seem to me that if he is going to be educated man who possesses knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that his learning process must be of an ever continuing nature. This then is my answer to those who say I went when I was a kid growing up, that's enough for me.
I would like now to speak to the young people who are contemplating college, and to the parents who with fear and trembling face the high cost of college education.
Recently I had a very interesting and enlightening talk while lunching with a salesman friend. He makes the point to avoid talking business during lunch. This day we talked about his hobby--he devotes a great deal of his leisure time interviewing young people for college entrance. He told me that he has noticed a big change the last few years in the amount of money that colleges have to aid young people with their finances, especially in private colleges. He said he advises all young people to seek enrollment in the best colleges they can qualify for scholastically, without concern about tuition cost.
He tells me that young people who need help with tuition costs can ask for and file a confidential family situation report at the same time that the make application to a college. These reports are considered and aid is given where needed.
Now I know that so called middle class people are a proud group and don't easily accept aid. But consider a family situation with me. Let's say that the family income is $15,000 and there are two children, one in senior high school and one ready for college, this kind of a family situation could qualify the applicant for partial aid. Sickness in the family causing a heavy drain on funds would be another qualifying situation and there are many more reasons for receiving help with tuition. My friend told me to advise all young persons and parents of children considering college not to lower their sights when selecting a college because of cost because aid money is there to help. Just a few weeks ago the Press carried an article listing some of the colleges in this area and the funds that they have available for tuition aid. Case had $180,000, Reserve had $150,000, Baldwin Wallace $100,000 to mention a few.
Now let's listen to what the Bible has to say about learning and instruction. Psalm 32:8 says--"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shall go. Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth mus be held in with bit and bridle."
Proverbs say---"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instructions." It also says, "Take hold of instructions, let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life."
"Hear instruction and be wise and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whosoever findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord."
This Bible is the gate the Lord has given us--that he asks us to wait at.
Proverbs 1:5 says, "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels."
Proverbs 9:10--"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and knowledge of the holy is understanding."
There it is wisdom--Knowledge and understanding.
Let's now look briefly at the first chapter of Isaiah which I read as our Scripture text this morning.
Isaiah is justly accounted the chief of the writing prophets. What did Isaiah have to say to people in this chapter? Does it apply to us today?
He speaks of the chastisement they have gone thru---the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the nearness of the time when they shall be expelled from the land, he talked to them about the Palestinian covenant of future restoration and exaltation, he whispers warnings and promises to them.
What did he say concerning their worship and sacrifices? He said that the Lord was full of burnt offerings, and delighted not in the blood of bullocks or lambs or of goats. He said why do you tread his courts and bring vain oblations, it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting it is iniquity.
Isn't he saying attendance with out love of God, which is demonstrated in service is not acceptable to God?
Yes, we must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God.
Isaiah goes on to tell the people "to wash themselves to make themselves clean." He's saying to them and to us make a fresh start. "Learn to do well" yes, after you have made yourself clean "Learn to do well"--"seek judgement" that's it--learn what is right, then act upon it--"Look after the poor and fatherless and downtrodden."
He gave to them, and to us, the command "Brotherly Love".
He said to the people no matter how evil, how indifferent you have been in the past, if you are willing and obedient, "you shall eat the good of the land."
The gospel writers show us Jesus, the Son of God, as preacher, teacher and healer. In every story or incident that we see Him in the Bible we find Him teaching a Lesson. He came to proclaim God's love for us, He provided a way of salvation for us, He died that we might live, he overcame the grave to show forth God's sovereignty, because He lives we live.
Jesus said, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knowth the Son, but the father, neither knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
"For my Yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Yes friends, he says, "Learn of me." "Learn to do well". Let us Pray.
Our dear heavenly Father we pray that thou wouldst truly grant us thee grace to ask what thou wouldst have us to do, that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that we may walk in thy light and not stumble, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Nottingham Methodist Church 196?
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