Sermon Tone Analysis

The following quotations are taken from the Ellen White CD-ROM.

They are quotations which contain the words: hover or its variants such as hovering, and minister or its variants.

They are quotations in which Ellen White instructed the ministers not to hover over churches and those who knew the message but to seek the lost instead.

Many of these quotations were one-time insertions in journals such as Review and Herald, Signs of the Times, the Unions’ periodicals, etc, but were not later compiled into the books which one would purchase at the ABC.

Much of what Ellen White wrote on this subject therefore was not readily available for modern readers until the advent of the Ellen White CD-ROM.

As you read these passages, you will see the need of an increased awareness of God’s instructions for His church in this area.

It will be easy to see how far we have strayed from God’s plan for the ministry of both the Gospel minister and the church members.

May God guide you as you prayerfully examine information which God gave us through His prophet, Ellen White.

Thanks, Wes McDonald

 

5200 W Co Rd 200 S

French Lick, IN 47432

 

wesmcd@earthlink.net

God has no use for those who seek a safe and easy place.

By an unreserved consecration we are to prepare ourselves for God's service.

Our ministers are not to hover over the churches, regarding the churches in some particular territory as their special care.

Believers are to have root in themselves, striking firm root in Christ, that they may bear fruit to His glory.

As one man, they are to strive to attain one object,--the saving of souls.

Mrs.

E. G. White.

{Pacific Union Recorder, August 28, 1902 par.

11}

 

The Lord's vineyard is a more extensive one than the present working force is able properly to cultivate.

Therefore it is necessary that every one should labor to the full extent of his ability.

Whosoever refuses to do this, dishonors the Lord of the vineyard, and if he continues inactive, the Lord will disown him.

As the human agent endeavors to labor, God works in him and by him.

When the Lord sees that little real effort for the conversion of souls is put forth in regions beyond, when he sees that golden opportunities are lost, and that the spiritual physician is devoting his energy and skill to those who are whole, neglecting the maladies of those who are ready to die, he is not pleased.

He cannot pronounce the "well done" upon such work; for it is not hastening but hindering the progress of his cause, when rapid advancement is most necessary.

Time and energy and means are devoted to those who know the truth, instead of being used to enlighten the ignorant.

Our churches are being tended as though they were sick lambs by those who should be seeking for the lost sheep.

If our people would minister to other souls who need their help, they would themselves be ministered unto by the Chief Shepherd, and thousands would be rejoicing in the fold who are now wandering in the desert.

Instead of hovering over our people, let every soul go to work to seek and to save the lost.

Let every soul labor, not in visiting among our churches, but in visiting the dark places of the earth where there are no churches.

{Review and Herald, June 25, 1895 par.

6}

 

I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work.

The work of a minister is to minister.

Our ministers are to work on the gospel plan of ministering.

It has been presented to me that all through America there are barren fields.

As I traveled through the South on my way to the Conference, I saw city after city that was unworked.

What is the matter?

The ministers are hovering over churches, which know the truth, while thousands are perishing out of Christ.

If the proper instruction were given, if the proper methods were followed, every church member would do his work as a member of the body.

He would do Christian missionary work.

But the churches are dying, and they want a minister to preach to them.

They should be taught to bring a faithful tithe to God, that he may strengthen and bless them.

They should be brought into working order, that the breath of God may come to them.

They should be taught that unless they can stand alone, without a minister, they need to be converted anew, and baptized anew.

They need to be born again.

{General Conference Bulletin, April 12, 1901 par.

21}

 

     Go Work for Souls.--Instead of keeping the ministers at work for the churches that already know the truth, let the members of the churches say to these laborers: "Go work for souls that are perishing in darkness.

We ourselves will carry forward the services of the church.

We will keep up the meetings, and, by abiding in Christ, will maintain spiritual life.

We will work for souls that are about us, and we will send our prayers and our gifts to sustain the laborers in more needy and destitute fields."--Testimonies,

vol.

6, p. 30.

(1900)  {Evangelism 382.1}

Conference Workers Called to New Fields.--As a general rule, the conference laborers should go out from the churches into new fields, using their God-given ability to a purpose in seeking and saving the lost.--Letter

136, 1902.

{Evangelism 382.2}

Aggressive Work Called For.--Our ministers should plan wisely, as faithful stewards.

They should feel that it is not their duty to hover over the churches already raised up, but that they should be doing aggressive evangelistic work, preaching the Word and doing house-to-house work in places that have not yet heard the truth. . . .

They will find that nothing is so encouraging as doing evangelistic work in new fields.

--Letter 169, 1904.

{Evangelism 382.3}

If the ministers would get out of the way, if they would go forth into new fields, the members would be obliged to bear responsibilities, and their capabilities would increase by use.--Letter 56, 1901.

{Evangelism 382.4}

Ministerial Forces Exhausted on Established Churches.--Our

people have had great light, and yet much of our ministerial force is exhausted on the churches, in teaching those who should be teachers; enlightening those who should be "the light of the world"; watering those from whom should flow springs of living water; enriching those who might be veritable mines of precious truth; repeating the gospel invitation to such as should be scattered to the uttermost parts of the earth, communicating the message of Heaven to many who have not had the privileges which they have enjoyed; feeding those who should be in the byways and highways heralding the invitation, "Come; for all things are now ready."

Come to the gospel feast; come to the supper of the Lamb; "for all things are now ready."

{Evangelism 382.5}

Now is the time for earnest wrestling with God.

Our voices should join with the Saviour's in that wonderful prayer: "Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.

Many may ask, "Who is sufficient for these things?"

The responsibility rests upon every individual.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God."--Review and Herald, July 23, 1895.

{Evangelism 383.1}

Do not, my ministering brethren, allow yourselves to be kept at home to serve tables; and do not hover around the churches, preaching to those who are already fully established in the faith.

Teach the people to have light in themselves, and not to depend upon the ministers.

They should have Christ as their helper, and should educate themselves to help one another, so that the minister can be free to enter new fields.

An important work is to be done in the world.

New fields are to be opened; and the zeal and the missionary spirit that Christ manifested are greatly needed.

Oh that the power of God would set the truth home to every heart!

Oh that all might see the necessity of having a living connection with God, and of knowing and doing his will from day to day!  {Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists 139.1}

Help your church understand why it should not expect the minister to wait on them.--My

heart has been filled with sadness as I have looked over the field and seen the barren places.

What does this mean?

Who are standing as representatives of Jesus Christ?

Who feels a burden for the souls who cannot receive the truth till it is brought to them?

Our ministers are hovering over the churches, as though the angel of mercy was not making efforts to save souls.

{Pastoral Ministry 99.3}

     God holds these ministers responsible for the souls of those who are in darkness.

He does not call you to go into fields that need no physician.

Establish your churches with the understanding that they need not expect the minister to wait upon them and to be continually feeding them.

They have the truth; they know what truth is.

They should have root in themselves.

These should strike down deeply, that they may reach up higher and still higher.

They must be rooted and grounded in the faith.

EGW'88 1752.

{Pastoral Ministry 100.1}

Ministers who hover over their churches do them harm.--The

churches that have not life in themselves, that have lost their spiritual discernment, call for ministers to come to their help, to bring them the breath of life.