01.000. Preface

Preface For thirty-nine consecutive years the First Baptist Church in Dallas has conducted pre-Easter noonday services in a downtown theater. Ever since the spacious Palace Theater (seating about twenty-four hundred people) was built, the services have been conducted in it. For twenty-five years the world-famed prince of preachers, Dr. George W. Truett, preached to the people in these meaningful convocations. This year, 1958, comprises the fourteenth year that I have led them. These sermons, "Five Great Questions of the Bible," are the series I preached this year. Next year I hope to preach on "Five Great Affirmations of the Bible," and if God blesses the publication of this year’s series, we shall seek also to publish next year’s. Being delivered at noon Monday through Friday, the messages number five in each group. This does not mean that there are only five great questions in the Bible. If the days had been ten in number, there could have been the subject of "Ten Great Questions of the Bible." But a choice had to be made, and these five I selected are the most meaningful to me. The messages have been written down stenographically. They are spoken, preached, prepared for a listening audience. They are simple and plain. They are evangelistic, seeking to bring to a saving faith in Christ Jesus the many hundreds from every walk in life who fill that large theater.

They are of necessity brief. During a busy lunch hour, there is not time for elaboration of detail. In many instances in the sermons, the discussions could have continued much longer. But preaching at these pre-Easter services, I have found it best to say it straight to the point, then go on to the next topic. And now may God bless these messages to the reading public as graciously as His Spirit blessed them to the listening audience.

W.A. CRISWELL

Dallas, Texas