Oswald J. Smith Preaching - Part 2
Oswald J. Smith's sermon shares his personal experiences as a missionary, including rejection and finding an alternative way to serve.
This sermon shares the journey of a young man who traveled thousands of miles to preach the gospel to the indigenous people near Alaska, only to face rejection when applying to be a missionary to India. Despite being turned down, he decides to send substitutes in his place, highlighting the resilience and determination to fulfill the call to spread the message of Jesus Christ.
Full Transcript
I left my home. I traveled between three and four thousand miles to the Indians up near Alaska. There I settled down among those Indians in British Columbia right on the borders of Alaska and preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to them.
I batched it alone among those Indians. I was the only white man living on the reserve and I was just 18 years of age. After spending a little over a year among the Indians and last realizing that I needed more education, more preparation, I left my Indian mission field and I returned to civilization.
Then I settled down to six years of theological studies and after graduating from seminary and after having been ordained to the gospel ministry, then I have to face the issue again. And this time I applied to the foreign missionary board and I asked to be sent as a missionary to India. My application was very carefully, very prayerfully considered.
I was summonsed to appear before the board. I did so and I answered all the questions that they asked and then I settled down to wait for the verdict. Finally it came in the form of a letter.
I had been flatly, definitely and finally rejected for missionary work. The board considered that I was not built of missionary material and therefore I was turned down. Then I realized that there was only one thing left for me to do.
If I could not go myself as a missionary, I would have to send substitutes.
Sermon Outline
- Introduction to Oswald J. Smith's Missionary Work
- Theological Studies and Ordination
- Application to the Foreign Missionary Board
- Rejection and Finding an Alternative
- Flat rejection from the foreign missionary board
- Deciding to send substitutes as missionaries
Key Quotes
“If I could not go myself as a missionary, I would have to send substitutes.” — Oswald J. Smith
“I was the only white man living on the reserve and I was just 18 years of age.” — Oswald J. Smith
“The board considered that I was not built of missionary material and therefore I was turned down.” — Oswald J. Smith
Application Points
- We can still serve God even if we are not called to traditional missionary work.
- God can use anyone, regardless of their background or qualifications, to spread the gospel.
- Sometimes, rejection can lead to new opportunities and ways of serving God.