Oswald J. Smith Preaching - Part 3
The congregation has a responsibility to participate in missions and spread the gospel, even when they cannot go themselves.
This sermon emphasizes the power of sending out substitutes or representatives to spread the gospel when unable to go as missionaries ourselves. It highlights the exponential growth that can occur when individuals are commissioned and supported to share the message of Jesus Christ, leading to a vast network of missionaries working in various regions beyond. It showcases the impact of empowering and equipping others to be ambassadors for Christ in different parts of the world.
Full Transcript
If I could not go myself as a missionary, I would have to send out substitutes. Never will I forget when I placed the first five substitutes on the platform and challenged the congregation to send them out. Before long, the five became ten.
Then the ten became twenty. In due time, the twenty became forty. Then the forty became a hundred.
After a while, the hundred became a hundred and fifty. Then the hundred and fifty became two hundred. In due time, the two hundred became two hundred and fifty.
And then last year, the two hundred and fifty became three hundred. And now, we have an army of substitutes out there in the regions beyond, under twenty-seven different faith missionary societies, working on thirty different foreign fields. Our substitutes, our representatives, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in our stead and in our room.
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Missions
- Sending substitutes
- The growth of the missionary force
Key Quotes
“Before long, the five became ten.” — Oswald J. Smith
“Our substitutes, our representatives, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in our stead and in our room.” — Oswald J. Smith
Application Points
- We can all participate in missions and spread the gospel, even if we cannot go ourselves.
- Sending substitutes is a way to multiply our impact and reach more people with the gospel.
- We should be willing to send out representatives to preach the gospel in our stead.