Jesus the Great Centre
by Ellen White
The many argumentative sermons preached, seldom soften and subdue the soul. . . . It
should be the burden of every messenger to set forth the fullness of Christ. When the free
gift of Christ's righteousness is not presented, the discourses are dry and spiritless;
the sheep and lambs are not fed. Said Paul, "My speech and my preaching was not with
enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
There is marrow and fatness in the gospel. Jesus is the living centre of everything. Put
Christ into every sermon. Let the preciousness, mercy and glory of Jesus Christ be dwelt
upon; for Christ formed within is the hope of glory. 1SM 158 (1892)
The third angel's message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment, and this truth must be brought before the world; but the great Centre of
attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the third angel's message.... EV 184
Many of our ministers have merely sermonised, presenting subjects in an argumentative
way, and scarcely mentioning the saving power of the Redeemer. Their testimony was
destitute of the saving blood of Christ. Their offering resembled the offering of Cain. He
brought to the Lord the fruit of the ground, which in itself was acceptable in God's
sight. Very good indeed was the fruit; but the virtue of the offering--the blood of the
slain lamb, representing the blood of Christ--was lacking. So it is with Christless
sermons. By them men are not pricked to the heart; they are not led to inquire, What must
I do to be saved? Of all professing Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost
in uplifting Christ before the world. EV 185 (GW 156 [1915])
Some ministers err in making their sermons wholly argumentative. There are those who
listen to the theory of the truth, and are impressed with the evidences brought out; then,
if Christ is presented as the Saviour of the world, the seed sown may spring up and bear
fruit to the glory of God. But often the cross of Calvary is not presented before the
people. Some may be listening to the last sermon they will ever hear, and the golden
opportunity lost, is lost forever. If in connection with the theory of the truth, Christ
and His redeeming love had been proclaimed, these might have been won to His side. EV 193
(GW 157F [1915])
Let the truth be presented as it is in Jesus, line upon line, precept upon precept,
here a little, and there a little. Speak of the love of God in words easy to be
understood. Bible truth, presented in the meekness and love of Jesus will have a telling
influence upon many minds.
EV 199
Be guarded. In bearing the message, make no personal thrusts at other churches, not
even the Roman Catholic Church. Angels of God see in the different denominations many who
can be reached only by the greatest caution. Therefore let us be careful of our words. Let
not our ministers follow their own impulses in denouncing and exposing the "mysteries
of iniquity." Upon these themes silence is eloquence. Many are deceived. Speak the
truth in tomes and words of love. Let Christ be exalted. Keep to the affirmative of truth.
EV 576
These things have a bad influence on ministers who are handling sacred, elevated
truths,--truths which are to prove as a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death,
to those who hear them. Generally, the influence of discussions upon our ministers is to
make them self-sufficient, exalted in their own estimation. This is not all. Those who
love to debate are unfitted for being pastors to the flock. They have trained their minds
to meet opponents, and to say sarcastic things; and they cannot come down to meet hearts
that are sorrowing, and need to be comforted. They have also dwelt so much upon the
argumentative that they have neglected the practical subjects that the flock of God need.
They have but little knowledge of the sermons of Christ, which enter into the every-day
life of the Christian, and they have but little disposition to study them. They have risen
above the simplicity of the work. When they were little in their own eyes, God helped
them; angels of God ministered unto them, and made their labours highly successful in
convincing men and women of the truth. But in the training of their minds for discussion,
they frequently become coarse and rough. They lose the interest and tender sympathy which
should ever attend the efforts of a shepherd of Christ. GW 184
If Christ is abiding in the heart, He will be in all our thoughts. Our deepest thoughts
will be of Him, His love, His purity, He will fill all the chambers of the mind. Our
affections will centre about Jesus. All our hopes and expectations will be associated with
Him. To live the life we now live by faith in the Son of God, looking forward to and
loving His appearing, will be the soul's highest joy. He will be the crown of our
rejoicing. HP 163
The Lord has said, "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a
covenant between me and the earth. . . . And I will remember my covenant, which is between
me and you, and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a
flood to destroy all flesh." In the rainbow above the throne is an everlasting
testimony that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Whenever
the law is presented before the people, let the teacher of the truth point to the throne
arched with the rainbow of promise, the righteousness of Christ. The glory of the law is
Christ; he came to magnify the law, and to make it honourable. Make it appear distinct
that mercy and peace have met together in Christ, and righteousness and truth have
embraced each other. When you look to his throne, offering up your penitence, praise, and
thanksgiving that you may perfect Christian character, and represent Christ to the world,
you abide in Christ, and Christ abides in you; you have the peace that passes all
understanding. We need continually to meditate upon Christ's attractive loveliness. We
must direct minds to Jesus, fasten them upon him. In every discourse dwell upon the divine
attributes. RH DEC.13,1892
The rainbow above the throne is the bow of promise, testifying to the whole world that
God will never forget his people in their struggle against evil. Let Jesus be our theme.
Let us by pen and voice present, not only the commandments of God, but the faith of Jesus.
This will promote real heart-piety as nothing else can. While we present the fact to men
that they are subjects of a divine moral government, their reason will declare to them
that this is truth, that they owe allegiance to Jehovah, and that this life is our time of
probation. In this life we are placed under the discipline and government of God to form
characters and acquire habits for the higher life. All the scenes in which we must act a
part, are to be carefully studied; for they are a part of our education, a part of God's
great plan. We should bring solid timbers into our character building; for we are working
both for this life and the eternal life. And as we near the close of this earth's history,
we either rapidly advance in Christian growth, or we rapidly retrograde toward the world.
RH DEC.13,1892
Many sermons preached upon the claims of the law have been without Christ, and this
lack has made the truth inefficient in converting souls. Without the grace of Christ it is
impossible to take one step in obedience to the law of God. Then how necessary that the
sinner hear of the love and power of his Redeemer and Friend!...
`Without me,' says Christ, `ye can do nothing.' In and through the grace of Christ we
can do all things. RH FEB.3F,1891
Let Daniel speak, let the Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. But whatever phase
of the subject is presented, uplift Jesus as the centre of all hope, "the Root and
the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star." TM 118
The world today is in crying need of a revelation of Christ Jesus in the person of His
saints. God desires that His people shall stand before the world a holy people. Why?
-because there is a world to be saved by the light of gospel truth; and as the message of
truth that is to call men out of darkness into God's marvellous light is given by the
Church, the lives of its members, sanctified by the Spirit of truth, are to bear witness
to the verity of the massage proclaimed. TM 458
The science of salvation is to be the burden of every sermon, the theme of every song.
Let it be poured forth in every supplication. Let nothing be brought into the preaching of
the Word to supplement Christ, the Word and power of God. Let His name, the only name
given under heaven whereby we may be saved, be exalted in every discourse, and from
sabbath to sabbath let the trumpet of the watchmen give a certain sound. Christ is the
science and eloquence of the gospel, and His ministers are to hold forth the Word of life,
presenting hope to the penitent, peace to the troubled and desponding, and grace and
completeness and strength to the believing. Ms 107,1898 (VSS 337).