IV
Point of Diminishing Returns
I want to raise one more question and then we’ll have to close. We hear people speaking in the business world about “the point of diminishing returns.” Maybe I should tell you what that means or give you a simple illustration. Suppose you drive out on a muddy road like Brother Estevez was talking about this afternoon and get your car real dirty and come home to wash it. You turn on the hose pipe and go over it one time, and it doesn’t look like the same car. The first going over makes a big difference, a very obvious difference, but you don’t have it clean yet. You go over it again and you get it a little bit cleaner, but it’s not as noticeable this time. Then you get some soap and wash it real good and get off some more dirt, but the difference doesn’t show very plainly this time. The car still isn’t clean. You take some cleaning wax and go over it again and get off a lot more dirt. Then you can take a rag and shine it and the more you polish it, the more it’ll shine, but after awhile you reach the point where the extra lustre that can be added by further rubbing is not worth the effort. That’s the point of diminishing returns. When you’ve reached the point where the additional result obtainable is not worth the effort required to obtain it, that’s the point of diminishing returns.
With that in mind, I want to ask this question: Do you believe that one can ever reach the point of diminishing returns in his preparation for the work of the Lord? If by ever so much effort I can make myself, even to a small degree, a better preacher, don’t you believe I ought to do it? If by ever so much effort, one can become, to any extent whatsoever, a better song leader, don’t you believe he ought to do it?
And if by ever so much study and careful thought and planning, the overseers can make the work of the church even slightly more effective, don’t you think they ought to do it? Do you believe we can ever reach the point of diminishing returns in the work of the Lord? Don’t you agree that in his work all of us should do our very, very best? I believe you do.
That’s all we have time to say tonight. In just a moment we’re going to sing the invitation song that has been announced, and in doing so we shall be urging you to accept the Lord’s invitation. {These promises are offered to the unbeliever}[5] on conditions of faith, repentance and baptism (Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38); and to the backslider on the conditions of repentance, confession and prayer (Acts 8:13, 22, 23; 1 John 1:9). As we stand and sing we entreat the lost to come to Jesus.
XII
CONGREGATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
(Note: While this sermon was being presented the main headings of the following outline were on the blackboard. Before the second sermon on the same subject was delivered the following evening, a mimeographed copy of the entire outline was given to each person in the audience.)
INTRODUCTION
To set in order the work of the local church it is well to consider the objectives or results desired. Below is a list of scriptural congregational objectives and some of the activities that will help to reach the objectives.
I. Evangelistic (Mk. 16:15, 16) 1. Local a. Lord’s day preaching b. Protracted meetings c. Newspaper and other advertising d. Newspaper reports e. Inviting and bringing others to meetings f. Radio preaching, contact with interested listeners g. Short articles in the paper h. Distribution of tracts—in homes, in public buildings, by mail, racks in lobbies i. Personal evangelism (1) Contacts at school (2) Contacts at play (3) Contacts at work (4) House to house calls j. Prospect file—individual and general k. Community Bible classes l. Prayer 2. Missionary a. Tracts b. Radio c. Financial support to preachers and missions (1) Should expect regular and complete reports (2) Workers selected carefully and well supported (3) Work carefully supervised (4) Operating funds and assistants furnished d. Selecting fields and planning work e. Leadership for rural churches near Nashville II. Devotional (Acts 2:42) 1. Sunday morning 2. Sunday evening 3. Wednesday evening 4. Announcements III. Instructional (Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 4:11-13) 1. Preaching 2. Sunday morning classes 3. Wednesday evening classes 4. Vacation Bible school 5. Bible story hour 6. Ladies’ Bible class 7. Other special classes IV. Looking After Members Individually (John 10:3, 14; Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17) 1. Church bulletin 2. Correspondence with men in service 3. Correspondence with, and in behalf of, other non-resident members 4. Contacts at meetings 5. Visiting—sick, indifferent, weak, disgruntled 6. Records of names and addresses of members 7. Attendance records 8. Special attention to new members, etc. 9. Discipline V. Practical Training (1 Tim. 3:10; Eph. 4:11-16) 1. Wednesday evening meeting 2. Participation in other meetings 3. Special classes 4. Supervised activities in personal work, etc. VI. Beneficent (Jas. 1:27; 1 Cor. 16:1) 1. Caring for widows 2. Caring for orphans 3. Helping the poor VII. Incidental 1. Financial reports, records, etc. 2. Maintenance of church property 3. Other incidentals