Sacred Sunday posts highlight the churches, reverends, historical movements, holy days, and religious documents that have helped shape my family.
When I was trying to think of something I could post for Sacred Sunday, I had a memory come back to me. Quite a few years ago, I had come across a notebook that my Granddad had of his father's. In it were a few sermons he had preached and I decided to type them up for posterity. I had all but forgotten until this morning. Luckily, that Word document survived a few transitions between computers. Today, I'll share one those sermons.
My great-grandfather, Collins Stephen Cramer, worked on a farm in Brush Valley, Pennsylvania for most of his life. But at some point, he decided to take some bible courses and eventually became the pastor at the Gospel Community Church where he would retire after 40 years. But more on that and him later.
I have decided to keep his words largely unedited, except for a few additions or corrections of punctuation. He was a country preacher and that certainly comes through.
My great-grandfather, Collins Stephen Cramer, worked on a farm in Brush Valley, Pennsylvania for most of his life. But at some point, he decided to take some bible courses and eventually became the pastor at the Gospel Community Church where he would retire after 40 years. But more on that and him later.
I have decided to keep his words largely unedited, except for a few additions or corrections of punctuation. He was a country preacher and that certainly comes through.
Feb. 22, 1976 - Brush Valley
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Jesus was the greatest teacher this old world ever seen. He was the only teacher in a traveling school, the number of scholars in His school were only 12.
The school hours not only last a few hours a day but many times from early morning till late at nite. He opened his mouth and taught them saying.
They had seen Him in many a sick room and at His word sickness fled.
They had heard the blind call to Him for sight and had seen those blind eyes to receive sight.
They had seen Him stand by the bier where the dead lay and at the sound of His voice death to flee and life to come.
They had seen Him feed multitudes with only a few fish and a few loaves of bread. He had rode in their boats with them as man, but when the storm broke to rebuke it as God.
He taught them that the kingdom of God was not eating and drinking but a kingdom of love, of peace.
Love thy neighbor as thy self.
Do good to them that despitefully use you. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. He said the son of man came to seek and to save that and then, one day near the close of 3 ½ years schooling under Him, He told them that the Son of Man would be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and that they would take Him and crucify Him.
The man part of Him started one day to carry the cross to Calvary; the cross carried the Son of God. And there His precious blood was shed for you and me, for all mankind. They place Him in a tomb but the grave could not hold Him. Glory to God, He lives, and lives to make intercession for you and me.
And then one day when the disciples were gathered together and their hearts pounding for fear, Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst and said, 'Peace be unto you.'
They saw His hands, His feet, His side, and believed. For He opened their understanding. They followed Him one day out there to the mountain and there He gave them that Great Commission: Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
He lifted up his hands and blessed _______
And that commission, dear heart, was not only given in that day for the disciples but has come down through the ages to this present time. Go ye. Where shall we go? Into all the world and preach. Preach what? The gospel, the good news. Gospel means good news.
It’s important that they may hear tell it to all: black or white, yellow or tan, rich or poor, high or low, down and outs, or whosoever they might be; let him come to the living fountain and drink of life everlasting. Come buy without money and without price.
Anything in this old world worthwhile money cannot buy. Life, health, happiness, love or salvation. It is the free gift of God’s love.
Go ye into all the world and tell them that Christ died and shed His precious blood for the remission of all their sins, that He came forth from the grave victorious o'er grave death and hell, how He lives as our great High Priest to ever make intercession for us. Tell them of his power to deliver from sin.
He ascended to the right of the Father and today, if you accept Him, He is your Savior, but on that day, if you have failed to make your calling and election, sure He is going to be your Judge.
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
He said to Paul, Paul let us walk together and gather companies of believers, form churches, build them up in the most holy faith, carry the gospel into places where Christ hath not been—many going even to Rome itself the most mighty, the most learned, the most wicked city of the day. “I will,” said Paul and by faith he walked with God.
Come, Luther, let us defy the powers of Rome, let us light the candle of the New Testament, truth of justification by faith, and Luther cried, “I will.” Come, Carey. Let us give the gospel to India. Come, Livingstone, let us give Africa the light of truth. And by faith, they said 'yes' to God.
Hudson Taylor, one Sunday morning, walked along the sea shore of Brighton, England, heard the Lord say to him, “Hudson Taylor, I am going to evangelize inland China. Will you walk with me? I will do it through you.” He answered, “I will.”
Side Note: Great-Granddad was 73 years old when he gave this sermon.