Fellow redeemed in Christ,

School years come to an end, and so also does a series of chapel addresses. We have been considering the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3: 1: "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop [a spiritual overseer], he desireth a good work. " We have asked of our text: What's good about the public ministry, the ministry of Christian pastors and teachers? And Scripture has responded with a variety of answers:

The public ministry is good because it was ordained by Jesus Christ Himself. It is He who gives to His Church those pastors, teachers, and other ministers which it needs. The public ministry is good because it serves to extend the Lord's Kingdom here on em. Through the quiet preaching of the Gospel from the pulpit and in the class- room, the saving rule of Christ is established in the hearts of men.

The public ministry is good because it is effective through the Gospel of reconciliation. That Good News of mankind's forgiveness and righteousness in Christ Jesus carries with it the power of God to turn our unbelieving hearts to believing hearts and to create life where before there was nothing but death.

The public ministry is good because it carries out its work in fields which are ripe for the harvest, even as Christians are asked to pray the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.

The public ministry is good because it relies om power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to the pastor and teacher the ability to do faithfully the work which has been entrusted to him in his call.

The public ministry is good because it serves the on-going spiritual needs of the flock, as it comforts a troubled sinner with the words of forgiveness, as it leads a little child into the arms of Jesus, as it prepares a fellow saint to meet death with confidence.

The public ministry is good because it has for its goal the eternal salvation of both the shepherd and his flock--the most blessed and important goal that there is in this dying world.

The public ministry is good because it involves, not personal loss on the part of the called servant, but rather gracious gain, as the Lord bestows both temporal and eternal blessings on those who have dedicated their lives to His service.

The public ministry is good because it is the Lord Him- self who leads a Christian to prepare himself for the pastoral or teaching mummy, giving that person a desire for this work and leading him to recognize whether or not he has the ability to teach others.

And the public ministry is good because it is honored by God in eternity, so that those who have led others to a knowledge of their Savior will shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars for ever and ever.

We then listened to two of our spiritual fathers in Christ, Martin Luther and C. F. W. Walther, as they testified how good the public ministry is in the sight of God. "If men would stop to consider these points, " Walther affirmed, "they would come crowding into the sacred office of the ministry and that of teachers of religion. "

Has our little study of the public ministry been worth the time? Yes, so surely as it is Scripture itself that has been speaking to us on this topic. It has been worthwhile if even one person here is more appreciative to Christ for establishing the public ministry here on earth. It has been worth- while if even one person here will honor more thankfully the call of his own pastor or teacher. It has been worthwhile if even one person here has considered prayerfully whether he or she might under the blessing of God be able to serve as a called minister of Christ.

Let us conclude as we began, with a verse from the hymn of the sainted poet, Eberhard Fischer:

O blessed ministry Of reconciliation, 

That shows the way to God 

And brings to us salvation! 

By Thine evangel pure, Lord, 

Thou preserv'st Thy fold, 

Dost call, enlighten, keep, 

Dost comfort and uphold Amen.