The Good Shepherd

AN OUTLINE OF THE LAST SERMON
PREACHED BY
THE REV. RUSSELL CONWELL BARBOUR
at
The First Baptist Church,
Nashville, Tenn.,
August 6, 1944

Rev. Barbour had developed the habit of preparing his Sunday messages by meditation and study throughout the week and on Sunday morning he would write out an outline of his message. The following outline was written on Sunday morning, August 6, 1944. It was written on some used sheets of paper. We are presenting the outline just as he penned it. He was preaching from this outline when he became ill in the pulpit.

D E P T H

... For the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of God. I Corinthians 2:10

Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O God-- Psalm 130:1

Introduction

(1) Two men used the same words. Depth is a dimension of space. Symbol of spiritual life and quality--

(2) Deep has two meanings

    The opposite of shallow or it is the opposite of high.
    Truth is deep but not shallow. Suffering is depth and not height. Both are deep.
    There is depth in God and there is a depth out of which the Psalmist cries to God.
    Why is truth deep and why is suffering deep and why is the same spatial symbol used for both of them?
    These questions will guide our meditation.

I.
Surface

(1) All visible things have a surface.
Surface is that side of the things which appears to us.
If we look at it we know what seem to be.

(2) When we act according to what things or persons seem to be we are disappointed.

(3) Below the surface. Truth that does not disappoint.
Drive deeper-
Find something--True being

II.

Science Has Worked

(1) Questioned the common assumptions

(2) Demanded to know underlying
assumptions of what seemed to be true-and they proved not to be true, out of the depth, an earth-quake occurred in science.

(3) It occurred:
Copernicus questioned:
Sense impressions can be the basis of our astronomy.
Einstein:

    Absolute point from which the individual can look at motion of things.
Marx:
    Questioned intellectual and moral history independent of its economic and social basis.

III.

Shocked

(1) To notice how little in our spiritual world is more than surface--

(2) Cannot stand a serious blow

(3) Tragedy of spiritual life
Great truths-martyrs
Incredible labor-shallow and superficial

IV

Depth of thought is a part
of depth of life

(1) Live on surface.
Look up-Look down

(2) Take ourselves as we appear

(3) Earthquake shake up-Deeper level of our nature. Illustration--Hit and Run Driver
Hurt our souls--bleeding

V.

The Road to Our Depth

(1) Wisdom of ages and all continents.
Speak of Road to Depth

    Testimony: poets, philosophies, mysteries, simple and educated people.

(2) They were not what they thought themselves to be--

VI.

Disrupted Surface

(1) Love to live on surface
Comfortable-Unknown normal
Painful to leave.

(2) Pain is too great.

(3) Prophets--uncovering depths of social judgement.

VII.
Depth--Evil Forces

(1) Demons
Spirit must pass demoniac forces

(2) Dangers

Depth of Suffering-Internal Cross
Isaiah praises Israel the servant of God unto utter depths of his suffering.
Jesus Blessed: Depth of sorrow and persecution, of hunger and thirst in body and spirit.

___________