God has blessed me in many ways with a wonderful family and the opportunity to serve Him in full time service. I have had the opportunity to spend time alone with many of the great men of the past that have gone to Heaven. As an assistant pastor and then as a pastor I have hosted the men that were greatly used of God in the 20th century. Some you will like and some you won’t but that God used them greatly is hard to deny. Men like J. Harold Smith, Jack Hyles, Lee Roberson, W. A. Criswell, Tom Malone, Joe Boyd, Etc.

I loved sitting under their preaching and I loved spending time with them alone. In every case I found them to be men of character and willing to answer questions of a younger preacher.

One of the most colorful was Dr. Hyman Appleman. Dr. Appleman a Russian born Jew who became an attorney then became a Christian. He was one of the most brilliant men I have ever met. With his deep Russian accent he would give me story after story then suddenly stop and say, “Write this down.” Then he would proceed to give me a sermon outline quoting text and enumerated points from his astonishing memory.

The following outline is one of those that he gave me. I preach it often at meetings with great response.

THE PRODIGAL SON – LUKE 15:11-24

1. He Came To Want – V 14-16

2. He Came to Himself – V 17

3. He Came to His Father – V 18-24

That is how Dr. Appleman gave them. Putting the Intro, meat, conclusion and invitation on was up to me. But, I loved the sermon starters he gave me. I hope that someone can use those thoughts in your ministry in some way.

Have a great week end.

Bro. Lonnie Mattingly – John 15:8
Pastor Emeritus, Shawnee Baptist Church
Doing the work of an Evangelist