Hardeman Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 2, N. B. Hardeman

Hardeman Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 2, N. B. Hardeman

As mentioned in the review of Volume 1, one of the more successful evangelistic efforts of the 20th century would have to be Hardeman Tabernacle Sermons delivered at Ryman Auditorim in Nashville, TN at Ryman Auditorium by N. B. Hardeman. The first series of sermons were so well received that the churches made provisions to repeat the effort the following year. The printing of the first volume of sermons had sold nearly 5,000 copies before the second meeting, which was a remarkable result.

The second series of Hardeman Tabernacle Sermons were delivered from April 1 to April 22, 1923. The media exposure for the second series of lessons was comparable to the first meeting. Between these meetings, brother Hardeman conducted one of the more famous debates on the subject of mechanical instruments of music in worship with Ira Boswell (which was also held in Nashville, TN.)

This volume includes biographical information about N. B. Hardeman that discusses his early life, education, marriage, religious background, and various aspects of this multi-talented educator & evangelist. In N. B. H., brother Hardeman explains just how he came to be a preacher of the gospel:

Brother Freed had an appointment out about sixteen miles east of Henderson, at Enville, right close to my old home, and he decided he couldn’t go. Along about Friday or Saturday before the third Sunday (April 18, 1897), he told me to go out there and make a little talk. Of course I tried to get out of it, but he insisted, so I went, and got along pretty well.

About a month or six weeks after that, he had scheduled a meeting in Juno, TN, out from Lexington. I have always felt there was a trick in this, for he came to me at the last of the week just preceding his appointment and said “I have a meeting commencing Sunday morning and I am not able to go. I want you to go and start it and I will be over right soon, possibly Monday.” Well, I went over there and preached Sunday morning & night. Monday morning—no brother Freed! Night came and still he did not arrive. Well, I felt sure he would be there Tuesday. That hope kept on until Thursday. I only had one or two sermons, but I had to preach both day and night till Thursday. When finally Brother Freed came in, a little sheepishly, he said the meeting was doing so well he would go on back home. So I finished out until the following Sunday. That’s my start. That was in 1897, and I haven’t missed preaching many Sunday’s since.

I just drifted into preaching—with some fatherly propulsion from Brother Freed. (N. B. H., p. 155)

This illustrates the importance of encouraging or using “fatherly” (or motherly) propulsion in encouraging our young boys and men to equip themselves to preach the gospel and strive for greater degrees of service in the kingdom.

The following is a list of topics from this volume of sermons: Bible History; Three Great Religions; Believing a Lie; Man’s Accountability; The Gospel; Evolution of the Gospel; The Gospel in Earthen Vessels; The Lost Christ; The Rich Fool; Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart; Prayer; The Holy Spirit and His Work; The Blood of Christ; The Church—Its Establishment; The Church—Its Unity; The Church—Its Identity; The Church—Its Work; The Church—Its Worship; Christ and the Church; Why a Member of the Church of Christ; A Summary and Review; and Instrumental Music.

Hopefully you are hearing these types of lessons from the pulpit where you worship. If not, encourage your preacher to do so immediately. We have many who have failed to head the warning of the Hebrew writer—“12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14, NKJV)

As stated in the review of Volume One, the Gospel Advocate has reprinted these sermons in paperback and these are currently available.