Following Moody: Prioritizing the Gospel and Children

Dwight Lyman Moody was born in 1837, the fifth of seven or eight children, into poverty. His father was a drunk, and when he died unexpectedly, Mrs. Moody knew that the creditors were going to come and clean her out. To prevent this, she asked some of the children to take the cow and the calf to the neighbors. The creditors took the horse and the buggy and even the firewood. At the age of 13, Dwight dropped out of school after the fifth grade to help the family.

At the age of 17, Dwight went to Boston to sell shoes. He had an uncle who was a shoe salesman, and the uncle said he could sell shoes, but he had to go to church on Sunday. Dwight went to the Congregational Church, and it was there that he met Edward Kimball, his Sunday school teacher. Kimball kept Dwight from embarrassment by asking the students to turn to the Gospel of John.

Dwight inspired students at Cambridge University in England and founded an internationally known school and church. He once preferred to only teach children because he was uncomfortable with adults due to his lack of education, but ended up being one of the most persuasive orators of his day. He was in love with money but ended up changing his priorities and living in austere conditions so that more money could go for the spread of the Gospel.

Someone else wrote that Dwight had the impulsiveness, quick temper, and rough humanity of the Apostle Peter, the single-mindedness and strategic skill of the Apostle Paul, and the love and steady growth and devotion to God of the Apostle John.

Now, why is it that I would take the time to preach a message on Moody today, which will eventually perhaps later on become a series of messages on D.L. Moody and Moody Church? The reason is because 2014 is our 150th anniversary. For 150 years, Moody Church has been a light to the city and has a heart for the world. All that needs to be refocused and rekindled at this hour as we think about this dramatic opportunity that we will have. Plans for it will become clearer later on and will even give you an opportunity to participate financially. What an exciting time to be alive! God has called us to this hour, to this moment of history, and here we are.

Dwight Moody was a young man of 17 when he first encountered the Gospel of John in the Old Testament. When this happened, the other kids began to snicker, so Kimball took his Bible, Dwight's Bible, and gave him his own, which was turned to the right passage so that the boy would no longer be embarrassed. Later on, he went to where Dwight was selling shoes, and there he led this boy to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Moody knew that he'd been converted and he knew that he knew God, but when he was going to join the church, they asked him a question: "What has Jesus Christ done for us?" Young Dwight said, "Well, I'm sure that there is much that he has done, but I cannot think now of anything in particular." So they said he was not ready for church membership, and if he wanted to join Moody Church and he was asked the question, "What has Jesus done for us?" and he said, "I can't think of anything particular," they would also ask him to wait.

Two years later, at the age of 19, he came to Chicago because he had another uncle who was selling shoes, and young Dwight came with the hope of earning about a hundred thousand dollars, which was millions way back in those days, and he became a great shoe salesman.

Now we're in 1858, and there's a great revival of religion here in the city. Mayor Wentworth stood at the back of the hall while people were praying at the prayer meetings at Metropolitan Hall, which were so full at noonday that you could not get in. Dwight did go to church to the Plymouth congregation on Plymouth Avenue, and they said he couldn't teach because he really couldn't read, but he could bring children, so he rented four pews as they did in those days. The people didn't like it because these kids were rowdy and smelly. Dwight went to the Sands, which was along the Lakeshore and was the worst part of the city. He rented a saloon, as it was called in those days, and began his Sunday school. He got up to 300 children because he was constantly recruiting teachers and outgrew the saloon, which they had to clean up every Sunday after Saturday night.

D.L. Moody was criticized for the way he moved there and bribed the kids with candy and pennies, promising them pony rides. People asked why he was doing this, but he didn't care. He wanted to get 300 kids to North Market Hall. President-elect Lincoln left a dinner party early to attend Moody's Sunday School. When he arrived, Moody pointed him out and asked if he wanted to say something. Lincoln said that with hard work and close attention to their teachers, some of them may become president of the United States. After that, people stopped calling Moody "Crazy Moody" and called him "Brother Moody."

At the Sunday School, there was a group of rowdy girls that nobody wanted to teach. Moody found a teacher for them, but the teacher became ill and had to go back East to die. Moody decided to use his pony to visit each of the girls individually and explain the gospel. All eight of them received Christ as Savior. They gathered together in the Market Hall to have a farewell prayer for their teacher. The teacher testified how God had given him the strength to visit each of them, then he read a scripture and prayed. Moody prayed for the superintendent, and then one of the girls began to pray. Before they rose from their knees, every one of the girls had prayed. It seemed as if Heaven had come down.

D.L. Moody was a man who decided to trade success for significance. He prayed to God and said, "Oh God, let me die rather than lose the blessing I had that night." He said that night God kindled a fire in his soul that has never gone out. Money could never tempt him again because of his decision.

Today, we have the Moody Bible Institute, Moody Church, Moody Publishing, and Moody Church's Children's Ministry. All of these are a result of D.L. Moody's decision to follow God and give up the pursuit of money for the pursuit of that which is eternal.

At Moody Church, we have the Christian Life Center, which is devoted entirely to children. We also have the Hope for Kids umbrella term, which includes seven different ministries directed towards children. These ministries include By the Hand Club for Kids, Chicago Charis Ministry, Lydia Home Association, and Angel Tree. All of these ministries are local and are helping hundreds of children in the city.

Moody Church has been a light to the city of Chicago for 150 years. Founded in 1864 as the Illinois Street Church, it was only seven years later that the words "ever welcome to this house of worship are strangers and the poor" were inscribed. D.L. Moody, who was only 27 years old at the time, was a deacon and never the pastor. He later went overseas for a crusade.

Moody Church has had a heart for the world, with four ministries of its own, two orphanages in India, and Hope Unlimited in Brazil working with street children and Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic. They are now expanding and will have a capital funds campaign.

We are invited to give generously and almost recklessly to Children's Ministries, knowing that our dollars are well used for the cause of Christ in the life of children. We can help them not only by resources but also by personnel whenever feasible and available.

Jesus said, "Suffer the little ones to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." We can dedicate ourselves enthusiastically, generously, and in a focused way to the ministries of children here in Chicago and around the world. Let us remember the children we touched during the Christmas season whose parents are incarcerated, and give with confidence that our dollars are well used for the cause of Christ in the life of children.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was a devastating event that destroyed three and a half square miles of the city, leaving 300 dead and tens of thousands homeless. In response, the North Side Tabernacle was built as a clearing house for those in need. Later, the Chicago Avenue Church was built, which is now the present location of the Moody Bible Institute. It is said that during the fire, Moody was preaching on the topic of Jesus Christ and urged people to make their decision that night, but there was no tomorrow night as the fire had already started.

The fire is seen as a template of judgment, and Moody's heart blazed with the desire to save people from it. Moody Church was a light to the city and had a heart for the world. Yesterday, I visited the Chicago Fire Academy, where I met with a group of Christian firemen and paramedics. Inside the academy is a plaque that reads, "Mrs. O'Leary's house and barn stood here." It is a myth that Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over the lantern and started the fire; historians say it was actually Peg Leg Sullivan who was responsible. In 1997, Mrs. O'Leary and her cow were officially exonerated. Sometimes justice comes long after we are gone.

D.L. Moody's ministry was marked by the primacy and urgency of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He planted the Moody Church in Chicago for a reason: to touch the city with the good news of the Gospel and to pray and seek God together for a spiritual awakening. In the original church in 1864, there was a plaque that said, "Ever welcome in this house of God are strangers and the poor." This plaque was stolen, but thanks to the resourcefulness of people like Rich Karnath, a picture of it was recast and is still here today. A few years ago, Moody Church came up with a 14-word promise statement: "Moody Church is a trusted place where anyone can connect with God and others." This statement reflects the DNA of D.L. Moody, that everyone is welcome. Surveys have shown that people from 72 different countries of origin are represented at Moody Church. This is a reflection of the Bible's promise that in heaven, people from every tongue and nation will be represented.

D.L. Moody's sermons were not recorded, but there are six or ten words that are known to have been spoken by him. These words are a fragment of The Sermon on the Mount. To conclude, Moody's ministry was marked by the reminder that ever welcome in this place are strangers, the poor, those who come from different countries, different origins, different backgrounds, because we represent the body of Jesus Christ.

Today, as we think about our anniversary and the great calling 150 years ago, let us remember the words of D.L. Moody. He said, "I can imagine when Christ said to that little band around him, 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.' Peter said, 'Lord, do you really mean that we're to go back to Jerusalem and preach the gospel to those men who murdered you?' 'Yes,' said Christ, 'Go hunt up that man that spat in my face, tell him he may still have a seat in My Kingdom yet if he repents. Yes, Peter, go find that man that made that cruel crown of thorns placed on my brow and tell him I will have a crown ready for him when he comes into my kingdom and there will be no thorns in it. Hunt up that man that took a reed and brought it down over the cruel thorns driving them into my brow, tell him that I will put a scepter in his hand and he shall rule over the nations of the Earth with me if he will accept salvation. Search for the man that drove the spear into my side and tell him there is a nearer way to my heart than that. Tell him I forgive him freely and that he can be saved if he will accept salvation as a gift."

This is the message of the Gospel to which we commit ourselves in this anniversary time. We don't take our past for granted, but we use the past to help us identify and focus on the future, for great days lie ahead to those who are committed to the great truths of the Christian faith.

What about you? Have you received Christ as Savior? The issue is not the greatness of your sin; the issue is the wonder of the Gospel that Jesus gives to sinners just like us. The same gospel that transformed people during the days of D.L. Moody is the same gospel that Chicago needs today, and it is to that that we dedicate ourselves during this special time.

Let's pray together:

Our Father, today we want to thank you for the marvelous legacy of a man who was so passionate about things that really matter. We ask the Lord Jesus that you'll take away from us the love of success, help us to evaluate the issue and begin with significance. How can we invest and yield and dedicate and focus on the great task? And I pray for any who have listened to this message who haven't come to saving faith in Christ. The same gospel that changed those young women during Moody's time is the same gospel that changed thousands of lives, and it is that gospel that we proclaim today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

So that we end today where Moody would want us to end and where Jesus would want us to end, namely with the Gospel, a light to the city, a heart for the world.