“During the Civil War,” writes author Tim Riter, “President Lincoln attended Wednesday evening services at a church close to the White House. Accompanied by Secret Service agents, Lincoln would sit in the pastor’s study during the message; then they would walk back together. One evening, after the service, an agent asked Lincoln, ‘What did you think of tonight’s sermon?’

Lincoln replied, ‘It was brilliantly conceived, biblical, relevant, and well presented.’

“‘So, it was a great sermon?’

“‘No, it failed. It failed because Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do something great.’”

Today in the Word, May, 1996, p. 30