ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)
We should avoid everything like the ferocity of bigotry. There are religious people about, who, I have no doubt, were born of a woman, but they appear to have been suckled by a wolf.
Some warlike men of this order have had power to found dynasties of thought; but human kindness and brotherly love consort better with the Kingdom of Christ. We are not to be always going about the world searching out heresies, like terrier dogs sniffing for rats, and to be always so confident of our own infallibility that we erect ecclesiastical stakes at which to roast all who differ from us with bundles of kindling, but with those coals of juniper, which consist of strong prejudice and cruel suspicion.
SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)
Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the power of God in salvation.
It would be a very wonderful thing if one could stand at the foot of the Niagara Falls, and could speak a word which should make the river Niagara begin to run upstream, and leap up that great precipice over which it now rolls in stupendous force.
Nothing but the power of God could achieve that marvel; but that would be more than a fit parallel to what would take place if the course of your nature were altogether reversed. All things are possible with God. He can reverse the direction of your desires and the current of your life, and instead of going downward from God, he can make your whole being tend upward toward God. That is, in fact, what the Lord has promised to do for all who are in the covenant; and we know from Scripture that all believers are in the covenant.
THANKS FOR READING
Brothers,
One of the qualifications for the office of elder is “not quarrelsome” (1 Timothy 3:3). We should not be quick to pick fights or hate on others. In your church, from your pulpit, and on social media, preach the Word of God in love.
Don’t be distracted by cultural issues or trends — preach and apply the Bible and God will build up his people.
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Blessings to your ministry,
Doug H.
Creator of SpurgeonBooks