Pastor, only God’s grace can really sustain your ministry

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

Too many preachers forget to serve God when they are out of the pulpit, their lives are negatively inconsistent. Abhor, dear brethren, the thought of being clockwork ministers who are not alive by abiding grace within, but are wound up by temporary influences; men who are only ministers for the time being, under the stress of the hour of ministering, but cease to be ministers when they descend the pulpit stairs.

True ministers are always ministers. Too many preachers are like those sand-toys we buy for our children; you turn the box upside down, and the little acrobat revolves and revolves till the sand is all run down, and then he hangs motionless; so there are some who persevere in the ministrations of truth as long as there is an official necessity for their work, but after that, no pay, no paternoster; no salary, no sermon.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe Christian contentment.

I have heard of some good old woman in a cottage, who had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water, and lifting up her hands, she said, as a blessing, “What! all this, and Christ too?” It is “all this,” compared with what we deserve.

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

It’s only God’s grace — not a paycheck or human approval, that can sustain us in ministry. Cling to him, brothers! Hold fast to God’s Word — it is not merely content for our sermons, it is sustenance for our lives.

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Blessings to your ministry,

Doug H.
Creator of SpurgeonBooks