ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)
Sermons should have real teaching in them, and their doctrine should be solid, substantial, and abundant. We do not enter the pulpit to talk for talk’s sake; we have instructions to convey important to the last degree, and we cannot afford to utter pretty nothings. Our range of subjects is all but boundless, and we cannot, therefore, be excused if our discourses are threadbare and devoid of substance. If we speak as ambassadors for God, we need never complain of want of matter, for our message is full to overflowing. The entire gospel must be presented from the pulpit; the whole faith once delivered to the saints must be proclaimed by us. The truth as it is in Jesus must be instructively declared, so that the people may not merely hear, but know, the joyful sound.
We serve not at the altar of “the unknown God,” but we speak to the worshippers of him of whom it is written, “they that know your name will put their trust in you.”
SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)
Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the importance of a Christian worldview.
A merchant comes to a city, town, village. He calculates whether it is a good place for business. “Bad place, this,” says he; “a man cannot live here; it is a bad situation;” and he is not content unless he gets near the bank or in Lombard Street, or some other business quarter.
Now look at the artist. He has another light. You take that artist into the city, and he says, “I could not live here in this dreary wilderness of brick, amid these fogs. Let me get away to North Wales, or somewhere where the picturesque is to be seen,” and he settles himself down in a small rural village, and he says, “This is beautiful.”
Take the rich man there, and say to him, “You are to live here for twenty years.”
“Twenty years?” he says, “I could not live here a month. It is preposterous. This is not a place where a man can live.”
Bring a man of gaiety into a religious circle, and he says, “I want a place where there is some life.”
I have been traveling sometimes where I thought the scenery very beautiful, and I have heard young men say, “This is a hateful place; there is no life here.” Well, everybody sees according to the light he sees by.
Have you ever seen things in the light of Christ? Did you ever feel, “This is the place where I can live, for here are Christians with whom I can commune. Here the gospel is preached, and my soul will be fed here. I shall learn much of Christ. This is a sphere in which I can be useful.” When you have life you will get light, and you will see things in that light. You will see yourself in the light of Christ. You will say, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Everything looks according to your light. Yellow spectacles will make everything look yellow. But get the true light, the only light that can lighten any man that comes into the world, and things will be seen in truth. If you get Christ within you, you have light indeed.
RESOURCE FOR PASTORS
Encourage the 18–25 year-olds in your church to live for God.*
CROSS CON24 is an incredible conference for the 18–25 year-olds in your church. The students in your church will hear from trusted teachers (like John Piper, Mark Dever, David Platt, Brooks Buser, Kevin DeYoung, and more) about God’s plan to reach the world. These students will return home with an increased love for God’s Word, the local church, and rich theology.
I know your church will be blessed if you send a group to CROSS CON24. Prices will increase next week — on May 31 — so register now to save.
THANKS FOR READING
Brothers,
Thanks for reading the newsletter this week.
If this newsletter is encouraging, please share it with another pastor. You can forward this email to a pastor you know.
If someone forwarded this email to you, sign up to get another one every week. Click here to subscribe.
Blessings to your ministry,
Doug H.
Creator of SpurgeonBooks
Preaching Pastor of Pillar Church of Washington DC