As a pastor I’ve found great encouragement from Charles Spurgeon. Preaching pastors–those who truly wish to preach God’s Word–those who would devote themselves to the work of preaching when it seems the world around them has better ideas for giving direction to the church and reaching the lost than with preaching–should find great encouragement in these words from Spurgeon we’re reminded of today by Jim Bublitz at sliceoflaodicea.com.
In the great day, when the muster-roll shall be read, of all those who are converted through fine music, and church decoration, and religious exhibitions and entertainments, they will amount to the tenth part of nothing; but it will always please God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Keep to your preaching; and if you do anything beside, do not let it throw your preaching into the background. In the first place preach, and in the second place preach, and in the third place preach.
Believe in preaching the love of Christ, believe in preaching the atoning sacrifice, believe in preaching the new birth, believe in preaching the whole counsel of God. The old hammer of the gospel will still break the rock in pieces; the ancient fire of Pentecost will still burn among the multitude. Try nothing new, but go on with preaching, and if we all preach with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, the results of preaching will astound us.
–Charles Spurgeon, How to Win Souls for Christ
Speaking of preaching–I’m looking forward to the one-day Pastors’ Enrichment Seminar I’m headed to on February 9 at West Cannon Baptist Church, Belmont, Michigan. The theme is “The Foolishness of Preaching – A Crucial Call to Biblical Preaching to a Postmodern Mind,” with guests Dr. Colin Smith and Dr. James Grier.