7.24.2009

"Ouch!" & "Amen!"

Still working my way through Spurgeon's Lectures To My Students and enjoying it though I think his chapter on "The Choice of a Text" is maybe not the best way to go about things as a pastor, but hey, he's Charles Spurgeon.

However, his chapter on "Sermons--Their Content" is spot on.

Here are a few good words from Mr. 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 be 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."

"Brethren, if you are not theologians you are in your pastorates just nothing at all. You may be fine rhetoricians, and be rich in polished sentences; but without knowledge of the gospel, and aptness to teach it, you are but a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Verbiage is too often the fig-leaf which does duty as a covering for theological ignorance. Sounding periods are offered instead of sound doctrine, and rhetorical flourishes in the place of robust thought. Such things ought not to be."

"Remain unwaveringly the champions of a soul-winning gospel. God's truth is adapted to man, and God's grace adapts man to it. There is a key which under God, can wind up the musical box of man's nature; get it, and use it daily. Hence, I urge you to keep to the old-fashioned gospel, and to that only, for assuredly it is the power of God unto salvation. "

"Of all I wish to say this is the sum; my brethren, preach Christ, always and evermore. He is the whole gospel. His person, offices, and work must be our one great, all-encompassing theme."

Ouch and Amen!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your blog but noticed you are no longer serving @ WFBC?

R. Philip Blinson said...

Yeah. I resigned at the end of June. Just a difference of vision and convictions on different points of Scripture. Myself and the Leadership felt it best if we parted ways. So, we are just waiting on the Lord now to direct us where to go.

Anonymous said...

Could be in your position soon - was it because of theology?

Anonymous said...

My husband, a pastor, could find himself in your position also, was it over theology?

R. Philip Blinson said...

Had more to do with ecclesiology and overall vision for the church.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Thank you for responding.
We have had issues with many things- church discipline, governance/polity etc. but right now the big issue is the fact that we are Calvinist. Glad to see that wasn't the case!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Thank you for responding.
We have had issues with many things- church discipline, governance/polity etc. but right now the big issue is the fact that we are Calvinist. Glad to see that wasn't the case!

Charlie said...

PB, thanks for continuing your ministry--even if you have no pulpit at the moment. You touch so many lives--more than you know.

God bless you, brother.

R. Philip Blinson said...

Thanks Charlie. Your friendship/encouragement is another evidence of God's grace in my life for which I am very thankful. Thanks again for the jump yesterday!