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- Pastor, don’t preach dead doctrine — preach Jesus
Pastor, don’t preach dead doctrine — preach Jesus
"But you can never make too much of the living Christ Jesus."
Shepherding with Spurgeon
Weekly Newsletter for Pastors from SpurgeonBooks
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)
Some reckon theology to be very precious and always thrust doctrine into the forefront. We will not deny that every doctrine is precious, but it owes its value to the fact that Christ is in it. Dry doctrine is nothing better than a tomb for a dead Christ to be buried in; but the doctrine preached in relation to his person becomes a throne on which he is exalted.
It is a great pity when any of you Christians forget that you have a Savior who is alive, and overlook the personality of Christ. Remember that he is a real man, and as a real man on Calvary he died for you, and as a real man he is gone into heaven. He is no ideal personage but an actual personage. The very marrow of Christian experience lies in the realization of the personality of the Savior.
If you make doctrine the main thing, you are very likely to grow narrow-minded.
If you make your own experience the main thing, you will become gloomy and judgmental of others.
If you make ordinances the main thing, you will be apt to grow merely formal.
But you can never make too much of the living Christ Jesus.
SERMON ILLUSTRATION FROM SPURGEON
Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the importance of doctrine.
I saw lying between Chatham and Sheerness a number of ships that I supposed to be old hulks. I thought how stupid the government was to let them remain there and not chop them up for firewood or something else; but someone said to me, “Those ships can soon be fitted for service. They look old now, but they only need a little paint, and when the Admiralty requires them they will be commissioned and made fit for use.”
So we have heard some people say, “There are those old doctrines—what good are they?” Wait! There is not a doctrine in God’s Bible that does not have its use. Those ships that you may think are not needed will be useful by-and-by. So it is with the doctrines of the Bible. Do not say, “Break up those old doctrines; you can do without them.” No, we want them, and we must have them.
ONE MORE REMINDER: PREACH JESUS THIS WEEKEND
“Let the dogs bark, it is their nature to. Go on preaching Christ crucified.” — Charles Spurgeon
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