Shepherding with Spurgeon

Weekly Newsletter for Pastors from SpurgeonBooks

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

I would propose (and may the Lord grant us grace to carry this out), I would propose that the subject of the ministry of this house, as long as this platform shall stand, and as long as this house shall be visited by worshipers, shall be the person of Jesus Christ. I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist, although I claim to be rather a Calvinist according to Calvin, than after the modern debased fashion. I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist. You have there (pointing to the baptistery) substantial evidence that I am not ashamed of that ordinance of our Lord Jesus Christ; but if I am asked to say what is my creed, I think I must reply—“It is Jesus Christ.”

My venerable predecessor, Dr. Gill, has left a body of divinity, admirable and excellent in its way; but the body of divinity to which I would pin and bind myself forever, God helping me, is not his system of divinity or any other human treatise, but Christ Jesus, who is the sum and substance of the gospel; who is in himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth, the all-glorious personal embodiment of the way, the truth, and the life.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION FROM SPURGEON

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe Christians living as peacemakers.

Two good men had a sharp difference with each other in business. I do not know which was to blame—perhaps neither of them. They might have misunderstood each other. And one of them, as he walked home, very much ruffled, saw the sun going down, and the passage occurred to him, “Do not let the sun set on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). He thought, “I will go back and offer an apology, for I believe I have spoken much too strongly.” He went back toward his friend’s office, and halfway he met the other coming to him on the same errand.

Happy Christians to be both so mindful of the Holy Spirit’s teaching, and so like the Lord Jesus! “Offenses will inevitably come” (Matthew 18:7), but blessed are those who are foremost in removing them.

RESOURCE FOR PASTORS

Lose your marriage, lose your ministry.

Married pastors, along with all Christian husbands, should be incredible lovers.

A pastor must be a one-woman man (1 Timothy 3:2). We should walk in constant sexual integrity (only loving one woman), but we must also pursue the sexual gratification of that woman (actually loving one woman).

We should all be skilled at loving our wives in every area of life — including our bedroom.

I wrote a book, Sex and Self-Forgetfulness, to help married Christians create a real plan to serve their spouse in bed and make them feel really, really good.

I think this book will bless you (AND equip you to speak honestly and helpfully about sex in ministry.

The book (published by New Growth Press) is available for pre-order now wherever books are sold.

Pre-order a copy today.

ONE MORE REMINDER: PREACH JESUS THIS WEEKEND

“A minister who can preach a sermon without addressing sinners does not know how to preach.” — Charles Spurgeon