Shepherding with Spurgeon

Weekly Newsletter for Pastors from SpurgeonBooks

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

While we preach Christ boldly, we must also preach him affectionately. There must be great love in our proclamation of the truth. We must not hesitate to point out to sinners the state of ruin to which sin has brought them and we must clearly set before them the divinely-appointed remedy; but we must mingle a mother’s tenderness with a father’s sternness. Paul was like both mother and father, in a spiritual sense, in his ministry. He wrote to the Galatians, “My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19) and to the Corinthians he wrote, “I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15), and every true minister of Christ can in his measure sympathize with him in both those experiences.

Yes, sinners, we do indeed love you; often our heart is nearly broken with the longing we have to see you saved. We wish we could preach to you with Baxter’s tearful eye; no, rather, with the Savior’s melting heart and all-consuming zeal.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION FROM SPURGEON

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe how God uses trials for our good.

Severe trouble in a true believer has the effect of loosening the roots of his soul earthward and tightening the anchor-hold of his heart heavenward. How can he love the world which has become so dreary to him? Why should he seek after grapes so bitter to his taste? Should he not now ask for the wings of a dove that he may fly away to his own dear country, and be at rest for ever?

Every mariner on the sea of life knows that when the soft zephyrs blow men tempt the open sea with outspread sails, but when the black tempest comes howling from its den they hurry with all speed to the haven. Afflictions clip our wings with regard to earthly things so that we cannot fly away from our dear Master’s hand, but sit there and sing to him; but the same afflictions make our wings grow with regard to heavenly things: we are feathered like eagles, we catch the soaring spirit, a thorn is in our nest, and we spread our pinions towards the sun.

ONE MORE REMINDER: PREACH JESUS THIS WEEKEND

“I do believe we slander Christ when we think we are to draw the people by something else but the preaching of Christ crucified.” — Charles Spurgeon