Shepherding with Spurgeon

Weekly Newsletter for Pastors from SpurgeonBooks

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

There are many young fellows reading this who are preparing for the ministry. I shall not enlarge on this point, but shall only press on their earnest consideration and their most devout meditation, this inspired exhortation, which is not mine, nor even an apostle’s only, but the exhortation of the Holy Spirit of God through the apostle: “Till I come, give attendance to reading.” (1 Timothy 4:13).

Brothers, if you would bless God’s Church and train up a band of really intelligent Christians, do not be always appealing to the emotions only, but give out also good, sound, strong gospel doctrine, and illustrate the doctrine, so as to expound and commend to others. Do this especially by reading the words of the greatest masters in Scripture theology, and these will prove your delightful and dear companions, and your splendid helpers in making your ministry richly profitable to your hearers.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION FROM SPURGEON

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the danger of temptation.

Many horses fall at the bottom of a hill because the driver thinks the danger past and the need to hold the reins with firm grip less pressing. So it is often with us when we are not specially tempted to overt sin, we are the more in danger through slothful ease. I think it was Ralph Erskine who said, “There is no devil so bad as no devil.” The worst temptation that ever overtakes us, is, in some respects, preferable to our becoming carnally secure and neglecting to watch and pray.

RESOURCE FOR PASTORS

Thanks to CROSS CON for sponsoring Shepherding with Spurgeon this year. CROSS is a conference for 18–25 year-olds and their leaders.

Consider bringing a group from your church to Louisville next January to help them deepen their love for God and his Word. They will return home passionate about God, sound theology, and missions.

Learn more and register today.

ONE MORE REMINDER: PREACH JESUS THIS WEEKEND

“The preaching of Christ is the whip that flogs the devil. The preaching of Christ is the thunderbolt, the sound of which makes all hell shake.” — Charles Spurgeon