“The beast of the Revelation was reported to be Napoleon I, and then the creature suddently reappeared in his nephew, Napoleon III. By-and-by, the deadly wound was healed, and the Prince Imperial wore the dreadful honours of the prophetic book; but the prince is now dead, and it will be needful for the seers to …
A Wing and a Prayer Is All Very Well, but You Need Two Wings
“I have heard of a brother who trusts in the Lord, and does not study; but I have also heard that his people do not trust in him; in fact, I am informed that they wish him to go elsewhere with his inspired discourses, for they say that, when he did study, his talk was …
Downwind from Apostasy
“Faith in the old orthodox creed is not a matter of choice with me now. I am frequently told that I ought to examine at length the various new views which are so continually presented. I decline the invitation; I can smell them, and that satisfies me” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, p. 125).
Lie A-Soak in the Text
“I always find I can preach best when I can manage to lie a-soak in my text. I like to get a text, and find out its meaning and bearings, and so on; and then, after I have bathed in it, I delight to lie down in it, and let it soak into me. It …
For He Is Small/Amos 8
INTRODUCTION: When we come to chapter seven of Amos, we shift from poetry to prose, from woe-oracles to narrative. The theme and the message are the same as throughout the rest of the book, but the form in which it comes is quite different. In the first six chapters, Yahweh has been the main speaker; …
Some Preachers Have Marvelous Skill in Missing
“We must preach as men to men, not as divines before the clergy and nobility. Preach straight at them. It is of no use to fire your rifle into the sky when your object is to pierce men’s hearts. To flourish your sabre finely is a thing which has been done so often that you …
Preach the Communion into Communion
“Try to make church fellowship full of life and love by preaching and living the gospel of love and brotherhood” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, p. 108).
The Secret Motor
Over the last few years, I have learned a lot about the secret motor that makes pretty much everyone go down the road. But God gives more grace, as James would say. Here is a set of messages where I try to condense into manageable form some of what I have learned about this.
Preach Everything to a Head
“Preach the doctrines of grace, dear brethren, and those who like not your Lord will either be changed themselves or change their minister” (Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, pp. 106-107).
A Seven-fold Woe/Amos 7
INTRODUCTION: In this passage, we begin part way through chapter five, and continue on through the entirety of chapter six. Amos eloquently continues to hammer away at the two things that turn God’s stomach—false worship and an opulent, violent stupidity. THE TEXT: “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! . . .” …