He cannot make out what sort of service it is; be begins to count how many people sit in the front row in the gallery, and all kinds of ideas pass through his mind. Now I want to attract his attention; how shall I do it? If I quote a text of Scripture, he may not know what it means, and may not be interested in it. Shall I put a bit of Latin into the sermon, or quote the original Hebrew or Greek of my text? That will not do for such a man. What shall I do? Ah! I know a story that will, I believe, just fit him.”11
11. PREACH CHRIST
This is one of Spurgeon’s preaching tips that we should never forget: Always preach the simple gospel.
“Of all I would wish to say this is the sum; my brethren, PREACH CHRIST, always and evermore. He is the whole gospel. His person, offices and work must be our one great, all-comprehending theme. The world needs still to be told of its Savior, and of the way to reach him… We are not called to proclaim philosophy and metaphysics, but the simple gospel. Man’s fall, his need of a new birth, forgiveness through an atonement and salvation as the result of faith, these are our battle-ax and weapons of war.”12
12. INVITE EVALUATION
Even the best preachers slide into bad habits.
“Get a friend to tell you your faults, or better still, welcome an enemy who will watch you keenly and sting you savagely. What a blessing such an irritating critic will be to a wise man, what an intolerable nuisance to a fool! Correct yourself diligently and frequently, or you will fall into errors unawares, false tones will grow and slovenly habits will form insensibly; therefore criticize yourself with unceasing care. Think nothing little by which you may be even a little more useful. But, gentlemen, never degenerate in this business into pulpit fops, who think gesture and voice to be everything.”13
- http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-29/charles-h-spurgeon-did-you-know.html
- Charles H. Spurgeon, Lectures To My Students, Kindle ed. (Fig, 2012), 45.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 133.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 135.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 111.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 17.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 123.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 138.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 302.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 138-39.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 395.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 79.
- Spurgeon, Lectures, 123.
