Spurgeon on Sermon Preparation

October 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

If a man would speak without any present study, he must usually study much. This is a paradox perhaps, but its explanation lies upon the surface.

If I am a miller, and I have a sack brought to my door, and am asked to fill that sack with good fine flour within the next five minutes, the only way in which I can do it, is by keeping the flour-bin of my mill always full, so that I can at once open the mouth of the sack, fill it, and deliver it. I do not happen to be grinding at that time, and so far the delivery is extemporary; but I have been grinding before, and so have the flour to serve out to the customer. So, brethren, you must have been grinding, or you will not have the flour.

You will not be able to extemporize good thinking unless you have been in the habit of thinking and feeding your mind with abundant and nourishing food. Work hard at every available moment. Store your minds very richly, and then, like merchants with crowded warehouses, you will have goods ready for your customers, and having arranged your good things upon the shelves of your mind, you will be able to hand them down at any time without the laborious process of going to market, sorting, folding, and preparing… . Take it as a rule without exception, that to be able to overflow spontaneously you must be full.

Excerpted from Charles H. Spurgeon’s Lectures to my Students

Filed Under: Pastors

Impossible

October 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing…

Do not doubt the power of God to do something miraculous even in the lives of those who do not believe. King Cyrus of Persia was a heathen king but that did not stop God from stirring him up to issue an edict that eventually favored the small nation of Israel.

Cyrus was the king of the most powerful nation on earth at that time. In comparison, Israel was just a little piece of land in the little known corner of the vast Persian empire. In the world of ancient international politics, Israel was expendable.

But God doesn’t forget. He remembers the old promises that He spoke to the ancestors of the small Jewish nation. He could influence a heathen king and cause him to make a political move to favor His chosen people. He can wriggle through international politics just so He could fulfill an old promise.

Are you stuck in a seemingly impossible situation today? Do not despair. The God that we serve is also the God of the universe and His rule extends over the hearts of unbelieving people. He can cause other people to look upon you with favor and grace. As Don Moen’s old song says, He can “make a way where there seems to be no way.”

Don’t be afraid to ask for the impossible. Our God is never daunted nor shocked with our difficulties. Ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you [Matt. 7.7]. Such promise. Such wonderful, wonderful promise.

Filed Under: Christian Living Tagged With: ,

Regurgitate

October 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The early church didn’t have the modern technologies we have today. There were no billboards or direct mail campaigns to announce Jesus was coming. The disciples didn’t tweet or blog the Sermon on the Mount or other messages Jesus gave during his ministry. The one thing the early church did have, however, was captivating stories worth telling. People couldn’t help but tell their friends and family all that they had seen and heard, and proclaim the redemptive work of Christ and the hope of the gospel.”

Tim Schraeder, OUTSPOKEN: Conversations on Church Communication

New Testament people had compelling stories to tell and the world was turned upside down with the stories they proclaimed. This is totally opposite of what people do today. Today, people can talk for hours and write thick books without any compelling, life-changing substance.

Years ago, when you read something that really strikes a chord in your heart, you go for introspection. You toss the idea at the back of your head a hundred times over and ponder on how it can change your life.

Today, when an idea strikes you nicely, you tweet and update your Facebook status. No more rumination, no more thinking things over. We simply regurgitate what came into our systems.

Filed Under: Random Posts Tagged With:

Reasons Why People Do Not Like Sports

September 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

[from Francis J. Kong's PhilStar Column dated Sept24, 2011]

I was working out in a gym one time, and standing beside me was a tall guy who was smiling at me. Apparently he recognized me. I smiled back and said, “You’re so tall you must be a basketball player.” He replied, “Oh yes. I do play once in a while.”

The gym attendant looked at me with amazement. He couldn’t understand what had just happened. When the tall guy walked away, the attendant asked me, “Sir, you don’t follow basketball do you?”

“Unfortunately not,” I said, “Why?”

And the attendant replied, “That gentleman is a professional basketball player in the country! He’s a superstar – and you don’t know him?! Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

The funny thing is, I used to play basketball for my high school varsity team, until one day I realized that basketball is not for midgets like me. I’m 5’7” and a half.

I remember somebody saying that he doesn’t like sports. “I’ve had it! I quit that business once and for all,” he ranted. “You won’t be able to get me near one of those places ever again!” Here are some reasons why people won’t go to sports games:

Every time I watch a game, people ask me for money!

The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly!

The seats are too hard and not at all comfortable!

I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me!

The referee made a decision I didn’t agree with!

Some games go into overtime, and I get late going home!

The band played some numbers that I’ve never heard before!

It seems that games are scheduled when I want to do other things.

I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.

I don’t want to take my children to any games because I want

them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites – they really came to see their friends and what they’re wearing rather than to see the game.

[By now you must be smiling. These are the same ridiculous reasons why people don't go to church. You can read the whole thing HERE.]

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Just to be Clear

September 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Some people are under the impression that they are doing God a favor when they come to church on Sundays. They feel like God owes them something whenever they show up, say their prayers and give their offerings. What pride, what foolish idea to entertain in anyone’s head.

God doesn’t need our sacrifices and gifts. He is God and He will always be God even without our input. He is not some petty Greek deity that must be appeased and offered to. His power and majesty remain the same whether we recognize Him or not. His Lordship and dominion over all creation is not dependent whether we go to church or not. His greatness is not diminished by our indifference or increased by our worship. He is God, He is complete, He is whole.

The reason why we need to love Him and worship Him and give our lives to Him is not to boost His ego. He doesn’t need that from us. We worship because that is the only way we make sense of this life. We love Him because that is the only way our spirits are sustained. We give our lives to Him because that’s the only way we find meaning and purpose.

Our adoration is not for His benefit. It is for OUR benefit that He calls us to a life of surrender.

Filed Under: Worship Tagged With: