The instrumentality by which the spiritual reforms of the eighteenth century carried on their operations, was of the simplest description. It was neither more nor less than the old apostolic weapon of preaching. The sword which the apostle Paul wielded with such mighty effect, when he assaulted the strongholds of heathenism eighteen hundred years ago—was the same sword by which they won their victories. Continue reading “True Preaching – by J.C. Ryle”
Tag: preaching
The call to the ministry – The ultimate test
By the late Rev. Martin Holdt
The ministry is beyond doubt the highest and holiest calling in the world. It is hard and exacting. It calls for great sacrifice and is demanding to the extreme. Many men are willing to accept the challenge of such a work, and many give up their well-earned security to undertake that challenge, but are they necessarily called?
Is a completed course of theological training a guarantee of ministerial success? Will it work if a man is found faithful in preparing sermons, in praying diligently and in visiting the flock? The answer to this question is simple: Only if the man is truly called of God. God’s servants are called men. The Scripture verifies this: “And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom 10v15) Continue reading “The call to the ministry – The ultimate test”
The Pelagian Captivity of the Church
R. C. Sproul
borrowed from: http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=printfriendly&var2=383
Shortly after the Reformation began, in the first few years after Martin Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses on the church door at Wittenberg, he issued some short booklets on a variety of subjects. One of the most provocative was titled The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. In this book Luther was looking back to that period of Old Testament history when Jerusalem was destroyed by the invading armies of Babylon and the elite of the people were carried off into captivity. Continue reading “The Pelagian Captivity of the Church”
Not corrupting the word
by JC Ryle
borrowed from: http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2006/03/word-from-late-bishop-of-liverpool.html
J. C. Ryle’s book Warnings to the Churches contains a sermon preached in August of 1858, titled “Not Corrupting the Word.” The following excerpt from that sermon was published exactly ninety-nine years later, in the August 1957 issue of The Banner of Truth. That issue of the magazine is included in a wonderful compilation recently re-released by the Banner of Truth Trust: The Banner of Truth: Magazine Issues 1-16, Sept. 1955—Aug. 1959. (The following excerpt may be found on page 265). I highly recommend the whole book – Phil Johnson.
Ryle’s words here offer some much-needed advice to pastors ministering in the morass of modern and post-modern churches would do well to heed. Continue reading “Not corrupting the word”