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John Piper quoting Jonathan Edwards on Preaching with Passion

The greatest evangelist of the Twentieth Century, without question, was Billy Graham. The greatest evangelist before him of the Nineteenth Century undoubtedly was Dwight L. Moody. Both shared a common trait. They were criticized because of a particular subject they preached about. When Billy Graham was…

When the Moravian missionaries first went to Greenland, they were months and months teaching the poor Greenlander about the Godhead, the doctrine of the Trinity, and the doctrine of sin and the law, and no converts were forthcoming. But one day, by accident, one of the Greenlanders happened to read that…

(I heard Smith share this funny quip when he preached at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the early 1980’s. I was an aspiring theology student at the time and was listening to the message in the overflow area since the Southwestern Chapel was at full capacity. I loved that quote then and I love it to this day!)

I once preached in a certain city, and I was the guest of a gentleman who treated me with great kindness, but I noticed on the third occasion of my preaching that he suddenly left the room. One of my friends followed him out of the place and said to him, “Why have you left the service?” “Well,” said…

Some preachers remind me of the emperor who had a wonderful skill in carving men’s heads upon cherry stones. What a multitude of preachers we have who can make wonderfully fine discourses out of a mere passing thought, of no consequence to anyone. But we want the gospel. We have to live and die, and…

Remember John Bunyan when he refused to give up preaching. They put him in prison and said to him, “Mr. Bunyan, you can come out of prison whenever you will promise to cease preaching the gospel.” He said, “If you let me out of prison today, I will preach again tomorrow, by the grace of God.” “Well,”…

I like the remark of the people who were requested to accept a Universalist as a minister. They said, “You have come to tell us that there is no hell. If your doctrine is true, we certainly do not need you; and if it is not true, we do not want you. Either way, we can do without you.” It is a most dreadful…

A famous preacher was to preach on a certain occasion, but he missed his way and was too late. The devil, knowing of it, put on the appearance of the minister, took his place, and preached a sermon to the people, who supposed they were listening to the famous preacher whom they had expected. The devil…

Shall we keep back the children’s bread lest the dogs should steal the crumbs? Shall we destroy health-restoring drugs because fools may poison themselves with them? Shall all the trees be cut down for fear the owls should build their nest in them? Shall the sea be dried up because sharks swim in it?…

Senior Adults love this!

When I was a young Christian, during my teen years, I remember praying for the salvation of my parents. At the time I was also wrestling with the call to ministry, the call to preach. I tried in my prayers to bargain with God. I told him, “If you save my parents, then I will accept your call to preach.”…

There are churches wherein the minister is nominally the leading officer, but he cannot lead, for the church does not follow. A young officer, sword in hand, leaps the rampart. He looks back, but his troop is yards behind him. He cries, “Come on! Come on!” But there is no answer; he might as well call…

Do not think of preaching until you have truth written on your very soul. You would as well think of steering a ship across the ocean without knowing the first principles of navigation. You would as well think of setting up as an ambassador without your country’s sanction as to dare to intrude yourself…

I have seen in the army a number of veterans marching in front, an ornament and an honor to the whole company. Your short-service men come and go, but these tried men stick to the colors and are the backbone of the regiment. If a tough bit of fighting has to be done, you must rely upon such as these.…

L. R. Scarborough, former president of Southwestern Seminary, once preached a sermon on Jonah and the great fish. After the sermon was over his little boy said to him, "Dad, do you really believe that story? Do you really believe that a fish could swallow a man and keep him alive for three days?" Dr.…

Along the coast, in certain places, there are no harbors. But in other spots, there are bays into which vessels run at once in the time of storm. Some men present an open natural harborage for people in distress. You love them instinctively, and trust them unreservedly. They, on their part, welcome your…

You have sometimes seen a widely spreading oak tree cut down, and you have missed its grateful shadow. Yet afterwards you have discovered that many little trees, which would have been dwarfed beneath its shade, have grown more rapidly in its absence. In like manner, the removal of some eminent servant…

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse [ Deut. 11:26 ]. Israel was commanded to obey. Obedience was the very nub of the matter. A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day [ Deut. 11:27 ]. Obedience is something which has been dropped into…

When you can't trace God's hand, you can trust God's heart. Charles Spurgeon

STUNNED BY GRACE by Max Lucado I've never been surprised by God's judgment, but I'm still stunned by his grace. God's judgment has never been a problem for me. In fact, it always seemed right. Lightning bolts on Sodom. Fire on Gomorrah. Good job, God. Egyptians swallowed in the Red Sea. They had it coming.…

Author: Dr. S.D. Gordon

THE STORY I was born in 1725, and I died 1807. The only godly influence in my life, as far back as I can remember, was my mother, whom I had for only seven years. When she left my life through death, I was virtually an orphan. My father remarried, sent me to a strict military school, where the severity…

Queen Elizabeth told a notable merchant in the City of London to go to the Continent on royal business. “Please your majesty,” said he, “who will attend to my business while I am away?” The queen replied, “If you will go abroad and see to my business, I will see to your business.” I will be bound to…