Do you believe every single sermon should include the Gospel?

Ed Vasicek

I once heard a criticism from a godly older man. He said he heard a sermon at a certain church (which was Bible-believing), and never once in the sermon did the preacher ever mention the name Jesus.

Some today believe the Gospel — some mention of the atoning work of Christ at bare minimum — should be part of every sermon.

There is a difference between saying that a good sermon must always mention the Gospel and that good preaching often includes the Gospel.

Discussion

The Blind Eye and the Deaf Ear (Part 2)

SharperIron

This post continues a lecture from C.H. Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students (read the series so far).

I should recommend the use of the same faculty, or want of faculty, with regard to finance in the matter of your own salary.

There are some occasions, especially in raising a new church, when you may have no deacon who is qualified to manage that department, and, therefore, you may feel called upon to undertake it yourselves. In such a case you are not to be censured, you ought even to be commended. Many a time also the work would come to an end altogether if the preacher did not act as his own deacon, and find supplies both temporal and spiritual by his own exertions. To these exceptional cases I have nothing to say but that I admire the struggling worker and deeply sympathize with him, for he is overweighted, and is apt to be a less successful soldier for his Lord because he is entangled with the affairs of this life.

Discussion

Honor True Widows: 1 Timothy 5:3–16 with Implications for the Church’s Social Responsibilities, Part 6

Ben Edwards

From DBSJ 21 (2016); posted with permission. Read the series.

Implications for the Church’s Social Responsibilities

Does this passage have any contemporary significance? It has direct significance on the matter of caring for widows today. But it has additional significance in offering principles for broader issues for the church’s social responsibilities.

Caring for Widows Today

Since Paul’s teaching does not seem linked solely to local culture and since it parallels the practice of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 6), churches should take seriously the responsibility to care for true widows as described in this passage. Caring for widows will most likely be an increasing issue for churches.

Discussion

China Now Arresting Families for Praying at Home

SI Filings

“Many believe that this is a move by the Chinese government to show the state and the world just how serious it is about its new rules regarding regulating religion in order to enhance national security, dismantling and preventing extremism, and curbing the practice of faith by organizations which are not approved by the state.” WRNews

Discussion