SERMONS, SERMONS EVERYWHERE
Preachers’ libraries contain many sermon outline books, as well as, full length sermons. Many of our brotherhood publications also have sermon outlines, some short, some long. Then there are (or were) cassette tapes of sermons available for the asking and now, of course, CD’s. Now put on top of that thousands and thousands of sermons on the internet; all of these good and by our brethren. Hours can be spent by those of us who are preachers browsing these outlines and sermons in search of a sermon for Sunday morning or evening. Those men, who have researched and taken the time to make their material available, are to be commended; and it is great to be able to have their work so readily at hand. However, there is one source book that should be first and foremost and that is the Holy Bible.
The Apostle Paul wrote Timothy the following:
“ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
David wrote, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105). Then James penned these words, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). Jesus said, “…The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
The Bible is the key to preaching and living a faithful life. When Christians have financial difficulties, does it ever occur to us that the Bible teaches us how to deal with our money? What about marriage or raising children, or getting along with others. The Bible should be the first source book we should consult on how to solve those problems.
So, preachers and teachers, the first place for us to begin in our search is the Holy Word of God.
Larry