tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139228754320004379.post304368394297926474..comments2024-01-19T13:23:36.342-08:00Comments on The Wood's Secret Garden: Does this sound biblically correct to you?Dianna Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114435985648046259noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139228754320004379.post-37486527807856688452010-01-23T11:53:48.223-08:002010-01-23T11:53:48.223-08:00You do know your Calvin. Hat's off to you. A...You do know your Calvin. Hat's off to you. As much as I admire Spurgeon, I can't see him as a good example for pastors. He hop scotched all over the Bible in an almost eenie, meenie, miney, moe fashion. His sermons are hard to categorize (textual is the usual designation), but he often strayed from the confines of the text. He tended to turn many texts, particularly OT ones, into a kind of allegory, often ignoring the basic thrust of the text, or else after having made a few remarks about the meaning of the text in his introduction.<br /><br />I would state, unhesitatingly, there has probably never been a greater preacher than Spurgeon. And yet, I would never hold his sermons up as examples for young preachers to imitate.<br /><br />And yet, who am I to speak of Spurgeon unfavorably in any way. If I were living in London around 1860 to 1892, I'm sure I would want to be a member of Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, and sit under Mr. Spurgeon's ministry as often as I could.<br /><br />Thanks for the exchange. Please tell Michael we look forward to seeing him next week.G. N. Barkmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139228754320004379.post-47095218086328105982010-01-23T09:11:21.432-08:002010-01-23T09:11:21.432-08:00To use Calvin’s pattern as an example for us is pr...To use Calvin’s pattern as an example for us is problematic for many reasons. To mention just a few: There were three churches in Geneva and the Word was preached everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. It would be difficult to know (with any certainty) 1) who attended and when; and 2) if Calvin would have preached from the Old Testament on Sundays if preaching and church attendance was limited to primarily Sundays as it is today.<br /><br />Calvin preached over 2000 sermons from the Old Testament, verse by verse from the beginning to the end of many books. He preached a year on Job; 15 months on Deuteronomy, and 3 years on Isaiah. He preached 123 sermons on Genesis; 174 on Ezekiel; and., even 25 sermons on the 5 chapters of Lamentations and 5 sermons on the one chapter of Obadiah. On Christmas Day 1551, he based his sermon on Mic 5:7-15. But, hey, perhaps Christmas didn't fall on a Sunday that year. :-)<br /><br />Spurgeon would be a much better example of OT verses NT sermons as by the 1800's the majority of people attended Church services only once a week. His Old Testament sermon archives are massive. To illustrate: He preached over 60 sermons (on Sundays) from Song of Soloman alone--and none were self-help sermons on how to love your wife or how to have a better marriage.<br /><br />In contrast, the pastor who was quoted in this blog post (after 40+ years in the pulpit) has not preached a single sermon from the following Old Testament Books <br /> <br />2 Chronicles<br />Ezra<br />Hosea<br />Leviticus<br />Nehemiah<br />Joel<br />Numbers<br />Esther<br />Amos<br />Deuteronomy<br />Obadiah<br />Judges<br />Micah<br />Ecclesiastes<br />Song of Solomon<br />2 Samuel<br />Zephaniah<br />Haggai<br />2 Kings<br />Lamentations<br />1 Chronicles<br />Ezekiel<br />Malachi<br /><br />The mere facts speak for themselves. OT is being neglected. The reason for this (I believe) is his dispensational theology.<br /><br />But, that's a topic for another time. It does determine, however, how much importance and significance is placed on the Old Testament.<br /><br />Anyway - enough about all that.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing the Steve Lawson reference and thank you for dropping by. Michael and I have had a most wonderful time in deed. We are just starting day 6 and have 4 more days (counting today) before he flies back.<br /><br />We will be worshipping tomorrow evening with you, via live webcast. Thanking the Lord for modern technology!<br /><br />Take Care and God BlessDianna Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13114435985648046259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3139228754320004379.post-3295171597740123062010-01-23T06:31:48.416-08:002010-01-23T06:31:48.416-08:00I just read an article by Steven Lawson stating th...I just read an article by Steven Lawson stating that John Calvin always preached from the NT on Sundays. OT was for weekday mornings (when many Sunday-only worshippers were not present). Perhaps this is not as unreasonable practice as some believe.<br /><br />I trust you and Mike have had a wonderful time together!G. N. Barkmannoreply@blogger.com