The Power and Purpose of Sermon Repetition

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves grappling with the nuances of preaching and the responsibilities it entails. Today, we explored the topic of sermon repetition and its implications for both the preacher and the congregation. The act of repeating a sermon is not merely about reusing content; it is about recognizing the unique message and burden that God has placed upon a preacher's heart. This message, when delivered with sincerity and divine guidance, can be a powerful tool for spiritual growth and transformation.

The discussion began with the acknowledgment that some preachers, like Charles Spurgeon, were initially opposed to repeating sermons. However, even Spurgeon found himself relying on a previously delivered sermon during a moment of crisis. This highlights the importance of recognizing when a sermon is more than just an exposition of scripture; it is a divinely inspired message that resonates deeply with both the preacher and the audience.

We also examined the practice of repeating sermons in different congregations. Historical figures like George Whitefield and John Wesley frequently repeated their sermons, understanding that certain messages were particularly blessed by the Holy Spirit. The repetition of such sermons is not about laziness or lack of preparation but about delivering the best message possible to each audience.

Furthermore, we delved into the concept of sermon growth and development. A sermon is not static; it evolves as it is preached, gaining depth and clarity with each delivery. This dynamic nature of sermons allows preachers to refine their messages and better connect with their congregations.

Finally, we touched upon the romance of preaching—the unpredictable and transformative power of delivering God's word. Preaching is not just a task; it is an adventure filled with divine surprises and opportunities for spiritual impact. As preachers, we are called to embrace this romance, trusting in God's guidance and allowing His Spirit to work through us.

Key Takeaways:

- Divine Inspiration in Sermons: A sermon is more than an exposition of scripture; it is a divinely inspired message that carries a unique burden and clarity. When a sermon is blessed by the Holy Spirit, it becomes a powerful tool for spiritual growth and transformation. [11:22]

- Legitimacy of Repetition: Repeating a sermon is not about laziness but about delivering a message that has been particularly blessed by God. Historical figures like Whitefield and Wesley understood the value of repeating sermons that resonated deeply with their audiences. [11:54]

- Sermon Growth and Development: A sermon is not static; it evolves as it is preached, gaining depth and clarity with each delivery. This dynamic nature allows preachers to refine their messages and better connect with their congregations. [12:28]

- The Romance of Preaching: Preaching is an adventure filled with divine surprises and opportunities for spiritual impact. It is the most thrilling and rewarding work, as it involves being a conduit for God's transformative power. [39:03]

- Trusting in God's Guidance: As preachers, we must embrace the unpredictability of preaching, trusting in God's guidance and allowing His Spirit to work through us. This trust leads to profound spiritual experiences and impacts on both the preacher and the congregation. [47:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Opening Prayer
- [02:02] - Announcements and Examination Discussion
- [03:24] - The Act of Preaching
- [04:01] - Repeating Sermons: An Introduction
- [06:39] - Historical Perspectives on Repetition
- [10:13] - Justification for Repeating Sermons
- [12:12] - Sermon Growth and Development
- [14:45] - Familiarity and Effectiveness
- [16:19] - Frequency of Repetition
- [18:27] - Warnings Against Performance
- [23:01] - Reasons for Repetition
- [26:14] - The Character of Sermons
- [29:18] - Preaching Others' Sermons
- [38:49] - The Romance of Preaching
- [47:17] - Trusting in God's Guidance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 17:28 - "For in him we live and move and have our being."
2. 2 Timothy 2:3 - "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
3. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

---

Observation Questions:

1. What was Charles Spurgeon's initial stance on repeating sermons, and how did his perspective change during a moment of crisis? [07:29]

2. How did historical figures like George Whitefield and John Wesley approach the repetition of sermons, and what was their reasoning? [08:00]

3. According to the sermon, how does a sermon evolve as it is preached multiple times? [12:28]

4. What is meant by the "romance of preaching," and how does it relate to the unpredictability of delivering a sermon? [39:03]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of divine inspiration in sermons, as discussed in the sermon, align with the idea presented in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 about preaching not relying on human wisdom? [11:22]

2. In what ways does the legitimacy of sermon repetition, as practiced by historical preachers, reflect the message in 2 Timothy 2:3 about enduring hardships for the sake of the gospel? [11:54]

3. How does the dynamic nature of sermon growth and development, as described in the sermon, enhance the preacher's ability to connect with the congregation? [12:28]

4. What role does trusting in God's guidance play in the transformative power of preaching, and how does this relate to the unpredictability mentioned in the sermon? [47:17]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a sermon was particularly impactful. What elements of that sermon contributed to its effectiveness, and how can you seek out similar experiences in the future? [11:22]

2. Consider the idea of repeating a message that has been blessed by God. How can you discern when a message is worth repeating in your own life or ministry? [11:54]

3. How can you embrace the dynamic nature of spiritual growth in your personal faith journey, similar to how a sermon evolves with each delivery? [12:28]

4. Think about a recent experience where you felt God's guidance in an unexpected way. How can you remain open to divine surprises in your daily life? [47:17]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust more in God's guidance. What steps can you take this week to surrender that area to Him? [47:17]

6. How can you cultivate a sense of adventure and romance in your spiritual practices, similar to the excitement described in the sermon about preaching? [39:03]

7. Reflect on a sermon or message that you have heard multiple times. How has your understanding or application of that message changed over time, and what does this reveal about the nature of spiritual growth? [12:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Inspiration in Sermons
A sermon is more than just an exposition of scripture; it is a divinely inspired message that carries a unique burden and clarity. When a sermon is blessed by the Holy Spirit, it becomes a powerful tool for spiritual growth and transformation. This divine inspiration means that the message is not solely the product of human effort but is infused with God's wisdom and purpose. As such, it has the potential to resonate deeply with both the preacher and the congregation, leading to profound spiritual experiences and changes in one's life. [11:22]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a sermon or message that has deeply impacted your life. How can you allow its divine inspiration to continue transforming you today?


Day 2: Legitimacy of Repetition
Repeating a sermon is not about laziness but about delivering a message that has been particularly blessed by God. Historical figures like George Whitefield and John Wesley understood the value of repeating sermons that resonated deeply with their audiences. This practice acknowledges that certain messages carry a special anointing and are meant to be heard multiple times to fully grasp their depth and significance. Repetition allows the congregation to meditate on the message, internalize its truths, and apply them to their lives in meaningful ways. [11:54]

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a message or truth you need to hear again to fully understand and apply it? How can you seek out opportunities to revisit this message?


Day 3: Sermon Growth and Development
A sermon is not static; it evolves as it is preached, gaining depth and clarity with each delivery. This dynamic nature allows preachers to refine their messages and better connect with their congregations. As a sermon is repeated, it can be enriched by new insights and experiences, making it more relevant and impactful for the audience. This growth and development process is a testament to the living nature of God's word, which continues to speak to us in fresh and powerful ways. [12:28]

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." (Proverbs 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow the messages you hear to grow and develop in your heart, leading to deeper understanding and application in your life?


Day 4: The Romance of Preaching
Preaching is an adventure filled with divine surprises and opportunities for spiritual impact. It is the most thrilling and rewarding work, as it involves being a conduit for God's transformative power. This romance of preaching invites preachers to embrace the unpredictability and excitement of delivering God's word, trusting that each sermon is an opportunity for God to work in unexpected and miraculous ways. As preachers and listeners alike, we are called to be open to these divine surprises and to allow them to shape our spiritual journeys. [39:03]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embrace the adventure of sharing God's word in your own life, being open to the divine surprises and opportunities it brings?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Guidance
As preachers, we must embrace the unpredictability of preaching, trusting in God's guidance and allowing His Spirit to work through us. This trust leads to profound spiritual experiences and impacts on both the preacher and the congregation. By relying on God's wisdom and direction, we can be confident that our efforts will bear fruit and that His purposes will be accomplished through us. This trust is not only essential for preachers but for all believers as we navigate the uncertainties of life, knowing that God is with us and guiding us every step of the way. [47:17]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in God's guidance? How can you actively seek His direction and allow His Spirit to work through you today?

Quotes

A sermon after all is not just a statement of Truth or a statement of a number of truths it is not as we've defined it even an exposition of a passage it's more than that now if it were only an exposition and stopped at that well then I would be ready to Grant immediately that the case against repeating it is a very poor one but if you do accept this notion of the sermon as a message and as a burden and as an entity a complete message in itself taking this particular form well then I think there is a great deal to be said for repeating this sermon in in various places. [00:10:15]

It is surely the experience of every preacher that some messages are given to him in a very special way I've already referred to that they come with an unusual Clarity he seems to have been given the order in which the points are to be presented and so on it seems to be a gift from God and moreover because of this character he finds that this message is honored by the spirit and is used by the spirit there is no question about this at all every preacher will testify to this so I would ask the question why should they not be repeated surely it should be the preacher's concern always to give the best that he's got the very best that he has. [00:11:07]

If you take the view that I've been trying to put to you of preaching you will find that sermons grow and develop as the result of being preached you don't see everything when you're preparing in your study you'll see more as you're preaching and your sermon will grow and develop this is a very interesting point this uh one which I'm putting before you from my own experience and from what I've known of others. [00:12:14]

I remember a preacher telling me once about how he was filled with alarm on one occasion he was a great admirer of another preacher the first men was a good preacher but he wasn't an outstanding preacher and a popular preacher in the sense the other men was but he was a great admirer of the other men and um he said that he'd been to some great sinard and there were there was always preaching the last day in these sinards and these great preachers took part and this man was telling me he said to my dismay I heard him the old man whom he admired so much giving out his text he said and I really began to feel miserable and Ill because he said I'd heard him preach on that text in my own church he said about about 3 months before that he'd come along after a weekend of preaching he'd come along on the Monday night and he said I felt that he hadn't got much of a sermon so when I heard him giving out this text on this great occasion he said I I really felt dismayed but he said I needn't have felt it this sermon of his had grown he said so much almost out of recognition. [00:12:39]

When you become familiar rarely familiar with your sermon it will greatly improve the effectiveness of your preaching of that sermon you there's less of a sense of strain you're not trying to remember you're not bound you've attained a measure of freedom because you're now familiar with it in a way that you cannot be when you preach it for the first time so that for all these reasons I would say that to preach the same sermon which you feel is something exceptional as far as you are concerned which you feel as a real message in it and which has been blessed and used of God is something that is Thoroughly legitimate and indeed it is to the benefit of the people who will be listening to you. [00:14:23]

The romance of preaching there's nothing like it it is the greatest work in the world the most thrilling the most exciting the most rewarding the most wonderful I know of nothing which is comparable to that which one feels when one walks up the steps of one's Pulpit with a fresh sermon on a Sunday morning or a Sunday evening when you feel you've got a message from God and you're longing to give it this is something that one can't describe repeating your best SU somewhere else never gives you that that's why I am such an advocate of a regular and a Lish Ministry in the same place. [00:38:49]

If you're a true preacher you really do not know what's going to happen when you enter a Pulpit if you're a lecturer as I've told you you do but if you're a preacher you certainly don't and you'll get the most amazing experiences I even put this under the head of romance you may enter the poopy feeling really well confident in your preparation and all the rest of it and you'll have a bad service something wonderful even in that it shows you what enate that you are not the sole person in control you tended to think you were you've discovered you're not and it reminds you that you're under God. [00:40:20]

Conversely and this is the wonderful thing you may enter that Pulpit feeling ill feeling nervous feeling that you haven't got much and suddenly all will be well even physically the effect of preaching upon one's own health is quite remarkable those of you who've read the journals of Whitfield will have noticed that he often said this sort of thing he hadn't been feeling well probably it was his heart troubling him a bit and he was too heavy and so on and he would put down in his journal or in a letter to somebody I Shan be right again until I've had a good Pulpit sweat and it used to put him right a good Pulpit sweat. [00:41:03]

When you yourself are gripped and are moved in the preparation you will generally find that the same happens in the preaching now I'm saying when you're gripped and moved not when you've composed well I'm not saying that I say when you've been gripped and moved when it is as it were you the very thing you are preparing is coming to you yourself and doing something to you that is going to do something to the people and when I've ever I've had that I have generally known what was going to happen on the Sunday and it generally did happen. [00:42:48]

This is the thing that astounded me if I had not been dealt with the previous Sunday it was my intention to give the previous Sunday what this man was hearing this Sunday but I was restrained I was only allowed to preach half my sermon the previous Sunday the second half had been kept back and as I say I was a little bit disturbed about this but afterwards of course it was perfectly clear you don't control this this is God this is where the rense comes in you've no idea what you're doing i' never heard of this men never seen him knew nothing at all about him but there it was is there anything comparable to this is there anything as romantic as this. [00:47:17]

You never know who's going to be listening to you and you never know what's going to happen to people who who are listening to you it may be the turning point in somebody's life thank God it is not infrequently the fools who came to scuff remain to pray men who may have come in in utter hopelessness go out rejoicing converted regenerated new men and women the whole life changed and you've been involved in this is there anything in the world that compares with this there is nothing nothing at all this is the most wonderful thing that can ever happen you were between a soul and God and eternal matters are being dealt with and eternal Destinies are determined. [00:48:40]

This is the wonderful thing let me end by telling you perhaps the most striking example of all this that I have ever been privileged to know this was actually in a prayer not even in a sermon there was a poor man I knew he I'd known his conversion from a terrible life of sin and he'd become a fine Christian this was when I was in South Wales but uh afterwards unfortunately for various reasons this poor fellow become a backslider and had fallen very deeply into sin he' uh run away from his wife and children with another woman and she was a poor type and they'd come to London and there they' lived in sin and he' squandered the money and he'd actually gone home and told his wife a lie in order to get further money out of her the house was in their joint names he got this ginch that was all in his name and he sold it in order to get the money you see he'd gone very very far into the far country he' sinned terribly and now the money had finished and the woman had deserted him and he solemnly decided that he was going to commit suicide he felt that God would forgive him but he couldn't forgive himself and he felt that he had no right ever to approach his family again so he solemnly decided to walk over Westminster bridge and throw himself into the temps and die and he was proceeding to do this some of you may have been in London as you approach Westminster Bridge big Benin the clock of the houses of Parliament is there big Benin struck half 6 6:30 suddenly it flashed into his mind he referring to me will now be just entering his Pulpit for his evening service so he decided that he'd come and listen to me once more but before he put an end to himself he made his way to the chapel it wasn't far got in through the front door was walked up the stairs he was just entering the gallery when he heard these words God have mercy upon the backslider literally the first words he heard everything was put right he was not only restored he became an elder in his church and a man who rendered great and wonderful service what's it mean it means this we're in the hands of God anything can happen with God nothing is impossible ask great things of God as William kry said but go on expect great things from God and he lead you on from Surprise to surprise there is no romance comparable to that of the work of the preacher. [00:52:39]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 25, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?