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A Most Remarkable Evangelistic Sermon

By Timothy Raymond –

 

A few months ago I happened upon a lecture by Dr. David Murray, Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, on evangelistic preaching.  I found the lecture quite thought-provoking and actually somewhat convicting, since my sermons tend more toward “Bible lessons” than earnest plea to repent and believe the Gospel (though that’s never my intention).  Growing up in semi-revivalistic Baptist circles, I guess I assumed that most evangelistic sermons were a collection of frightening stories (e.g., teens dying suddenly after fooling around with illicit drugs and maybe the NIV) with a strong emotional appeal to “come to the altar” at the end.  The model Dr. Murray was advocating was far different, one relying on careful exegesis, responsible hermeneutics, and biblical theology, engaging the intellect, emotions, and will.

I listened to the lecture again recently and was prompted to contact Dr. Murray, asking for some examples of the kind of evangelistic preaching he was arguing for in the lecture.  He was kind enough to direct me to several examples and I wanted to point our readers to a remarkable one I watched this morning.  It’s entitled The End is Come and is a meditation on Ezekiel 7:6.  I would strongly encourage all our readers, especially if you’re a pastor, to listen or watch it.  After taxiing for about 15 minutes, Dr. Murray takes off and the remainder of the sermon is intense – almost a contemporary version of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”  I wanted to be converted all over again as I watched it.  May the Lord use it to move us preachers “to preach from the Bible with the immediate aim of the immediate conversion of every soul in front of us” (quote from above mentioned lecture).

Timothy Raymond is an editor for Credo Magazine and has been the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana since April 2006. He received his MDiv from the Baptist Bible Seminary of Pennsylvania in 2004 and has pursued further education through the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Tim grew up outside Syracuse, NY and previously served at Berean Baptist Church, Nicholson, PA (member and teacher during college and seminary) and Calvary Baptist Church, Sandusky, Ohio (seminary internship location). Tim met his wife Bethany at college, and they were married in May 2001. Tim enjoys reading, weight-lifting, wrestling with his three sons, and attempting to sleep.

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