Tag: Jesus

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Spiritual Warfare is Real Book Review by Jeff Bush

By Jim Cymbala 

  • Satan is the cause of evil and the originator of evil. He is just as real as the Lord is. 
  • When you became a Christian, you entered in the spiritual war. 
  • Satan is not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent.
  • Satan is originally from heaven, God’s beautiful creation. But he fell from Heaven and is against God and all that has to do with God. 
  • The devil looks for weakness, that’s why we are told to be strong in the Lord. 
  • The kingdom of darkness is only defeated by the Kingdom of Light. 
  • We have many things prepared for us and at our disposal, but faith is what will turn the key. 1 John 5:4. 
        • Jesus was never amazed at anything in this world except for someone’s faith. 
        • Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God. 
  • God says believe, while Satan says don’t believe. 
  • Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith is sure of the future though can’t see it. Faith gives assurance about future. 
  • Faith says look at the future, Satan says look at the now. 
  • We can be victorious today through faith. 
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Simplicity in Preaching Book Review by Jeff Bush

By JC Ryle 

  • Unless you are simple in your preaching, you cannot be understood, and if you cannot be understood, you are of no good to the listeners. 
  • No greater mistake can be made than supposing you can easily be understood. 
  • The majority of preachers preach over the head of their listeners. 
  • It is not easy to write a clear and straightforward sermon that can be easily understood. 
  • To write what is simple, striking. and easily understood is a rather hard thing. 
  • If you are going to attain simplicity in preaching, you must have a good understanding of your subject. 
  • Do not preach on an obscure passage that you do not know or understand. 
  • Be careful of spiritualizing and drawing out something that the Holy Spirit never put in the text. 
  • If you want to be simple, there must be order your sermon.
  • If you do not understand a passage or subject, you cannot make it simple; and if you do not make it simple, it will not be understood.
  • Use simple words. Simple words, are not words of one syllable rather words that are commonly used.
  • Use antidotes and illustrations. Look at the sermons of Jesus, He referred to the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, the sheep, the goats, etc.
  • The best speaker can turn the ear into an eye, causing people to imagine and see.
  • You will never preach with simplicity without a lot of hard work. Take time to prepare and develop your sermons.