========================================================================
  (AUDIO BOOK) DESPISE NOT PROPHESYING
  by J.C. Ryle
========================================================================

Summary: This sermon emphasizes the importance and honor of the
preaching ministry, showcasing how Jesus Himself dedicated His earthly
ministry to preaching the gospel. It challenges listeners to recognize
the power and impact of preaching in spreading the message of salvation
and transforming lives, urging them not to underestimate the
significance of proclaiming God's Word.

Topics: "Importance of Preaching", "Power of the Gospel"
Scripture References: Mark 1:35, 1 Corinthians 1:21, Romans 10:14, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:24

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This sermon emphasizes the importance and honor of the preaching
ministry, showcasing how Jesus Himself dedicated His earthly ministry to
preaching the gospel. It challenges listeners to recognize the power and
impact of preaching in spreading the message of salvation and
transforming lives, urging them not to underestimate the significance of
proclaiming God's Word.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, he went
out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed. Simon and
those who were with him searched for him. When they found him, they said
to him, Everyone is looking for you.

But he said to them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach
there also, because for this purpose I have come forth. And he was
preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out
demons. Mark 1 verses 35 to 39 We ought to observe here what infinite
honor the Lord Jesus puts on the office of the preacher.

It is an office which the eternal Son of God himself undertook. He might
have spent his earthly ministry in instituting and keeping up
ceremonies, like Aaron. He might have ruled and reigned as a king, like
David.

But he chose a different calling. Until the time when he died as a
sacrifice for our sins, his daily, and almost hourly work was to preach.
There are many now who sneer at missionaries, and mock at those who go
out into the highways of our own land to preach to crowds in the open
air.

But such persons would do well to pause and consider calmly what they
are doing, the very work which they ridicule is the work which turned
the world upside down, and cast heathenism to the ground. Above all, it
is the very work which Christ himself undertook. The King of Kings and
Lord of Lords himself was once a preacher.

For three long years he went to and fro proclaiming the gospel.
Sometimes we see him in a house, sometimes on the mountainside,
sometimes in a Jewish synagogue, sometimes in a boat on the sea. But the
great work he took up was always one and the same.

He came always preaching and teaching, let us leave this passage with a
solemn resolution never to despise prophesying. The minister we hear may
not be highly gifted. The sermons that we listen to may be weak and
poor.

But after all, preaching is God's grand ordinance for converting and
saving souls. The faithful preacher of the gospel is handling the very
weapon which the Son of God was not ashamed to employ.

========================================================================
Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/EzwpYH5jNMg.mp4
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/jc-ryle/audio-book-despise-not-prophesying/
========================================================================