Richard Baxter – PaulThompsonBlog

This coming Lord’s Day for the preacher (at least for this preacher) is an exciting moment. It is the one day of the year where the church house has the potential of being full to the brim. It is a day when everyone expects you to be on your “A Game” for preaching. (by “A Game” they mean funny, cool, and a short sermon) It is a day where everyone expects to hear of the resurrection of Christ. It is a day of potential new beginnings with people who may have become sluggish in their attendance or involvement. It is a day for preaching!

On the one hand, it is a day like none other. On the other hand, it is like every other Lord’s Day gathering. It is a day for preaching!

There has been a growing trend over the years for less preaching and more entertainment to take place on Resurrection Day. After all, there may be more unbelievers willing to attend a church service on this day and we don’t want to hit them with too much churchy preaching, so let’s give them a softer church experience. No preacher, it is a day for preaching!

I say to my fellow preaching preacher friends; Preach this weekend. Preach like a Richard Baxter of old when he said, “I preach as a dying man to dying men.”

Go home on Resurrection Day satisfied that you have preached. Don’t give the day over to softer things because it may win you the applause of men. Exhaust yourself of yourself and give them Jesus!

It is a day for preaching!

A man’s home is his castle… or so goes the saying. But is this a healthy way for a follower of Christ to think of his home? I’ve been reading biographical sketches of Richard Baxter this week and struck by his labor for the good of Kidderminster, the town he pastored. He regarded worship, biblical instruction, and discipline in the home as essential to the health of society.

This puts a work on the home as more a training ground for the children God places here.

The idea of a castle is more about luxury and easy. The idea of a church is more complex and intentional. Richard Baxter preached to his church to “keep up the government of God in your families; holy families must be the chief preservers of the interest of religion in the world. This puts an importance of raising a family at a whole other level. It is more as much a calling as any calling there is.

“Let your own example teach your children that holiness and heavenliness and blamelessness of tongue and life, which you desire them to learn and practice. The example of parents is most powerful with children, both for good and evil… they will sooner believe your bad lives than your good words.” Richard Baxter

Baxter treated the congregation like a family; a family of families. The good work of gathering a family with other believers was to never be missed except for extreme circumstances.

The good in society that many pine for of old is not found in a moral government; it’s a Christian home, behaving godly, that impacts society as they gather together with others aiming at the same thing, the favor of God.

Hey men, today would be a great day to gather your family together. Read, pray, give instruction and lead your family on a more difficult path than establishing your rule in your castle. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord while it is still called today and lead with courage, shepherd the flock before you. Then, let only the extreme circumstance keep you from gathering with the family of God this coming Lord’s Day.

Posts Tagged with Richard Baxter

An Appeal to Fellow Preachers: It Is A Day For Preaching

A Castle or Church

Follow PaulThompsonBlog