An all-round ministry - Spurgeon - III - Chapter 2 commenced

Required reading
An all-round ministry by CH Spurgeon (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 2 (Forward) by reading points I and II.

My summary
Now Spurgeon urges ministers to always be moving forward and not looking back.

Firstly he encourages us to go forward in our mental acquirements.  We are to:
(i) make great efforts to acquire information, especially of a Biblical kind;
(ii) learn always to discriminate between things that differ;
(iii) seek the ability to retain and hold firmly what you have learned.

Secondly Spurgeon tells us we need to go forward in oratorical qualifications.  You should cultivate a style that is:
(i) clear;
(ii) cogent;
(iii) natural and living;
(iv) persuasive;
(v) that suits your audiences.

What grabbed me
I was greatly encouraged by one of Spurgeon's comments on preaching: 'It is not every one of us who can speak as some can do, and even these men cannot speak up to their own ideal. If there be any brother here who thinks he can preach as well as he should, I would advise him to leave off altogether. If he did so, he would be acting as wisely as the great painter who broke his palette, and, turning to his wife, said, "My painting days are over, for I have satisfied myself, and therefore I am sure my power is gone." Whatever other perfection may be attainable, I am certain that he who thinks he has gained perfection in oratory mistakes volubility for eloquence, and verbiage for argument.'

I'm never happy with my sermons - there is always something I should have said, shouldn't have said or should have said better. 

So it is good to know that the day I think I have preached the best I am able, Spurgeon says that is the day I should stop!

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 2 (Forward) by reading points III to VI.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.