Murder All His Hearers at Once!
Thomas Brooks warns of the dangers of unholy ministers and the importance of setting a godly example for believers.
Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of unholy ministers, emphasizing that their sinful lives can lead their congregations down a path of destruction. He argues that an unholy preacher not only undermines their own doctrine but also serves as a poor example, causing their hearers to stray from holiness. Brooks stresses that the moral integrity of a minister is crucial, as people are more influenced by their actions than their words. He concludes that the unholy lives of ministers can significantly hinder the pursuit of holiness among their followers.
Text
"The leaders of the people have led them down the
path of destruction." Isaiah 9:16
Take heed of settling yourselves under an unholy minister
--of one whose life gives the lie to his doctrine. An unholy
preacher is the greatest destroyer of the souls of men! He
who preaches well--but lives bad--does what he can, to
murder all his hearers at once! There is no greater
bar to holiness, than ministers' unholy lives. An unholy
life mars the soundest and the sweetest doctrine. The
sins of teachers are the teachers of sins!
An unholy minister is the greatest pest, the worst
plague, and the greatest mischief--that can be to
a people; for his enormities, his wickednesses, will
have the strongest influences upon the souls and
lives of men--to make them eternally miserable.
His falls will be the fall and ruin of many; for
people are prone to . . .
live more by examples--than by precepts;
mind more what the minister does--than what he says;
eye more how he walks--than how he talks.
Let a minister be ever so learned, solid, quaint, elegant,
zealous, judicious, sententious, etc.--yet if he is carnal,
covetous, worldly, vain, and loose in his life and walk,
his hearers will rather slight and abhor the holy things
of God.
When the preacher departs out of the way of holiness,
the people will quickly wander from all that is good. He
whose life is not a standing reproof to sin, will, by his
life, encourage sinners more and more in a way of sin.
There is nothing which keeps men so off from the love
of holiness, and from the pursuing after holiness--than
the unholy lives of their ministers.
"Watch your life and doctrine closely." 1 Timothy 4:16
"Set an example for the believers in speech, in life,
in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
"In everything set them an example by doing what
is good." Titus 2:7
Sermon Outline
- I. The Dangers of Unholy Ministers
- A. They lead people down the path of destruction
- B. Their lives give the lie to their doctrine
- C. They can murder all their hearers at once
- II. The Influence of Unholy Lives
- A. They mars the soundest and sweetest doctrine
- B. The sins of teachers are the teachers of sins
- III. The Consequences of Unholy Ministers
- A. They are the greatest pest, plague, and mischief
- B. Their falls will be the fall and ruin of many
- IV. The Importance of Setting an Example
- A. Ministers should watch their life and doctrine closely
- B. They should set an example for believers in speech, life, love, faith, and purity
Key Quotes
“An unholy preacher is the greatest destroyer of the souls of men!” — Thomas Brooks
“There is no greater bar to holiness, than ministers' unholy lives.” — Thomas Brooks
“The sins of teachers are the teachers of sins!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Be cautious of settling under a minister whose life does not match their doctrine.
- Remember that the sins of teachers can be the teachers of sins.
- Set an example for others by living a life of holiness and purity.