For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. - 2 Corinthians 4:5
The apostle describes in this verse the ministry of every true preacher; we preach Christ, not ourselves! We point you to Christ and not to us, our wisdom, or our organization. With that in mind, when can it be said of us that we are preaching ourselves and not Christ?
1. When we preach what we think instead of preaching what God says.
2. When we preach what men want to hear instead of what men ought to hear.
3. When we seek to please men by taking the offense out of the cross and glory in the flesh.
4. When we set ourselves up as spiritual authorities over the consciences of our hearers, judging their salvation by their relationship with us and our requirements.
5. When we try to impress men with our wisdom, knowledge, or piety.
6. When we become ambitious for personal recognition and begin to boast of numbers and converts, and attach our names to buildings, organizations, monuments, and movements.
7. When we fear public opinion and court the friendship and approval of carnal men at the expense of truth.
8. When we allow our hearers to entertain any hope of salvation except by the sovereign grace of God through the merits of Jesus Christ.
9. When we preach for any other reason than the glory of Jesus Christ and the eternal good of our hearers.
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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