T. T. Martin (pastor, missionary, and writer of the last century) once said, "There aren't many great sermons preached today. Preachers are bound by too many other things to be great preachers. They give more advice than a lawyer, visit more sick than a doctor, attend more meetings than a club-woman, shake more hands than a politician, teach more people than a professor, and use the other part of their time as errand boys. They are organizers, promoters, executives, and toast-masters - anything but prophets speaking for God to eternity-bound sinners."
Preachers today are like the little boy, loaded down with books, who was asked, "Son, where are you going? .... I'm going to school." "What are you learning? .... NOTHING, I'm too busy going to school,"
I wonder if we are too busy going to church, attending meetings, and promoting religion to sit at the feet of our Lord and learn of Him. I wonder if we do not often meet together in the name of Christ and forget the guest of honor. Are we indoctrinating men or introducing them to Christ? The preacher spent all of his time talking about the well and no one got to drink of the water of life. It is possible to preach ABOUT the gospel and never really PREACH THE GOSPEL.
"I took a plunge in the crimson flood
That washes white as snow;
I took a drink at the fountain-head
And it satisfies I know,
I took a look at the cross of Christ
And my burdens rolled away;
And I'm laughing, singing praise the Lord!
For that happy, happy day!
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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