Category Archives: Preaching

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 23, 2016

Posted under

Preaching, Reformed Theology

The Westminster Assembly on How to Preach

Here is as list from the Westminster Directory for Public Worship on how the minister is to preach the Word. There is a lot of wisdom in these few points. All bold is mine.

  1. Painfully, not doing the work of the Lord negligently.
  2. Plainly, that the meanest may understand; delivering the truth not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect; abstaining also from an unprofitable use of unknown tongues, strange phrases, and cadences of sounds and words; sparingly citing sentences of ecclesiastical or other human writers, ancient or modern, be they never so elegant.
  3. Faithfully, looking at the honor of Christ, the conversion, edification, and salvation of the people, not at his own gain or glory; keeping nothing back which may promote those holy ends, giving to every one his own portion, and bearing indifferent respect unto all, without neglecting the meanest, or sparing the greatest, in their sins.
  4. Wisely, framing all his doctrines, exhortations, and especially his reproofs, in such a manner as may be most likely to prevail; shewing all due respect to each man’s person and place, and not mixing his own passion or bitterness.
  5. Gravely, as becomes the word of God; shunning all such gesture, voice, and expressions, as may occasion the corruptions of men to despise him and his ministry.
  6. With loving affection, that the people may see all coming from his godly zeal, and hearty desire to do them good. And,
  7.  As taught of God, and persuaded in his own heart, that all that he teaches is the truth of Christ; and walking before his flock, as an example to them in it; earnestly, both in private and public, recommending his labors to the blessing of God, and watchfully looking to himself, and the flock whereof the Lord hath made him overseer: So shall the doctrine of truth be preserved uncorrupt, many souls converted and built up, and himself receive manifold comforts of his labors even in this life, and afterward the crown of glory laid up for him in the world to come.
Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 22, 2016

Posted under

Pastoral, Preaching, Reformed Theology

Comments

1 Comment

To Preach Well We Must Know the Flock

Pastors need to know the flock to preach effectively. Here is a comment from the Westminster Directory of Public Worship. Bold is mine. The pastor

Needs not always to prosecute every doctrine which lies in his text, so is he wisely to make choice of such uses as, by his residence and conversing with the flock, he finds most needful and seasonable; and among these, such as may draw their souls to Christ the fountain of light, holiness, and comfort.

A man who knows his sheep will be able to bring the Word of God to them each Lord’s Day in such a way as to rebuke their sins where they are falling, encourage perseverance where they are growing in holiness, comfort them in the midst of pain and difficulties, and most of all draw them to Christ.

I know it is not possible in every church for the pastor to know every member. But the pastor should be among the people enough to know them well enough to bring the Word to them effectively each Sunday. If he doesn’t know his sheep he might be preaching on Sundays, but he won’t be preaching to them.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 3, 2016

Posted under

Preaching

Ryle’s Five Points for Simple Preaching

Any preacher should go and read J.C. Ryle’s Simplicity in Preaching. I have become more convinced over the years for the need for simplicity from the pulpit. I have also become aware of how hard it is to attain simplicity. To be simple requires hard work. This little pamphlet by Ryle can be read in one sitting and bought for .99 on Kindle. Here are his five main points.

And now bear in mind that my five points are these:

First: If you want to attain simplicity in preaching, you must have a clear knowledge of what you are going to preach.

Secondly: If you would attain simplicity in preaching, you must use simple words.

Thirdly: If you would attain simplicity in preaching, you must seek to acquire a simple style of composition, with short sentences and as few colons and semi-colons as possible.

Fourthly: If you would attain simplicity in preaching, aim at directness.

Lastly: If you would attain simplicity in preaching, make abundant use of illustration and anecdote.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 2, 2016

Posted under

Preaching

Preach, Don’t Patronize

Let me observe, in the next place, that when I talk of simplicity in preaching, I would not have my readers suppose I mean childish preaching. If we suppose the poor like that sort of sermon, we are greatly mistaken. If our hearers once imagine we consider them a parcel of ignorant folks for whom any kind of ” infant’s food” is good enough, our chance of doing good is lost altogether.People do not like even the appearance of condescending preaching. They feel we are not treating them as equals, but inferiors. Human nature always dislikes that. They will at once put up their backs, stop their ears, and take offense, and then we might as well preach to the winds.

J.C. Ryle in Simplicity in Preaching

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 27, 2016

Posted under

Pastoral, Preaching, The Church

The Slow, Steady Work of Word & Prayer

Bible 1

We like fast. My sons love to look at fast cars. We demand fast internet and food. If there is not a response to an email in 24 hours we assume there is a problem. We quit our jobs because we did not get a raise quickly enough. Even our education has to be fast. “Get your degree in 18 months.” On and on this goes.

This mindset is detrimental to most of life. The best things are not gained quickly or easily. Customer service is often worse because it must be fast. One reason our education is so terrible is students and teachers expect quick gains in short time. Husbands leave wives and refuse to sire children because of the long term commitment. But above all this desire for quick results has been devastating to the church and her ministers.

One could argue that the church exists to glorify God by making disciples. But discipleship is not a week long summer intensive or a semester long course. It does not last one year or two years or ten years. It goes from the moment of faith in Christ or being brought into the church until the moment you breath your last. As Eugene Peterson says, “It is a long obedience in the same direction.”  Disciples are not made quickly. For most of us there are many miles left to run before we cross the finish line.

For American Christians this is hard.  We want great things, but we want them now. For ministers this mindset provides particular temptations. Our congregations demand quick results, which in church terms means more people, more money, more power, more influence…and now! Fix my wife, my children, my husband…and now! They expect to walk into worship and be overrun with emotion. Every sermon must be an explosion. Ministers are tempted to forget that we are not blowing things up. We are building, brick by brick.

In addition, ministers have slowly lost trust in the means of grace. We used to believe the Word, in public and house to house, and prayer, privately and corporately, formed the two indispensable and dominate parts of our work. Not any more. We are CEOs and administrators. We entertain or keep our social club together. We tickle ears, placate old ladies, and give in to arrogant men. The Word is tethered and prayer an afterthought.

Put these together, the desire for quick results and loss of faith in Scripture and prayer, and you get the evangelical church and her leaders: prone to lies, heresy and false teachers, Biblically illiterate, unable to defend basic Christian ethics on issues such as human sexuality, theologically anemic,  impotent in her witness, unable or unwilling to care for widows and orphans, in bondage to entertainment, and worldly in her approach to life. Many of us see this and know reformation is desperately needed. How can we change the tide?

The answer is plain, if not always welcome: Word and prayer.

Ministers, study the Word, study those who study the Word, preach it, teach it, and pray it. Lash yourself to it. Refuse to be distracted from it.  Strive to prove yourself an unashamed workman (II Timothy 2:15). Pray for your people, pray with your people, teach your people to pray, and teach them to worship. Believe that God shapes his people through his glorious Word and fervent prayer. Keep administrative duties to a minimum. Don’t apologize for being a man of  Word and prayer. It is what you are there for. Then die with a clean conscience.

Congregations, expect your minister to be a man of Word and prayer. Be grateful he sweats over the Bible. Give thanks when he quotes Scripture over coffee instead of talking about the weather. Listen carefully when the Word is preached and obey what you hear. Let him buy books. They are his shovel and saw. Pray for him and his family. Believe that prayer is one of the most important things he does. Don’t expect him to solve your problems or fix your life. Don’t expect him to be a therapist, entertainer, or CEO. Expect, indeed long for him to bring you the undiluted Word and to pray for and with you year after year.

If we commit ourselves to Word and prayer with all our strength, ability, and resources for decades God might be gracious and grant us reformation. If we refuse then all hope of reformation is lost.  This is the only way.