Preaching is speaking the words of God in order to extend the reign of God in people’s hearts, affections and wills. So that they yearn with David “as the dear pants for streams of water so my heart longs for you.”
Read moreActs 13 - Formative or Normative?
If God worked in particular ways to establish churches and the worldwide missionary endeavour, would it be so very strange if he continues to do so? Is it not better to say that what was formative for missions and church-planting should generally be normative for missions and church-planting? If we don't see it in our situations today, it is our situation and experience that needs to be aligned to the New Testament pattern, not the other way round.
Read moreConfidence in Christ
As Gordon so wonderfully points out, moral living is a by-product. Not a by-product of moralism preaching, but of knowing Christ. We are sanctified by grace. Its all of Jesus. If we don't get this it is so easy to assume that moral behaviour = faith, rather than moral behaviour flows from faith. Trying to get the outward conformity to moral principle without the inward transformation of the heart by grace is a hopelessly doomed exercise. Our hearts are hard-wired in exactly the opposite direction.
Read morePreaching: Anguish, Pain and Engagement
Brilliant quote from Colin Morris, quoted in Jonathan Lamb's super book "Integrity":
It is not from a pulpit but a cross that power-filled words are spoken. Sermons need to be seen as well as heard to be effectual. Eloquence, homiletical skills, biblical knowledge are not enough. Anguish, pain, engagement, sweat and blood punctuate the stated truths to which men will listen.
Enough said.
Read moreWords, words, words
Work at your words. They matter. If Napoleon thought his words important enough to get men to throw their lives away, shouldn't ours be an order of magnitude more weighty and wonderful?
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