Introduction Today is Ascension Sunday, the time when we remember the ascension of the Lord Jesus into the heavenly realms, where He was ushered on the clouds of heaven into the presence of the Ancient of Days, where He was given universal power, authority, and dominion. From that place, He rules on earth, but also …
The Preacher’s Tachometer
“If a man has not force of character, a passionate soul, he will never be really eloquent” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 358).
Ascension Gifts
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, and now ascended to the right hand of God the Father, at whose right hand is a torrent of everlasting pleasure. Greetings in the grace and peace that come from the Father, and also from His Son, our Lord, the Lord Jesus …
A Preacher’s Task
“It is not enough for a speaker to say what the hearer may understand if he attends; the point is to arouse him, to put life into him, to make attention easy and pleasant, and inattention difficult” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 357).
Never in Shadow
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) The Basket Case Chronicles #154 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and …
Inscrutable Justice and Mercy
Introduction This passage concludes the narrative of the book of Samuel, and it does so with a story that sounds odd to modern ears—for various reasons. Some of those reasons have to do with the coming of the gospel, and some of them have to do with us drifting away from a biblical understanding of …
Mental Markers
“In . . . extemporaneous speaking, it is practically better, though amounting to the same thing, to fix the mind on points, rather than on paragraphs” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 351).
A True Sun King
Introduction In this passage, we have the last formal pronouncement that the great David gave. This message from David spoke of the blessing that comes from a godly ruler. Louis XIV was the Sun King of France, and his idea of it was absolute monarchy. David, by way of contrast, spoke of a sun king …
And Be Translating All the Time
“Whether the preacher be what is called a linguist or not, he ought to know at least two languages, the language of books and the language of common life” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 343).
The Plain Truth About It
“There is prodigious power in this plainness of presentation. It is the power of actual contact. A plain writer, or speaker, makes the truth and the mind impinge on each other. When the style is plain, the mind of the hearer experiences the sensation of being touched; and this sensation is always impressive, for a …