“St. Paul’s preaching was not with enticing words of wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power (1 Cor. 2:4). Plainness is ever best in beating down sin. When a wound festers, it is fitter to lance it than to embroider it with silk or lay vermilion upon it” (Thomas Watson, as quoted …
Untying Knots
“Some of the most important doctrines of the Bible are in general very imperfectly understood; those who receive them need clearer views of what they profess to believe, and those who object to them are often in fact objecting to something very different from the real doctrine” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 144).
No Other Custom
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) The Basket Case Chronicles #124 “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For …
Joram and Justice
Introduction In this chapter, we have a summary of David’s very public victories before we return to the narrative of David’s life from a closer vantage. We also see the establishment of the blessed height from which David fell through his sin with Bathsheba—how much he tried to throw away. The Text: “And after this …
Sermonic Crib Notes
“The books of ‘Sketches and Skeletons’ which are so often published and so widely bought, are an unmitigated evil, and a disgrace to the ministry of the gospel . . . There is no excuse for such books, and no minister should suffer one of them to remain in his library” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, …
A Servant Throne
Introduction When things are going our way, we want to build God a house. But God says no, let me build you a house. This is God’s way of doing things, and this is what justification by faith alone is all about. The Text: “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his …
Why Some Young Preachers Pose
“Thus it happens that aspiring young minds, setting out in pursuit of originality, are sometimes led to seek it in affectations of style, rather than in genuine, clear thinking” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 133).
Shaking Us Loose
“We have no right to take for granted that commentaries and theologians are correct in their opinions; and in fact theological discord and conflicts, with all their evils, have this advantage, that they compel the most trusting and the most slothful of us somewhat to feel the necessity of thinking for ourselves” (Broadus, Preparation and …
Churn, Church Splits, and the Cross of Christ
A preacher’s task is to declare the cross of Christ in such as way as that it deals with sin. The death of Jesus was the place where God brought the issue of sin to closure. The death of Jesus in a sermon is intended to be the place where that same closure is brought …
The Bucket or the Well
“If one merely scrapes together thoughts around a subject, so as to make a sermon, then every sermon consumes part of his material, and leaves him poorer. But if he habitually penetrates into a subject and masters it, every sermon leaves him richer” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, pp. 125-126).