“When I asked John Stott, long years ago, if he used commentaries much in preparation, he said, ‘Not really. I find they only confuse me.’ Well, yes, there are people like that, and also there are commentaries like that” (Motyer, Preaching?, p. 39).
Wish This Went Without Saying
“Preachers should continue through life the rapid but attentive reading of the whole Bible, that its facts and sayings may be kept fresh in their minds, and readily present themselves for use” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 228).
Working on a Building II
Introduction A basic truism of modern design is that form follows function. This is self-evidently true, but the reason modern men have found themselves living, working, and worshiping in overgrown shoeboxes is that we have allowed ourselves to drift into a truncated and reductionist view of what our actual function as human beings truly is. …
Because Copying Is Not Personal
“Preaching is a very personal and individual exercise. We can learn from each other, but must not copy each other” (Motyer, Preaching?, p. 30).
If You Are Going to Err . . .
“A sermon had better have too much salt in it than too little” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 227).
Which Is No Fun
“We have all listened to preachers who, we felt, were more interested in blacking eyes than in comforting hearts and tenderly directing lives” (Motyer, Preaching?, p. 25).
Another Sourcebook
“The Pilgrim’s Progress with its strong sense and homely simplicity, its poetic charm and devotional sweetness, is so rich in the choicest illustration that every preacher ought to make himself thoroughly familiar with it, and to refresh his knowledge again and again through life” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, pp. 225-226).
Go Thou and Do Likewise
“Of the thirty-seven or so references [in Acts], six associate growth with the quality of church life and of Christian character, seven link growth with the evidence of ‘signs and wonders’, and twenty-four link growth with the preaching of the Word of God — indeed in 12:24 the growth of the Church is actually called …
Working on a Building I
Introduction As you know, our desire is to build a sanctuary that is more conducive to worship than the temporary quarters that God has graciously given us up to this point. Because we want every aspect of our lives to be governed by Scripture, this means that we must turn to Scripture for guidance and …
And to Breathe
“Preaching is a speaker-hearer relationship, and the preacher has to learn to give the hearer space to listen” (Motyer, Preaching? p. 11).