“The preacher who craves affirmation is an immature man who needs to go deeper into the gospel of unconditional acceptance”
Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 139
And Don’t Underestimate Odd Temptations
“Never go to the pulpit for your kicks” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 129).
As Uncomfortable As That May Be
“Preachers of Jesus must be like Jesus. No one will listen to a man to learn Christ if they cannot look at him and see Christ” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 109).
Oscillating Attitudes
“Most of us who preach lurch between pride and despair, often in the same day” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 96).
Trouble the Hunter
“A few years later, I would learn that to become a preacher was to enter a company of men who seemed to attract trouble without looking for it” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 84)
Faith is Ravenous
“Faith is a hungry business, and true faith must be continually fed” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 67).
From the Pulpit
It’s no good being convinced that the Lord wants you in the pulpit if you’re not really sure about his involvement in the world beyond your allotted few square feet of activity each Sunday. Jesus rules from the pulpit, and he also reigns over doing the dishes, health scares, financial markets, and struggling marriages” (Allen, …
Hissing Hot
The Puritan John Flavel, tireless (and fearless) servant of Jesus Christ, insisted that the only preaching which would do him good must be ‘hissing hot’” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 44).
One Task
“Preachers have a single calling, to express who and what God is” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 35).
Cheerful Clear Through
“God loves a cheerful preacher . . . The reason is that joy, like nothing else, shows whether we really believe the gospel. Joy is gospel authenticity” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, pp. 31-32)