“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)
Remain Lovers
“Our challenge as preachers is to remain lovers, to refuse to let our calling, however important and exciting, obscure our primary calling to be captured ourselves by God’s love in Jesus Christ . . . You can only preach what you love” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 30)
The Ultimate Model
“And God is a preacher. He declares himself the loving Lord. He commanded creation into existence and upholds it all by his Word. His Word governs the planets, and he speaks to our consciences. In his book, the Bible, he shows us what he is like and how we should live. He preaches, in other …
Not Trivial
“Preaching, the declaring of God’s eternal Word to time-bound but eternal creatures, is serious work, and its triumphs and disasters echo into eternity” (Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism, p. 17).