“One of the chief benefits of historical preaching is derived from the analysis of character and motive” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 108).
A True Template
“Thus the Bible histories act like the problems worked out in a treatise of Algebra, teaching us how to approach the other problem presented by the general history of the world” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 106).
The Right Kind of Temperance
“The preacher should by all means avoid ultraism . . . Not everything should be avoided which is often grossly abused . . . The world is full of great and dreadful evils, which may well excite both grief and indignation, and which call loudly for correction; but one evil is not to be cured …
Doing Them Earthly Good
“Preachers do men the most good as to this world in proportion as they bring them to care most for the world to come” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 101).
And Which Should Be Stated in the Pulpit
“That truly pious men shall carry their religion into politics, shall keep religious principle uppermost in all political questions which have a moral character, is an unquestionable and solemn duty” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 100).
Cart and Horse
“A preacher of the gospel has certainly no business preaching morality apart from the gospel . . . He must first call men, as an ambassador for Christ, to be reconciled to God, must insist upon the indispensible need of regeneration through the Holy Spirit. Then, speaking to those who are looked upon as regenerate, …
Don’t Start What You Can’t Finish
[Speaking of certain errors] “Slight and hasty refutation is often worse than none” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 97)
Work On What Needs It
“A preacher should never go out of his way to find controversial matter, not go out of his way to avoid it. He who continually shrinks from conflict should stir himself up to faithfulness; he who is by nature belligerent, should cultivate forbearance and courtesy” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 96).
Imitating the Wrong Thing
“Young ministers often help to make doctrinal subjects unpopular, by the fact that their sermons too closely resemble the treatises they have been studying, or the lectures they have heard” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 91).
Focus
“Take it as a general rule, the more you narrow the subject, the more thoughts you will have” (Alexander, as quoted in Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 90).