The One Who Trembles to Hear Need Not Tremble in Declaring

“Indeed, I am persuaded that the more the preacher has ‘trembled’ at God’s Word himself (e.g. Ezra 9:4,10:3; Is. 66:2,5), and felt its authority upon his conscience and in his life, the more he will be able to preach it with authority to others . . . True preaching is never stale or dull or academic, but fresh and pungent with the living authority of God. But the Scripture comes alive to the congregation only if it has come alive to the preacher first” (John Stott, The Preacher’s Portrait, p. 30).