This blog is designed to help pastors preach with greater accuracy by connecting Christ-centered hermeneutics to homiletics. Preaching portions have ways of displaying theology which, in turn, create relevant messages for the Church. Those interested in Christ-centered preaching will observe numerous ways in which the Gospel fleshes out the interpretation and application of Scripture.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Expecting God To Do Great Things
I've just completed Lloyd-Jones' excellent book, Preaching & Preachers (40 anniversary edition). His final chapter is all about the need for preachers to be endowed with special power from the Spirit. What great exhortation! L-J asks, "Do you always look for and seek this unction, this anointing before preaching? Has this been your greatest concern? There is no more thorough and revealing test to apply to a preacher" (p. 322). I was a bit embarrassed to think that often my greatest concern is not whether I have the Spirit's unction, but whether I have "got it right," "it" being the sermon and the truth of Scripture. L-J challenged me again to keep highlight both, not one or the other. I don't want to preach the truth by myself (without the Spirit's power). I don't want to preach something that's biblical, but not biblical enough, with the Spirit's power (if that is even possible?!). God help us be both Spirit-empowered and accurate in our preaching. Then, we can expect God to do miracles in all our lives. L-J encourages us preachers: "But go beyond seeking Him; expect Him. Do you expect anything to happen when you get up to preach in a pulpit....Are you expecting it to be the turning point in someone's life?" (p. 340).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment