Christian Preaching
This is a compilation of my previous posts on preaching. If you would like to download the printable PDF, here it is.
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Preaching (7)
Preach with Clarity
God himself has condescended tremendously to help us understand his will. Therefore, preachers have no right to dwell in theological obscurity in their pulpits, but are called to preach with clarity. If it is important that the Gospel be understood by all who hear, then preaching should be not only in the common language, but also concise, uncluttered, logical, and memorable. Preachers do well to improve upon these basics of clear communication as they seek to imitate the Fountainhead of all communication, the Word of God incarnate.
Preaching (6)
Preach with Unction
"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." The anointing of the Spirit is necessary for true boldness in preaching. Apart from the Spirit's empowerment, a preacher might muster some fervor, but he will lack authority, and might not even possess the courage to maintain God's truth before sinners. The right proclamation of the Word requires holy unction, which comes by the grace of God through prayer.
Preaching (5)
Preach Christ from All the Scriptures
The person and work of Jesus Christ is the substance of the Gospel. The beginning, middle, and end of the Christian life must be informed by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus—all the Scriptures are helpful for this. Jesus himself made it very clear that he is the main subject of all the Scriptures. Paul set the tone for our preaching by saying, "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Friends, a sermon is not Christian unless it is Christocentric.
Preaching (4)
Preach the Gospel
In order to inspire faith, preaching must convey the Gospel. The Good News is that God is for us in Jesus Christ. Helping the hearer understand this goes well beyond a "simple" evangelistic message. The grace of God addresses us at every point in our lives: it establishes and strengthens our faith (and, therefore, obedience). Certainly, preach the Law as well—bad news often precedes the Good News. But the majestic goodness of God, displayed in the Gospel, must characterize our preaching week in and week out. This wins our faith.
Preaching (3)
Preach against Unbelief
In order to transform people, preaching aims to increase their faith. The desired progression is from sin to holiness (sanctification), which requires faith. A person will only be changed through truly believing the Word of God. Whether Christian or not, all of us have the same problem: we do not believe the Word of God enough to let it shape our lives in every way. Therefore the preacher must target the unbelief in the hearer, and proclaim the Word as beacon that draws forth true faith from those in whom the Spirit works.
Preaching (2)
Preach to Transform
In order to glorify God, preaching aims at complete redemption and renewal. The goal is to make the hearer better able to engage reality (God, self, others, world, culture, etc.) from a Biblical perspective. Every facet of every life is fair game—if a person thinks, feels, speaks or acts at all, then those ways of participating in God's world ought to be made to serve God's glory. Sometimes the transformation is dramatic, as when a person is convicted and converted. Sometimes the change is externally imperceptible, as when a person is reassured once again of God's love. Always it should be so that the person loves God with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength better than he did when he first sat in the pew.
Preaching (1)
Preach to Glorify God
The ultimate goal of Christian preaching—as with all other things—is the glory of the Triune God. When the minister proclaims God's true and beautiful Word, he honors the Persons, attributes, and works of God. But the glory really radiates when the Spirit uses his Word to change lives. If someone is convicted, saved, comforted, inspired, redeemed by the preached Word, God was at work, showing himself to be good, sovereign, gracious, and altogether glorious.
A day in the life of George Whitefield
This extract is taken from pages 226-227 of George Whitefield's Journals
Sunday, March 4, 1739 - Age 24
Rose much refreshed in spirit and gave my early attendants a warm exhortation as usual. Went to Newgate and preached with power to an exceedingly thronged congregation. Then hastened to Hanham Mount, three miles from the city, where the miners live altogether. God favoured us in the weather. Over four thousand were ready to hear me and God enabled me to preach with the demonstration of the Spirit.
The ground not being high enough, I stood upon a table and the sight of the people covering the green fields, and their deep attention, please me much. I hope that same Lord, who fed so many thousands with bodily bread, will feed all their souls with the Bread which cometh down from Heaven, for many came from far.
At four in the afternoon, I went to the mount on Rose Green and preached to over fourteen thousand souls. God was so good to allow all to be able to hear me. I think it was worth while to come many miles to see such a sight. I spoke with great freedom, but thought all the while, as I do continually, when I ascend the mount, that hereafter I shall suffer, as well as speak, for my Master's sake. Lord, strengthen me for that hour. Lord, I believe (O help my unbelief!) that Thy grace will be more sufficient for me.
In the evening I expounded at Baldwin Street Society, but could not get up to the room without the utmost difficulty, as the entry and court were much filled with people. Blessed be God, the number of hearers much increases and as my day is, so is my strength. Tonight I returned home much more refreshed in joy and longed to be dissolved and to be with Jesus Christ. This has been a sabbath indeed to my soul!
Two Lectures on Monergistic Regeneration (MP3s)
Last week we held our Reformation Society of Oregon meeting and Dr. Art Azurdia III gave two expositions/lectures on the subject monergistic regeneration. We have posted the MP3s for free download. IMHO, they are superb biblical exegesis and I highly recommend them for your personal edification.
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Monergistic Regeneration - Part I by Dr. Art Azurdia III
Monergistic Regeneration - Part II by Dr. Art Azurdia III
Spirit Empowered Preaching
“When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power."
In order to get this book into the hands of as many preachers as possible we are reducing Arturo Azurdia's Spirit Empowered Preaching to the lowest price ever - a 40% discount. The supplies at this price are limited so get them while you can. We cannot recommend this book too highly - In our estimation this book lives up to its' hype.
Some of the questions this book answers
• What is the overarching storyline of the Bible?
• What is the Holy Spirit’s new covenant ministry in relationship to Jesus Christ?
• How are we to understand the nature of the Holy Spirit’s relationship to the Scriptures?
• What kind of preaching is the Holy Spirit most inclined to empower?
• Is the ministry of the Holy Spirit confined to preparation for preaching or is it something that occurs during the actual preaching event?
• What is the responsibility of the preacher in Spirit empowered preaching? What is the responsibility of the congregation?
Essays on the New Birth
The New Birth (.pdf) Essays by William Plumer, Octavius Winslow, Arthur W. Pink, John Gill, James Buchanan, J. C. Ryle, John Owen, Charles H. Spurgeon -- These are very helpful essays from the Free Grace Broadcaster's Winter 2007 edition. Very edifying and crucial to understand if one is to have a well-rounded ministry. John Owen said, "THE work of the Spirit of God in regenerating the souls of men is diligently to be inquired into by the preachers of the Gospel and all to whom the Word is dispensed. For the former sort, there is a peculiar reason for their attendance unto this duty, for they are used and employed in the work itself by the Spirit of God and are by Him made instrumental for the effecting of this new birth and life...Now, certainly it is the duty of ministers to understand the work about which they are employed, as far as they are able, that they may not work in the dark and fight uncertainly, as men beating the air. What the Scripture hath revealed concerning it, as to its nature and the manner of its operation, as to its causes, effects, fruits, evidences, they ought diligently to inquire into. To be spiritually skilled therein is one of the principal furnishments of any for the work of the ministry, without which they will never be able to divide the Word aright, nor show themselves workmen that need not be ashamed." We agree with Owen and believe that if you are not going to a church that preaches the kind of Christ-honoring principles in the following essays, then we are only getting a partial gospel at best. Set aside some time to read and linger over these Bible-saturated essays.
Spurgeon On The Goal of Preaching
By Jonathan Watson - General Editor of the Banner of Truth
For C. H. Spurgeon it was an axiom that God sends preachers into the world so that sinners may be reconciled to him. Admittedly, there may be some notable exceptions to this rule (e.g. Noah and Jeremiah), but for the most part, God has ordained the preaching of the gospel for the purpose of saving the hearers.
When King Agrippa asked the Apostle Paul, ‘In a short time would you persuade me to become a Christian?’, Paul’s reply gave vent to the spirit in which the true evangelist must always preach the gospel: ‘Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am – except for these chains.’ The Apostle’s clear aim in bearing witness to Christ before kings and their subjects was the conversion of all who were present with him.
Do you preach with the same clear aim? What exactly is your intention? What would you have God do? The conversion of one or two, a mere handful, perhaps, of your hearers? Or do you climb the pulpit steps praying, ‘would to God that every single one of my hearers may be converted through the means of this sermon’?
C. H. Spurgeon was truly apostolic in this respect, as in many others. He considered this such an important element in true preaching that he devoted one whole lecture to it during his Friday afternoon visits to The Pastors’ College, of which he was the President.
Musings on the Difficulties of Preaching
Don't criticize your preacher too much. He has a hard job.
Preaching is very personal. The preacher is vulnerable within the Community of God. He is weekly under the microscope, scrutinized by God and his people. You probably have no idea what that does to the dynamics of his personal and family life.
The preacher must call to attention that very thing which threatens the core of his own autonomy as a sinful creature—it's sort of like diving on a grenade to save your friends. Except that it's really by throwing yourself on the Gospel Grenade that you're saved, so the preacher's really chucking them out there into the crowd—and not everyone is going to appreciate that way of salvation, that's for sure.
The preacher can be tempted to preach for personal gain (i.e., flattering compliments or money). Or, conversely, the preacher can be tempted to coldly disregard any input received from the hearers—constructive or otherwise—in the name of "telling it like it is, whether they like it or not." In my estimation, it's nigh impossible to actually preach from selfless love, and to be sensitive to the true needs of the hearers (which they might like to communicate frequently through criticism).
Remember that next time you talk to your preacher after the Sunday sermon.
Deflating the Puffed Up Church
Today I took the advice of Steve Camp that he gave at his web site and listened to a sermon by C. J. Mahaney. I am so glad I did. This is what Steve wrote:
"C.J. Mahaney "Deflating the Puffed Up Church" (Text - 1 Cor. 4:8-13) - This is one of the best messages I have heard in some time bar none. I was brought to conviction with almost every phrase and yet at the same time, encouraged to live more wholly for the Lord and His glory. It is a powerful call to humility in ministry, holiness of life and Christlikeness in all things. C.J. delivers with his usual infectious passion; but it is not needless emotion from a well-experienced orator. It is great theology erupting from the overflow of the heart surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. This is a man who trembles at God's Word when he preaches."
I would wholeheartedly echo Steve's exhortation to listen to this sermon. I have to say that it had a very deep and profund effect upon me. You'll find it at the following web address: http://www.chbcaudio.org/audio/2007/03-25-07.mp3
May God use this powerful sermon as a means of grace to work true humility in all of our lives. - John Samson
The Ministry of Preaching
Preaching takes great courage... If you are called to preach, know this ahead of time, and as an ambassador of Christ, proclaim His word as one of the King's heralds.
I have gained much from Bryan Chapell's book, "Christ Centered Preaching." There he points out, amongst many other things that in 2 Tim. 4:1, 2, the word "preach" is the word for “herald” or “announce” or “proclaim.” It is not a simple word for teaching or explaining. It is what a town crier did when he cried out: "Hear ye, Hear ye, Hear ye!!" It was a message that demanded attention. As the King's herald we are to proclaim, "The King has a proclamation of good news for all those who swear allegiance to his throne. Be it known to you that he will give eternal life to all who trust and love his Son." That is exactly the kind of message we are called to preach.
Preaching is a public exultation. It is not disinterested or cool or neutral. It is passionate about what it says. Yet this heralding contains teaching. We can see this clearly as we look back to 2 Timothy 3:16, where we are told that the Scripture (which gives rise to preaching) is profitable for "teaching." We can see it also as we look ahead to the rest of 2 Timothy 4:2, where it says, "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." So preaching is expository. True preaching is not the opinions of a mere man. It is the faithful exposition of God's Word.
Luke 24:27 - And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
John 5:39, 40 - You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life.
It is possible to have a high view of the Bible’s authority and miss the entire point of the Bible. Scripture is not telling us what we must do to complete ourselves or make ourselves acceptable to God. The Bible is not a Self Help Book. All the Scriptures are about one organic message – Christ Himself.
If people are simply told that something they DO will fix their problem – that’s not just SUB-Christian but ANTI-Christian. The Gospel is not “DO BETTER!” To proclaim the “Thou shalt nots” without the Source that enables their accomplishment, or His atoning work for us when we fail, is to HIJACK the biblical message.
Help for Preachers!
What a high calling it is to be a preacher - a herald of the King!
One of the laws operating in our world is that things left to themselves do not have a tendency to get better, but rather decay. This is true for the preacher and his preaching. We should therefore always be seeking to improve our preaching, knowing that if we are not doing so, the tendency is for things to go in the other direction. I have often recommended that ministers read at least one good book about preaching each year. It is something I have sought to do myself, knowing my very real need to improve my sermon preparation and delivery. My favorite book on preaching is Bryan Chapel's "Christ Centered Preaching." It is a treasure in my personal library - full of both sound, biblical instruction and practical, helpful material. If you have never read a book on preaching, this is the one I would recommend. If you have read others, then I would also say, "read this one too." In fact, I would say, "read and re-read it," and of course, seek to apply its truths.
On this theme of preaching, I now also find that there is an excellent series of recent posts by Pastor Steve Weaver's at his blog site that I would very highly recommend. Steve is a humble man of God, and has allowed us to take something of an inside look at how he goes about the holy task of preparing and delivering a sermon. I found that many of my own thoughts were confirmed, but also, was very pleased to find some very good recommendations that, God willing, I will seek to employ in the days ahead. Thank you so much Steve! I trust all preachers will find this series to be a blessing. The series is entitled, "How I Preach An Expository Sermon" and can be found here . - Pastor John Samson
The Devastating Consequences of a Watered-Down Message by John MacArthur
Those who are familiar with my ministry know that I am committed to expository preaching. It is my unshakable conviction that the proclamation of God’s Word should always be the heart and the focus of the church’s ministry (2 Tim. 4:2). And proper biblical preaching should be systematic, expositional, theological, and God-centered.
Such preaching is in short supply these days. There are plenty of gifted communicators in the modern evangelical movement, but today’s sermons tend to be short, shallow, topical homilies that massage people’s egos and focus on fairly insipid subjects like human relationships, "successful" living, emotional issues, and other practical but worldly—and not definitively biblical—themes. Like the ubiquitous Plexiglas lecterns from which these messages are delivered, such preaching is lightweight and without substance, cheap and synthetic, leaving little more than an ephemeral impression on the minds of the hearers. More here.
Jeremiah Burroughs on Preaching
"It may be a use of a great deal of encouragement to all the ministers of God to preach to people. It may be that sometimes even they are discouraged, and think to themselves, "Lord, how hard are the hearts of men, and how difficult it is to work upon the hearts of men! I have labored with all my might. I have studied and sought to invent all the arguments I possibly could, the most moving arguments that I could possibly imagine. When I have been in my study, I have thought to myself, 'Surely if the Lord is pleased to bless these truths that I am to deliver, they will work upon the hearts of people.'" And when it comes to the preaching of that sermon, perhaps the minister finds that they are not at all stirred one whit. "Why, Lord, what shall I do then? I cannot think ever to speak things that are more powerful than those that I have spoken, and those have done no good. Therefore I am afraid I shall never do good."
"Oh, no, do not say so and do not think so. The Lord is pleased sometimes to show us our vanity this way, and to rebuke us. Many times the Lord will not go along with the ministry of the Word when it comes with the greatest power and the strongest arguments and, yet, at another time, the Lord will be pleased to bless a word that you only speak in passing. It may do more than all the others. There is scarcely any one faithful minister in the world who observes the work of God upon his ministry who does not find this to be true. Yet this is no argument why a minister should not labor with all his might and come with the strongest arguments. He is bound to do his duty. Aye, be not discouraged. He may afterwards prevail, and God, I say, may bless many things that come from him. And therefore, I would exhort those who are to speak to such an audience with the words of Ecclesiastes 11:6: "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be a like good."
"Therefore, let ministers go on and sow their seed and preach still. That which they have spoken (perhaps they have been delivering arguments that they thought would have moved the heart of a devil) has been opening the miserable condition of men and opening the riches of Jesus Christ. Well, there must be no discouragement; go on and sow your seed in the morning, and in the evening withhold not your hand. Go on and preach again and again, and let the Word of God be presented before the hearts of the people. Though it has not wrought at one time, yet it may work at another time. Yea, though you should grow weaker and weaker, yet for all that the Lord may do good to you, even when you are at your weakest. In 2 Timothy 2:25 the apostle says to Timothy, "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God, peradventure will give them repentance." Peradventure this day a truth may be handed from God to a soul - peradventure this text, peradventure that text, and so the soul may be brought in."
from Jeremiah Burrough's "Gospel Fear" (pages 80,81)
Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire
[The following is a summary of an address given by Iain H. Murray at the Carey Conference 2001 at Swanwick, U.K.]
During the Second World War a Scot who was in the services and visiting London went to Westminster Chapel but the Chapel was closed, damaged by bombing, but on a piece of paper visitors were directed to a nearby hall. He described a 'thin man' wearing a tie calling the people to worship. He thought the man was a church officer, and he appreciated his prayer, but then the man began to preach, beginning quietly enough. "This must be Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones," he thought. But for the next 40 minutes he was unconscious of anything else in the world, hearing only this man's words. He had been caught up in the mystery of preaching. That man later became a well known Church of Scotland minister called Tom Allen.
When he left that service Tom Allen was taken up with the message, not the preacher. DMLJ would have thought little of conferences addresses like this one about himself. He thought messages about contemporary men had done great injury especially during the Victorian period. With man-centredness being the terrible bane of today's church there is a danger in drawing attention to personalities. DMLJ would quote the words of God, "My servant Moses is dead so arise and go over Jordan." DMLJ prevented several would-be biographers writing anything, and reluctantly consented to Iain Murray's official biography if only something could be written which would encourage those who were entering the gospel ministry.
DMLJ believed that God was the God of tomorrow who would raise up servants who would enjoy blessings that he himself had not known. Frequently when he prayed it was particularly for a recovery of authority and power in preaching.
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We Are Not Peddlers of God's Word
"Pelagianism is the natural heresy of zealous Christians who are not interested in theology." - J.I. Packer, "'Keswick' and the Reformed Doctrine of Sanctification."
Churches which preserve their cognitive identity and distinction from the culture will flourish: those who lose them in the interests of seeking success will disappear.
In our churches we may have made a deal with postmodern consumers but the hard reality is that Christianity cannot be bought. Purchase, in the world of consumption, leads to ownership but in the Church this cannot happen. It is never God who is owned. It is we who are owned in Christ. Christianity is not up for sale. Its price has already been fixed and that price is the complete and ongoing surrender to Christ of those who embrace him by faith. It can only be had on his own terms. It can only be had as a whole. It refuses to offer only selections of its teachings. Furthermore, the Church is not its retailing outlet. Its preachers are not its peddlers and those who are Christian are not its consumers. It cannot legitimately be had as a bargain though the marketplace is full of bargainhunters.
For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's Word..." II Cor 2:17
No, let us think instead of the Church as its voice of proclamation, not its sales agent, its practitioner, not its marketing firm. And in that proclamation there is inevitable cultural confrontation. More precisely, there is the confrontation between Christ, in and through the biblical Word, and the rebellion of the human heart. This is confrontation of those whose face is that of a particular culture but whose heart is that of the fallen world. We cannot forget that.
David F. Wells, Above All Earthly Pow'rs: Christ in a Postmodern World, pg. 308-309
The Necessity of the Use of Means in the Spirit's Work of Monergistic Regeneration
There are a few wise guys who are venting their theological frustrations in the ethersphere by misrepresenting the Reformed community on a rather broad scale. This is particularly true with regard to our teaching on the necessity of the use of means (preaching) in the Spirit's work of regeneration. Anyone who has spent any time on Monergism.com will know that for years we have gathered historical and contemporary essays from a wide array of Reformed Scholars and pastors from various denominations on the necessity of preaching the gospel to the lost so that the Spirit might quicken hearers through the Word. The Spirit quickens us, creating belief in the gospel, and cries 'Abba Father' in us, giving witness to the truth and excellency of the Word of Christ. Michael Horton affirms, with us, that while regeneration is necessary for faith, but that this life is brought forth. not in a void, but through the Word:
"...God alone is the cause of the New Birth, but he calls women and men to himself through the weakness of preaching. Nowhere in Scripture do we find a pattern of evangelism or revival in which individuals respond to the gospel by simply being “zapped” by the Spirit. They are always responding to the preached Word. It may be one-on-one, or in an assembly, but it is the Word proclaimed that gives life to those spiritually dead. Furthermore, even after they are converted, believers do not grow in their walk, deepen in their Christian experience, or learn new truths by the direct activity of the Spirit apart from God’s ordained means... God has determined to bring that Good News through specific means, and to involve us in this drama... Paul picks up on this language in Romans 10, making the preached Word essential for the Spirit’s work of regeneration: “How, then, can they call on the one in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”(Rom. 10:14-15).
Some of the allegations that we do not believe this are simply preposterous so it is needful to make a few clarifying statements to silence some of the crazy misrepresentations out there. I have seen numerous posts which erroneously claim that the broad Reformed community (who embrace monergistic regeneration) does not believe in means (preaching) to bring about regeneration.
Preaching for the Glory of God by Pastor John Samson
Last year, in the Fall, I was asked to teach a 50 minute seminar at a Ministers' Conference on the subject of preaching. One 50 minute session does not allow for a comprehensive overview, but it at least allows time for a good introduction to this vital subject. A new reformation is needed in our Churches and it must begin in our pulpits.
The feedback I've received since the Ministers' Conference has been very positive with a consistent comment being, "we especially enjoyed the hand out notes you provided." Because of this encouraging feedback, I post these hand out notes here, knowing that I am merely a gatherer of helpful material on this subject, over many a year. I claim no exclusivity of insight. Hopefully we can all see a little further because each of us stand on the shoulders of giants.
Because we as preachers collect much information along the way, from many different sources, it is often times very easy to quote someone and fail to identify the quote or even realize that someone else is being quoted.
The humorous story is told of a preacher quoting a fellow preacher. The first time he did so he said, "As our brother, Rev. Brian McDonald once said..." The second time he quoted him, he said, "As someone has wisely said..." Then, the third time... "Like I always say..."
"Mistakes" such as these happen all too frequently, and, believe it or not, they are not always intentional. If such is the case below, I apologize beforehand if I have failed to identify any of my sources. I do know that much of the content comes from Bryan Chapell's excellent book, "Christ Centered Preaching", which continues to instruct and inspire me, a number of years after I first read it.
If these brief notes can be used to encourage just one fellow preacher/teacher out there in the greatest of all tasks of preaching the very oracles of God, then I will be more than happy.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Do This and Live by John Hendryx
"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury." (Rom 2:6-8)"If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." (Matt 19:17)
What are we to make of the above statements by Paul and Jesus? Both of these texts plainly state that eternal life will be granted those who obey God's commandments. Since we have been taught that salvation to be by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, how are we to interpret such passages? I take up this important issue because there were one or two questions regarding the legitimacy of the concept of "do this and live" in my essay "There May be More Than One Way to God".
It should be known that these law/gospel (two ways of salvation model) concepts I proposed in the essay are not my peculiar new invention but the classic understanding of salvation in Covenant Theology.
When we preach the law to a person we are, in effect, saying "do this and live". Scripture actually reveals two ways that one might be saved in the Bible. These two antithetical covenants can be filtered down to "Do this and live" (Leviticus 18:5; Romans 2:13; 10:5), and "The just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 10:6; Galatians 3:11). These covenants are both based in the eternal covenant of redemption which was made in the eternal counsels of the Triune God (John 6:37-39). Both will come into play through the historical Christ. This first covenant was revealed in Eden as the original Adamic Covenant (or covenant of Works). In its most basic form it consisted of the command "Do not eat, or you will die." It is easy enough to see that if you restate P for ~P, you get "Do this and live." When Adam failed to live up to the terms of the covenant, he plummeted he and his posterity into the Curse of death. Now all who are "in Adam" are incapable of life through that original covenant. It should be noted that God also mentions, after the fall, that the way to the tree of life is blocked lest man eat and live. So there was a means by which Adam hypothetically could have avoided the fall, that is, by obedience to God for a period or perhaps by eating the tree of life.
The Conjoining of the Spirit with Word and Sacrament
How is faith formed is us and how are we to nourish and continue that faith which the Holy Spirit effectually created in us?
The child who is conceived by his parents must also be nourished by them with food and then brought up in discipline lest his physical and mental growth be stunted. Likewise the faith which the Holy Spirit initially formed in us must also be nourished. Unless the life once quickened in us by the Holy Spirit is daily nourished by the means appointed by God, faith will wither and struggle, and not bear healthy fruit.
And just what are the appointed means God has given? The Word and the Sacraments. (1) The Preaching of the Word. We nourish the faith the Spirit begat in us first by assembling together with other Christians to hear the word of God preached to us. This is the ordinary means the Lord works faith in us, a means which He has promised to bless and bind Himself to. (2) The Administering and Receiving of the Sacraments which Jesus commanded us to partake of "till He come". The greater the frequency of being united to Christ through the sacrament of the Lord's Table the more our faith will receive nourishment. We should make it a habit to often come together, as did disciples, who "continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and the breaking of bread and prayers" (Acts 2:42). This is the means they used to nourish and augment their faith that Christ had begun in them (Phil 1:6, 1:29).
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The Imperative of Preaching By Marco Gonzalez
Before I begin, a few things need to be clarified. I am not a preacher, nor do I claim to be. I have no experience in pastoral ministry. In fact, I have only taken one homiletics course and have only organized three sermons. This article is not an attempt to point figures or criticize individuals, but to analyze modern-day evangelical preaching. Therefore, in my own humble attempt, I hope this may give passion to preachers/teachers to “preach the word.
Inside my Greek Bible are signatures. These signatures are from men who have fueled my passion for scripture. Theses signatures include: John Piper, John Macarthur, Al Mohler, and Sinclair Ferguson. Before any of these men signed my Bible, I placed a quote above them by Richard Baxter, “I preached as to never preach again and as a dying man to dying men.”
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