Sermons and the Minister's Focus
Four Particular Helps For Preachers and the Congregation to Stay On Target
Good Morning,
To check back in on preaching for this week’s walk through the Westminster Directory of Public Worship we have before us four particular responsibilities the preacher needs to be aware of as he steps into the pulpit to deliver a sermon, though any of the quartet given below could apply to just about any teaching ministry he is engaged in. There is a lot that (should) goes into preparation for preaching which must be considered, both by the pastor himself and the congregation who is being readied to receive the result. It is always more helpful to ears that hear to know what to expect when they sit down in a pew on the Lord’s Day. That not only gives more weight to the event that is taking place, but it also goes a long way for all to benefit from it.
As we look more deeply into the following it is worth our time to remember that the main goal of preaching is to convict, convert, and disciple. To change hearts, conform them to Christ, and to point all present to the glory of God and His word. One way to think of it is that there is a big difference between being preaching to and being preached at. Each of the pieces of advice below will help all concerned to tell the difference that all may grow in love for Jesus in the way.
Here's today’s selection:
In the use of instruction or information in the knowledge of some truth , which is a consequence from his doctrine, he may (when convenient) confirm it by a few firm arguments from the text in hand, and other places of scripture, or from the nature of that common-place in divinity, whereof that truth is a branch.
In confutation of false doctrines, he is neither to raise an old heresy from the grave, nor to mention a blasphemous opinion unnecessarily: but, if the people be in danger of an error, he is to confute it soundly, and endeavour to satisfy their judgments and consciences against all objections.
In exhorting to duties, he is, as he seeth cause, to teach also the means that help to the performance of them.
In dehortation, reprehension, and publick admonition, (which require special wisdom,) let him, as there shall be cause, not only discover the nature and greatness of the sin, with the misery attending it, but also shew the danger his hearers are in to be overtaken and surprised by it, together with the remedies and best way to avoid it.
We’ve noted before that a lot of what the Fourth Commandment seeks to do for the Christian is to make them ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is our Super Sunday attendance to the means of grace which the Lord uses to strengthen our understanding of our own personal redemption and how the church is then to work together to mutually bless the whole. When the first paragraph says his doctrine it is in reference to what the main point of the sermon is. For instance let’s take John 3:16 as an easy example. In that passage our redeemer speaking to the Pharisee known as Nicodemus is telling him about God’s love for sinners. So the doctrine there is not the Egyptian diaspora or the Passover or any of the illustrations you might use to help people understand what is happening. It is, as John Calvin puts it, “As the whole matter of our salvation must not be sought any where else than in Christ, so we must see whence Christ came to us, and why he was offered to be our Savior.” Those illustrations then are to serve the main point, and are not to distract from nor overwhelm it. I noted in an earlier Thursday help that if you leave the Sunday morning and evening preaching only remembering a funny story than the minister has failed to do his job. The doctrine, that is the reason God put those words in the Bible, must always take center stage and do their work well and for His purposes.
The second paragraph gives another interesting assistance to what takes place in the sermon, and that is a pastor needs to not only know his people, but he needs to know his context as well. If you are proclaiming God’s word to a congregation in Salt Lake City then Mormon apologetics are going to need to take center stage moreso than if you are in a place where they are only heard and not seen. There is a concern in the DPW that as time is well spent that it is spent on where time will benefit the hearer the most. The same can be said for raising up an old heresy. There needs to be care that in defending the faith we do not plant seeds which may cause conscience issues where none existed before. Here we see again why prayer, personal knowledge, and the like are necessary if a minister is going to form a sermon which both helps and encourages the hearer.
The third paragraph moves us in concert with the fourth paragraph to think on the fact that if you are going to teach a kid to ride a bike it helps to show him how. Telling without providing an idea of the means to go about it is kind of a fool’s errand. If you are going to preach Christ in John 3:16 then you need to help the unbeliever to understand God’s love, the nature of Jesus’ coming and His subsequent sacrifice and then engage the sinner’s heart to rest in Him in grace and peace. Just telling a sinner to repent is like telling a car to start. You can yell at your Kia all day long but until the key turns, the ignition hits, and the gas burns it’s kind of pointless. The preacher must needs bring a man to water and show him how to drink deeply at the fountain which never ceases if he wants him to become a part of the kingdom.
In closing, the same can be said for the believer who needs to be corrected in his/her behavior. While Bob Newhart’s counseling method is many people’s favorite there is a likewise call for the prophet to explain and show the consequences as well as the way for the individual engaged in such to rid himself/herself of such condemnation, to flee from the wrath to come. These four encouragements we’ve read to today are of great assistance for both the preacher and the pewsitter in understanding with more depth what it is that should be happening on Sunday.
Here’s another take:
https://gentlereformation.com/2019/10/21/ten-tips-on-sermon-illustrations/
Blessings in Christ,
Rev. Benjamin Glaser
Pastor, Bethany ARP Church