Christian ministry by Charles Bridges (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
Now Bridges begins to examine Scriptural preaching of the gospel. Two points are part of today's reading.
Firstly, we are taught about doctrinal preaching of the gospel. The message of the gospel must be comprehensive, simple, connected and unfettered.
Secondly, we are encouraged to preach the gospel experimentally: 'Our statements may be full and simple, connected and unfettered; but without an application of the didactic system to the sympathies of the heart, they will impart only a cold and uninfluential knowledge.' Bridges says that to preach experimentally we must have some personal acquaintance with the experiences we are preaching about and so he suggests that our experience of the 'Pastoral Ministry will here supply much valuable assistance.'
I found helpful the warning that was given to not go after fresh complex discoveries in our preaching at the expense of old simple theology: 'The maintenance of scriptural simplicity in our doctrinal instructions, will preserve us from paralyzing our Ministrations by tame and subordinate topics, like men whom Bishop Reynolds aptly describes—' of an Athenian temper, " who spend all their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new" Theology, not contenting themselves with the wholesome form of sound words, and the general harmony of orthodox doctrine—who direct all the studies and navigations of their minds unto Theologia incognita—to practice new experiments and to make new discoveries. In things doctrinal to cry up new lights, and to amuse the people with metaphysical fancies, as if they were deep and heavenly mysteries, and in the mean time to neglect the preaching of duty, and the savoury and saving principles of repentance and new obedience, is a far readier means to make men question the truth of all that they learned before, than ever to attain any certain knowledge of the things which are newly taught them.'
The lust for the new and improved is continually there, but far better to tell your listeners the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
Next week's reading
Continue reading Part 4 by finishing Chapter 4, Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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