Christian ministry by Charles Bridges (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
Now Bridges finishes his section on the spirit of Scriptural preaching.
Today we are told to be fervent in our preaching so our preaching is not just enlightening the mind, but also affecting the heart.
Next we are instructed to be diligent in our preaching: 'not only regular in the routine of preaching seasons; but under the guidance of an enlightened conscience, embracing every unlooked-for, and seemingly unseasonable, call to service.'
Then we see that we must have one single purpose in our preaching: 'The main end of the Ministry is the glory of God.'
Finally we are encouraged to preach with love as 'the grand distinctive mark of our office.'
I found Bridges point about fervency in preaching helpful. Particularly that the source of fervency is a true understanding of the gospel and its implications: 'A lively impression of interest seems the natural result of a cordial belief of the Gospel, and therefore a want of expression of this interest as naturally conveys a suspicion of the credibility of our message. For who could bring a true report of a fire, or of any extraordinary news, with cold indifference? And can we wonder that a cold delivery of our instructions should produce in our people an incredulity of their truth, or at least of their importance; that they should consider it to be a work of office, for which we are paid, rather than as a matter of personal concern to themselves: and that, with such impressions, they should want the disposition necessary to give to preaching its effect—a desire to hear? It has been well remarked—that "the really useful man in winning souls to Christ is he, who is so penetrated with the value of the doctrines of the Gospel, as to persuade by the zeal and sincerity of his manners, when a less earnest mode of teaching would have failed to convince."'
If we truly understand the eternal significance of what we are doing, that some of our hearers are not in danger of having their houses burn down around them but having their souls burn for eternity in hell, we cannot help but be passionate in our preaching.
Next week's reading
Commence Part 5 by reading Chapter 1 (Nature and importance of pastoral work).
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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