Hints and helps in pastoral theology by William S Plumer (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 16 (The manner of preaching-continued).
Plumer continues to speak on the manner of preaching.
Last week he gave us ten particulars.
This week we hear another eleven:
(xi) we must preach to the consciences of men, not to their fancies or tastes;
(xii) sensational preaching produces an effect on our lower nature;
(xiii) we must preach the Gospel diligently in season and out of season, publicly from house to house, by day and by night;
(xiv) the length of sermons is not set in Scripture;
(xv) we must preach faithfully;
(xvi) we must preach experimentally;
(xvii) we must preach with discrimination, rightly dividing the Word of truth;
(xviii) ministers should preach with authority;
(xix) we must preach variously and seasonably;
(xx) all preaching must be enforced by good example;
(xxi) ministers should preach better and better.
I found helpful the encouragement to improve in preaching, particularly through reading: 'Ministers should preach better and better. Till their faculties begin to fail through age or disease, there should be a manifest improvement in their gifts as well as in their graces. So Paul teaches : " Meditate upon these things ; give thyself wholly to them ; that thy profiting may appear to all." 1 Tim. iv., 15. It is a sad thing when a man preaches no better at forty-five than he did at twenty-five, especially where there was ample room for improvement. John Wesley once wrote to a minister : " Your talent in preaching does not increase ; it is about the same as it was seven years ago ; it is lively, but not deep ; there is little variety — there is no compass of thought. Reading alone can supply this, with daily meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian. Oh, begin ! Fix some part of every day for private exercises. You may acquire the taste which you have not. What is tedious at first will afterward be pleasant. Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life ; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a petty, superficial preacher. Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow ; do not starve yourself any longer." When Paul was an old man he still wanted his books and parchments. 2 Tim. iv., 13.'
There is never a time where a preacher should stop seeking to improve. And improvement usually comes through prayer and reading.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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