Hints and helps in pastoral theology by William S Plumer (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 18 (Popular preaching).
This week Plumer gives some thoughts on 'popular preaching', by which he means the style of preaching.
Plumer gives hints on preaching style chiefly from the words of others, including:
(i) the Apostle Paul;
(ii) Richard Sibbes;
(iii) William Perkins;
(iv) Bishop Hall;
(v) John Flavel;
(vi) Edward Parsons;
(vii) John Brown;
(viii) John Howe;
(ix) William Tennent;
(x) John Angell James;
(xi) Harris;
(xii) Richard Baxter;
(xiii) Vaughan;
(xiv) South.
I enjoyed the encouragement to study if we are to improve in our preaching: 'Any great and extensive improvement must be the result of long and patient industry. Fitful efforts will result in no profit. There must be a plan, and it must be followed up. Wilham Tennent is reported to have said, that if a man knew he had but three years to live, and must preach, he should study two of them. He distinguished between study, and moping over a book or a manuscript. We must have better libraries for our pastors. I believe I owe as much to the professors who taught me as any pupil they ever had. I acknowledge this with deep gratitude. But I think the libraries I consulted, often under the direction of professors, were of more value to me than all their lectures. Many others entertain the same opinion. It is painful to see how meagre is the supply of good books owned by many of our preachers. '
I'll add my small testimony to that too - I have learnt far more from books than Bible college lectures.
And I am so thankful for a church that recognises the importance of having a pastor that reads by providing me with a healthy book allowance.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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