Monday, September 13, 2010

Quotes for Preachers

Biblical preaching is taking people to the Bible
and talking them through what it means

‘They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read’
Nehemiah 8:8

‘I take it for granted that we will have a text. For we are not speculators but expositors’
J Stott

Great Bible teachers have all been people of study

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching
its decrees and laws in Israel’
Ezra 7:10

‘He who has ceased to learn has ceased to teach. He who no longer sows in the study will no more reap in the pulpit.’
CH Spurgeon

If I had only three years to serve the Lord, I would spend two of them studying and preparing’
DG Barnhouse, quoted by Billy Graham

Seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work, pertaining to the salvation of man, but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same, consider how studious ye ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures..’
CofE Ordinal, 1662 – Exhortation from Bishop to Candidates for Ministry


If a sermon looks easy and straightforward it’s because of all the work
that has gone into it.

‘cases are won in chambers’
JH Jowett, Judge

‘too lazy, to proud, too pious – all causes of poor preparation’
J Stott

Expect criticism

People will begin to take sides, objections to you and to what you preach, and how you preach it, will become increasingly plausible (but quite irrational when you consider them). Your manner, length and style of preaching etc, will all be torn to shreds’ …
…your quiet persistence will be a sign that you believe God has a purpose of grace for this people, and that this purpose will be promoted, not by gimmicks, or stunts, or new ideas, but by the Word of God released in preaching by prayer’
(W Still)

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