The Message and the Man:: Some Essentials of Effective PreachingJackson, J. Dodd (James Dodd)
Religion
The Message and the Man:: Some Essentials of Effective Preaching
Jackson, J. Dodd (James Dodd)
Preaching
"The prevailing theology, even more perhaps than the prevailing
liturgy, is wrapped up in an ancient language. The very terms are
technical--grace, justification, conversion, perseverance. They flow
out glibly from the student who has soaked himself in their historical
meanings; they are Greek to the general. They were once living
realities for which men fought and gladly died; they still symbolise
realities, the permanent elements of the life history of the soul--but
they are wrapped around in cobwebs and the complications of a technical
system, frozen into sterility; and they have no more meaning and no
more appeal to the audience at whom they are thrown in such profusion
than the details of the performance of the Mosaic ritual, or the
genealogies of the legendary heroes of the Hebrew Bible. We want
neither edifying lessons drawn from the wanderings of Israel or the
Book of Joshua; nor brilliant 'word-painting' of some of the scenes
described in the Bible with a more appealing eloquence; nor the
exposition of the machinery of schemes of salvation once real from
which the life has departed; but some message concerning the things of
the spirit, delivered in simplicity and humility and sincerity to men
who would fain be simple and humble and sincere." These are weighty
words, and many a preacher might do worse than take them seriously to
heart. Such an event might mean the blessing of many who have so far
been mystified rather than edified. Mr. Masterman represents, we are
sure, multitudes who could add proof to his words from frequent
experience; he speaks, also, for many more who, because of similar
experience, come no more to the house of the Lord.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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