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
And first, it appeared to us that for true preaching you must have the
true preacher; and the true preacher is he who, designated by Nature
and by Divine calling, endowment and baptism, has come to personal
certainty in respect of the great and vital truths committed to his
keeping. Surrendered to God and his work, he nevertheless realises
that among the trusts of which he holds stewardship is that of his own
individuality to be used for the ends he is sent to consummate. He is
a man of understanding gathered in the study of truth; of men; of the
Church; of his own heart; of many other fields of knowledge. He lives
in constant realisation of the greatness of his calling; the sublimity
of his message and the certainty of victory for Israel's side. His
soul is aflame with the passion of his labour; with devotion to his
Master; with a love for his fellows learned at the foot of the cross.
The supreme fact of his life is the fact of his own spiritual
experience and in holy, happy memories he finds continual evidence of
things Divine, and constant inspiration to prosecute his mission to the
end. He is a man whose heart God has touched for the sake of the
world. He is the chosen, qualified, and sworn ambassador of the King
of Kings. He is the very representative and mouthpiece of God and of
the Church to all with whom opportunity shall give him speech. In all
this he is the successor of the first-called and qualified of the
preaching band, making proof of his succession by faithfulness,
holiness and success. Such is the true preacher, whether separated
altogether to the work of the ministry or working with his hands, as
did the greatest preacher of the Apostolic band, that he may "not be
chargeable to any."
From speaking of the messenger we turned to mention what seem to us to
be the notes essential to a complete rendering of the message confided
to him for transmission. The notes of accusation and of pity, of
idealism and edification and cheer all need to be sounded by the
preacher who would go back, at last, to the Lord who sent him with the
joyful boast that he has "not shunned to declare the whole counsel of
God." Not only this, but we heard, as we came along our way, from the
lips of those to whom the preacher would speak, enough to prove that it
is for a message in which these notes are heard that they wait and
listen. The world longs for a Gospel which shall satisfy the mind,
guide the conscience and comfort the heart, the while it shows the way
to the best in the life that is and the life that is to come. Such a
Gospel we have. It remains only that we preach it in all its plenitude
and promise.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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