Preface
Preaching sank to a low ebb in the last half of the twentieth century. Has it recovered at all? That question is difficult to answer because we do not yet have the benefit of a long-term perspective. What can be said is that two contradictory trends have emerged, both of which have positive and negative implications.
First, preaching has been democratized. Almost anyone can preach, regardless of whether they are ordained. This is not altogether a bad thing. Lay preaching can be used by the Lord to build his church, and we could wish with Moses that all God’s people were prophets (Num. 11:29). Unfortunately, however, it seems that some preachers’ only qualification for ministry is their ability to attract large crowds and donations, and not their commitment to truth and holiness. This trend has been most noticeable among advocates of prosperity teaching, who promise health and wealth in Jesus’ name. This distortion of the gospel is proving very popular among those whose social and economic prospects are bleak.
But while preaching is being democratized, it is simultaneously becoming increasingly elitist. Gifted preachers are now able to broadcast their message and preside over multi-site churches where the sermon is presented on video screens. Many such preachers are orthodox, kingdom-minded, and holy and their impact for good is significant. They can reach out to churches that formerly did not offer solid biblically-based teaching. However, the distance between these preachers and their hearers may undermine the biblical requirement that overseers be an example (1 Tim. 3:1–4:16) and that shepherds know their sheep (John 10:1-14). These requirements have always been difficult to fulfil in large churches.
A more subtle danger is that young preachers compare themselves with these exceptional preachers and wrongly conclude that they do not have preaching gifts. Beginners may try to imitate them in superficial ways, rather than working to develop the gifts God has given them. They may also be less likely to be given preaching opportunities as church leaders will be reluctant to use inexperienced preachers when congregations have grown accustomed to excellent preaching.
This book sets out to encourage preachers by reminding them of the importance of their calling; to exhort them to spend time in careful and prayerful sermon preparation; and to remind them of the personal qualities that must characterize every faithful preacher of God’s word. When you have finished it, may you too be moved to pray the words that John Stott often prayed before preaching:
Heavenly Father, we bow in your presence.
May your word be our rule,
Your Spirit our teacher,
And your greater glory our supreme concern,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.