John Stott - pastor, author, & Christian theologian

 “The essential secret (to preaching) is not mastering certain techniques but being mastered by certain convictions. In other words, theology is more important than methodology.”

   “We must preach biblically, or not at all.   If what I am saying is not rooted in Scripture, then, however interesting or edifying it might be, it is not preaching.   Preaching is kerygma, the proclamation of what God has done in Jesus Christ.   The sole source of our knowledge of what God has done comes to us through the text of Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We neither have nor require any other authority.”
 
 -  Ian Pitts-Watson
quoted by Ron Boyd-MacMillan in his book Explosive Preaching

       “If I should climb up into the pulpit without having deigned to look at a book and frivolously imagine, “Ah well! When I get there God will give me enough to talk about,” and I do not condescend to read, or to think about what I ought to declare, and I come here without carefully pondering how I must apply the Holy Scripture to the edification of the people – well, then I should be a cock-sure charlatan and God would put me to confusion in my audaciousness.”
    -John Calvin

quoted by Christopher Ash, in his book "The Priority of Preaching"

Here are some great words from Sinclair Ferguson.  If you've got two minutes take a look and a listen.

"Most churches have the uncanny ability to make their visitors feel very welcome and very awkward at the very same time." - Dick Lucas

"Uncle" Dick Lucas, Rector Emeritus of St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, (London, England), & founder of The Proclamation Trust

Alright, fine!  The quote doesn't exactly come from Dick Lucas...  it comes from me and is the  best  paraphrase of something very profound that Lucas once said that I didn't bother to write down. Nevertheless, while Lucas's original quotation was certainly better worded than mine, even in my poor paraphrase one gets the thrust of Lucas's point.  Namely, churches that are strange to us make us feel... well... strange. ​Moreover, I think the paraphrase makes a good point and perhaps even gives us occasion as Christians and churchmen to laugh at our own strangeness. Laughing is certainly something we should do more of.  Yes, we want to take our beliefs seriously.  We want to take the worship of God seriously.  But we don't want to take ourselves too seriously.  For if we do, any visitor bringing to our gatherings a fresh set of eyes will see the absurdity of our pretense.  Let us embrace our eccentricities and delight in our God who is gracious enough to redeem people such as ourselves!

Take 2 minutes to listen to Stephen Olford's challenge to all Christians.

"Do you do singing sermons?"

"What kind of sermons will I hear at All Souls Church?"

"...The Bible... distinguishes the pulpit from the soapbox."

This is a method in which the preacher begins at the beginning of a given book or passage of the Bible and works his way through to the end, in an orderly fashion, over a period of weeks, months, or in some cases, years.  We believe that this is not only a great way for church-goers to learn the bible but also a great way to keep preachers off of their hobby-horses.  Never forget, it's the Bible - and the Bible alone - that distinguishes the pulpit from the soapbox!  If a pastor commits himself to systematic exposition of the Bible he is unlikely to stray off into unhelpful realms more reflective of his own biases than of God's Word.    If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of expository preaching here’s a great article.

One Year of Study Stands Out As The Best...

On top of this I lacked the support and counsel of my pastor who seemed to have a dubious view of God's call on my life (Lord knows I  gave him ample reason to hold such a view at the time!)  I vividly remember the first time I spoke to him about my call... He sat in stunned silence... Then he frowned...  Then he grunted...  Eventually he launched into a speech, the tone of which was reminiscent of an unusually annoyed Wilfred Brimley waxing poetical on the subject of “diabeetus.”   So, without any advisors and not being fully satisfied as to the sufficiency of my education up to that point I was more or less unsure in what direction to go. Fortunately the Lord had a plan... He always does.

Wilfred Brimley (b. 1934) is an American actor, a hawker of sectarian oatmeal, and the past president of R.U.D.E. (Raising Understanding for Diabeetus Education). His trademark mustache has fueled speculation that Brimley was the focus of the Beatles song, "I Am the Walrus."

Hitting "The Book." Cornhill students studying to show themselves approved... yep... that's me, bottom left.

A Gaggle of Cornhillers - circa 2007 AD

I write this post today for the following reasons...

Dr. W.J.U. Philip, Dr. Robert Fyall, and the Very Reverend Edward Lobb, three of the finest Bible teachers around

STILL WANT MORE?
watch the Cornhill video below: