All worship is an intelligent and loving response to the revelation of God, because it is the adoration of his Name. Therefore acceptable worship is impossible without preaching. For preaching is making known the Name of the Lord, and worship is praising the Name of the Lord made known. Far from being an alien intrusion into worship, the reading and preaching of the Word are actually indispensable to it. The two cannot be divorced. Indeed, it is their unnatural divorce which account for the low level of so much contemporary worship.
Our worship is poor because our knowledge of God is poor, and our knowledge of God is poor because our preaching is poor. But when the Word of God is expounded in its fullness, and the congregation begin to glimpse the glory of the living God, they bow down in solemn awe and joyful wonder before his throne. It is preaching which accomplishes this, the proclamation of the Word of God in the power of the Spirit of God.
September 11, 2008 at 4:26 pm |
This quote truly captures the reason, heart, and importance of biblical preaching. One of the greatest definitions of preaching ever given was by a man named Martin Lloyd-Jones, a Preacher very much admired by John Stott. Lloyd-Jones writes,
“Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire.”
Both Stott and Lloyd-Jones set a tremendous foundation for all who aspire to be Pastors/Preachers, and I know for me personally, they challenge and encourage faithful communication of the unchanging truth of scripture to a lost and changing world. What a beautiful quote!
February 23, 2009 at 11:15 am |
Stott is amazing! I have him on my “Great Lives” page if you want to check it out here is the link, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
http://anuncommongrace.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/top-three-books-for-2008/
Blessings,
Darian