The Secret of Preaching - James S. Stewart

You ask me the secret of preaching. I am afraid I cannot sum it all up in a letter! Perhaps it would be best if I just referred you to two books on the subject I have written – “Heralds of God” and “A Faith to Proclaim” (the latter consists of my Lyman Beecher Lectures at Yale). I have tried to sum up my thoughts on the preacher's methods and preparation in these two books. But indeed – preaching cannot be taught (though classes in Homiletics are a help): the ultimate secret is to live close to Christ. And far more important than anything about “style” or “delivery” is the preacher's unselfconscious absorption in God during the worship service. In the end, this is what matters – far more than structure or style of all his sermons.

Obedience (Jonathan Edwards)

[One] sacrifice which is offered by this spiritual priesthood, is obedience, sincere obedience. The sacrifices under the law did not only represent Christ’s satisfying for sin by suffering, but they also represented Christ’s obeying in suffering. For the sacrifices under the law were not only for propitiation, but they were for purchasing benefits, and so typified not only the satisfaction, but merit, which was by obedience, Psa. 40:6-8, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire: mine ears hast thou opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” And though the obedience of saints has no merit, yet it is pleasing and acceptable to God. It is as a sweet-smelling savor, and is compared to sacrifices, and preferred before them, 1 Sam 15:22, “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Christians, by offering obedience to God in their lives and conversation, do what the apostle calls offering their bodies to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, as their reasonable service (Rom. 12:1). They offer their bodies, that is they dedicate their bodies to holy uses and purposes. They yield their members as instruments of righteousness unto holiness. The soul, while here, acts externally by the body. And in this Christians serve God. They yield their eyes, their ears, their tongues, their hands, and feet, as servants to God, to be obedient to the dictates of his Word, and of his Holy Spirit in the soul.