Cowper on Paul on Preaching (6)
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Timothy 4.1, 2
I say the pulpit, in the sober use
Of its legitimate peculiar powers,
Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall stand,
The most important and effectual guard,
Support, and ornament of virtue’s cause. (William Cowper, The Task)
We’re looking at the two contexts for the work of preaching, vertical and horizontal. We may expect the “legitimate peculiar powers” of the pulpit to do the work God intends as we honor each of these contexts.
The first component of the vertical context of preaching, as we have seen, is the Word of God in Scripture. The second, as Paul has it, is the Presence of God: “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Preachers who come to their task from the Presence of the Lord will demonstrate that holiness of life, singleness of commitment, and joy of salvation that characterized the Lord Jesus in all His earthly endeavors. Coming from the Presences of the Lord, preachers will come in the Presence of God as the Spirit fills, guides, and uses them in His work, and as they rest in the Spirit’s power and proclaim His Word with clarity, simplicity, sincerity, and boldness. Preachers come for the Presence of God as they, by their preaching, lead the people they serve into the very Presence of God, to behold His glory, know the teaching and convicting work of His Spirit, and see Jesus in His majesty and glory.
The ministry of the Word of God must at all times be aimed at connecting the people of God with their Lord and Savior. He alone is able to lead them into His truth. He alone can speak to the deep needs of each individual soul. God alone has the power to transform, equip, and employ in ministry those He has called to Himself through Jesus Christ. Preachers bring the Word of God to lead God’s people into the Presence of God.
From God’s Presence, in God’s Presence, for God’s Presence. In the Word of God, this is the vertical, and most important aspect, of the context of preaching. Preaching that is not Godward, not designed to connect the people of God with Jesus, will never realize the legitimate peculiar powers God has invested in this important work.
Resources for being and making disciples
Is there such a thing as a “discipleship mentality”? If so, how does one acquire this? Or should we? Listen in as I talk with Mike McQueen on the topic of “Disciples and Disciple-Making”.
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision column we are considering important questions that we as church leaders must answer, such as “What is our vision?” and “What must we do to realize our vision?” Our Read Moore podcast pursues readings from our book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter begins a new series on spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. And in our daily Scriptorium column we are working through Matthew 15. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
The Ailbe Bookstore: At The Ailbe Bookstore, download a free copy of our book, Pray for Your Church. Here are 35 prayers to use and share which cover all aspects of the life and ministry of the local church. Use them yourself, share them with your group, or print them in your bulletin. Help the people you lead so that they can pray more effectively and consistently for your church.
Resources for Shepherds: How do the life and work of your church compare with what we see in the New Testament and the Early Church? Watch this brief video, then download the ReThinking Church Appraisal Tool.
From the Celtic Revival
State of the Churches in the Time of the Celtic Revival: Gaul
“There is my teaching…”
– Columbanus, Letter to an Unknown Monk
Columbanus had just finished charging his reader with the importance of nurturing a disciplined, virtuous, fruitful life. And, according to his biographer, the monk Jonas, that was Columbanus’ life as well. He was a teacher men eagerly followed because he walked the talk consistenly.
The Celtic Revival would continue for another hundred years or so following the death of Columbanus in 615. It stands as one of the great movements of God’s Spirit in Church history. From the beginning, the example of leaders like Patrick, Sechnall, Brigid, Coemgen, Brendan, Colum Cille, and Columbanus set a standard which generations of church leaders after them emulated and passed on to their students and successors.
Churches are only as strong as the leaders they choose to follow. Where leaders of character, conviction, courage, and clarity of vision are shepherding the flocks, great growth in the Lord and progress of the Kingdom can occur.
Pray that God will ever provide His Church with such leaders, and that they will lead us into revival, renewal, and awakening in our lifetime.
Read the entire article by clicking here.
Resources from the Celtic Revival (ca. 430-800 AD)
What was the Celtic Revival? What made it “Celtic”? In what sense was it a revival? Why should we care about this ancient period? These and more questions can be answered by downloading a free copy of The Celtic Revival: A Brief Introduction at The Ailbe Bookstore. For an overview of what Celtic Christians believed, order a free PDF copy of The Theology of the Celtic Revival.
T. M. Moore
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
