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Sermon
Preaching in General
Preaching for a Verdict
In
the early years of this twentieth century Donald McIntosh
a blind evangelist
made his mark in Scotland as a gifted preacher. Whatever his text
whatever his
theme might be
he never failed in his preaching to impress upon his hearers
the claims of Christ. Mr. Asquith
at that time Chancellor of the Exchequer
heard Mr. McIntosh preach repeatedly and remarked with true discernment
‘That
man is always preaching for a verdict.’ (
Preaching
Upon accepting his first
church
a young pastor asked an elderly board member if he had any wise advice.
The elderly man responded
“Son
a sermon is like a good meal; you should end
it just before we have had enough.” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Preaching
The story is told of a
patient in a mental ward who attended chapel services with the other patients
in the ward. The chaplain who spoke was so confusing that one of the patients
going out was heard to say
“There
but for the grace of God
go I.” ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Preaching
Helena Modjeska (1844~1909)
was one of the most popular actresses of her time because of her emotional
style and superb ability. Once
to demonstrate the raw power of her ability
she gave a dramatic reading in her native tongue
Polish. No one at the sedate dinner
party understood Polish
but all were in tears by the end of her performance.
Such was the power of her presentation. Only later was it revealed that the
piece that had moved the sophisticated audience to tears was the Polish
alphabet. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Preaching
Samuel
Chadwick
the noted Methodist Preacher
said: ‘I would rather preach than do
anything else in the world. I would rather preach than eat my dinner or have a
holiday. I would rather pay to preach than be paid not to preach. It has its
price in agony and sweat and tears
and no calling has such joys and
heartbreaks
but it is a calling an archangel might covet. It there any joy
like that of saving a soul? Any thrill like that of opening blind eyes? Any
reward like the love of children to the second and third generation? Any
treasure like the grateful love of hearts healed and comforted?’ (Mark 16:16; 2
Tim. 4:2) ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Preaching
Preaching has been
described this way: “A mild-mannered man standing up before mild-mannered
people and exhorting them to be more mild mannered.”
The true function of
preaching is to disturb the comfortable and to comfort the disturbed. ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》
Preaching
I preached as never to
preach again; as a dying man to dying men.— Robert Murray McCheyne