From my inbox - July 30,2008

WHAT TO PREACH


We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ― 2 Corinthians 4:5


Here is proper orientation for a preacher. He is not to preach himself, his experience, his ideas, his pet themes. The pulpit is no sounding board for a man. He is to preach “Christ Jesus as Lord,” the threefold Name so often set forth in Scripture – Messiah, Mediator, Master. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”


It is a ministry of “Not I but Christ.” Where does the preacher come in? “Ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” Not just servants, period. We are not to be glorified flunkeys waiting on fussy church members. Only that service which is for His sake counts. A lot of things we do and a lot of things people demand are not for Jesus’ sake.


But He is the subject of preaching and we are servants. Woe to the man who would make himself the subject and Christ a servant to advance his own ministry!


What to preach? Here is the answer to the old, old question. ―VANCE HAVNER

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