2) Sermons ought to be predominantly biblical in their overall substance.
a) Explanation
2 Tim. 3:16
Thomas Murphy, Pastoral Theology, (Audubon, NJ: Old PathsPublications, 1996), pp. 156-157.
Thomas Brooks, The Works of Thomas Brooks, vol. IV, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1980), p. 113
b) Which will be in marked contrast with:
1) Predominantly anecdotal preaching
2) Predominantly biographical preaching
3) Predominantly imaginative preaching
4) Predominantly literary preaching
5) Predominantly philosophical preaching
c) Summary
C. H. Spurgeon, “Sermons – Their Matter,” in Lectures To My Students, Book I, (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1990), p. 74.
Robert L. Dabney, Sacred Rhetoric, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1979), pp. 26-28.
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3) Sermons ought to be theologically vigorous and harmonious in their statements of truth.
a) Explanation
2 Tim 1:13
C. H. Spurgeon, “Sermons – Their Matter,” in Lectures To My Students, Book I, (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1990), pp. 77-78.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1971), pp. 66-67.
b) Which will be in marked contrast with:
1) Self-destructive preaching
2) Imbalanced preaching
C. H. Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2000), p. 320.
3) Preaching of half-truths as whole-truths
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4) Sermons ought to be intensely practical in their overall thrust.
2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2
1 Cor. 10:11
Tit. 1:1
Which will be in marked contrast with:
1) Merely informational preaching
2) Exclusively emotional preaching
3) Merely rhetorical preaching
Robert L. Dabney, Sacred Rhetoric, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1979), pp. 30-31.
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5) Sermons ought to be pervasively evangelical in their overall climate and flavor.
Lk. 24:25-27, 44-45
1 Cor. 2:1-2
Col. 1:27-29
Eph. 3:8
Gardiner Spring, The Power of the Pulpit, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1986), p. 47.
James W. Alexander, Thoughts on Preaching, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), pp. 207-208.
Thomas Murphy, Pastoral Theology, (Audubon, NJ: Old Paths Publications, 1996), pp. 168-169.
Which will be in marked contrast with:
1) Legalistic or moralistic preaching
2) Bland didactic preaching
3) Merely sentimental preaching
Examples:
Thomas Brooks, vol. 3, pp. 207-223
Gardiner Spring, The Glory of Christ, pp. 25-33
Gardiner Spring, The Attraction of the Cross
John Flavel, vol. 1, A Fountain of Life
William Taylor, The Work of the Ministry, pp. 98-104
Charles McIlvaine, Preaching Christ
See two sermons by Albert N. Martin on the subject of preaching Christ entitled “Pursuing a Ministry Permeated with Christ”. MI-LL-1 and MI-LL-2. These are available through Trinity Book Service.
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6) Sermons should be preached in the power of the Holy Spirit
See two sermons by Albert N. Martin entitled “The Immediate Agency and Operations of the Holy Spirit Upon the Preacher in the Act of Preaching.” MI-GG-1 and MI-GG-2. These are available through Trinity Book Service.