How does a preacher know if he’s preaching good sermons?
There are several ways that question could be answered: What is the fruit? How does the congregation respond? How clear is his teaching? Most importantly, how closely does his message line up with the passage?
To answer this question, I would like to go back in time, 375 years ago to the Westminster Assembly. Among other things, this Puritan body produced the Westminster Larger Catechism, which answers the question: What is a good sermon? It provides six answers.
Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the Word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.[1]
Let’s briefly consider each of the six answers the catechism
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
