Nielsen’s Nook

Piper: The Gravity and Gladness of Preaching

1. Strive for gladhearted-holiness. "You can't be blood-earnest in the pulpit and habitually flippant at deacons' [= elders' in the Presbyterian world] meetings and church dinners."
2. Make your life and especially your study one of constant communion with Christ. May we spend ten hours on our knees over our books as B. B. Warfield urges.
3. Read inspiring edifying books. Read works written by authors who bleed bibline and are blood-earnest about the truths they discuss.
4. Contemplation of death. Directing our minds to the contemplation of death, reminds us of the gravitas of our depravitas as Dr. Sinclair Ferguson used to tell us in classes at Westminster Seminary.
5. Higher standards. Scripture teaches us that teachers of Christ's people will be judged with greater strictness (James 3:1).
6. The Example of Jesus. Jesus was evidently the most profound and prolific preacher that ever lived. He wept often, was approachable even by children, was humble and yet boldly preached on things like hell in even horrible terms.
7. Humble yourself. "Don't be content to guide people amont the foothills of God's glory." Lead them to the heights of his majestic transcendence (c.f., 1 Pet 5:6).