Preaching The Gospel Of The Kingdom
The plan before us may start with the First Gospel, the one nearest to the Old Testament. When Gandhi came to England he began reading Genesis, bogged down in Leviticus, and stopped. Many a layman now does much the same, with no guidance.
Starting preferably with the Greek, read the Gospel as a whole, then study it by paragraphs. On points of difficulty consult a standard commentary, as by Plummer or Broadus. Put in a permanent file what each unit shows about Christ and the Kingdom. Read devotionally.
In December, two messages from Isaiah 1–12, with assigned readings beforehand: “The Gospel in the Snow” (1:18); “The Gospel in Handel’s Messiah” (9:6, 7). Ten days before Christmas introduce the Gospel (Matt. 6:33). Deal with it as living now, not as a corpse, with a skeleton outline.
Stress what the layman ought to look for, with the main idea first. The Gospel—about Christ—as Teacher—concerning the Kingdom—through the Cross. In such a survey dare to select and omit. Make the Gospel seem more interesting than any 1962 work. Present a living book! On the Sunday before Christmas, “How Jesus Got His Name” (1:21). He got it from God, to show the meaning of the Gospel. A week later, “How Wise Men Worship” (2:11), in terms of 1962. From now on, every topic points to a sermon on a passage the layman has read at home, with other paragraphs.
“The Bible Meaning of Repentance” (3:2). “The Way to Meet Temptation” (4:1). To be a Christian means to be like Jesus. I. He met temptation: at unexpected times—places—in strange ways. II. He conquered: by appealing to the Bible—in the Bible to God. A believer now can do what Christ could not—appeal to Himself. Better still, preach two sermons here.
“The Bible Standard of Perfection” (5:48). “The Kingdom of God Here Today” (6:10). For clarity, limit the view. I. Divine: the Kingdom of God—heaven—Christ. II. Human: Comes to one person—largely through home—then to wider circles, locally. III. Practical: This is what it means to be a Christian—to have a home—and a church. Pray!
“The Difficulty of the Golden Rule” (7:12). “The Faith that Conquers Fear” (8:26a). I. The Meaning of Fear: Lack of faith—in the presence of Christ—his compassion—his power. II. The Meaning of Faith: Conquest of fear about self—loved ones—the unknown future. Conclusion: Bring the hearer face to face with the living Christ. Lead to accept him now.
When you keep to the basic idea of each chosen paragraph, note the variety, with divine power and human interest. “The Healing of His Seamless Dress” (9:21). “The Way Christ Gives Restfulness” (11:28–30, part). Where feasible, present tenses! “The Members of Christ’s Family Now” (12:50). Save the parables (13 and 25) for an evening series, or two.
“The Way Christ Feeds the Hungry” (14:20). “The Way Men Talk about Jesus” (16:14–16, part). Men do so talk! I. The Best of Human Beings: Popular Evangelist—Flaming Reformer—Saintly Seer—Tireless Teacher. All true! II. The One We Worship as God: The Higher Truth—Held by the Church—Approved by Christ—The Heart of Christianity. If too much, two sermons! At least once a year, a message about his deity. Do not argue!
“The Forgiveness of Deadly Wrongs” (18:21). This duty, once a year. “The Lord Blessing Little Children” (19:14). “The Meaning of a Man’s Religion” (22:37–39). I. Love Your God Supremely. II. Your Neighbor Largely. III. Yourself Last. Your neighbor is the man who needs you.
“The Fact of the Final Return” (24:24). “The Supper in Light from the Cross” (26:28). In the New Testament the stress falls on the Communion with reference to Calvary. Because of blindness here, many suffer spiritual anemia (1 Cor. 11:23). “The Person Christ Did Not Spare” (27:42a). Palm Sunday: “The Coming of Christ to Our City,” or Community (21:9). Week-night messages from the Gospel: “Companions of the Cross.” Make much of Calvary!
“The Easter Remedy for Our Fears” (28:5–7, part). As often elsewhere, repeat the whole text; then stress a part that shines. After the resurrection of Christ, in the New Testament not a pessimistic note from the lips of a believer! Let it be so in these sermons, and in all public worship. Since the layman at home has been reading the Gospel background in prayer, waste no time getting started. The layman will find that if he wishes to make the most of the sermons he should read the Book in private and pray.
The effectiveness of such preaching, under God, depends largely on the pastor’s joint living with the Gospel three months or more, to receive the radiance of the Living Christ so as to reflect it through the sermon on those who hear.
ANDREW W. BLACKWOOD
… When Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matt. 7:28, 29).
Here the foremost expository preacher of our time closes the second volume of his Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. Looking at the extended passage as a whole he stresses the Authority of Christ’s Person, as this high truth concerns the hearer or reader.
I. The Authority of Christ’s Person. The authority of the Sermon derives from the Speaker. The Teacher is more important than what he taught. The Man who spoke these words was the only-begotten Son of God. Throughout the Sermon our Lord continually calls attention to himself. All the instructions become focused together in him.
Our Lord’s contemporaries were amazed at his teaching, not after the manner of the scribes. The scribes quoted authorities, and never uttered any original thoughts. They were experts, quoting other experts, thus giving an impression of learning and culture. There was a freshness about Christ’s teaching, as well as a sense of confidence and certainty. And so he speaks today. About himself he makes a tremendous pronouncement. He claims unique authority.
II. The Authority over Christians. Believers are to be a very special and unique people. Because of their relationship to him they are to become the salt of the earth, the light of the world. Here is the whole doctrine of the rebirth. Thus he is asserting his unique deity and his saviourhood. He is the long-expected Messiah. As such he is ever saying, “I am come.” This is no mere human teacher. This is the Son of God, sinless, absolutely perfect, who is to be the Judge of the world.
Ere we leave the Sermon on the Mount I ask a question both simple and profound. What is your response to it all? The response must go beyond astonishment. In the Sermon our Lord condemns all trust in human endeavor. He is saying that in the sight of God we are all condemned sinners, and that we cannot save ourselves. We all need a new birth, a new nature, a new life.
He is God’s Man. All who belong to him are going to become like him. That is astounding doctrine, but true in him. We know that he died for us, and that our sins are forgiven. His Spirit is working in us, revealing our shortcomings and imperfections, creating in us new longings and aspirations.
Above all, in the midst of life, with its trials and problems, against all its uncertainties in this atomic age, with the certain fact of death and the final judgment, one can say with Paul: “… I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Dedicated to assisting the clergy in the preparation of sermons, the feature titled The Minister’s Workshop appears in the first issue of each month. The section’s introductory essay is contributed alternately by Dr. Andrew W. Blackwood and Dr. Paul S. Rees. The feature includes, also, Dr. Blackwood’s abridgments of expository-topical sermons, outlines of significant messages by great preachers of the past, and outlines of abridgments of messages presented by expository preachers of our own time.—ED.
… What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. 16:26).
Here “the Shakespeare of divines” deals with a human soul in terms of profit and loss. Unlike many a sermon today, this long discourse has a positive approach to a positive Gospel, and thus leads up to a climactic negative. Can anyone now improve on the order?
I. The Untold Capacity of the Soul. Among all the handiwork of God nothing human begins to compare with the soul of a man. This He made in his own likeness, with untold capacities for bliss here below, and vastly more in heaven. Meanwhile he wishes the spirit to grow more and more into his likeness, in mastery of the life that he has given, and making ready for the life to come.
II. The Lord’s Appraisal of a Soul. To see how much God values a soul, consider the price he has paid to set it free from sin, and also free to grow into the likeness of God. The Father valued your soul at the price of the Redeemer’s blood, with shame and torture for the Son of God. So much does the Father now value a single soul that he would not have anyone venture its loss, if thereby he could gain control of the entire world.
How much more does the Father grieve when a person hazards his soul for the sake of trifles that vanish with the using!
III. The Sinner’s Folly in Such Loss. Consider what it means to lose your soul. About such a loss our Lord and his disciples use tragic words: “forever”—“eternal”—“everlasting”—“the never-dying worm”—“the fire unquenchable.” Fire can never express the torment of an accursed soul, but we can guess at the meaning through the terror of an outraged conscience. For the purchase of a little, trifling portion of the world you may come into the place of torment. Remember the sentence that God has passed on all mankind: “… It is appointed men once to die, but after this the judgment.…”
He therefore is a huge fool who heaps up riches, who greedily pursues the world, and at the same time “heaps up for himself wrath against the day of wrath.” When sickness and death arrest him, then all these things seem unprofitable, and he becomes extremely miserable. If you would know how miserable, take account of the killing rhetoric in Scripture: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” “Who can dwell with the everlasting burning?” (From the History and Depository of Pulpit Eloquence, ed. by Henry C. Fish, 1856, I: 566–81.)
Andrew W. Blackwood:
Christ’S Gift Of Restfulness
Come unto me … and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28).
“My Lord taught me a long while ago to live without worry, work without hurry, and look forward without fear.” So said a leading churchman, during World War I when countless other leaders were busy and troubled about many things. How can each of you as a believer enter into restfulness like that of our Lord on his way up to Jerusalem, there to die?
I. Christ Gives Restfulness through Worship. In every time of worship, public or private, first get right with God. Then begin at once to enjoy what others seem only to endure. Through song and prayer, the readings and the sermon, mount up as with eagle wings and capture the secrets of the stars. Among those secrets be sure to find peace and hope, with many blessed foretastes of heavenly joy. What an ideal for worship as a transforming experience with Christ Jesus on the mountain of privilege!
II. Christ Gives Restfulness through Work. “Take my yoke.” A yoke enables a beast of burden to do more work, better work, doing it gladly and well. What a word picture of “effortless mastery,” with powers more than sufficient because they come from God! Hence Paul could say without boasting; “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” No wonder he appears to have been the master workman of our race, and therefore much like his Lord. For recent object lessons in working without worry or hurry or godless fear, read Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, written by the two that knew him best, and loved him most, not least because of his total life work, devoid of inner friction.
III. Christ Gives Restfulness through Waiting. He wishes each one here to do the waiting. In his own good time he will do the giving, and that in Gospel measure. He would not have any of us wait until heaven before entering into the serenity of our God. “Learn of me.” Enroll in his school. Take the assigned course, really an elective that many a would-be believer tries to dodge, because difficult.
To learn of him means in part to live with his Book in the spirit of prayer. To know him so well and love him so much that everyday living will become an opportunity to go about doing good in ways of his own choosing. As for restfulness do not trouble your heart about that. It comes as a gift from above, and it tarries as long as one abides in the Lord Jesus: “Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.” Ah, but only for one who has been born again, and now lives by faith in Christ. On these terms, my friend, begin now to enjoy Christ’s restfulness.
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:30).
A first-class hymn consists of Bible truth set to music. For the sake of variety preach an occasional sermon about such a Gospel message. Let the stress fall, not on the author of the words and the composer of the music, but on Gospel truth.
So turn to the successive stanzas of the hymn that we have just sung: “There is a green hill far away.” Here a gifted young Irish woman guides boys and girls in what to believe and sing about the death of our Redeemer. Simplicity!
I. The First Part Sings about the Place of the Cross. In the Bible a place may mean much. A. The garden, a place of beauty, shows what God does for us mortals, in the most beautiful season of the year, springtime in the Holy Land!
B. The Cross shows the tragedy of what we sinners do to God. The place outside the city wall tells of stigma. The Cross shows the worst that earth and hell can devise to thwart the plans of the Heavenly Father. “Forgive them!”
II. The Puzzle of the Cross. To childlike souls the Cross means mystery and wonder. A. Little can we mortals know about what the Redeemer endured. So let us not dare to take away the mystery. B. But we ought to know why he suffered on the Cross. This we should lead our boys and girls to sing.
III. The Purpose. The heart of all we believe. A. He died to insure the pardon of our sins. B. To make us good, as redeemed children of God. C. To prepare us for living with him forever in glory. What amazing truth for boys and girls, and for all of God’s redeemed children!
IV. The Person. The most important stanza; also the one we often omit! A. The Sinlessness of our Saviour! The absence of moral evil. The presence of all good, as only God is good. B. The Power of the Redeemer. Power to open the gates of heaven itself. Power to lead us, one by one, into the unseen City of God.
V. The People. The simplest practical tests of our being Christians. A. Love for Christ as our Redeemer. B. Trust in him as our Divine Helper. C. Obedience to him as our Lord and Master.
Commit this hymn to memory. Teach it to boys and girls, and to others. Use it in bringing them, one by one, to the Christ of the Cross, there to find pardon, cleansing, and peace, with the joy that the world can not give, or take away.
For variety, on weekday nights before Easter, except on Saturday, have a series of messages from favorite hymns about Calvary. Through the bulletin early in Lent ask the layman to check on the bulletin four such hymns that he loves best. In order to keep from anything second-rate, print only the titles of such songs in the Church Hymnal. Then add one more, both difficult and glorious, for the layman to learn.
At the beginning of the pastorate in Columbus, Ohio, we were trying to build up a “never was” evening congregation. At the first service with a sermon from a hymn, we had more people than ever before at night. From evening to evening the attendance increased, and never again did it slide back to what it had been before.
As a whole such a series lends itself to publicity. On a printed postal card, in a newspaper advertisement, as in the bulletin, the series appears intact. The titles of the hymns do not appear. Let the layman search the book so as to identify each song. Here they run as follows: “Beneath the Cross”; “There Is a Green Hill”; “When I Survey”; “O Sacred Head”; “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken.” The Gospel in Hymns about the Cross
The Shelter of the Cross
The Simplicity of the Cross
The Survey of the Cross
The Sublimity of the Cross
The Service of the Cross
Thank God for hymns about the Cross!
