I earlier referred to Charles Bridges’ The Christian Ministry. His chapter entitled, “The Scriptural Preaching of the Gospel” is one of the most stirring and encouraging pieces I have read in a long time, and worth several posts. On the sufficiency of preaching the Gospel, he writes:

“Nothing but the truth of the Gospel can be instrumental in the conversion of souls. Any willful suppression – or any compromising statement of truth, dishonours the Holy Spirit in his own special office, and therefore restrains his quickening influence. Many earnest, affectionate and diligent Ministers, are mourning over the palpable unfruitfulness of their work; without all suspecting, that the root of evil lies within themselves. Sincerity, earnestness, conscientiousness, and self-denial, when connected with a wrong or defective standard of doctrine or practice, are means utterly disproportined to produce the moral miracle of a radical change.” (243)

“The root of evil lies within” the preachers themselves when we substitute any other means, any other gimmick or manipulation for the simple preaching of the Gospel. It is both futile and foolish to expect any heart-change within our people if we give them anything other than what Christ himself has commanded: the Gospel in all its stark, scandalous glory. May God help us to preach it.