characteristics of Edwards' sermons pt 1

For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (Malachi 4:1-2 ESV)

I have been reading the sermons (and other works) of Jonathan Edwards for many years now. Recently, a group I meet with discussed “Christ the Spiritual Sun” (preached by JE in May, 1739) from Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742 (WJE Online Vol. 22), ed. Harry S. Stout. As presenter at the meeting I sought to summarize several characteristics of Edwards’ sermons that I think we as preachers should emulate.

His preaching is Biblical preaching. One thing I have learned from Jonathan Edwards, and others like him, is that a preacher has no authority apart from the Word of God. And so he must lead with, proclaim, explain, and apply the Scriptures, rather than his own ideas. I really have no authority, nothing eternal or ultimately meaningful to say, if I don’t begin with, and stand upon, what God has revealed in his Word. His sermons are also replete with many other Scripture passages which support the points within his message. It is as Spurgeon spoke of John Bunyan, "Prick him anywhere—his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him."

It is doctrinal preaching. He does not, however, quote Scripture in a superfluous way. Edwards states his main idea as a succinct doctrine derived from the passage. But it is more than a “main idea”, as we often use the phrase. It is a truth to be examined and believed. It is an authoritative statement. And it is theological, because it leads us to think about God and our relationship to him. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "Men and women are chasing worthless vanities because they do not know God, His being and His attributes." Edwards always worked carefully through all the angles of the doctrine he stated -- the who and what, the how and why, the so-what, etc. -- of the doctrine. In this sermon JE brings the nature of Christ in one characteristic, that of “the Sun of righteousness,” (Mal. 4:1-2) to bear upon the two divergent destinies of believers and unbelievers.

So we must ask ourselves: Do we preach theologically? Does our main idea have the weight of divine authority? Are our sermons rich with insight about God? Do we preach on the attributes of God and their relation to each other and to God’s work of redemption? Do people sense, from our sermons, that life is about us, or about God?

More to come...

Photo above by RCPlains from Weather Underground.

clement quotes hebrews

Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth around AD 90. This is perhaps the same Clement, companion of Paul, mentioned in Philippians 4:3. Many hold him to be the first bishop / pope in Rome, aka St. Clement I. Clement quotes from the letter to the Hebrews. Origin suggested that Clement was in fact the writer (as transcriber or amanuensis) of Hebrews. Perhaps this letter began as a "word of exhortation" given by Paul at the synagogue (Heb 13:22; cf Acts 13:15) which then became a circular letter for the churches. Other possible authors of Hebrews include Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. The theology is Pauline, but the transcriber is obviously second-generation (Heb. 2:3-4). At any rate, this early church leader in Rome, is already quoting Hebrews in his letter in AD 90: CHAPTER 36 ALL BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Savior, even Jesus Christ, the High Prie...

Howard Hendricks on OT books chronology

When I was in seminary, Howard Hendricks (aka "Prof") gave us a little card with the books of the OT chronologically arranged. The scanned copy I have was a bit blurry and I wanted to make something like this available for our church class in OT theology ("Story of Redemption"). A few minor edits and here it is...

sword and trowel

"From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me." (Nehemiah 4:16-18 ESV) The great London preacher, Charles Spurgeon, published a monthly magazine called The Sword and The Trowel; A record of combat with sin and of labour for the Lord. It was published from 1865 to 1892. The cover of the journal had a drawing taken from Nehemiah 4, which included both a trowel (representing the work) and a sword (representing the fight). The sword was necessary to protect what the men with trowels were building. These citizen-soldier-builders would successfully complete the wall aroun...

my burg

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