Over the past months, I’ve done a series of conversations on preaching with my friend Dr. Ken Jones. Together we sketched out 9.5 Theses on Preaching. Ken is also my partner on the Iowa Preachers Project.
Here is our conversation on Thesis #8:
Only preachers who have suffered under the judgment of the law and been freed from it by the proclamation of the gospel are able to hand on what they were first given to people in similar straits.
Show Notes
Summary
In this conversation, Jason and Ken explore the eighth thesis on preaching, emphasizing that only those who have experienced the judgment of the law and have been freed by the gospel can effectively preach to others. They discuss the craft of preaching, likening it to learning a language, and stress the importance of personal experience and emotional engagement in delivering the gospel. The conversation also touches on the challenges of relevance in preaching, the necessity of understanding God through the gospel, and the significance of timing in delivering messages. In this conversation, Ken Sundet Jones and Jason explore the nature of preaching, emphasizing the importance of truth over relevance, the eschatological aspect of the gospel, and the absurdity of divine operation. They critique topical preaching and discuss the significance of language in conveying the gospel's promise. The conversation also touches on the themes of Advent and the role of scripture in preaching, ultimately highlighting the necessity of experiencing the gospel as a transformative force in the lives of believers.
Takeaways
Preaching is a craft that can become an art.
Compelling preaching must be existentially true for the preacher.
Learning to preach is akin to learning a language.
The gospel must be spoken in a way that shapes identity.
Preachers should not just dispense wisdom but share personal experiences.
Suffering under the law is essential for understanding the gospel.
Emotional content is crucial in preaching.
The distinction between the Bible and scriptures is important.
Relevance in preaching can lead to burnout.
Timing in preaching can significantly impact the message. God operates in ways that can seem absurd to us.
Preaching should prioritize truth before relevance.
Advent should be viewed as a season of declaration, not preparation.
The power of scripture lies in its ability to speak for itself.
The gospel is a definite article, not just one of many options.
Topical preaching can detract from the essence of the gospel.
Understanding the eschatological nature of the gospel is crucial for preaching.
Resurrection is meant for those who have experienced death.
Preaching should focus on the transformative power of the gospel.
The gospel is aimed at those who are not self-sufficient.
Sound Bites
"The law accuses and kills."
"The gospel has to enter in."
"I want more of the gospel."
"The preacher is a drowning man."
"The timing of preaching is crucial."
"Preaching has to be urgent."
"God operates in absurd ways."
"Preaching must be true first."
"Advent is a season of declaration."
"Let scripture be itself."
"The gospel is a definite article."
"Resurrection comes for the dead."
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