Preaching the Word
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the multifaceted role of the minister in effectively preaching to a diverse congregation within time constraints.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the multifaceted role of the Christian minister in 'Preaching the Word,' highlighting the necessity for the preacher to address a diverse audience, including the young, old, educated, and uneducated, all within a limited timeframe. He acknowledges the challenge of delivering a message that calls sinners to repentance while also comforting the weary and instructing the faithful. Tozer suggests that while this task may seem overwhelming, it is a reflection of the intricate design of God's purpose in preaching. He calls for ministers to rise to this challenge, likening them to the rare figure of Daniel in a modern context. Ultimately, Tozer encourages preachers to embrace their calling with confidence, knowing that God equips them for this vital work.
Text
Again, the Christian minister must have a word from God for the teen-aged, the middle-aged and the very aged. He must speak to the scholar as well as to the ignorant; he must bring the living Word to the cultured man and woman and to the vulgarian who reads nothing but the sports page and the comic strip. He must speak to the sad and to the happy, to the tender-minded and to the tough-minded, to those eager to live and to some who secretly wish they could die. And he must do this all in one sermon and in a period of time not exceeding 45 minutes.
Surely this requires a Daniel, and Daniels are as scarce in the United States as in Babylon in 600 B.C.
To add to the pastors burden is the knowledge that in each service there will likely be a few lost sons who should come home, some who never loved God at all and some who lost the love they had. So he must call sinners to repentance, warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, instruct, reprove, rebuke, encourage, console and exhort all at the same time, or at least on the same day. This is the situation stated baldly, but it is not actually as difficult as it looks. I said that the preacher appears to be at cross purposes with himself; but it is in appearance only, for what seems to be confusion is but the seamy side of the tapestry. The artistic pattern is on the other side.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The necessity of addressing diverse audiences - The challenge of time constraints - The role of the minister in various life stages
- II points: - The importance of delivering a living Word - Reaching both the educated and the uneducated - Speaking to the emotional spectrum of the congregation
- III points: - The call for repentance - The need for comfort and encouragement - The balance of instruction and reproof
- IV points: - The perception of confusion in preaching - Understanding the underlying artistic pattern - The preacher's dual role in ministry
Key Quotes
“Surely this requires a Daniel, and Daniels are as scarce in the United States as in Babylon in 600 B.C.” — A.W. Tozer
“He must call sinners to repentance, warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, instruct, reprove, rebuke, encourage, console and exhort all at the same time.” — A.W. Tozer
“What seems to be confusion is but the seamy side of the tapestry.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Ministers should strive to understand the varied backgrounds and needs of their congregation.
- Sermons should be crafted to provide a balance of comfort, challenge, and instruction.
- Recognizing the complexity of preaching can help ministers find clarity in their message.