“Systematic theology is taxing intellectually and spiritually, but preaching consistently well is in many respects more so, because it combines deep biblical-theological knowledge with sharp historical awareness, cultural sensitivity and unvarnished spiritual stature. Only thus will preaching impact the hearts, habits, opinions, affections, and lifestyles of individuals and communities with moral force and intellectual persuasion.”

When did you last hear a sermon that spent 50% of the time on application? J. I. Packer has insightfully analysed contemporary and historic approaches to preaching over his years as a pastor and scholar. In this featured article, drawn from the summer edition of Churchman, Benjamin Dean outlines Packer’s approach to preaching. Dean writes, “For Puritan homiletics Packer regards the following principles as axiomatic:

1) The ‘primacy of the intellect’ (hence the priority of teaching the word of God).
2) The ‘supreme importance of preaching’ (thus the imperative of substantial sermon preparation).
3) The ‘life-giving power of Holy Scripture’ (thus the centrality in pastoral work of feeding people with text-based address): ‘The only pastor worthy of the name…is the man whose chief concern is always to feed his people by means of his preaching with the enlivening truths of the word of God.’
4) The ‘sovereignty of the Holy Spirit’ (once suitable instruction and exhortation is supplied, it is God’s special arena to make the message effective in lives).”

Packer makes a careful distinction between preaching and teaching: “If preaching is one of the main public means by which God impacts lives, good preaching will necessarily make Christian teaching directly relevant for Christian living. It will deliver ‘God-taught information set forth with God-given freedom and forthrightness in a God-prompted application.’ It will be directed at the entire person and his or her whole being, ‘for whereas one lectures to clear heads and ripen minds, one preaches to change lives and save souls.’”

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