Preaching Today

David Gay writes: 'I say that something is wrong with preaching today. Badly so. It is largely ineffectual. Or so it seems to me. Ineffectual? Judging by results - the fewness and quality of conversions and the low spirituality of the local assembly - preaching today does seem pretty ineffectual to me. This is the issue I want to raise... In publishing anything on this subject, of course, I know I shall inevitably condemn myself, and leave myself wide open to warranted censure. Quite rightly, Christ's words to the Jews will be applied to me: "You will surely say this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself '" (Luke 4:23). And James 3:1 hits me straight between the eyes. As does Romans 2:17-23 and 1 Timothy 1:7. So let me get my "defence" in first. In what follows, I... do not exempt myself... Do not run away with the idea that what I say in these pages means I think I have attained to the standard I set out, and successfully avoid all the mistakes I condemn. Sadly, I am only too aware - embarrassingly conscious - of my failings in these matters. Indeed, to avoid a greater sense of self-condemning hypocrisy, I could remain silent now. It is only the importance of the issue which drives me on, even though I expose myself to justified criticism. Dismiss me if you will, but weigh my words. You never know - there might be something in what I say. Please remember my chosen subtitle: "Food for Action as well as Thought". It might just be...'. For a free audiobook of the author reading this title, go to davidhjgay.com