I came across a quote from George Whitefield the other day. Whitefield was an Anglican preacher who lived in the mid 1700’s. Here is the quote:
“It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.”
These words encapsulate the purpose of gospel preaching. It is designed to convict. Now, not all sermons have the intent of causing such displeasure, but many do. So, the next time you are irritated at the preacher for what he said, consider the fact that he is supposed to rile you up, supposed to make you unhappy, supposed to convict you of sin. That’s his job. If he does it well, you are going to be unsettled by his words from time to time. The question is, will you be unhappy with him (the wrong reaction) or with yourself (the correct reaction)? Think about it…
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
(2 Timothy 4:1-5)
