Practical Preaching

Often congregations complain if preaching is not practical. The gospel it seems is lacking in practicality to the modern mind.

We are very foolish in regard to practicality. There is nothing more practical than the gospel since all ethical life flows from our union to the gospel.

I suppose we often treat the gospel as something like basic math which can be learned and then after mastered simply recalled when needed. But spiritual things are not like that. It is not simply information that is to be recalled but something active by which our life is constantly guided.

This is why Paul said he wished to know nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. Our fallen nature makes it so we need to be constantly reminded of the truth of the gospel.

We need to be guided by the gospel at every moment. You see all the practical elements of the Christian life are grounded in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

There is nothing more practical than the gospel whether or not we understand the fact. The gospel is not something that can be mastered at one time, but something which we must return to constantly to be reminded of God's goodness to us.