Philip Arthur Bence PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

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work," ". . . of prayer," ". . . marked by a great
humility," ". . . of authority" (A key component of
'authority' is 'living personal experience.'), and ". . .
on fire for Chr1st." 44° The preacher has "chosen a
vocation . . . which more than any other calling in the
world depends upon the quality of life and the total
witness of character which by the grace of God a man may
bring to it.'"
As stated above, Stewart valued the systematic
preaching of Christian truth, not for its own sake, but
for the transformation it effected in persons. And,
likewise, although Stewart continually repeats the
importance of message content, he does not neglect the
significance of sermon form.
To argue that, because the message in itself is
so all—important, we can afford to ignore the
mere form of its presentation, would be
arbitrary and wrong—headed. On the contrary,
it is precisely because the message entrusted
to us is of such paramount importance that we
should labour at it day and night, sparing no
pains to become skilled in our craft and to
make the earthen vessel as worthy as we can of
the treasure it contains."421
What principles guide the creation of preaching
"vessels?" First, we recall Stewart's premise that a
sermon should "please its hearers." 3 A preacher who
considers his people as he prepares, constructs sermons
that grip and maintain congregational interest.'" 4 To
do this, he employs "simple and direct" language
appropriate to the hearers.' . "--5 He selects word
pictures that clarify the abstract truth. '"=. The