Preaching and Preachers

CHAPTER SIXThe PreacherI WOULD REMIND you ~in of our method of approach to our subject.We are in a church se .ce, and we are looking at a man standing in apulpit and addressing eople. Having shown the all-importance ofpreaching and that this is the primary business and task of the Church,we have gone on to consider the two aspectsof preaching-the sermonand the actual act of preaching. I trust I have made it clear that, as Isee things at any rate, the two aspects are vitally important; you mustnot have the one without the other. Both are essential, and true;preaching consists in the right blending of these two elements.Proceeding now with this same approach, and still looking atpreaching in general, it seems to me that the next logical question toask is: Who is to do this? Who is to preach? Or in scriptural terms,'Who is sufficientfor these things ?', for the delivering of this messageas we have defined it, and in the manner which we have indicated?Here is a most important question, and especially today when somesay that we do not need the Church at all and talk about a 'religionlessChristianity'. But even amongst those who still believe in the Churchthis question needs to be asked, Who is to do this preaching?The first principle I would lay down is that all Christians areclearly not meant to do this, and that not even all Christian men aremeant to preach, still less the women! In other words we must considerwhat is called 'lay-preaching'. This has been practised verycommonly for a hundred years and more. Prior to that it was comparativelyrare, but it has become very common. It would be interest-100