Gibbs - The Preacher and His Preaching

The Preacher and His Preaching

Alfred P. Gibbs

Published by:

ECS Ministries

PO Box 1028

Dubuque, IA 52004-1028

phone: (563) 585-2070

email:

website: www.ecsministries.org

Printed 2002

Reprinted 2010

ISBN 978-1-59387-124-6

Code: W-PHP

Copyright 2002, 2010 ECS Ministries

Cover design by Benjamin Bredeweg

Graphics by John Bjorlie and Benjamin Bredeweg

Previously published by Walterick Publishers 2002.

All rights in this book are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any manner, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system including the Internet without written permission from the publisher. Permission is not needed for brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version.

Printed in the United States of America

This book is
affectionately dedicated
to my very good friends
and fellow laborers in the gospel :
the late

M R . AND M RS . G EORGE L ESLIE
of Johannesburg, South Africa ;

whose faithful service, prayerful interest, friendly criticism,
and practical fellowship in the work of the Lord, have made them
a succourer of many, and of myself also

(Rom. 16:2).

Christian Baptism

A Dreamer and His Dream

Gods Good News

Introduction to a Study of Church Truth

The Lords Supper

Through the Scriptures

Worship: The Christians Highest Occupation

I have read with interest and appreciation the proofs of this book, The Preacher and His Preaching. For some years it was my privilege to conduct Homiletic classes at the Guelph Summer Bible School and at Hamilton, and it is my opinion that this book would make an excellent textbook for such classes, which are now being held in an increasing number of centers.

As in the case with all of Mr. Gibbs books, much material is packed into small space, and each chapter contains a wealth of helpful suggestions. The illustrations of the various types of sermons are invaluable.

Needless to say, this book will be a boon not only to Homiletic classes, but to the many exercised young people who are not fortunate enough to have such opportunities. It is a real pleasure to write the foreword and to send it on its way with the earnest wish that it may fall into the hands of all young men who have a heart stirred to sound forth the Word of Life.

H. G. Lockett

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

March, 1939

A third edition has become necessary, and is sent forth, still further revised, and with more material added.

This includes a very fine article by the late Dr. Norman Bartlett, of the staff of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. It originally appeared in The Moody Monthly , and is here reproduced, in its entirety, with his most kind permission. It is indeed a valuable contribution to the subject of this volume.

While this edition was being prepared for publication, my good friend, Albert E. Horton, missionary for many years in Portuguese West Africa, wrote an excellent series of articles entitled The Teaching, Interpretation and Application of Scripture . These appeared in The Witness , of London, England. With Mr. Hortons very kind permission, these splendid articles have been added, as an appendix, to this volume. They should be read in connection with Chapter Twelve.

I am also indebted to my good friend, J. H. Manins, of New Zealand, for the extracts from his article entitled The Delivery of the Sermon , found in Chapter Thirty-five.

The title of this book has been changed from A Primer on Preaching , to The Preacher and His Preaching . It goes forth with the same desire as the previous editions, the glory of the Lord, and the edification of His people.

A.P.G.

Chicago, Illinois

1951

Again it is our privilege to issue another edition of this book. The commendation of such valued magazines as Light and Liberty, The Sunday School Times, The Witness (England), and The Moody Monthly has been most encouraging.

This fifth edition is published to the glory of the One whose incarnation, life, words, substitutionary death, resurrection and glorification have made both the salvation of the preacher and the preaching of the Gospel of the grace of God possible.

A. P. G.

Waynesboro, Georgia

1964

This Present Edition has been strengthened with several new footnotes. Also in Chapter Twenty-nine I used brackets, [ ], to add a few choice volumes to the list of recommended books. Those footnotes not authored by A. P. Gibbs are identified as written by the editor. We also add subject and Scripture indexes. We strictly held our changes in the body of the manuscript to grammatical matters, or slight layout issues, except where we discovered a citation error, or as in an inappropriate illustration used in Chapter Thirty-three which we elected to delete. I want to personally thank the workers at Walterick Publishers for their vision and perseverance in seeing this project through. Rosa Lea Williams and Athena Thomas were a great help. Mrs. Jean Jarrett and Rodney Geigers proofing was invaluable. Also, this project would have never been put into a digital format without the sacrifices of Patrick Carder, Don Herrington, Dave and Steve Price, and Andy Ott. And finally, to Bob and Kazue Price, my heartfelt thanks for their generosity, hospitality and wise counsel.

May the living Lord be pleased to use this volume to prepare the next generation to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ.

J OHN B JORLIE

Grand Rapids, MI

October, 2002

THERE can surely be no question as to the tremendous importance, and the paramount need for the prayerful preparation and the effective presentation of the gospel message. This is a matter of concern, not only to the Church of God in general, but to each Christian in particular.

We are faced with the painful fact that the hand of death is thinning the ranks of the older preachers. One by one their nerveless hands have relinquished the Gospel torch they carried so faithfully during their lifetime. Who is to take the place of these tried and trusty veterans, and bring the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ to those who sit in the darkness of sin, ignorance, indifference, superstition and unbelief? There is obviously only one answer to this question. The younger believers must fill up the gaps in the ranks of this gallant army.

To each believer comes the unmistakably clear command of his Lord and Master: Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). With the object of aiding young Christians to fulfill this divinely given task, this book has been written. It is intended primarily for beginners, and has purposely been made simple, so that the young believer may readily understand the elementary principles governing the preparation and presentation of the gospel message. Should a fuller treatment of the subject be desired, there are many good books available. Broadus, on The Preparation and Delivery of Sermons , will prove invaluable.