When Practice meets Preaching Vol. 3

To Jonathan Edwards, the sermon was the path to changed behavior in the lives of the families to whom he ministered. The principles that he preached became the disciplines that his congregants practiced-- all with the goal of holy living.

Within this role as their local under-shepherd, Edwards sees his role as leader and teacher; one whom is tasked with telling the congregation what they must do. It’s not hard to imagine then, that the power to instruct and dictate behavior would by necessity come to include detailed points of application in both his lectures and sermons. And in fact, this was the case, both with specific groups within the church, such as youth, and with the congregation at large. The minister was to become both heat and light to his congregation. Edwards went on to say, “that his heart must burn with the love of Christ, and fervent desires of the advancement of the kingdom and glory, that his instruction be clear and plain, accommodated to the capacity of his hearers, and teaching to convey light to their understanding. To be clear then, his instructions must be successfully born out in practice, and practice that is consistent and intentionally driven toward the glory of God.

In a sermon preached on the occasion of the ordination of Robert Abercromie 1n 1744, Edwards argued that a minister so identified as a burning light, must execute his work in a true spirit of piety and zealousness. He continued by saying:

For he is a burning light; which implies that his spiritual heat and holy ardor is not for himself only, but is communicative and for the benefit of others… His fervent zeal, which has its foundations and spring in that holy and powerful flame of love to God and man, that is in his heart, appears in the fervency of his prayers to God, for his people; and in his earnestness, and power with which he preaches the word of God, declares to sinners their misery, and warns them to fly from the wrath to come, and reproves and testifies against all ungodliness; and unfeigned earnestness and compassion, with which he invites the weary and heavy laden to their Savior; and the fervent love with which he counsels and comforts the saints: and the holy zeal, courage, and steadfastness, with which he maintains the exercise of discipline in the house of God.7 (Edwards, Sermon on John 5:35)

In Edwards’ mind the minister must be willing and able to teach; the shining light exercises by the habit of teaching good doctrine and the application of that doctrine. Of interest to anyone in the ministerial profession is the definition of success as it pertains to the role he describes by the terms heat and light. Edwards suggests that, “this will be the way to promote true Christianity amongst his people, and to make them both wise and good, and cause religion to flourish among them in the purity and beauty of it." Edwards directed wise counsel to his young protégé by suggesting that his success would be in proportion to his being conversant in the Scriptures, specifically, his interest in seeking after the spiritual knowledge of Christ. Furthermore, by walking closely with God and spending the appropriate time in prayer, he would most successfully perform his duties. Reflecting on Edwards’ ministry, Kimnach argues that the ideal preacher is a “figure of commanding intellectual rigor and overwhelming rhetorical power; he strikes a blow for religion simultaneously in the heads and hearts of his auditors, though with an emphasis on the heart." 

According to Edwards, “he is both able to set forth the greatness of the
future misery of the ungodly; insisting on not only the outward, but on the inward and spiritual duties of religion; being much in declaring the great provocation and danger of spiritual pride, and a self-righteous disposition; yet much insisting on the necessity and importance of inherent holiness, and the practice of piety…" 10 (Ibid)

Stay tuned... MJC