At one point in his session this morning, Alistair Begg shared an aside: "If I go to preach somewhere one more time, and I'm standing in the green room and someone comes up, slaps me on the back, and says, 'Go get 'em!' I don't know what I'm going to do! What do they think I'm doing out there? What do they think we as preachers are doing?" His point was that there is an incredible weight to preaching, a burden. We are, after all, working toward a "Spirit-filled, BIble-based, Christ-exalting message that God would consecrate to his service" (Begg's definition). We are yielding to the Spirit's work to offer persuasive words to stubborn wills. Not easy. Not something to be taken lightly. A responsibility that ought to make us tremble.
This was a challenging word that was a nice extension to some of what Dr. Lennox raised last night. Begg spent the morning reminding us about the gravity of our task as preachers (and John Piper is currently riffing on the same sorts of ideas). Begg spoke of the expectations given those who teach. He spoke of Hell - something from which we often run screaming. He spoke of the urgency that ought to explode from our bellies and drive us as we preach. All of these things should give us pause as preachers - and then send us roaring like lions. What we offer is not work product. It is the turning over kingdoms, confronting ideologies and empty philosophies, it is throwing out life lines, saving lives.
I'm struggling to convey what this session was - and what it meant to me and those gathered here. I wish I could. I can only say that I hope this session is something most of you will eventually check out on the Truth for Life site. I think it will unlock something in you, encourage you, send you to your pulpits with some newfound passion. I think it would be a real shot in the arm if you feel worn down, confused, unsure. Check it out. More than anything else, I found it to be intellectually and textually stimulating, but above all else, incredibly pastoral to any pastor who is currently serving in the pulpit.
Posted by Brian Lowery at 10:40 AM on May 12, 2009
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