For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.
1 Cor. 1:22-23
Preaching has fallen on hard times. Multi-media presentations, internet viral videos, smart phone apps, and movies streaming to our computers; all these media platforms engage and distract our attention. We have constant electronic stimuli ready and available for our time and entertainment. By comparison, many find preaching boring and tedious. Yet, preaching is the instrument that God has ordained to win souls, to impart grace to the faithful, and to release the Holy Spirit as encouragement to hurting hearts.
Let the pastors boldly dare all things by the word of God . . . Let them constrain all the power, glory, and excellence of the world to give place to and to obey the divine majesty of this word. Let them enjoin everyone by it, from the highest to the lowest. Let them edify the body of Christ. Let them devastate Satan’s reign. Let them pasture the sheep, kill the wolves, instruct and exhort the rebellious. Let them bind and loose thunder and lightning, if necessary, but let them do all according to the word of God.
John Calvin, Sermons on the Epistle to the Ephesians, p. xii.
HT: Credo Magazine