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Scholarly but Practical

by Bill Hall

The preaching of Christ and His apostles was scholarly, but practical. Scholarship was with them a means to an end, never an end in itself. Their goal in preaching was to change men, to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:28).

True scholarship among faithful preachers will tend to conceal itself. It will be hidden behind the cross of Christ and the preacher's own love for the souls of men. The true scholar does not have to call attention to himself. The true Christian will not do so.

No more scholarly work was ever written than the book of Romans. That book, however, is no mere irrelevant discussion of difficult passages that would impress the world with its scholarship. It is practical throughout, as Paul persuades men to seek for salvation, not through a system of law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.

Who would question the Lord's scholarship in His sermon on the mount? The beauty in that sermon, though, is to be found in its simplicity, its applicability, its straight-forwardness, its challenge to the consciences of men. These are qualities that have endeared it to its readers and wrought changes in the lives of millions of people.

The Bible abounds in examples of powerful preaching: Moses' "Let my people go," Joshua's "Choose...this day whom you will serve," Nathan's "You are the man," Elijah's "How long will you falter between two opinions?" Daniel's "You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting," John's "It is not lawful for you to have her," Peter's "God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Those who heard these preachers may not have raved of their scholarship, but they understood what they said, and were never really the same after having heard them.

We do not mean to discourage scholarship; we rather encourage it. No man should preach who has not sought diligently to "handle aright the word of truth." But, when one enters the pulpit, it's time to "reprove, rebuke, exhort" rather than to display brilliance. Scholarly, but practical preaching has always been the need, and it remains the need today. 

 Other Articles by Bill Hall
Discouraged of Men
No Fleshly Incentives
Shallow Thinking -- False Conclusions