If we believe that salvation comes by faith alone through Christ alone, how does that affect what happens in the pulpit of a Bible church, as opposed to the service at a Catholic Church? Martin Luther’s ministry answers that question. In many ways, Luther’s preaching shows us the doctrines of grace coming alive. It gave rise to what we now know as expositional preaching, which is worlds away from the sacramental liturgy which forms the backbone of the Catholic church.
David Larsen’s exceptional book, In the Company of Preachers, has a concise but powerful section on how Luther’s preaching changed the church for good. He calls Luther “the exponent of the gospel of grace,” and no where is this more clearly seen than in his preaching.
Larsen zeros in on Luther’s description of a gospel preacher, and I want to pass along his points here today (you can find them on page 159 of Larsen’s book). Here are Luther’s ten commandments for gospel preachers:
- Teach so people can follow you I (systematically).
- Have a good sense of humor.
- Be able to speak well.
- Have a good voice.
- Have a good memory.
- Know when to stop (be able to preach briefly).
- Be sure of your doctrine.
- Be ready to sacrifice all to the Word of God.
- Suffer oneself to be mocked and jeered at by all.
- Be ready to accept patiently the fact that nothing is seen more quickly in preachers than their fruits.
If you are preacher, a practical way to improve your preaching is to compare yourself to this list. Like the real ten commandments, we of course fall short. But, true to the gospel of grace, God uses even broken preachers to preach his perfect word.