Earthiness, Simplicity, and Plainness

The point: Purchase and listen to the lecture on how long to preach, as it contains workable suggestions and principles.

The incarnation of Christ, born in humble, earthy circumstances, serves as the fundamental paradigm for preaching, showing that heaven has come down to earth.

It must do its work in the theater of the real world of real human existence in which there are broken homes, broken vows, broken lives, political and social upheaval, inflation, recession, a world in which kids have homework, exams, peer pressures, passing and failing, etc., etc. And therefore, effective preaching is preaching which in its choice of language, its illustrations, its analogies, and its applications makes it clear that heaven indeed has come down to earth in the proclamation of the word of God. The incarnation, the incarnation of the eternal word, our Lord Jesus Christ, should a...

2:45 - 4:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Purchase and listen to the lecture on how long to preach, as it contains workable suggestions and principles.

Martin contrasts a fantastical, sanitized view of Christ's birth (Mary singing lullabies, Jesus born clean with a glow) with the true, earthy reality of the incarnation, arguing preaching should avoid such sanctimonious detachment.

Now that's exactly what our preaching ought to have as its fundamental paradigm. Though he was the Lord of heaven who came from heaven, in the incarnation, there was such identification with us in our true human condition that scripture does not scruple to say he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. He was in every sense made like unto us, sin accepted. So by earthiness, I'm speaking of that preaching that doesn't have a sanctimonious, ecclesiastic, fantastical halo around it. I'm speaking of that preaching that does not take the things of God and do with it what people have done with the...

4:21 - 5:37 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But rather we want truth so to be spoken as to have our ideas stand naked under the blazing light of the new world. Noon, day, sun, on a cloudless day, so that none can fail to see our ideas but those who deliberately an…

A quote from Bishop Ryle emphasizes that effective 18th-century preachers prioritized being understood by the common people, crucifying their style and sacrificing reputation for learning.

And again Bishop Ryle emphasizes this principle with regard to the preachers who were mightily used of God in the 18th century. He says on page 24 of 18th century leaders with respect to all of them they preached simply. They rightly concluded that the very first qualifications to be aimed at in the sermon is to be understood. They saw clearly that thousands of able and well composed sermons are utterly useless because they are above the heads of their hearers.

7:19 - 7:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Labor to have two working sets of vocabulary and intellectual furniture: one for study and one for communicating to people.

Augustine's maxim about a wooden key being more useful than a golden one if it opens the door, illustrates that utility in communication surpasses aesthetic beauty.

And like their divine master they borrowed lessons from every object in nature. They carried out the maxim of Augustine. A wooden key is not so beautiful as a golden one. But if it can open the door where the golden one cannot it is far more useful.

8:13 - 8:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Labor to have two working sets of vocabulary and intellectual furniture: one for study and one for communicating to people.

Luther's quote about being willing to preach in a manner that seems 'childish and vulgar' (meaning accessible to the common person) highlights the necessity of simplicity for effective popular preaching.

They revived the style of sermons in which Luther and Latimer used to be so eminently successful. In short they saw the truth of what the great German reformer meant when he said quote no one can be a good preacher to the people who is not willing to preach in a manner that seems childish and vulgar to some. Not vulgar in the sense of unclean but vulgar in the sense that the common riffraff can possess it. Luther said no one can be a good preacher to the people who is not willing to preach in a manner that seems childish and vulgar to some.

8:34 - 9:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Labor to have two working sets of vocabulary and intellectual furniture: one for study and one for communicating to people.

Jesus' shift from enigmatic language ("Lazarus is fallen asleep") to plain speech ("Lazarus is dead") serves as a clear illustration of what Martin means by plainness – the opposite of obscurity.

deliberately spoken in veiled and what we might say enigmatic language. Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep. He did not plainly tell them he was dead. He used imagery, language language. He used imagery. He used imagery. He used imagery. He used imagery. He used language that could have meant something other than the dark naked reality. And in contrast between verse 11 and verse 13, the Holy Spirit says, Now, verse 14, Lazarus is dead. And in that very contrast, we have what I regard to be a most helpful illustration of what I mean by plainness. It is the opposite of obscurity and vagueness.

10:11 - 11:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Labor to have two working sets of vocabulary and intellectual furniture: one for study and one for communicating to people.

Spurgeon's cavalier statement that he blames the preacher if he can't understand a sermon after five minutes underscores the preacher's responsibility for clarity.

It is a matter of holy bluntness. Plain preaching is preaching in which the listener must labor not to understand it rather than labor to understand it. Spurgeon said in a very cavalier way, If I give my attention to a man for five minutes and can't understand him, I never blame myself. I blame the preacher. Well, I think he's right. It's serious, intelligent, spiritually intelligent listeners. Labor to understand us, and they do not. The fault lies with us. And if we are to preach with earthiness, simplicity, and plainness of speech, we will have to labor at it. Because

11:02 - 11:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that this style is scriptural, first by God's own communication in the common languages of Hebrew and Koine Greek. Secondly, he highlights Jesus' preaching, marked…

Isaiah's comparison of human righteousness to 'menstruous cloths' is given as a vivid example of the prophets' earthiness and bluntness, challenging modern sensibilities.

When we turn to the prophets, we do find enigmas in apocalyptic visions, sections of Ezekiel and Daniel and the book of the Revelation. And they are deliberately ambiguous in their nature as far as their specific details are concerned. But when addressing their contemporaries in exposing sin, calling them to repentance and reformation and to covenant fidelity, pleading that they return to Jehovah as their God, there was an earthiness, borderlessness, which makes us in our consecutive reading through the Old Testament at times wonder if we should read what's there. Isaiah did not say that all o...

16:41 - 17:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that this style is scriptural, first by God's own communication in the common languages of Hebrew and Koine Greek. Secondly, he highlights Jesus' preaching, marked…

Malachi's prophecy about spreading the 'dung of your feast upon your faces' is cited as another example of God's earthy and plain speaking through the prophets.

prophet, they're like a pile of menstruous cloths. God says through Malachi, I'll spread the dung of your feast upon your faces. Malachi 2.3. That's pretty earthy. You people sitting around sting when you ought to be. Fasting and mourning and seeking God. I'll take the very excess dung from your gluttony and I'll spread it on your faces. That's earthy, folks. That's plain speaking. We might say course. Psalm 50, God says that he will treat the wicked like an enraged lion. He said, I will tear them in peace. Brethren, that's blunt. That's plain. That's vivid. That's

17:55 - 18:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that this style is scriptural, first by God's own communication in the common languages of Hebrew and Koine Greek. Secondly, he highlights Jesus' preaching, marked…

Martin contrasts Nathan's direct "You are the man" to David with a hypothetical, overly academic, and vague phrasing, illustrating the power of plain, blunt speech.

After Nathan used, this parable with David, suppose he had said, well, David, there is a certain homo sapien whose contemporary situation is quite analogous to my parabolic description. Upon thoughtful reflection and personal scrutiny, you may find yourself amazed at some of the striking similarities.

19:17 - 19:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Be willing to die to any determination to be known as elegant preachers and instead speak with earthiness so common people hear gladly.

Nicholas Murray's tribute to J.W. Alexander highlights how his cultivated simplicity was a charm everywhere except among the black congregation at Princeton, who mistook his extemporaneous, simple style for second-rate preaching, preferring written sermons as a sign of dignity.

to be known as elegant preachers and rather we must be willing to stand with our lord have the common people hear us gladly and speak play earthiness to our people there's a marvelous tribute paid to jw alexander by nicholas murray in one of those rare books that someone has put in my hands called preaching and preachers by nicholas murray this is what he says of jw alexander he was a student of rare industry the evidence of this we have in the number of languages he acquired in his published works in the sermons he preached each of which seemed to be a model in their way and exhaustive of the...

23:15 - 24:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise much self-denial and labor to push through muddled thinking to achieve clarity in preaching.

The analogy of a marathon runner hitting a wall illustrates the self-denial and labor required to push through muddled thinking to achieve clarity in preaching.

if you are to be a plane Ernie simple you must die to get a reputation as being an elegant 즐ally it will cost you much self-denial in labor to be a plane will cost you much Self-denial Often the lack of clarity in our preaching Is the result of an unwillingness To work through the barrier of muddled thinking You know what I mean by the barrier of our own muddled thinking? And we say, well I have a general conception of that And I'll just trust that somehow When I try to articulate It'll come out in such a way That people will understand No, what we've done is we've hit the wall As the runner h...

25:55 - 27:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise much self-denial and labor to push through muddled thinking to achieve clarity in preaching.

Bishop Ryle's experience of being thrust among simple, uneducated people forced him to cultivate a plain style, which made his sermons enduringly loved by common people, unlike more elegant pulpiteers of his day.

We don't push through the wall To the 26th mile And brethren, it'll cost us Much self-denial and labor If we are to be characterized By earthiness Simplicity And plainness of speech Bishop Ryle underscores this In his own experience Having in his background The disciplines to be a true scholar And to speak as a scholar He speaks of the tremendous blessing It was to be thrust among Simple people And people who were not formally educated And how it forced him to cultivate A simple and a plain style And long after some of the great pulpiteers Of the 19th century And there were some great pulpitee...

27:24 - 28:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise much self-denial and labor to push through muddled thinking to achieve clarity in preaching.

Jesus' opposition from religious leaders is attributed to his plain speaking, which made truth accessible to common people, threatening the leaders' following and leading to envy.

As long as religious truth Floats by people In terminology And in concepts And in a manner of speaking That the common people do not Nice religion will leave you alone Let the mass Common people begin to understand And then you're in trouble That's what got our Lord in trouble And with all accusations Brought before him at his trial I love that statement that says I mean Pilate wasn't confused by all of this It says he knew that for envy They had delivered him And that envy Is extremely Expressed in their own words They said what are we going to do The whole world We're losing our following Be...

28:53 - 30:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise much self-denial and labor to push through muddled thinking to achieve clarity in preaching.

Bunyan's struggle over printing Pilgrim's Progress and Owen's desire to preach like the 'tinker' illustrate the value and impact of earthy, simple preaching, even among scholars.

And this was not only true of our Lord It was true of Bunyan I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read his apology At the front of book one Pilgrim's Progress Where he struggles He's seeking counsel Shall I take my dream Which is flowered Far beyond anything I expected And printed Some said printed Some said printed not My wife and I had a good chuckle Reading that A couple of months ago When we started through Pilgrim's Progress together again No wonder Owen said I would ...

30:20 - 31:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise much self-denial and labor to push through muddled thinking to achieve clarity in preaching.

Spurgeon's early lampooning in newspapers for making profound doctrines accessible to shopkeepers and boot blacks demonstrates the opposition faced by those who break down religious terminology.

And this was not only true of our Lord It was true of Bunyan I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read this book I love to read his apology At the front of book one Pilgrim's Progress Where he struggles He's seeking counsel Shall I take my dream Which is flowered Far beyond anything I expected And printed Some said printed Some said printed not My wife and I had a good chuckle Reading that A couple of months ago When we started through Pilgrim's Progress together again No wonder Owen said I would ...

30:20 - 31:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not stereotype what earthiness, simplicity, and plainness mean; adapt your preaching style to the specific cultural setting and audience.

George Whitefield's different preaching styles when addressing Lady Huntington versus Welsh miners and English tradesmen illustrate the concept of 'sanctified elegance' and accommodation to different audiences.

I became as the Greek I became all things To all men That I might by all means Win some Secondly Do not despise Sanctified elegance In those situations Where it is warranted Whitefield speaking Before Lady Huntington Would be a different Whitefield From Whitefield Among the Welsh miners And the English tradesmen And we need that Sanctified accommodation And therefore I am not in any way Saying that we must have A wooden inflexible Standard Earthiness and simplicity And then do not Thirdly make the mistake Of thinking earthiness Simplicity and plainness Mean coarseness Vulgarity Simplistic or s...

34:43 - 36:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Expose your mind to good models of simplicity, clarity, and earthiness in preaching, both sacred and profane, learning the principles beneath their style.

Calvin's statement about never scrupling at offending Pharisees is used to justify not compromising plain truth for those who prefer stilted, empty religion over genuine hunger for truth.

People of refinement And culture Will not be offended If they are the true people of God Now if they are not And they don't have a hunger For the truth But they have an artificial standard Of what is and is not proper In a pulpit Then you may offend them And as Calvin said He said I never scruple At offending Pharisees I never scruple At offending Pharisees And if you've got Pharisees Who want stilted Empty religion With its proper forms And with its pre-cultivated Cast mold Offend them every Lord's day If necessary Well those words of caution And then finally Some materials to help us Some co...

36:10 - 37:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Expose your mind to good models of simplicity, clarity, and earthiness in preaching, both sacred and profane, learning the principles beneath their style.

Spurgeon's Victorian semi-poetic rhetoric is used as an example of a style that, while fragrant and good, might be out of place to imitate directly in a contemporary pulpit, emphasizing learning principles beneath the style.

People of refinement And culture Will not be offended If they are the true people of God Now if they are not And they don't have a hunger For the truth But they have an artificial standard Of what is and is not proper In a pulpit Then you may offend them And as Calvin said He said I never scruple At offending Pharisees I never scruple At offending Pharisees And if you've got Pharisees Who want stilted Empty religion With its proper forms And with its pre-cultivated Cast mold Offend them every Lord's day If necessary Well those words of caution And then finally Some materials to help us Some co...

36:10 - 37:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Listen to other preachers and learn from those who effectively hold the minds of their congregations through earthiness and simplicity.

J.I. Packer is cited as a contemporary model who, despite some recent trends, excels at expressing historical theology and biblical concepts in a contemporary idiom without sacrificing proven terminology.

Just as much as if I were to wear The kind of clothes That Spurgeon wore In the pulpit But learn Principle beneath What you're reading Bishop Ryle Brooks Flavel Bunyan And in our own day A writer like Packer With all of his solid scholarship Though I am concerned At some of the trends In his writings In recent days This is not a blanket endorsement Of Dr. Packer Yet in this area He can greatly help us He has learned how Without sacrificing The proven terminology Of historical theology And the And biblical concepts Yet he has learned How to take those things And express them In a contemporary i...

37:38 - 39:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Periodically read and re-read the best authors on the subject of simplicity and plainness in preaching to refresh your understanding and shore up weaknesses.

The experience of students realizing they've forgotten much from previous lectures, needing a 'refresher course,' illustrates the need for pastors to periodically re-read treatises on preaching to shore up weaknesses.

The best authors On the subject Periodically read Ryle's essay On simplicity and preaching Read Bridges His section on Plainness in preaching Re-read those Things periodically It's amazing As some of us The students have said They've come up to me And said Pastor I can see that the lectures Have undergone refinement And additions And the rest Since I heard them But I couldn't believe That I'd forgotten So many of those things It's been a refresher course Well we all need that Because in the labor The sheer pressure Of producing Week after week We can let a thread drop here And a thread drop th...

39:07 - 40:36 Read in full sermon