Attitude, Manner, Goal

The point: Bring your Bible to church so you can visually see and hear the Word of God proclaimed.

Martin recounts preaching where no one had an open Bible, highlighting the tragedy of a congregation unable to verify the message and the importance of biblical literacy.

May I say, you don't know how much that means to a preacher to hear the rustling of Bible pages. I preached in a place recently where no one, I don't think there was a soul, but my wife and children, who had a Bible open while I was preaching.

0:09 - 0:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Bring your Bible to church so you can visually see and hear the Word of God proclaimed.

He shares Pastor Blaze's gratitude when congregants questioned his sermon from Genesis 3, illustrating the value of a people who 'check us as we preach' and the privilege of an open Bible.

My friends, it's a great privilege to have an open Bible and to have a ministry that encourages you to check out what the preacher is telling you from the passage. I can say this because he's not here tonight. Pastor Blaze mentioned to me how grateful he was last week in the light of certain principles that he enunciated from the Genesis 3 passage. Two, one or two?

0:44 - 1:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Look for the element of proclamation in a ministry, where the herald penetrates the mind of God in the scriptures and proclaims it.

Martin describes how people are often offended by authoritative proclamation, preferring dialogue or humble suggestions, which illustrates the counter-cultural nature of the minister's heraldic role.

And I find increasingly when people get converted and then tell me what they really thought when they first heard true preaching, invariably there was a sense of being offended at it. Who in the world is that fellow mortal to stand up and proclaim with such authority things that are so humbling to my flesh? People don't like proclamation. The idea that you can stand up and say, well, this is my thing, and I humbly, throw it out into the hopper of many other things.

6:08 - 6:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Look for the element of proclamation in a ministry, where the herald penetrates the mind of God in the scriptures and proclaims it.

He recounts an interview where a man advocated for 'doing your own thing' in spirituality, contrasting this with the authoritative proclamation of the gospel and highlighting modern aversion to absolute truth.

They don't mind that. I heard an interview program driving down to New Brunswick the other night for a wedding rehearsal in which this was the whole approach. This man said, now look, I've gotten some help through meditation, but the trouble with religion is somebody gets help this way and then they say everybody's got to get help this way. Let's all just do our own thing.

6:37 - 6:55 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If a man is so determined to be clever and broad that he'll not study seriously all the truth that is bound up in Jesus Christ and him crucified, it's only right that he should go to hell for his ignorance.

Martin quotes John Flavel, stating that the merit of a sermon is judged by how much it sets forth Jesus Christ and applies Him to the heart, reinforcing the centrality of Christ crucified.

Why, that's so limiting. That's so narrow. Listen, my friend. If a man is so determined to be clever and broad that he'll not study seriously all the truth that is bound up in Jesus Christ and him crucified, it's only right that he should go to hell for his ignorance.

10:10 - 10:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

He mentions Paul's potential physical weakness and the 'messenger of Satan' in 2 Corinthians 12 as possible contributors to his 'weakness,' illustrating that even apostles experienced physical or emotional frailty.

Oh, the word weakness could refer to actual physical weakness. There is some indication that the Apostle Paul was something less than a robust man physically. There is a clear indication in second Corinthians chapter 12, that God allowed, some kind of physical affliction, a messenger of Satan that made him consciously and physically weak. However, this word itself could refer to what we would call spiritual, emotional weakness as well.

12:19 - 12:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

Martin describes Paul's boasting about the Corinthians to Titus, illustrating Paul's deep affection and confidence in their Christian character, which was confirmed by their reception of Titus.

Great encouragement as he sees what has transpired for enough. If in anything, I have glory to him on your behalf. I was not put to shame, but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also, which I made before Titus was found to be true. You see what Paul is saying is saying, even though I had to write a pretty stiff letter to you when Titus and I were alone, I was bragging on you all the time.

14:07 - 14:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

He uses Bunyan's Pilgrim standing beneath Mount Sinai, seeing lightning and clouds of judgment, to illustrate what 'servile fear' is not, clarifying the nature of godly fear.

He says they are to do it with fear and with trembling. Now what kind of fear? Well, it can't be the fear of a man who stands as Bunyan's pilgrim stood beneath the brow of Mount Sinai and sees the lightnings and the flashings and the ominous clouds of divine judgment. It can't be that servile fear of a man, who's not sure of his justification.

17:45 - 18:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

He uses Bunyan's Christian, trembling with dread after leaving the City of Destruction, to illustrate what 'servile fear' is not, further defining the godly fear Paul speaks of.

Paul never exhorts that as a duty. No, no. It cannot be that fear. It cannot be the trembling of the man who like again Bunyan's Christian, has left the city of destruction and the pack is upon his back, and he's filled with dread and fear and evangelist says, where are you going?

18:08 - 18:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

Martin uses the metaphor of 'eternity pivoting on his influence' from the pulpit to convey the crushing magnitude of the minister's task, leading to fear and trembling.

What an awesome thing it is for a mortals to stand before his fellow mortals and realize that all eternity pivots on his influence. And if there are a few things that make me want to run from the ministry on occasions, it's this to think that eternity eternal destinies pivot on the influence. It comes over this pulpit. That's enough to take the swagger out of anybody.

22:17 - 22:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

He describes God as a 'consuming fire,' contrasting Him with a 'saccharine deity,' to illustrate the awesome nature of the God the minister represents, which evokes godly fear.

Some little saccharine deity to who men can snuggle up and feel comfortable in their carnal security. We represent the living in the true God who is a consuming fire. This fills the true servant of Christ with fear and with trembling. I suggest in the second place this fear and trembling of which the Apostle speaks was rooted.

23:20 - 23:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

Martin contrasts Paul's 'who is sufficient for these things' with 'the many' in Paul's day who corrupted the word, illustrating the temptation to avoid inadequacy by manipulating the message.

2nd Corinthians, chapter 2, 15 and 16. For we are a sweet, sweet saver of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish, to the one saver from death unto death, and the other a saver from life, until life, and who is sufficient for these things. For we are not as the many, in his day, the many who corrupt the world. They didn't want to feel inadequate.

28:20 - 28:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into Paul's inward disposition, explaining that 'weakness, fear, and much trembling' stem from a crushing sense of the task's magnitude, a painful awareness of…

He alludes to Paul's imagery of a runner pressing towards the mark and a fighter, illustrating the apostle's constant striving and apprehension lest he fall short.

And was always apprehensive lest I should fall short. And all you need to do is bring together all of the vivid imageries that Paul uses about a runner who is pressing towards the mark. So run I, so fight I. 1 Corinthians chapter 9, 2 Timothy chapter 4.

29:37 - 29:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not seek to witness with confidence rooted in human techniques, but with fear and trembling rooted in dependence on God.

Martin contrasts common books on 'how to witness with confidence' with what Paul would write: 'How to Witness with Fear and Trembling,' highlighting the difference between human-centered and God-centered approaches to evangelism.

What does this approach to preaching or witnessing do to create conscious weakness? To bring its purveyors to weakness, fear and trembling. I see a lot of books written on how to witness with confidence. Paul would have written one, How to Witness with Fear and Trembling.

30:57 - 31:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Let the focus of your concern not be on diction or being a pulpit orator/philosopher, but on the unction and endowment of the Holy Ghost.

He uses the analogy of a fuse blowing and an air conditioner losing power to explain that 'power' in the biblical sense is the ability to perform, specifically to transform hearts.

The house is nice and cool, all the air conditions are going, then a fuse blows, and you say there's no power. There's no more electrical energy running through the wires, giving ability to those compressors to function. The power is gone. So Paul says, the characteristic of my preaching was this.

38:39 - 39:01 Read in full sermon

Driving home: When a man sees in Christ the power of God, power to forgive him, to liberate him, to cleanse him, to make him fit to live and fit to die, fit to stand before God, what an exertion of power! You talk about power! He does…

Martin imagines a Corinthian Jew recalling his initial disgust at Paul's preaching of Christ crucified, then experiencing a softening of heart by God's power, illustrating the transformative effect of the Spirit's demonstration.

He says it was characterized by power. And there was no one there at Corinth who would have argued with him. Think of those sitting there who heard this letter for the first time. And when Paul is writing and says, The preaching of this Christ crucified is to Jews stumbling block, there were some Jews sat there and said, oh, boy, Paul, you're just not kidding.

41:38 - 41:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Reflect on how long it has been since you sensed 'dealings with God' under ministry, as this is the mark of a faithful minister.

He recounts sitting in meetings where men preached with minimal physical motion or volume, yet he was conscious of 'dealings with God,' illustrating that divine power is not tied to human animation or eloquence.

I have been privileged to sit in meetings where men have stood almost as though they had been frozen. As far as...

43:15 - 43:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Fear that your response is more to your minister's presentation than to God's truth.

Martin humorously acknowledges that some congregants might be experiencing 'birth pains about getting demartinized' with the arrival of Pastor Blaze, illustrating his desire for their faith to rest in God, not in him.

That your response be more to your minister's presentation of truth than to the God whose truth it is. This is one of the great reasons why I rejoice in God bringing our brother Blaze amongst us. I know some of you are having some birth pains about getting demartinized, but I'm not ignorant of that. I wasn't born yesterday.

46:37 - 47:02 Read in full sermon

The point: The proper method to convert men in any community is to preach the truth concerning the person and work of Christ, not to preach about 'menaces.'

Martin quotes Charles Hodge's summary of four lessons from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, providing a structured framework for his concluding applications.

In these verses, Hodge says we are taught one, that we are taught one, that we are taught one, that we are taught one, that we are taught one, that we are taught one, that we are taught one, that we are taught one, that we are taught one, that the proper method to convert men in any community, Christian or pagan, is to preach or set forth the truth concerning the person and work of Christ. Whatever other means are used must be subordinate and auxiliary, designed to remove obstacles, to gain access for the truth to the mind, just as the ground is cleared of weeds and brambles in order to prepar...

52:07 - 52:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that the success of the gospel does not depend on the skill of the preacher, but on the demonstration of the Spirit.

He recounts a testimony where God used a 50-year-old life of grace, rather than fervent preaching or parental instruction, as the 'final stroke' for conversion, illustrating that gospel success depends solely on the Spirit's demonstration.

What did God use? Not the first, fervent, as the final catalytic action to touch the heart of the one who gave testimony this morning. Wasn't the fervent preaching of her pastor. It wasn't the constant faithful instruction of mother and father.

57:20 - 57:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin concludes by drawing four applications from Charles Hodge's commentary: the proper method is preaching Christ, the proper state of mind is humility, success depends on the…

Martin describes preaching in a chaotic environment with yelling kids and roaring fans, feeling inadequate and without faith, yet God was pleased to 'pierce a heart,' illustrating God's power working despite human limitations and difficult circumstances.

That's what God wants to teach us. How vividly God underscored this for us a week ago Saturday. When I preached in a situation that was the most difficult since I preached on the street corner. Hollering kids running up and down the aisles and everything in me boiling, wanting to stop and preach a message to the fathers on getting their kids in line and hot, and people, people dripping and I'm dripping.

58:04 - 58:26 Read in full sermon