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The point: Labor to present themes in a manner suited to be used mightily of God, especially regarding simplicity.

Martin quotes J.C. Ryle's 'Christian Leaders of the 18th Century' to illustrate how revival preachers prioritized being understood, simplifying their style, and using illustrations to reach common people.

I will not deny it. of men in a form of simplicity. Ryle, in his great work, and I don't use that term of many books, but in terms of the things we've been wrestling with, I would say this is a book that is greatly helpful, Christian leaders of the 18th century, for Ryle not only gives the thumbnail sketch of these various leading figures of that great period of awakening, but he analyzes these men as to their preaching. One of the things he says concerning their preaching on page 24 or pages 24

7:23 - 8:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Labor to present themes in a manner suited to be used mightily of God, especially regarding simplicity.

Martin quotes Augustine's maxim about a wooden key being more useful than a golden one if it opens the door, emphasizing that utility in preaching (simplicity) is more important than eloquence.

style and to sacrifice their reputation for learning. To attain this, they used illustrations and anecdotes in abundance, 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 when the golden one cannot, it is far more useful. They revived the style of sermons in which Luther and Latimer used to be so eminently successful.

8:57 - 9:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Labor to present themes in a manner suited to be used mightily of God, especially regarding simplicity.

Martin quotes Luther's statement that a good preacher must be willing to preach in a manner that seems 'childish and vulgar to some,' illustrating the necessity of simplicity for reaching the masses.

In short, they saw the truth of what the great German reformer meant when he said, No one can be a good preacher to the people who is not willing to preach in such a manner that seems childish and vulgar to some. Thus the great German reformer, with his bristling earthiness of preaching that may have been beneath the dignity of the schools, but perpetrated the conscience of a nation. And it was this studied simplicity, Ryle says, that marked the preaching of these men,

9:37 - 10:22 Read in full sermon

The point: If people reflect on your preaching as simple, take it as a compliment, not an insult.

Martin uses the metaphors of sermons being like 'greased pigs' (hard to grasp) versus 'a bush of nettles' (sticking to the hearer) to illustrate the importance of simplicity and 'stickability' in preaching.

But brethren, what, what is elegance? What is the approval of men if there is no stickability to our sermons? If our sermons are like greased pigs, and when our people try to take hold of what we're saying for the life of them, they simply cannot get hold of it. Rather, our sermons should be like a bowl of water, rather our sermons should be like a bowl of water, a bush of nettles, through which when one walks, he just finds them hung all over his clothes and biting into his flesh.

14:03 - 14:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Self-consciously labor after sermon preparation to scrutinize it for ways to present material more simply for teenagers and preteens.

Martin uses Robert Murray McCheyne's sermon outlines as an example of profound simplicity, noting how even children could follow his clear structure, which he attributes to McCheyne's mastery of his subject.

That's what our sermons ought to be like. They ought to have the stickability of simplicity. Have you read the sermon outlines of McShane? If you have, the first time you did, you were disappointed.

14:38 - 14:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Bring the truth to the door of the mind in all simplicity, in utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

Martin recounts James Stewart's story of a young preacher struggling to get something 'out of his head' rather than 'into mine,' illustrating the need for clear grasp and skillful presentation of truth.

make use of the energy of God in preaching that quickens. Only the Holy Spirit can give the saving illumination of the truth. Only the Holy Spirit can give the love of the truth, but it is our responsibility to bring as it were to the door of the mind the truth in all the simplicity we can possibly bring it there—in utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit to do it. And there not there is a There is nothing that stands AMPARAGAGE or that will guardianship do what we cannot do. Some of you perhaps have heard the illustration that James Stewart gives

17:44 - 18:24 Read in full sermon

Driving home: he is the most effective speaker who can turn men's ears into eyes.

Martin quotes an old Arabian proverb, 'He is the most effective speaker who can turn men's ears into eyes,' to introduce the concept of vividness in preaching and appealing to the imagination.

preaching that quickens as to its manner is not only marked by simplicity of presentation to the imagination, vividness of exhibition to the imagination. Bridges quotes the old Arabian proverb which goes like this, he is the most effective speaker who can turn men's ears into eyes. He is

20:07 - 20:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek by the grace of God to have preaching marked by directness of application to the conscience.

Martin references Nathan's parable to David as an example of how a preacher can first awaken the imagination and passions before delivering a direct, applicatory message.

And isn't that essentially and primarily what Nathan did? He first of all awakens David's imagination and his passions. He knew how to awaken his passions in order to get him. And when his imagination and his passions were awakened, then he turned and said, The art, and we see it again and again in the apostolic letters, The art, and we see it again and again in the apostolic letters, the whole book of 1 Corinthians.

36:10 - 36:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek by the grace of God to have preaching marked by directness of application to the conscience.

Martin shares the story of Gilbert Tennant's spiritual and ministerial transformation after a serious illness, highlighting how his preaching became more 'searching, examinatory, and distinguishing' in its application, leading to conversions.

Let me give you just one incident from history that indicates the transformation in the life of one greatly used of God at this very point. This is in an article on Gilbert Tennant, an American Boanerges in an old Banner of Truth magazine. The people among whom Tennant was called to labor were mostly immigrants from Scotland and Ireland. And though very religious, it would seem that there were few true believers in the Church of God.

37:40 - 38:07 Read in full sermon

The point: If comprehensive application requires more hours, then labor more in prayer and ministry, for it is God's grand instrument.

Martin uses the analogy of a 'one size fits all' suit from a fancy clothier to illustrate the ineffectiveness of generic, non-specific application in preaching, arguing that it truly fits no one.

You see, if there were to appear in the New York Times next Monday morning a full-page ad by one of the most famous preachers in the United States, I would say, by one of the most famous preachers in the United States, I would say, by one of the most famous preachers in the United States, I would say, one of the well-known companies in New York that sells fancy suits to wealthy businessmen, say it was a Hickey Freeman. And it said, new spring tropical suit, $350, one size fits all.

46:33 - 47:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Pursue universal holiness, self-denial, and Christ-likeness, and gain mastery over self-indulgence, such as television or chronic weight issues, for more power in preaching.

Martin recounts Gandhi's response to a Westerner asking about his message: 'I am my message,' to underscore the idea that a preacher's life must validate his message.

Preaching that quickens as to its instrument the instrument must be one whose life validates his message. Whose life validates his message. Some of you are too young to remember Gandhi but when he was asked on one occasion by a visiting Westerner Mr. Gandhi this is Gandhi of India what is your message?

61:00 - 61:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Be willing to pay any price short of sinning against God's Holy Law to put yourselves in the way to bring quickening to people, churches, communities, and the nation.

Martin commends Pastor Chantry's chapter on 'Self-denial in the work of the ministry' from 'The Shadow of the Cross' to emphasize the costly nature of seeking quickening in preaching.

It's a costly thing brethren to pray that God will use our preaching to bring quickening. Costly. The cross will meet you every morning. If you've not read Pastor Chantry's chapter in that little book The Shadow of the Cross I commend it to you.

67:47 - 68:11 Read in full sermon