A Straight Drive

"... preaching the gospel is much more difficult than it looks. It's like hitting a straight drive on the golf course. We try to hit it straight, but the ball is always hooking into the rough of legalism, or disappearing into the pond of powerless, feel-good license."

Saving Eutychus: How to Preach God's Word and Keep People Awake 

(Millar & Campbell, p. 78)

It has been widely claimed that Martin Luther once described Christians as drunks trying to get on their horses - they were always falling off one side or the other! What may be true with respect to mounting a horse is undoubtedly true in preaching and teaching God's Word.

The two sides of ministering God's Word are clear - first, we are called to preach the completed, redemptive work of what Jesus has done; and, second, we are called to issue a winsome, passionate appeal to what must be done in response to Jesus' work. Paul summarized it well ...

"... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, 

both to will and to work for His good pleasure." 

Philippians 2.12-13

Consider Oswald Chamber's insightful comment on this passage, recorded in My Utmost for His Highest ...

"With focused attention and great care, you have to 'work out' what God 'works in' you— not work to accomplish or earn 'your own salvation,' but work it out so you will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord." 

Makes sense. I agree! But ... it's so easy to veer off course, isn't it? It's startlingly easy to have people leave their time in the Word either despairing of hope, or brimming with self-confidence. 

So, what does a straight drive look like?

A true ministry of the gospel will leave people encouraged, not crushed. They will be energized by joy, and not burdened with guilt. They will love Jesus more, and their own righteousness less.

Does our preaching and teaching incline others toward a greater affection for Jesus, or a greater focus on their own performance? Are they resolved to "try harder"? Or do they sense a deeper need to grab hold of the grace of God in the person and work of Jesus as their only hope?

A straight drive? Hard to hit on a golf course! But, by the grace of God, this is our aim in preaching & teaching God's Word.