In The Supremacy of God in Preaching John Piper calls preachers to “gravity and gladness” in their work. For those wondering what the phrase means, Piper writes,
Gravity and gladness should be woven together in the life and preaching of a pastor in such a way as to sober the careless soul and sweeten the burdens of the saints. Love for people cannot treat awesome realities lightly (hence, gravity!), and love for people cannot load people with the burden of joyless obedience (hence, gladness!).
He then gives seven suggestions for cultivating gravity and gladness in preaching, suggestions that will challenge and encourage.
- Strive for practical, earnest, glad-hearted holiness in every area of your life.
- Make your life – especially the life of your study – a life of constant communion with God in prayer.
- Read books that were written by men or women who bleed Bible while you prick them and who are blood-earnest about the truths they discuss.
- Direct your mind often to the contemplation of death.
- Consider the biblical teaching that as a preacher you will be judged with greater strictness.
- Consider the example of Jesus.
- Finally, strive will all the strength you have to know God and to humble yourself under his mighty hand.
Here’s to preaching whose primary aim is repentance and faith wrought by a stupendous vision of our glorious God.