Greek and Hebrew
A holy minister's primary goal is to bring glory to God, not to impress with eloquence or external qualities.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that a holy minister's primary aim should be the glory of God, avoiding any display of personal excellence that might overshadow divine glory. He argues for the importance of plainness in preaching, asserting that true power comes from the Spirit rather than human wisdom. Brooks cites Mr. Dod's view that excessive use of Greek and Hebrew in sermons can lead to fleshly ostentation, advocating instead for clear and straightforward doctrine that effectively informs and transforms the heart. He concludes that the most impactful sermons are those that prioritize simplicity and spiritual depth over intellectual complexity.
Text
A holy minister aims at the glory of God in all that he does.
He labors to hide and conceal all his human excellencies,
which may in any way tend to obscure, eclipse, or darken
the glory of God.
"My message and my preaching were not with wise
and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the
Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's
wisdom, but on God's power." 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Mr. Dod was accustomed to say that "so much Greek and
Hebrew in a sermon--was so much fleshly ostentation
in a sermon!" When men come to pulpit-work, all plainness
must be used. Starched oratory may tickle the brain--but
it is plain doctrine . . .
which informs the judgment,
which convinces the conscience,
which bows the will, and
which wins the heart.
That sermon has most learning in it--which has most
plainness in it. And therefore a great scholar was
accustomed to say, "Lord, give me learning enough
that I may preach plain enough."
Silly, ignorant people are very apt to dote upon that most,
and admire that most--which they understand least! But
prudent Christians judge of ministers . . .
not by their throats--but by their hearts and lives;
not by their voices and tones--but by the plainness,
spiritualness, suitableness, and usefulness of their matter.
Sermon Outline
- The Glory of God
- The Dangers of Fleshly Ostentation
- Judging Ministers
- Not by eloquence, but by heart and life
- The importance of spiritual and useful matter
Key Quotes
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.” — Thomas Brooks
“That sermon has most learning in it--which has most plainness in it.” — Thomas Brooks
“Lord, give me learning enough that I may preach plain enough.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We should evaluate ministers based on their character and the spiritual content of their sermons, not just their eloquence.
- A powerful sermon is one that is plain, spiritual, and useful, rather than one that tries to impress with learning or external qualities.
- As Christians, we should strive to be humble and plain in our communication, focusing on the glory of God rather than our own abilities.