To help us recapture the essence of preaching, let’s refer to the journal of an unnamed English merchant who travelled in Scotland through the seventeenth century. ‘’In St. Andrews I heard a tall, stately man preach, and he showed me the majesty of God. I afterwards heard a little fair man preach, and he showed me the loveliness of Christ. I then went to Irvine, where I heard preach a well-favoured, proper old man, with a long beard, and that man showed me all my heart.’’ Those who were familiar with that era and places suggested that the preachers were Robert Blair, Samuel Rutherford, and David Dickson respectively. These preachers captured the essence of preaching.

all preaching should aim at…showing how majestic God is…, the loveliness of Christ…, and the condition of man’s heart…Unless the condition of the heart is revealed, no man will ever run to God for help.

Dissecting what the merchant said, all preaching should aim at three things. Firstly, they should show how majestic God is. It is not the preeminence of man that counts in a sermon, but the greatness of God. Secondly, the loveliness of Christ must be portrayed. Christ Himself said there is no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friends. That was what He did for us all at Calvary. Finally, the condition of man’s heart must be mirrored. The Bible did not mince words about the despicable and wicked state of man’s heart. Unless the condition of the heart is revealed, no man will ever run to God for help.