Alistair Begg recently said that preaching is often “less about telling them something new, but more about reminding ourselves what we mustn’t forget”.
He’s right. As a preacher I’m well aware that, to borrow a line from Oscar Wilde, “I have nothing original in me but original sin.” That’s not to say that I steal other preacher’s sermons (I don’t), but is an admission that I’m very unlikely to spot something brand new in a text that’s never been spotted before by anyone else. The truth has already been “once revealed to the saints” and my job is to bring out the meaning of what God has previously made known in the pages of Scripture.
This always feels particularly true when the major Christian festivals make their annual appearance. What can you say about Christmas, Easter or Pentecost that hasn’t been said a million times by others, not to mention a fair few times by yourself?
Justin Welby, Easter and forgiveness: A gospel moment on Radio 5 Live
Monday morning isn’t where I usually expect to hear the gospel explained with vigour and vim. If I’m honest, I’m …