"Unction" in Preaching

Chapter 2 of Lloyd-Jones: Messenger of Grace is fantastic and convicting. I would encourage all preachers to read this chapter. Here is a brief outline:

Unction and the Pew (what the Spirit does in the hearers):

1. Preaching under the anointing of the Holy Spirit is preaching which brings with it a consciousness of God.

2. Where there is power in preaching there is little wandering of attention in the pew.

3. Where there is unction in preaching children also may listen and benefit.

4. Powerful preaching is preaching which results in a change in those who listen.

Unction and the Preaching

1. As anointed preaching is the work of the Holy Spirit, the preacher knows this is a gift that is not under human control.

2. The more a preacher knows of unction, the less he will think of himself and his own work.

Preparation for Preaching

1. Sermons will be formed from truth which the Holy Spirit can honor (Bible-saturated).

2. The life of the preacher will be part of the sermon.

3. There will be dependence on the Holy Spirit for his present aid.

4. There should be an awareness that Christianity is both a body of truth and doctrine, and a life to be experienced.

5. Chief attention will be given to Christ himself.

A few quotes:

"Any man who has had some glimpse of what it is to preach will inevitably feel he has never preached. But he will go on trying."

"Distrust in oneself must mark the preacher...A self-confident preacher ought to be a contradiction in terms."

"To expect the Holy Spirit to give his aid to what are merely our ideas is to desecrate the pulpit."