Proclaimer Blog
Duguid: Why we need the gospel that changes
We're at the Senior Ministers' Conference at the moment and enjoying the ministry of Iain Duguid. Iain is a great OT scholar and is at Grove City College (if you're from the US you will understand that, if you're from the UK….). Iain's print ministry has always been a great help to me, now he's here in person and we've been usefully hearing about preaching Christ from the Old Testament.
His introduction to his subject has been particularly useful. It was a reminder that it is the gospel that changes and it is why we need the gospel – ALWAYS. He cautioned against what Newton called the "inefficacy of knowledge" – knowledge about the gospel does not change (isn't that a great challenge for preachers). The gospel changes. And it's why we need the gospel.
How much of our preaching is sharpened by this, asked Iain? He gave an illustration of a student on campus who is ordinarily scruffy, smelly and takes no care over his appearance. If he suddenly turns up one day smart and smelling of cologne, you know he's met a girl! This is what Thomas Chalmers calls "the expulsive power of a new affection" (try googling the sermon, it's great stuff).
If, said Iain, the Westminster Shorter Catechism is right and the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, then the goal of preaching must be to help people glorify God and enjoy him forever. Does your preaching do this? Do you even think about it this way?