Faithful preaching has never been measured merely by eloquence, personality, or even theological precision. Throughout church history, the men God has most powerfully used have recognized that preaching is more than delivering information; it is the work of shepherding souls with the crook of God’s Word.
That conviction shaped the ministry of seventeenth-century pastor and theologian John Owen. In his sermon “The True Nature of a Gospel Church and Its Government,” Owen considers the qualities that should mark every faithful preacher. While his language reflects another era, his concerns remain current, reminding us that effective ministry requires personal holiness, spiritual wisdom, pastoral care, and genuine love for God’s people.
“Sundry things,” Owen writes, “are required unto this work and duty of pastoral preaching.” Here are the specific requirements he mentions, along with part of his explanation for each:
“Spiritual wisdom and understanding in the mysteries of the gospel, that they may declare unto the church ‘all the counsel of God’ and ‘the unsearchable riches of Christ[.]” … The generality of the church, especially those who are grown in knowledge and experience, have a spiritual insight into these things … and if those that instruct them, or should do so, have not some degree of eminency herein, they cannot be useful to lead them on to perfection.”
“Experience of the power of the truth which they preach in and upon their own souls. Without this they will themselves be lifeless and heartless in their own work, and their labour for the most part will be unprofitable towards others. … A man preacheth that sermon only well unto others which preacheth itself in his own soul. And he that doth not feed on and thrive in the digestion of the food which he provides for others will scarce make it savoury unto them.”
“Skill to divide the word aright …; and this consists in a practical wisdom, upon a diligent attendance unto the word of truth, to find out what is real, substantial, and meet food for the souls of the hearers,—to give unto all sorts of persons in the church that which is their proper portion.”
“A prudent and diligent consideration of the state of the flock over which any man is set, as unto their strength or weakness, their growth or defect in knowledge (the measure of their attainments requiring either milk or strong meat), their temptations and duties, their spiritual decays or thrivings; and that not only in general, but, as near as may be, with respect unto all the individual members of the church. Without a due regard unto these things, men preach at random, uncertainly fighting, like those that beat the air.”
“All these, in the whole discharge of their duty, are to be constantly accompanied with the evidence of zeal for the glory of God and compassion for the souls of men.” Where these are not in vigorous exercise in the minds and souls of them that preach the word, giving a demonstration of themselves unto the consciences of them that hear, the quickening form, the life and soul of preaching, is lost.”1
Whether you regularly stand behind a pulpit or simply benefit from the preaching of God’s Word each week, Owen’s reflections invite careful consideration. They encourage pastors to examine their own hearts and practices while reminding congregations what faithful shepherding truly looks like. May his words deepen our gratitude for those who labor to preach Christ faithfully—and prompt us to pray that God would continue to raise up ministers whose lives and message bear the unmistakable marks of His grace.
This article was adapted from the sermon “Practical Issues of Pastoral Ministry — Part Two” by Alistair Begg.
John Owen, “The True Nature of a Gospel Church and Its Government,” in The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold (London: Johnstone and Hunter, 1853), 16:75–77. ↩︎
Truth For Life Blog