The average church member is much more critical of the pastor than of himself. Am I wrong? Think of how many times you’ve heard a critique of a sermon. Now think of how many times you’ve heard someone critique their own readiness for the sermon, or their prayer and perseverance in applying the sermon. It might be refreshing to hear someone say, “I can see some weaknesses in the pastor’s sermon, but my own preparation for the sermon was far weaker. All week long, instead of praying and persevering in applying what I gleaned from last week’s sermon or preparing for this week’s sermon, I basically forgot about all of it.”

Nearly every person reading this has instant access to millions of sermons from yesterday and today, from the worst preachers to the best, from the poorest speakers to the best. We have the luxury of being picky. There are pitfalls for us, to be sure. We might yearn to sit under the preaching of that fantastic preacher 1,000 miles away who grabs our attention and convicts us every time we listen to his downloaded sermons. But that pastor also can’t speak to your congregation’s context in the way your own pastor can. And not having to “try to listen” can also develop laziness over time.

Even more dangerous, we can come to worship the preachers instead of the message. It can be easier to forget that the treasure is not that jar of clay; the treasure is in the jar of clay. The pastor is nothing; the hearer is nothing; the good news that both carry is everything. Pastor Sinclair Ferguson reminded us of that all-important fact at the RP Seminary’s 200th anniversary celebration in June. It’s a message of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1–2. “I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (2:3-5).

That doesn’t leave anyone off the hook. In fact, God’s grace compels us to make every effort to spread the news as far and as well as we possibly can. Pastors already know the import of their mission. They feel the weight on their shoulders. So we can thank Professor Dennis Prutow for writing a new book that gives some very practical and very Reformed counsel for helping pastors to do their preaching with excellence. I am sure that Reformed Presbyterian pastors will appreciate his book, since many have already sat under his tutelage in one way or another. More exciting is that Prof. Prutow’s work could have an impact on the preaching in the wider evangelical world—an impact not only on the communication techniques but on the biblical clarity and substance of sermons.

To round out this theme on preaching and pastors (October is Pastor Appreciation Month), we are reprinting a portion of an interview with Dr. Renwick Wright. He was a uniquely gifted man who served the RPCNA in the unique office of “pastor’s pastor.” As you’ve read in this magazine, Dr. Wright went to be with his Lord one year ago.