Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023)
Article: How To Prepare A Grammatical, Covenantal, Confessional, And Experiential Sermon
Author: Thomas G. Reid

RPTJ 10:1 (Fall 2023) p. 78

How To Prepare A Grammatical, Covenantal, Confessional, And Experiential Sermon

Thomas G. Reid

Retired Librarian and Registrar
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

The primary means of grace is the preaching of the Word of God by those ordained to this task. In Romans 10:14–15a, the apostle Paul asks: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (NKJV). Paul then writes (v. 15b), quoting Isaiah 52:7: “As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” The apostle also exhorts a younger minister: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). Preaching is imperative!

Reflecting this biblical teaching, the Westminster Larger Catechism asks, in Question 155: “How is the Word made effectual to salvation?” It answers: “The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of enlightening, convincing, and humbling sinners; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ; of conforming them to his image, and subduing them to his will; of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions; of building them up in grace, and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.” The preaching of the Word, as Paul teaches and as the Catechism affirms, is crucial to the worldwide advance of the gospel. The Catechism then asks in Question 158: “By whom is the Word of God to be preached?” And the answer is: “The Word of God is to be preached only by such as are sufficiently gifted, and also duly appointed and called to that office.” In other words, only those men recognized by the church should take up this great responsibility of preaching.

But what kind of sermon should such a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ preach? According to the Bible, every true sermon bears four principal characteristics: each is grammatical, covenantal, confessional, and experiential.

First, A Grammatical Sermon

A true sermon is always the preaching of a text of Scripture. The command to all preachers is: “Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2), not anything else. Men are able to preach the words of the Holy Scriptures because God created both men and women in His image (You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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