From: Preaching and Preachers
A Series of Nine Seminars for Men Led by Stuart Olyott

Spiritual Urgency is the delivering of the message with urgent concern - and spiritual power.  Without it, all that we have learned so far will be a waste of time.  Will a man without urgency ever succeed in warning others of their danger?  How much more is this necessary in spiritual things!  

"Nothing is more indecent than a dead preacher speaking to dead sinners the living truth of the living God" (Richard Baxter).

Such spiritual urgency is the fruit of two convictions:

1. The eternal destiny of my hearers hinges on their reaction to the truth that I am preaching.
   
   - If you believe this, you will speak well enough.
   - Psalm116:10, 2 Corinthians 4:13, Acts 4:20
   - "He who cannot but speak, will speak to people who cannot but hear".
   - It is because there is so much hard-heartedness in the pulpit that there is still so much in the pew.
   
2. This message can accomplish no spiritual good without the Spirit of God
   
   - We must have divine influence. Isaiah 53:1, John 12:37-40, 6:44,65.
   - See Acts 11:21, 16:14, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 2:13.
   - Humans are depraved.  Our hope lies in Zechariah 4:6.
   - We must set aside all that grieves the Holy Spirit.
   - We must set forth Christ as portrayed in His Word - the Spirit owns nothing less.
   - And we must give ourselves to earnest, persevering prayer i.e. we must give ourselves to our duty, whether God blesses it or not.
   - If He does not: "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight."

So, in these seminars, we have seen what preaching is.

We have also considered six of its most important ingredients.

If all of these are present, we shall indeed have seen a return to true preaching!

Questions for Discussion:

1. If I find that my heart is cold and unstirred, and that I have no awareness of spiritual power:
   - Should I preach?; and 
   - What, if anything, can be done about my condition?
   
2. We don't want to bring discredit on the Lord and His Word, so how do we avoid giving the impression that we are "raving fanatics"?
   
3. What needs to be said about the Preacher's prayer life?
   
4. Mr F. Asa Pancake has been preaching for years, but, as far as you can see, does so without any emotional engagement.  How would you help him?

Before Seminar 8 consider the following questions:

1. There are two views about what may be included in public worship:
   - Only those elements which Scripture expressly warrants.
   - Those elements which Scripture warrants, plus those elements which Scripture does not expressly forbid.
   Which view is correct? Why?
   
2. In the light of this principle, what elements may be legitimately included in public worship?  Justify your answer from Scripture.
   
3. What should we do when the church where we are preaching has elements in the service which are not biblically justifiable?
   
4. Should we be bound by the suggested order of service, and by local custom relating to the length of the service and the length of the sermon?
   
5. The reading of Scripture: When? What principles should govern our choice of passage?  What advice needs to be given about public reading?  What about accompanying remarks?
   
6. Prayer: What should be included?  How do we avoid becoming repetitious?  In what other ways can our public prayer be improved?  At what point(s) in the service? Length? What language should be used and avoided? Anything else?
   
7. The singing of praise:  Can hymn singing be justified?  What are the characteristics of a good hymn?  What principles should govern their choice for a particular service?  How should we announce them?  Who should choose the music, and on what basis?
   
8. Pulpit decorum: Is it important?  What should be avoided in the pulpit?  Does it matter how I dress?  How I speak?  What about public private-devotions?  How do we deal with misconduct in the congregation? "I" or "We"? Anything else?  What about going to the door afterwards?
   
9. Should visiting speakers administer the Lord's Supper?