The Power of Preaching

But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" (1 Corinthians 14:24,25)

‘The most wonderful things that are now done on earth are wrought in the public ordinances. Here the dead hear the voice of the Son of God, and those that hear do live… Here he cures diseased souls with a word… Here he dispossesses Satan… Wonders these are, and would be so accounted, were they not the common work of the public ministry. It is true indeed, the Lord has not confined himself to work these wonderful things only in public; yet the public ministry is the only ordinary means whereby he works them.’ (David Clarkson, ‘Public Worship to be Preferred before Private.’)

This sermon of the Puritan David Clarkson is quoted by Jim Packer in the book ‘Preaching’ edited by Samuel T Logan. Packer continues ‘What Paul describes is rare in our time, no doubt…’