An excerpt from “The Devil and the Church” by E.M. Bounds…
The young preacher has been taught to lay out all his strength on the form, style, and beauty of his sermon as an oratorical performance.
We have thereby cultivated a worldly taste in the church and raised the clamor for…
- talent, instead of grace;
- eloquence, instead of piety;
- rhetoric, instead of revelation;
- brilliancy, instead of holiness.
What the Church needs today is not more or better machinery, nor new organizations, nor novel methods – but men whom the Holy Spirit can use, men of prayer, mighty men in prayer.
The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men.
He does not anoint church machinery, but men, men of prayer.
We are constantly straining to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel.
The Church is looking for better methods – God is looking for holier men.
rusty tugman 