Theology on Fire

Preaching is a privilege given by God. Everyone who shared the message of the gospel, can be said as preacher in certain extent. And as a preacher, one should not just stop in delivering the message but also think how to deliver the message more effectively. Of Course, the true effectiveness of preaching is depend on the power of Holy Spirit, who speaks in and through the spoken word of the preacher. Timothy Keller in his book Preaching distinguished between good sermon and great sermon. Good sermon is happening, when preacher prepare his materials well. Yet, great sermon is when the Holy Spirit uses that word, and penetrate deeply into the heart of its listener. Although the effectiveness of the preaching is primarily depend on the HS, it does not neglect the duty of Preacher, as God's instrument. We cannot neglect rhetorical facility and only depend on Holy Spirit ability, yet in the other hand, we cannot depend fully on skilled presentation but never pray for God's empowerment. Both elements need to be hold in tension, in a proper way. Brad R Braxton rightly put, "The ultimate ability and power for preaching  come from God. Techniques to enhance and sharpen our preaching..."When we says how to present the message more effectively, up until now I guess Martin Llyod Jones is the one who best expressed the was as he says, Preaching is "Logic on Fire! "His definition of preaching as "Logic On Fire" was quoted in many book on Preaching. 

              But what does he mean by logic on Fire? Does logic means that preaching need to be technical as mathematical formula or complex like philosopher's writings? (Hegel perhaps). Does fire means that that cerebral message need to be delivered with an intense and dramatic emotion like Greek Tragedian? I guess, that understanding is misleading. The logic here represents Theology, and fire represent the transformed people who already experience truly the saving work of Christ, reflect and internalized it deeply and continuously. In other word, the best understanding logic on Fire  in Dr. Jones's understanding of preaching is more precisely refer to a sound doctrine, a Theology on Fire as he says also in his classic and Magnum Opus works Preaching and Preacher; preaching is "theology that coming from the man who is on fire."  Theology assumed a biblical, sound and relevant message and it should be delivered with fire, which can only be experienced if one really realize the majesty of God which caused him to tremble and be authentic all together in his deliverance, to glorify only God not self. "Self is the greatest enemy of preacher", says Jones and I agree completely. Therefore, as a preacher, to be able to communicate the Word more effectively there is one fixed rule that we should never neglects in purpose of diminishing our self promoting tendency. We need to pray more, as much as the time we spent for preparation. Prayer purify our motivation and bring us close to the heart of God.To let Spirit led our self completely, so we are able to preach with fire. A fire not from self eloquence, but the fire that comes from Heaven. For at the end of the day, the preacher can only says in ex-opere-operato as Martin Luther best concludes, "I did nothing...The Word did it All!"