Christ is the one great theme of the pulpit; around this all other
themes gather as to their center and end. Paul said: "We preach Christ
crucified" (1 Cor. i. 23). He states the message of the ministry: "God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
did beseech you by us: we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled
to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we
might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. v. 19-21). All
true preaching, therefore, however wide the range of its topics, has a
real relation to Christ; and no topic is fit for the pulpit which does
not lead to Him. The themes of the preacher are essentially the same in
all ages, for the human heart, in its depravity and needs, does not
change with changing years; and God's remedy, the simple, primitive
Gospel, remains ever the same. The facts, the doctrines, the duties,
the promises, the threatenings, of the Bible are the subjects for the
pulpit; none are needed beyond those supplied in God's Word. The
effective preachers in all ages have adhered to the same great truths;
they have differed only in modes of illustrating and applying them. The
idiosyncrasies of the preacher and the circumstances of his times
necessarily modify the form of presentation, but the subject-matter of
the ministerial message is unchangeable.