https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/05/27/the-manner-is-the-message/  Informing Minds. Moving Hearts. Directing Hands. Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.41 https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/05/27/the-manner-is-the-message/#comment-24478 Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:21:23 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=13449#comment-24478 When I was a kid I imagined brushing my pastor’s comb-over the other way while he was preaching. I’m sure there’s a message in there somewhere…Maybe that our God is hiding something but we can distract everyone from this naked truth.
Great article.

]]> https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/05/27/the-manner-is-the-message/#comment-24449 Sat, 01 Jun 2013 04:04:20 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=13449#comment-24449 [...] is Professor of Old Testament & Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. This article first appeared on his blog and is used with [...]

]]> https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/05/27/the-manner-is-the-message/#comment-24427 Fri, 31 May 2013 11:02:24 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=13449#comment-24427 [...] The Manner is the Message [...]

]]> https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/05/27/the-manner-is-the-message/#comment-24209 Mon, 27 May 2013 17:54:35 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=13449#comment-24209 David,
This is so true and well put. Augustus Toplady was given advice as a young preacher; the wise old pastor who gave it clearly understood the point you’re making here. My paraphrase of his advice:
1. Keep Christ and his righteousness and redeeming work at the front and center of your preaching
2. Leave your learning behind when you step into the pulpit
3. Avoid affected oratory
4. Avoid controversy in pulpit
5. Don’t preach to be admired
6. Preach more to the hearts of your hearers than to their heads

]]> https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/05/27/the-manner-is-the-message/#comment-24194 Mon, 27 May 2013 11:45:26 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=13449#comment-24194 Great point, Nancy. I added it.

]]> https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/05/27/the-manner-is-the-message/#comment-24193 Mon, 27 May 2013 11:36:59 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=13449#comment-24193 Seems like this list needs the alternative added i.e. “But if our pastor speaks to both our heads and our hearts, applying God’s Word to where we live, then we’ll view God as present with us, inviting us to come and reason with him.”

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