“In January 1519 something shocking happened at the Great Minster in Zurich. Everyone in the city was talking about it. One man said he was so excited he felt as if someone had grabbed him by his hair and lifted him out of his pew.
What was the cause of all this commotion? Simply this: Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531), the new pastor of the church, was preaching the Word of God. At the first service in January he opened his Bible to Matthew 1 and began to preach from the Scriptures. At the next service he picked up where he left off in the Gospel of Matthew and kept preaching. He did the same thing at the third service and thereafter, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book, right through the New Testament.
Then Zwingli started preaching through the Old Testament. Amazing! Unheard of! Soon men, women, and children came from all over Zurich to hear the minister explain the Bible in words they could understand.
Zwingli’s systematic Bible exposition was the beginning of the Reformation in Switzerland. To this day there is an inscription over the portal of that church that reads, “The Reformation of Huldrych Zwingli began here on January 1, 1519.” Reformation begins with preaching God’s Word!”
Ryken, P. G. (2001). Jeremiah and Lamentations: From sorrow to hope. Preaching the Word (118–119). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
Amen sis! Hope yall are recovering Ok in storm torn New York.
Yes and Amen!
I love it Christina! Yes, preaching is what makes all the difference in the world when it is centered on the Word of God. This alone can bring men to repentance! Thank you for sharing this great wisdom!
God’s word preached by His true followers have always the same effect in the history. Reformation and Revivals are the result of the born again preachers preaching of the word of God!
Amen! Thanks for the reminder.
Amen! We need to get back to this simplistic yet powerful method of preaching and pray for God to add His blessing to the preaching of His word. Faithful men of God who tremble at His word will be the vessels used by Him; the lowly preacher who seeks to exalt his Lord and be faithful to His word will be a mighty instrument in the hands of God. Wonderful and encouraging post dear sister, thank you for sharing.