Repeating Sermons

REPEATING SERMONS

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. -- Acts 13:42

A VERY senseless prejudice exists in many minds against the repetition of sermons. The feeling is peculiarly prevalent in the West. In the East, the repetition is much more common. The Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, writing from Saratoga, uses the following language with respect to this matter:

“A poor juiceless sermon should never be preached the first time; but a nutritious savory discourse may be made all the better on a second delivery. Dr. Addison Alexander preached his glorious sermon on the ‘Faithful Saying,’ until he wore out the manuscript; and Dr. Griffin repeated his elaborate discourse on the ‘Worth of the Soul’ ninety times! He never wearied of it—nor did his audience either. As congregations change constantly, and memories are leaky, a first-rate practical sermon ought to be repeated (with extempore improvements) about once in five years. Fewer sermons and richer should be a settled pastor’s aim. Whitefield attained great finish and power by giving the same discourse over again through his missionary tours.”

William B. Jones, New Testament Illustrations, (Hartford: The J. B. Burr Publishing Co., 1875), p. 401

Available from: http://books.google.com/books?id=JXJCAAAAIAAJ&q=juiceless#v=snippet&q=juiceless&f=false Accessed: 07/05/12

Dr. T. L. (Theodore Ledyard) Cuyler (1822-1909) was author of many books to include, How To Be a Pastor and The Young Pastor.