If we love those we witness to and disciple, our objective will not be to impress them with our learning but to help them with theirs. Bishop John Ryle was convinced that one of the keys to the 18th century revival in England was the simplicity of the preaching of such men as Wesley and Whitefield. He said, "They were not ashamed to crucify their style or sacrifice their reputation for learning. They carried out the maxim of Augustine, who said that a wooden key is not a beautiful as gold one, but if it can open the door when the gold one cannot, it is far more useful." It is not sermonizing that is needed, nor homilies demonstrating cleverness, but sound, true doctrine out of scripture to counter the wisdom of men. Jesus' teaching not only was to the supreme model of power and depth but of simplicity. The great crowds to whom He preached were composed mostly of common, uneducated folk. Yet they "enjoyed listening to Him," or as in the King James version, "the common people heard him gladly" (Mark12:37) - John MacArthur Commentary on 1 Cor.
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