Emphasis Preaching Journal

William Sloan Coffin, Jr. tells the story about a preacher with a strong social conscience and prophetic preaching style that many members of his church were offended by what he preached. At one point, when his message was particularly strong, some of the elders gathered for what they judged would be a final vote to get rid of their troublesome preacher. One of the staid old gentlemen could not be at the meeting, however. His friends thought surely they knew how he would vote but they dared not assume too much so they contacted him. When he heard what they were voting on, he interrupted them.