The trouble with some of us is that we love preaching, but we are not always careful to make sure that we love the people to whom we are actually preaching. If you lack this element of compassion for the people you will also lack the pathos which is a very vital element in all true preaching. Our Lord looked out upon the multitude and 'saw them as sheep without a shepherd', and was 'filled with compassion'. And if you know nothing of this you should not be in a pulpit, for this is certain to come out in your preaching. Preaching and Preachers; pg. 93
If preachers truly loved the people they are preaching to, how could they possibly withhold the gospel from them in favor of messages like "There's Hope At The End Of Your Rope"? Gospel-less preaching is just a symptom of something much worse. American preachers have lost their first love: their sheep. I shall redouble my efforts to love my congregation even more than I love preaching itself.