His consistent walk with the Master also enabled him to touch the throne of heaven in prayers. Many hearers affirmed that his public prayers brought a greater blessing than any of his sermons did -- just as others had said of England's greatest evangelical preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. His consistent close walk with God gave him a special capacity to come straight into the pulpit from his personal worship time with his soul burning with the message for that hour.

2. The Authenticity of Commitment: Truett dedicated himself to long hours of sermon preparation, working late into the light in his study at home. So engrossed did he become that Mrs. Truett always pulled back the carpet in their upstairs bedroom precisely at midnight and pounded on the floor to tell him in the study below that it was time to close the books and come to bed! He regularly refused invitations to preach at large churches and address significant conferences in order to visit with small country churches, helping them to raise special funds to discharge their debts; he would then return to participate in the dedication of their buildings. If he was out of town preaching he always sent a message of encouragement to his home congregation expressing his loving concern for them.

3. The Seriousness of Preaching: In contrast to those pastors who regard their responsibilities lightly (many simply appearing to "retail" materials they have taken "wholesale" from others), he always carried a vest-pocket notebook while traveling. He could constantly be found jotting down sermon ideas and themes; he would later study intensely in order to shape them into messages that would encourage hope among those in despair and refresh energy in the weary. Truett focused on themes of encouragement and Christian character and often set out specifically to support the youth of his congregation whom he saw as needing great support because they were so engaged "in the battle of life."

Truett would often repeat some of the same themes. He was known to perfect blocks of material which others had heard before but loved to hear again, especially his insightful personal anecdotes and illustrations from literature and the conversion experience of others who had responded to his Gospel messages. His well-polished sentences were carefully crafted but he never sought to argue, to orate, or to seek to impress others with eloquence or intelligence. His sermons, as well as his diction, were noted for their clarity and earnestness.

He would often begin conversationally by posing a life situation question conversationally, as if chatting with an individual. He filled these early sentences with words of comfort and encouragement and prepared his hearers for the experience of exploring answers.

4. The Mystery of Communication: Listeners did not describe Truett's voice as either rich or vibrant. On the contrary it was known as being narrow in compass and lacking any rounded resonance. But his diction, studied selection of exact words, slow and deliberate delivery, and the vigorous energy of his language combined to create a communications dynamic which was effective and compelling. The stories from his childhood and early days, travel experiences, and biblical narrative stirred the foundations of feeling and sentiment. His delivery often reached a point of verbal climax at ten minute intervals, returning to the base line of delivery and then rebuilding to a fresh climax. The strange vocal quality that arose as a direct result of his broken heart made his voice somehow take on a dimension of "pathos" that enlisted rapt attention.1

5. The Place Of Discipline: From his earliest efforts to enunciate clearly for a deaf brother to his mature selflessness in putting others first in all his ministry Truett's life exhibits an unusual discipline and self control. He carefully and deliberately conformed his outward behavior, human skills, and pulpit demeanor to match the values he felt deeply in his inner soul. Accordingly he nurtured a specific personality, honed his natural gifts and deliberately sought to nourish his personal spiritual growth every day.

Yet, the overwhelming impression one gains from a review of his life is the mystical truth that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, life's worst sufferings can be captured by a preacher for the refinement of his person, and the expansion of his skills in ministry.

1. This most unusual vocal characteristic may still be discerned today as over the years Word publishers have released recordings of 21 of his sermons many of which are still available through theological seminary libraries. A total of fourteen volumes of his sermons have also been published by Eerdman's, Revell, Broadman, and others.

For further reading:

See James, Powhatan W. George Washington Truett, A Biography (New York, McMillan Co., 19450; also reprinted three times in later years by Broadman Press and Pinson, William M. and Fant, Clyde E. Twenty Centuries of Great Preaching (volume no. 8 of 13, Word, Waco, Texas: Word, 1971).