Preaching the Expulsive Power of a New Affection
Stop trying to fix behavior through moral reform. Learn how to crowd out worldly desires by cultivating an overwhelming love for Christ in your church.
Best quote from Preaching the Expulsive Power of a New Affection
You can’t just empty the heart; you have to crowd out the old desires with something better. Chalmers called it the 'expulsive power of a new affection.'
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Deeply study Thomas, Chalmers, and Robert M cheyene. Teach me what they have learned on preaching and why it’s important and how we can draw closer to God and guiding our congregation to an overwhelming affection of Christ that expels everything else out. Make this a comprehensive study and deep for a lesson for a new pastor 
Frequently Asked Questions
This concept, popularized by Thomas Chalmers, suggests that the human heart cannot simply be emptied of worldly desires through willpower or moral lectures. Because the heart abhors a vacuum, it will cling to its current idols until a more powerful and attractive desire replaces them. The "expulsive power" occurs when a person is presented with the overwhelming beauty and freeness of the Gospel, causing old, inferior attachments to be naturally crowded out by a superior love for Jesus Christ.
The "Secret Watch" refers to the disciplined practice of seeking intimacy with God in private prayer and meditation before engaging with the world. Based on the life of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, this principle holds that a pastor’s public usefulness is entirely dependent on their private holiness. By "seeing the face of God" before the face of man, the pastor ensures they are drinking from the "living water" themselves, allowing their Sunday sermons to be an overflow of a genuine, week-long experience with Christ.
They believed that preaching which only demands better behavior or points out the vanity of the world is ineffective because it leaves the listener in a "fellowship of despair." If a pastor separates the demands of the Law from the doctrines of Grace, the congregation is left with a "to-do list" they cannot fulfill. Instead, they advocated for "melting and conciliating" the heart by preaching the "peculiar doctrines" of the Atonement, which provide the only adequate motive for a person to actually desire holiness.
The "aggressive principle" is a missionary mindset applied to a local church's surrounding community. Rather than waiting for people to visit the church, the pastor and their leadership team systematically "pursue" the unchurched in their own homes and neighborhoods. This involves breaking down administrative barriers—what Chalmers called "administrative trash"—to focus on visitation, establishing local schools, and meeting the practical and spiritual needs of the "lowest stratum" of society.
This rule is a safeguard against the discouragement that comes from focusing too much on one's own internal sin and failures. M’Cheyne observed that staring at one's own "deceitful heart" often leads to shame and a reluctance to approach God. By taking "ten looks at Christ" for every one look at oneself, a believer focuses on the "Suitable Saviour" who is full of grace and truth, ensuring that their identity is rooted in Christ’s finished work rather than their own fluctuating performance.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
