Book Review: The Christian Ministry

The sum of the Christian minister’s whole labour is to honour God and to save men (8). In the book, The Christian Ministry, published by Banner of Truth, Charles Bridges seeks to give a theological and practical overview of the Christian ministry. The contents of this book originated from a letter written to a friend upon the subject of ministerial inefficiency. As one of the leading evangelicals of his day, Charles Bridges sought to answer the questions posed to him. In this book review, I will first briefly summarize the content of this book. Then, I will comment on any outstanding lessons that I have taken away from this reading.

SUMMARY

            To begin, the content of this book can be organized into five different bodies of thought. First, Bridges begins his book with a general overview of the Christian ministry. In this section he speaks on the origin and institution of the Christian ministry, the necessity of it, the trials and difficulties, comforts and encouragement, and qualifications of the Christian ministry. Additionally, Bridges gives the reader certain steps to prepare for the ministry, such as habits of study and prayer. The second section of the book focuses on the general causes of the want of success in the Christian ministry. In this section, Bridges looks at the Scriptural warrant for ministerial success. He notes that it is good to seek for a “real harvest produced by spiritual labours,” but it must be done for the honour and glory of God’s name (75). Bridges also acknowledges that there are also unhealthy and prideful ways of longing for ‘success’ in ministry, and this must be put to death. In many casess it is the longing of the natural heart to elevate self.

In the third section, Bridges identifies personal hinderances to ministerial success, namely the ministers own personal character. Bridges identifies that the causes of ministerial inefficiency can be linked to a minister’s conformity to the world, fear of man, Spirit of covetousness, spiritual pride, etc. Bridges states that the minister must “devote himself entirely to Jesus Christ, and to his Church.” (107). The character of a minister must be stamped with growing holiness and nearness to God. In the fourth section, Bridges begins to speak on the public work of the Christian ministry. This section highlights the importance of peaching, the different types of preaching, (i.e. doctrinal, experimental, practical, applicatory, etc.), and how to prepare for the pulpit. The fifth and final section of the book deals with ministerial work in general, the nature and importance of this work, and how to handle different people in the ministry (i.e. the self-righteous, the young Christian, the backslider, etc.).

CONCLUSION

            To conclude this review, I will comment on two outstanding lessons that I have drawn from reading this book. First, I will discuss the importance of studying and meditating upon the Word. Bridges notes that the “minister’s life must, to the end, be a life of holy meditation and study” (208). The minister must feast upon the Word, both in large and in small portions daily. It is vitally important to maintain the “daily reading of considerable portions of the pure word of God, and so to keep Scriptural truth continually revolving in the mind” (51). Additionally, it is essential that the minister meditates on the Word and feeds his own soul, before ministering to others. Bridges notes that a proper habit of study is the groundwork for ‘success’ (48).

Secondly, Bridges states that “the highest style of a preacher therefore is – that he gives himself to prayer” (216). It is vitally important for the preacher to be a man of prayer. “the most valuable results of meditative study are essentially defective without prayer” (213). The entire life of the preacher should be marked by prayer. “Nothing will give such power to our sermons, as when they are the sermons of many prayers. The best sermons are lost, except they be watered by prayer” (215). Bridges reminds us to continually pray for those to whom we preach. It is simply not enough to just pray before the sermon. We must also pray after. Therefore, the greatest take away from this book is Bridges emphasis on prayer and preaching of the Word.

I highly recommend this book to the student training for the ministry, for the young minister, and those who have been in the ministry for some time now. In this book, each alike will be challenged, exhorted, and encouraged.

Click here to purchase your copy.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bridges, Charles. The Christian Ministry: An Inquiry into the Causes of its Inefficiency. East Peoria, IL: Banner of Truth, 2009.

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The Goodness of the LORD

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”  – Psalm 34:8.

In his commentary on the Psalster, W. S. Plumer writes:
“God is so excellent, his mercies are so marvellous, the work of praise is so enlivening, and any praise rendered by one falls so far short of what God deserves, that if a good man could, he would enlist the universe of creatures in aid of the worship he offers.”

Have you tasted and seen the goodness of the LORD? In this sermon, I will expound Psalm 34:8. You will see three things from this text:

1) The Gracious Call: Oh, Taste and See!
2) The Glorious Character: The LORD is good!
3) The Guarded Protection: Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Follow this link to listen to the sermon:
– The Lord is Good.

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The Treasury of Jonathan Edwards, Part 1.

How often do you think about heaven? When was the last time you read a book on heaven? According to Jonathan Edwards, heaven will be a world of holy love. In this article, I would like to give you ten meditations on heaven from Edwards.

  1. “Heaven is the palace or presence-chamber of the high and holy One, whose name is love, and who is both the cause and source of all holy love” (13).

 

  1. “And this renders heaven a world of love; for God is the fountain of love, as the sun is the fountain of light. And therefore the glorious presence of God in heaven fills heaven with love, as the sun, placed in the midst of the visible heavens in a clear day, fills the world with light. The apostle tells us that ‘God is love’; and therefore, seeing he is an infinite being, it follows that he is an infinite fountain of love. Seeing he is an all-sufficient being, it follows that he is a full and overflowing, and inexhaustible fountain of love. And in that he is an unchangeable and eternal being, he is an unchangeable and eternal fountain of love” (15).

 

  1. “There, in heaven, this infinite fountain of love – this eternal Three in One – is set open without any obstacle to hinder access to it, as it flows forever. There this glorious God is manifested, and shines forth, in fully glory, in beams of love. And there this glorious fountain forever flows forth in streams, yea, in rivers of love and delight, and these rivers swell, as it were, to an ocean of love, in which the souls of the ransomed may bathe with the sweetest enjoyment, and their hearts, as it were, be deluged with love!” (17).

 

  1. “As the saints will love God with an inconceivable ardour of heart, and to the utmost of their capacity so they will know that he has loved them from all eternity, and still loves them, and will continue to love them forever… They shall then be more sensible than now they are, what great love it manifested in Christ that he should lay down his life for them; and then will Christ open to their view the great fountain of live in his heart for them, beyond all that they ever saw before” (42 – 43).

 

  1. “The heart of Christ, the great Head of all the saints, is more full of love than the heart of any saint can be. He loves all the saints far more than any of them love each other… The saints shall know that God loves them, and they shall never doubt the greatness of his love, and they shall have no doubt of the love of all their fellow inhabitants in heaven” (45, 47).

 

  1. “All things in heaven do also remarkably show forth the beauty and loveliness of God and Christ, and have the brightness and sweetness of divine love upon them. The very light that shines in and fills that world, is the light of love, for it is the shining of the glory of the Lamb of God, that most wonderful influence of lamb-like meekness and love that fills the heavenly Jerusalem with light” (61).

 

  1. “Love is always a sweet principle; and especially divine love. This, even on earth, is a spring of sweetness; but in heaven it shall become a stream, a river, an ocean! All shall stand about the God of glory, who is the great fountain of love, opening, as it were, their very souls to be filled with those effusions of love that are poured forth from his fulness, just as the flowers on the earth, in the bight and joyous days of spring, open their bosoms to the sun, to be filled with his light and warmth, and to flourish in beauty and fragrancy under his cheering rays” (73 – 74).

 

  1. “Every soul there, is a note in some concert of delightful music, that sweetly harmonizes with every other note, and all together blend in the most rapturous strains in praising God and the Lamb forever” (74).

 

  1. “You must, in your meditations and holy exercises, be much engaged in conversing with heavenly persons, and objects, and enjoyments. You cannot constantly be seeking heaven, without having your thoughts much there. Turn, then, the stream of your thoughts and affections towards that world of love and towards the God of love that dwells there” (105).

 

  1. “In all your way let your eye be fixed on Jesus, who has gone to heaven as your forerunner. Look to him. Behold his glory in heaven, that a sight of it may stir you up the more earnestly to desire to be there. Look to him in his example” (108).

These quotations have been taken from “Heaven: a world of love” by Jonathan Edwards published by the Banner of Truth. This book can be found in the Pocket Puritans Series.

A number of other books by or about Jonathan Edwards are available from the Banner of Truth. The links below will take you to the online book catalogue where you can get more information and purchase the books.

Jonathan Edwards book catalogue.

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Communion with God – Part 1

This summer, as part of my pastoral internship program, I am reading Communion with God by John Owen. This book is found in volume two of the sixteen-volume Collected Works of John Owen, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. In this volume, Owen shows the Christian that he or she has an intimate fellowship with the Triune God. Night and day, the Christian has free access into the very presence of the God of Glory.

John Owen wrote, ‘Our greatest hindrance in the Christian life is not our lack of effort, but our lack of acquaintedness with our privileges.’ Christian, are you aware of your privileges in Christ? Do you know that you have fellowship with the Triune God? Is not that the greatest gift? We deserve wrath, but we have received grace! Have you pondered the eternal, unfathomable love of God towards you? Christian, do you know that the Triune God has set his eternal love upon you (Jer. 31:3)? Often, we forget these things. For this reason, I would like to share a few quotes with you from John Owen. These quotes encouraged my soul this morning and I pray it will encourage yours as well:

“Every thing of Christ is beautiful, for he is ‘altogether lovely,’ but most glorious is he in his sight and wisdom: he is the wisdom of God’s eternal wisdom itself; his understanding is infinite. What spots and stains are in all our knowledge! When it is made perfect, yet it will still be finite and limited. His is without spot of darkness, without foil of limitedness” (74).

“God is said to smell a sweet savour from the grace and obedience of his servants (Gen. viii. 21), so do the saints smell a sweet savour from his grace laid up in Christ, Cant. i. 3. It is that which they rest in, which they delight in, which they are refreshed with. As the smell of aromatical spices and flowers pleases the natural sense, refreshes the spirits, and delights the person; so do the graces of Christ to his saints. They please their spiritual sense, they refresh their drooping spirits, and give delight to their souls” (75).

“When spices are set in order, any one may know what is for his use, and take and gather it accordingly. Their answering, also, one to another makes them beautiful. So are the graces of Christ; in the gospel they are distinctly and in order set forth, that sinners by faith may view them, and take from him according to their necessity. They are ordered for the use of saints in the promises of the gospel. There is light in him, and life in him, and power in him, and all consolation in him; – a constellation of graces, shining with glory and beauty. Believers take a view of them all, see their glory and excellency… by faith and prayer do they gather these things in this bed of spices. Not any that comes to him goes away unrefreshed” (75-76).

All I can say is amen. I trust that the truths of the gospel have refreshed your soul today. If you are looking to read John Owen for the first time, I highly recommend reading him in the Puritan Paperback series. I promise you, if you take the time and diligence, you will find a rich feast for your soul in Owen.

Here are the following links to follow:
– Communion with God (Puritan Paperback)
– Volume 2: Communion with God (Hardcover)

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A Summer Study in Romans Chapter 6

What book will you be reading this summer? Have you thought about the next book on your reading list? Each summer I like to read a major work that has been widely used by God in the edification of the saints and the salvation of the lost. This summer I will be reading through The New Man: An Exposition of Romans Chapter 6 by D. Martyn, Lloyd-Jones. Will you join me?

Lloyd-Jones was once asked, “when are you going to begin preaching through Romans?” He replied: “I am going to preach on Romans when I understand Romans chapter 6.” Since then, the Church has been privileged to have Lloyd-Jones’ longest series of expositions in the book of Romans. The New Man: An Exposition of Romans Chapter 6 finds itself within the 14-volume set of Romans published by The Banner of Truth Trust.

Christian, will you spend your summer with me in the book of Romans, reading one of the greatest expositors of all time? Earl D. Radmacher, in Christianity Today, writes: “This is no average book. Nor will you read it indifferently. It is the kind of book that will grip your mind and heart.” I pray that our time spent in Romans 6 would be a blessing to your soul. It is my prayer that you would continue to grow in the grace, knowledge, and likeness of Christ.

So, what is the plan? How will we go about this? Well, I have made a suggested reading plan for you to follow. The goal is to work through The New Man: An Exposition of Romans Chapter 6 in the next four months (May – August):

MLJ ROMANS

I highly recommend that you work through this book with a group, rather than reading it alone. Gather one or two of your friends and study this book together. This will allow for dialogue and edification that could not happen if done alone. For this reason, if you cannot find a group to read with, join mine! We will be hosting skype sessions to discuss the book every other week, starting on week 2. If you are interested in this option, feel free to contact me on my ‘contact page.’

If you are still contemplating this endeavour, listen to Sinclair Ferguson’s recommendation.

“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Tim. 1:17).

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A Prayer-Hearing God

It was on March 20th, 1832, after reading part of the Life of Jonathan Edwards, that Robert Murray M’Cheyne penned these words:

“How feeble my spark of Christianity appears beside such a sun! But even his was a borrowed light, and the same source is still open to enlighten me.”[1]

M’Cheyne knew that the giants of the Christian faith were simple men who had met frequently with God at the throne of grace. These men were not primarily theologians, evangelists, writers, etc. They were men of prayer. Men who had frequent accounts with God. We can learn much from these men! Today, I would like to look at Jonathan Edwards’ sermon on Psalm 65:2 – “The Most High A Prayer-Hearing God.” This sermon can be found within The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 2, published by The Banner of Truth Trust.

It is my intention in this post to share a few quotes with you. I pray that these quotes would wet your appetite for Edwards and stir your soul.

See the following quotes:

“God in his word manifests himself ready at all times to allow us this privilege [prayer]. He sits on a throne of grace; and there is no veil to hide this throne, and keep us from it. The veil is rent from the top to the bottom; the way is open at all times, and we may go to God as often as we please.”[2]

“God has been pleased to constitute prayer to be antecedent to the bestowment of mercy; and he is pleased to bestow mercy in consequence of prayer, as though he were prevailed on by prayer. When the people of God are stirred up to prayer, it is the effect of his intention to show mercy; therefore he pours out the spirit of grace and supplication.”[3]

“Why is God so ready to hear the prayers of men? – To this I answer, because he is a God of infinite grace and mercy. It is indeed a very wonderful thing, that so great a God should be so ready to hear our prayers, though we are so despicable and unworthy.”[4]

“We have the true God made known to us; a God of infinite grace and mercy; a God full of compassion to the miserable, who is ready to pity us under all our troubles and sorrows, to hear our cries, and to give us all the relief which we need; a God who delights in mercy, and is rich unto all that call upon him!”[5]

“The business of prayer is not to direct God, who is infinitely wise, and needs not any of our directions; who knows what is best for us ten thousand times better than we, and knows what time and what way are best. It is fit that he should answer, and, as an infinitely wise God, in the exercise of his own wisdom, and not ours.”[6]

Concluding thoughts:

Edwards concludes his sermon with the following paragraph. I thought it would be fitting to close this post with it as well:

“Finally, seeing we have such a prayer-hearing God as we have heard, let us be much employed in the duty of prayer: let us pray with all prayer and supplication: let us live prayerful lives, continuing instant in prayer, watching thereunto with all perseverance; praying always, without ceasing, earnestly, and not fainting.”[7]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citations:

                [1] David P., Beaty. An All-Surpassing Fellowship (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage), 12.

                [2] Jonathan, Edwards. Psalm 65:2 – The Most High A Prayer-Hearing God. In “The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 2” (Carlisle: Banner of Truth), 114.

[3] Ibid., 116.

[4] Ibid., 116.

[5] Ibid., 116.

[6] Ibid., 117.

[7] Ibid., 118.

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To God Be The Glory!

In the 1750’s, Jonathan Edwards began to write his dissertation on “The End for Which God Created the World.” Edwards writes:

‘The great end of God’s works, which is so variously expressed in Scripture, is indeed but one; and this one end is most properly and compressively called, the Glory of God… The glory of God is the actual result and consequence of the creation of the world. Additionally, the glory of God is the ultimate end in the work of redemption; which is the chief work of providence towards the world.”

Therefore, the end for which God created all things is for his glory.

Look at the following texts:
Psalm 79:8, “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!”

Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”

Finally, Yahweh says in Isaiah 48:11, “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”

Christian, have you thought about this? Have you come to realize that all things lead to the glory of God? Dr. Tom Schreiner writes: “God has arranged redemptive history in such a way that brings the maximum glory to himself. He has arranged it so that it is clear that all things are from him, through him, and to him.

To listen to my sermon on Romans 11:36 – ‘To God Be the Glory’ click here.

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The Glory of Christ

It was four years ago when I purchased The Glory of Christ by John Owen. I remember the exact day when I first opened this stirring book. I remember sitting in my university dorm room, being overwhelmed with the glories of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surprisingly, this was the first Puritan work that the Lord used to introduce me to the Puritans. I stumbled across the name of John Owen and decided to purchase this book. I am thankful for the kind providence of our Lord. It was through the Puritan Paperback series, published by The Banner of Truth Trust, that the Lord used to strengthen and enrich my Christian life.

So far, I have found no greater book that speaks on the person and work of Jesus Christ. As John Owen was on his deathbed (24 August 1683), William Payne shared the exciting news that the ‘Meditations on the Glory of Christ’ was now going through the press. Owen replied: “I am glad to hear it; but, O brother Payne! The long-wished-for day is come at last, in which I shall see that glory in another manner than I have ever done, or was capable of doing in this world” (vii). What a statement! In writing this book, Owen had only scratched the surface of the glories of Christ. He knew that he will be spending an eternity upon eternities beholding the majestic God in all his glory and splendor. This work then is only a foretaste of what is yet to come!

Owen writes: “Only a sight of his glory, and nothing else, will truly satisfy God’s people. . . One of the greatest privileges the believer has, both in this world and for eternity, is to behold the glory of Christ” (2). As we behold the glory of Christ, we are gradually being transformed into his image (2 Cor. 3:18). But even if we spend thirty, forty, or even seventy years on this earth, beholding this glory of Christ by faith in the gospel, we have barely scratched the surface. Owen writes: “The beholding of Christ in glory is too high, glorious and marvellous for us in our present condition. The splendour of Christ’s glory is too much for our physical eyes just as is the sun shining in all its strength. So while we are here on earth we can behold his glory only by faith” (6).

Christian, is this your greatest end and one desire? To behold the beauty of God in the face of Jesus Christ each day while you make your pilgrimage to glory? Can you say with John Owen, “on Christ’s glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of the glory of Christ, the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes and I will be more and more crucified to this world” (7)

Oh, Christian! May we be able to say that with Owen! May we be made fit for heaven by daily beholding the glories of Christ. I pray that this short blog will encourage you to pick up ‘The Glory of Christ’ by John Owen. I pray that as you read this book, with your Bible in your hand, that you would be transformed by one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18).

Soli Deo Gloria.

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Gaze Upon His Beauty

**This post is the fruit of my meditation from Week 6 of the ‘Behold your God: The Weight of Majesty’ Bible Study. Click here to view the Bible Study.**

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6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. (Col. 2:6-7 NAS)

            The Apostle Paul tells us that as Christians, we have “been firmly rooted” in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are united to His life, death, burial, and resurrection (Eph. 2:10; Gal. 2:20; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3; Rom. 6:5; 2 Cor. 13:5). This union with Christ will influence how we walk as Christians. Since we have been united to Christ, Paul tells us that we are to “walk in Him!” In other words, as a result of our union with Christ, we are now “being built up in Him and established” in the faith. The call for us today is to walk in Him. How then do we do that?

If we are to walk in Him, we must daily sink the roots of our life into the truth of God’s Word. Dr. John Snyder describes it this way: “Roots gain nutrients from the soil. Your soul may find temporary satisfaction in the junk food of our culture, or it will find lasting satisfaction in the feast of the immutable realities of God.” Christian, where will you plant the root of your soul today? Will you plant your soul in the feast of God’s Word? Or will you plant it in the treasures and cares of this world?

Today you and I are called to sink our life into the truths of God’s Word. Robert Murray M’Cheyne writes:

“When you gaze upon the sun—it makes everything else dark; when you taste honey—it makes everything else tasteless. Likewise, when your soul feeds on Jesus —it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things; praise, pleasure, fleshly lusts, all lose their sweetness. Keep a continued gaze! Run, looking unto Jesus. So will the world be crucified to you—and you unto the world!”

Oh, beloved! Feed your soul daily on our Lord Jesus Christ. He is all-together lovely! He is the fairest of ten-thousand thousands. When the worries, cares, and anxieties of this world bombard your soul, feast upon Christ! Sit at His feet. Gaze upon His inexhaustible beauty. If we are to walk in Him daily, firmly establishing our roots in Him, we are to keep a continued gaze and sustained look upon Him! Today, press on with a gaze upon Jesus Christ. I will close with a quote from Thomas Goodwin:

“I pity all the wordlings’ talk

Of pleasures that will quickly end:

Be this my choice, O Lord, to walk,

With thee my Guide, my Guard, my Friend”

 

To God be the Glory!

 

 

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In My Place, He Stood.

In My Place, He Stood

This hymn is based on Revelation 5:6: “6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain”)

“Eternal joys we will ever see,

The sinless Saviour died for me;

My wrath He took, my sin He bore,

Oh, what a precious Saviour, Lord!

 

When overwhelmed with all my sin,

Where do I often go to look?

I look upon great Calvary,

Where Jesus bled and died for me!

 

When dressed in beauty before your Throne,

Not in my righteousness at all,

But in the righteousness of Christ,

I stand and live, eternal life.

 

Hallelujah to our king!

Worthy are you to take the scroll;

For you were slain, and by your blood,

Ransomed a people from around the globe.

 

Multitudes that none can number,

Standing before Your Heavenly Throne,

Crying out for endless ages:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!”

 

 

SDG.
(Written by Joshua John Mills, February 16th, 2019)

**Note: If you seek to use this hymn, please consult the author.”

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