The Christian Ministry
With an Inquiry into the Causes of its Inefficiency
| Weight | 0.57 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 22.3 × 14.3 × 2.8 cm |
| ISBN | 9780851510873 |
| Binding | Cloth-bound, eBook (ePub & Kindle), Cloth-bound & eBook (ePub & Kindle) |
| format | Book |
| page-count | 400 |
| Original Pub Date | 1830 |
| Banner Pub Date | Oct 1, 1959 |
Endorsements
‘This book has been my companion for almost fifty years. First published in 1830, it is arguably more needed now than then. It is a classic, serving as a guide to all who are aware of the perils and privileges of pastoral ministry.’ — ALISTAIR BEGG
‘People ask me, “What’s the very best book for Ministers?” Overall for the ministry, and for passionate preaching, and how to preach to different kinds of people – there’s nothing like The Christian Ministry.’ — JOEL BEEKE
Book Description
The revival of the Church seems to be closely connected with the condition of its ministry. Bridges sub-titled the study of the Christian Ministry, ‘An Inquiry into the Causes of its Inefficiency’, and, rightly used, it is well suited to promote a faithful and effective ministry.
The Christian Ministry is Bridges’ best known literary work, but his expositions of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Psalm 119 are also highly valued.
Bridges begins by considering the general and personal cause of ministerial ineffectiveness, and goes on to examine comprehensively preaching and pastoral work. This book was one of the few which the godly Robert Murray M’Cheyne took with him to the Holy Land, and, in its field, it is without an equal.
‘To enlighten the mind and affect the heart are the two main ends of the Christian ministry. The first demands wisdom and plainness, the second fervency, as the spirit of scriptural preaching. This combination exhibits the minister as “a burning and a shining light” … imparting the spiritual light of divine truth, as well as the spiritual heat of divine fervour … Nothing, says Baxter, is more indecent than a dead preacher speaking to dead sinners the living truth of the living God.’– CHARLES BRIDGES, in The Christian Ministry, p. 318.
Table of Contents Expand ↓
| PREFACE | ||
| PART I | ||
| GENERAL VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY | ||
| I | The Divine Origin and Institution of the Christian Ministry | 1 |
| II | The Dignity of the Christian Ministry | 5 |
| III | Uses and necessity of the Christian Ministry | 8 |
| IV | The trials and difficulties of the Christian Ministry | 11 |
| V | The comforts and encouragements of the Christian Ministry | 17 |
| VI | The qualifications of the Christian Ministry | 24 |
| VII | Preparation for the Christian Ministry | 31 |
| 1) Habits of General Study | 33 | |
| 2) Special Study of the Scriptures | 50 | |
| 3) Habits of Special Prayer | 60 | |
| 4) Employment in the Cure of Souls | 63 | |
| PART II | ||
| GENERAL CAUSES OF THE WANT OF SUCCESS IN THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY | ||
| I | The Scriptural warrant and character of Ministerial success; together with the symptoms of want of success | 72 |
| II | The withholding of Divine Influence the main cause of the want of Ministerial success | 78 |
| III | The enmity of the natural heart a main cause of the want of Ministerial success | 82 |
| IV | The power of Satan a main hindrance to Ministerial success | 84 |
| V | Local hindrances to Ministerial success | 86 |
| VI | The want of a Divine call a main cause of failure in the Christian Ministry | 90 |
| PART III | ||
| CAUSES OF MINISTERIAL INEFFICIENCY CONNECTED WITH OUR PERSONAL CHARACTER | ||
| I | Want of entire devotedness of heart to the Christian Ministry | 106 |
| II | Conformity to the world | 112 |
| III | The fear of man | 122 |
| IV | The want of Christian Self-denial | 127 |
| V | The Spirit of covetousness | 138 |
| VI | Neglect of retirement | 145 |
| VII | The influence of spiritual pride | 151 |
| VIII | Absence or defect of personal religion | 155 |
| IX | The defect of family religion; and the want of connection of the Minister’s family with his work | 165 |
| X | Want of Faith | 173 |
| PART IV | ||
| THE PUBLIC WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY | ||
| I | The institution and importance of the ordinance of Preaching | 188 |
| II | Preparation for the Pulpit | 192 |
| 1) Composition of Sermons | 196 | |
| 2) Habits of Meditation | 208 | |
| 3) Special Prayer | 212 | |
| III | The Scriptural mode of preaching the Law | 222 |
| 1) The preaching of the Law – its character – uses – and obligations | 223 | |
| 2) The connexion of the Law with the Gospel | 229 | |
| IV | The Scriptural preaching of the Gospel | 239 |
| 1) Doctrinal preaching of the Gospel | 246 | |
| 2) Experimental preaching of the Gospel | 259 | |
| 3) Practical preaching of the Gospel | 263 | |
| 4) Applicatory preaching of the Gospel | 269 | |
| 5) Discriminating preaching of the Gospel | 276 | |
| 6) Decided preaching of the Gospel | 281 | |
| V | The mode of Scriptural preaching | 283 |
| 1) Topical and expository preaching | 284 | |
| 2) Extempore and written Sermons | 286 | |
| VI | The Spirit of Scriptural preaching | 296 |
| 1) In Boldness | 296 | |
| 2) In Wisdom | 299 | |
| 3) In Plainness | 309 | |
| 4) In Fervency | 318 | |
| 5) In Diligence | 323 | |
| 6) In Singleness | 327 | |
| 7) In Love | 333 | |
| PART V | ||
| THE PASTORAL WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY | ||
| I | The Nature and importance of the Pastoral work | 344 |
| II | Treatment of cases in the Pastoral work | 361 |
| 1) The Infidel | 361 | |
| 2) The Ignorant and Careless | 363 | |
| 3) The Self-righteous | 365 | |
| 4) The False Professor | 367 | |
| 5) Natural and Spiritual Convictions | 369 | |
| 6) The Young Christian | 371 | |
| 7) The Backslider | 376 | |
| 8) The Unestablished Christian | 377 | |
| 9) The Confirmed and Consistent Christian | 379 | |
| INDEX | 384 |
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Ben Hutton –
This book is Biblical, balanced and brilliant! As a pastor I have found the advice given to be so helpful and beneficial. I would recommend it to any pastor, especially those in their early years of ministry. Herein is true gold.
Robert Norman –
Great book on Christian ministry. If you have read about pastoral ministry already then this is a great book to read. It will help you advance your understanding on pastoral ministry.
Joshua J. Mills –
This book is a hidden gem. Though this book is unknown to most ministers of the gospel, or aspiring ministers, it is one that cannot be passed by. In seminary, we had to read this book for our Pastoral Theology class and our Homiletics class. Each time I was left challenged, exhorted, and edified. It is one of those books that must be read each year.
Here is my book review:
https://fountoflife.home.blog/2019/08/15/book-review-the-christian-ministry/