Christian ministry by Charles Bridges (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
Chapter Nine looks at the defect of family religion and the want of connection of the minister's family with his work. Family worship is encouraged and the importance of having a godly wife.
Chapter Ten suggests a want of faith as the main cause of ministerial inefficiency: 'All our failures may be ultimately traced to a defect of faith.'
I enjoyed the discussion of faith's involvement with preaching: 'Men of faith are the most successful preachers...may we not also trace the barrenness even of an earnest Ministry to the same source - a want of practical conviction that the work is of God? Does not sometimes a dependence upon our accurate expositions, forcible illustrations, or powerful and persuasive arguments, lead us to forget "the excellency of the power is of God and not of us?" Do we never feel as if our light must open our people's eyes - as if they must see, be convinced and persuaded? The use of means honours the work of the Spirit. But dependence upon means obscures his glory and therefore issues in unprofitableness.'
Despite how much I slave in the study over my books, ultimately what makes a sermon effective is faith that God will use it.
Next week's reading
Begin Part Four by reading Chapter 1 and Section 1 (Composition of sermons) of Chapter 2.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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