Seedplots

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 7b

In Chapter 7 Bridges writes about preparation for leadership of God’s people.  Chapter 7 in his book is longer than the previous six chapters combined.

Bridges bases this chapter on the proposition that

A season of preparation – employed in storing the mind with Scriptural doctrine and in directing it to devotional and practical purposes, – in habits of self-communion and converse with God and in the exercise of active godliness, will turn to most profitable account throughout the course of a protracted ministry (pg 44).

Bridges identifies four aspects of preparation as important and devotes a section of chapter 7 to each of these aspects: Habits of General Study (pg 44-67), Special Study of the Scriptures (pg 68-80), Habits of Special Prayer (pg 81-85) and Employment in the Cure of Souls (pg 85-89).  In this posting I summarize his second section.

Special Study of the Scriptures
In the previous section Bridges wrote about study in general. Here he turns his attention to the importance for those who lead God’s people of developing ongoing habits of the study of Scripture, or, as he puts it, “the enlightened and fruitful study of the word of God.” He notes insightfully,

The intellectual excitement of literary or theological study needs much watchfulness lest it should deaden the freshness of our mind to the more spiritual study of the Scriptures (pg 68).

By study, Bridges means close, detailed study. He quotes from a biography of Matthew Henry to make his point,

Men get wisdom by books, but wisdom towards God is to be gotten out of God’s book; and that by digging. Most men do but walk over the surface of it, and pick up here and there a flower. Few dig into it. Read over other books to help you understand that book. Fetch your prayers and sermons from thence. The volume of inspiration is a full fountain, every overflowing , and hath always something new (footnote 1, pg 68).

Special study of the Scriptures involves both close, detailed study and continual reading of large portions of Scripture,

While continuing the study of Divine truth, it is also of vast moment to keep up the daily reading of considerable portions of the pure word of God and so to keep Scriptural truth (as it has been observed) continually revolving in the mind. It will be the only effective preservative against the taint and deterioration, which the mind might otherwise receive from reading human authors (pg 69).

The proper attitude toward Scripture is important as we study it. Bridges describes it as “the patient investigating spirit of the miner, digging into hidden treasure.” We are to “read Scripture with such exactness as to weigh every expression, and the connexion, as if I were about to preach upon every verse; and then to apply the result to my own case, character, experience and conduct, as if it had been directly addressed to me” (quoting Scott).

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

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Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 7c

In Chapter 7 Bridges writes about preparation for leadership of God’s people.  Chapter 7 in his book is longer than the previous six chapters combined. Bridges bases this chapter on the proposition that

A season of preparation – employed in storing the mind with Scriptural doctrine and in directing it to devotional and practical purposes, – in habits of self-communion and converse with God and in the exercise of active godliness, will turn to most profitable account throughout the course of a protracted ministry (pg 44).

Bridges identifies four aspects of preparation as important and devotes a section of chapter 7 to each of these aspects: Habits of General Study (pg 44-67), Special Study of the Scriptures (pg 68-80), Habits of Special Prayer (pg 81-85) and Employment in the Cure of Souls (pg 85-89).  In this posting I summarize his third and fourth section.

Habits of Special Prayer
Bridges then moves on, in his description of the key areas of preparation for a leader of God’s people to the matter of prayer. “The greatest and hardest preparation,” writes Bridges, “is within” (pg 82). We need to learn to pray well because of the tendency of our hearts toward disappointment, discouragement and despondency – a problem than can only be overcome “by prayer and fasting.”

Entrance into this great work without the spirit of prayer, would be to go into “a most fearful warfare at our own charges.” The kingdom of Satan would have little to apprehend from an attack of literature, or from any systematic mechanism of external form. The outworks might be stormed, but the citadel would remain impregnable…

Bridges stresses the link between prayer and faith,

The Christian Ministry is a work of faith; and that it may be a work of faith, it must be a work of prayer. Prayer obtains faith, while faith in its reaction quickens to increasing earnestness of prayer. Thus spiritual, enlightened, and encouraging view of the Ministry flow from the habit of diligent waiting on God (pg 84).

During this time a preparation for leadership of God’s people, it is important that a person develop habits of regular prayer as well habits of… “Retirement consecrated to the sole purpose of contemplating the work and separating himself to its service.” A “man of special prayer,” writes Bridges, “will be a man of special faith and faith is the power which enables “the worm to thresh the mountains” (Isaiah 41:14,15).

Employment in the Cure of Souls
Habits of study and prayer are foundational, but by themselves are not enough. A person also must learn how to help others spiritually during the period of preparation for ministry. The ministry is not, he observes, "a work of contemplation but of active, anxious, devoted employment" (pg 88).  Bridges uses the metaphor of exercise to develop this point,

The want of exercise is as hurtful to the spiritual as to the bodily system; nor will studious habits circulate with beneficial influence, unless their results are operative in Christian activity.

This is gained, argues Bridges, through involvement in ministry that "exercises the natural capacities of the young probationer, increases his store of experience and imparts considerable benefit to the church and reciprocal advantage to himself" (pg 86).  It is only in this way that a person gains,

Insight into the real condition of the future subjects of the parochial ministration and the acquaintance with their modes of expression, their peculiar difficulties and temptations, the causes of their ignorance, the wisest and most successful avenues of approach to them (pg 86).

Bridges makes several suggests that flow out of his context – a person can gain experience through working in a Sunday School, through instruction of the poor, and through visitation of the sick (pg 86-87).  He suggests a person begin with ministry to his own family, then neighbors and friends.  Let God, he writes, "expand the circle of influence and field of opportunity."

What Bridges describes is often neglect and instead there occurs a "very rapid transition from the studies of the University to the services of the Sanctuary."  This "does not often appear desirable" – surely "some interval of active retirement is needed to divert the mind from its former course into a more observant and consecrated habit of action."  If this is not possible, he suggests, "an interval of inspection or initiation into the routine of the work under the superintendence of a judicious and experienced Pastor (pg 89):

Converse with experienced and exercises Christians would offer many advantages.  The habit of religious conversation would contribute, even more than private study, to the enlargement of the mind; and much would be acquired in this field of observation and incipient engages which no other medium could adequately supply.

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

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Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 7a

In Chapter 7 Bridges writes about preparation for leadership of God’s people.  Chapter 7 in his book is longer than the previous six chapters combined. Bridges bases this chapter on the proposition that

A season of preparation – employed in storing the mind with Scriptural doctrine and in directing it to devotional and practical purposes, – in habits of self-communion and converse with God and in the exercise of active godliness, will turn to most profitable account throughout the course of a protracted ministry (pg 44).

Bridges identifies four aspects of preparation as important and devotes a section of chapter 7 to each of these aspects: Habits of General Study (pg 44-67), Special Study of the Scriptures (pg 68-80), Habits of Special Prayer (pg 81-85) and Employment in the Cure of Souls (pg 85-89).  In this posting I summarize his first section.

Habits of General Study
A time of concentrated study is useful preparation for a lifetime of ministry both for knowledge gained through that study and for the habits formed during the course of study. Bridges writes,

Even when the pursuit of academical distinctions is passed by, the daily exercises of regularity, discipline, and self-denial, furnish an effectual safe-guard against the detrimental influence of mental and possibly also religious dissipation (pg 48).

Bridges singles out the study of Scriptural doctrine, Church history and especially Pastoral Theology as crucial subjects of study in preparation for leadership of God’s people. In urging the importance of study on younger potential Christian leaders, Bridges uses the apostle Paul as an example. Disciplined study, notes Bridges is important, not just in preparation for ministry but as an ongoing practice in ministry, "It is of great moment, that the habit of study as far as possible, be maintained through life. For the most part, the ground work only has been laid – "If we live only on old stores, we shall never enlarge our knowledge" (pg 65). Bridges commends President Edward’s advice to us:

My method of study from my first beginning the work of the Ministry, has been very much by writing; applying myself in this way to improve every important hint, pursuing the clue to the utmost, when anything in reading, meditation or conversation has been suggested to my mind that seemed to promise light in any weighty point; thus penning what appeared to me my best thoughts on innumerable subjects, for my own benefit. The longer I prosecuted my studies in this method, the more habitual it became and the more pleasant and profitable I found it.

Bridges ends this section with a great quote,

Not to read or study at all is to tempt God; to do nothing but study is to forget the Ministry; to study only to glory in one’s knowledge is a shameful vanity; to study in search of the means to flatter sinners, a deplorable prevarication; but to store one’s mind with the knowledge proper to the saints by study and by prayer, and to diffuse that knowledge in solid instruction and practical exhortations – this is to be a prudent, zealous and laborious Minister (pg 67).

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

Response to Chapter 3 of Christian Ministry
(Charles Bridges)

In Chapter 3, Bridges writes about purpose or aim of Christian Ministry. He discusses the various metaphors used in Scripture to describe the people of God and relates these to the work of ministry.
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I think Bridges is right on target when he insists that it is the ministry of God’s Word, empowered by the Spirit of God, that accomplishes God work.

The focus of Scripture, however, is on the Word of God, not on the “office” or person ministering the Word (i.e. the Minister). Those who lead God’s people, especially those who “work hard at preaching and teacher,” have an important role, but not the exclusive role that Bridges seems to insist on when he writes:

“Christian Ministry” is … the appointed channel of communication from the head to the body in its several members, by which the spiritual life is first imparted, and subsequently maintained…” (pg 13).

If I understanding him correction, this would mean that evangelism occurs only as “Christian Ministers” minister the Word, and that spiritual growth occurs only through the teaching / preaching ministry of “Christian Ministers.”

In the account of the spread of the gospel in Acts, the gospel often spreads into new areas through the witness of new believers (for example, Acts 8:4, “those who had been scattered went about preaching the word” – the references is to everyone but the apostles, who function, in Bridges’ book as “prototype” Christian Ministers).

He is pushing his point too far when he contends that Ministers are “first link of means in the chain of salvation, so that without a Ministry there should be no hearing of the word – consequently no faith in the only Saviour” (pg 14).

The same is true of growth in Christian maturity. In Ephesians 4:14-16, the body (congregation of believers) grows as all of God’s people participate in the “the work of ministry” (vs. 12). This is described in vs. 15 as “speaking the truth in love.” When ?”when each part (i.e. every believer in the congregation, not just the Minister) is working properly.. the body grows so that it builds itself up in love” (vs 16).

I like Bridges approach to using the Biblical metaphors to help illuminate the role of leadership among the people of God. This is a helpful exercise, though more care needs to be taken to interpret and use the metaphors in the way they are used in Scripture.

For example, the Body metaphor is used in Scripture, in reference to the Jesus’ church, in two ways – the emphasize that life of the people of God comes from the head (i.e. Jesus), and to emphasize the interrelated diversity (many parts, one body, every part is needed) of each member of the congregation.

As far as I can determine, there is not even a hint of what Bridges is saying in the New Testament passages that speak of the Church as the body of Christ. The closest the New Testament comes to this is Col. 1:22-27, but the thought is not Paul providing the link between Christ and the church. Paul is instead called the “servant” (NASV) or “minister” (ESV) of the church and the emphasis is on the need to suffer in that capacity. I take this to be a shifting of metaphors from the Church as the Body of Christ, to Paul’s calling to share in the ministry of the (OT) Suffering Servant.

His use of the Flock / Shepherd metaphor is good, though I think the Biblical usage of this metaphor is broader.

I’m not satisfied with his use of the Household metaphor. His quote comes from Jesus’ discourse in Matthew 24 – which functions as an illustration of the need to be “watchful” – the context has nothing to do with a congregation of believers. Instead this metaphor is used in the epistles (along with Building), to emphasize the importance of the one foundation (Jesus), and (along with that of a Family) to illustrate the way believers are to relate to each other.

I can’t find City used in the NT as a metaphor for a congregation of believers – though by extension perhaps Matthew 5:14 might be pressed into service. But here the metaphor has nothing to do with leadership but with the lives of believers.

Treaty of Peace refer primarily to apostolic / evangelistic ministry, it seems to me, not to congregations of believers.

In conclusion, I think this examination of metaphors could be very helpful, but Bridges’ analysis is not done carefully enough.

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

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Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 3

In Chapter 3, Bridges writes about the purpose or aim of Christian Ministry. He discusses the various metaphors used in Scripture to describe the people of God and relates these to the work of ministry.

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The Dignity of our Calling
Christian Ministry, writes Bridges, has a two-fold aim – 1) to honor God and 2) to save men and women.  Put another way, the “ministry of the Word” is aimed at both evangelism and establishment. Bridges expresses this using the Biblical metaphors of   “planting” the Church and “watering” of the Church (1 Corinthians 3:6).  “There is both a foundation to be laid and a building to be raised.”

The ministry of the Word is God’s provision for “perfecting what was lacking in the faith” of young believers. Peter wrote his second epistle to those that were “established in the faith” encouraging them to “add to” what they already possessed spiritually.  Christian Ministry, he argues, is God’s appointed means of initially imparting spiritual life and nurturing it on to maturity. The various metaphors for the Church help us understand the role of Christian ministers.

Body – the “appointed channel of communication from the head to the body, by which the spiritual life is first imparted and subsequently maintained

Flock –the one who “seeks that which is lost, strengthens the diseased, heals the sick and brings back that which was driven away

Household – the faithful and wise steward who dispenses the provision of the house according to the necessities of its occupants

City – the watchman who wakes and warns sleeping people of their peril

Field – the laborer who plans, waters and weeds the field, watching over the growth of the plants up until the harvest

Building – the “master-builder” to build upon the “sure foundation” living stones for a habitation of God through the Spirit

Treaty of Peace – the ambassador, entrusted with the “ministry of reconciliation” and begging them, in behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

Response to Chapter 2 of Christian Ministry
(Charles Bridges)

In Chapter 2, Bridges writes about the dignity of being called to lead God’s people and the corresponding responsibility such leaders carry.  In this posting I respond to Bridges’ concept of the “Christian Ministry.”

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Called to Leadership
Clearly God’s people, the Old Testament people of God and the New Testament people of God, have leaders who lead them. Gathered congregations of followers of Christ, churches, have leaders who “watch over their souls” and give an account to God (“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account” Hebrews 13:7).

Bridges calls these people “Christian Ministers.” He refers to “the Christian Ministry” as “an institution – introduced into the world, and confirmed to the Church” (pg 8). He calls that a “sacred ” (pg 9) and “high office” (pg 11).

I understand the concept of “the ministry” differently from Bridges.  I’m convinced a study of the term used in the New Testament leads to an understanding of ministry that differs from Bridges.  If I’m right, a new question arises – just how are we to understand the role of those who are “leaders” of the people of God.

The answer to this question lies, I believe, in a Biblical understanding of the concept of “calling.” Ephesians 4:7-16, the text Bridges calls the “most comprehensive view of Christian ministry” clearly teaches that God intends every believer to be involved in doing the “work of ministry” (ergon diakonias). Some believers are called by God, equipped by the Spirit with the necessary gifts, and given by Christ to his Church to lead or shepherd his people.

Part of the problem is our English language. In English we have two words – “serve” and “minister.” “Serve” is a general word, “minister” generally refers to leadership in a church. “Servant” and “Minister” denote two very different things to most English speakers. In the New Testament, there is only one word (diakonos).

An office worker “serves God / ministers” by doing what God has called him or her to do faithfully. A person God has called to lead a Church “serves God / ministers” in the same way – by faithfully doing what God has called him to do – lead the people of God.

The focus of the New Testament is not on the “office” and “institution” of the Christian ministry. Rather it is on the faithful completion or fulfillment of the “work” (ergon) God has called a person to do. This comes from study of Jesus’ life and Paul’s life.[1]

So Bridges is correct, it is both a wonderful honor to serve God (minister) by leading the people of God[2] and it carries with it an awesome responsibility.[3] But this is not primarily because of the glory and dignity of the office, but because of the seriousness of the calling.

[2] consider, for example, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” 1 Tim 5:17

[3] Those who lead and teach God’s people “will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1).

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 2

In Chapter 2, Bridges writes about the dignity of being called to lead God’s people and the corresponding responsibility such leaders carry.

The Dignity of our Calling
The Christian Ministry, writes Bridges, has a dignity far above any earthly honor. He lists two reasons for this assertion:

1)  A person becomes a “fellow-worker” with God. Christian Ministry formed the calling, work and delight of Jesus himself, the Lord of Glory, during his last years on earth.

2)  Christian Ministry also has a dignity of its own because it involves the eternity destiny of people. “The highest dignity, if not the greatest happiness, that human nature is capable of … is to become the conveyer of God’s truth to others.” Rightly understood, this humbles us.

Christian leaders handle high and holy things. The true Scriptural standard for the work of a Christian minister is the fact that “we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel… and so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

The Responsibility of our Calling
Christian ministers have a great responsibility. “Neglect not, Paul wrote, the gift of God that is in you. Stir it up with the daily exercises of faith, self-denial, and prayer. “The moment we permit ourselves to think lightly of the Christian ministry, or right-arm is withered.”

Bridges asserts, “A sense of the dignity of Christian ministry” – accurately formed, carefully maintained and habitually exercised” is of the highest importance.

Because of this high standard, “dignity of character” of a Christian minister” must correspond with the dignity of the task. The glory of the ministry goes hand in hand with the humility of the servant. We are at best “unprofitable servants.”

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 1

Chapter 1 serves as a short introductory chapter to the rest of the book. 

The Foundations of God’s Church
Bridges begins by referring to the Church as "the mirror that reflects the glory of God’s character"  Jesus is at work to "build his church" and to do this He employs people he has called, gifted and commissioned to the great work of laying the foundation and raising up the superstructure of his Church. 

This began with the work of the 12 apostles.  It continues on with the work of elders who serve as "overseers over the flock".  Jesus promises his presence to the "end of the age," and until the gospel reaches the "ends of the earth."  

To this end, Jesus calls and equips and gives leaders to his Church to "equip God’s people… for the building up of his body."  These leaders are his provision for the welfare of the Church he has "purchased with his own blood."   One of the terms used in Scripture to describe this process is that of "ministry."  The most comprehensive section on Christian Ministry in Scripture, argues Bridges, is in Ephesians 4:7-16.  

The Work of the Trinity and Christian Ministry
Each person of the Trinity is involved in the provision for leadership among God’s people.  The Father gives to his servants "the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18).  The Son, when he was exalted on high, gave "gifts" to his Church – those leaders who would equip the people of  God for works of service (Ephesians 4:16).  This service is called "the ministry of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:9).  He calls people to this ministry, he guides and directs them, he empowers them with needed gifts and graces (Acts 13:2).

Our Response
In response to all of this, the only appropriate response we can make is to echo Paul’s words, "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor 2:16).  Reflection on these truths humbles and sobers us.  Christian ministry is possible only because "our sufficiency is from God."

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

In Chapter 6 Bridges discusses the qualifications one needs to lead God’s people.  We err, he writes, when we don’t take seriously God’s standards for leadership as revealed in Scripture or when we add to these standards.

Probably we are most inclined to settle for qualifications that are too low.  He encourages us to “aim high.”

Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) – Chapter 6

The fundamental qualification for leaders of God’s people is a deep sense of our own “personal unfitness for the task” and an overwhelming sense that, in spite of my unworthiness, “God has called me” to this task. A look at those in Scripture whom God called into leadership shows that:

• God typically calls those whom others have rejected and deemed unsuitable
• Those whom God calls, he trains and equips for the work he has for them (he is the one who “makes us adequate” -2 Cor 3:5-6 NASB)

Bridges argues that,

A consideration of the “qualifications” for Christian Ministry is the truth that “only God can equip one to be a minister of the Gospel.” Put another way, the necessary qualifications “must be given from above.”

He finds the primary pattern as far as qualifications are concerned in Jesus himself, and secondarily, in the apostle Paul.  Jesus, he writes, exhibits “a most harmonious combination of seemingly opposite characteristics”:

• the dignity of God and the sympathy of a man and a brother
• an awareness of the authority conveyed by his Father’s commission, yet exhibiting the humility of one who came to serve, not be served
• a sense of authority yet using gracious words tempered “with “the meekness of wisdom and the gentleness of love”

Most of chapter 6 in Bridges book considers what Bridges believes are the three basic qualifications for those who lead God’s people:  1) Spiritual attainment (what we might call Spiritual maturity), 2) Mastery of Scripture and 3) the necessary Spiritual gifts

1)  Spiritual Attainment
“Since the ministry is a spiritual work,” Bridges writes, “a corresponding spiritual character seems to be required.”  Without this, the effect of our influence on those we lead will be “unprofitable, even harmful.”

In short, what is needed is holiness.  Those who lead God’s people must be …

Men of God – men taught by God – men consecrated to God by a daily surrender of their time and talents to his service – men of singleness of purpose – living in their work – living altogether but for one end.”

This, observes Bridges, is learned only over time, in God’s “school of adversity.”  God uses adversity, combined with discipline, experience and the ongoing study of Scripture to make us holy.

2)  Mastery of Scripture
Secondly, those who lead God’s people must have more than a rudimentary knowledge of God’s Word.  Paul wrote Timothy that Scripture is able to “make us wise unto Salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15).  But Scripture mastered and applied to life goes further and makes the man of God “competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“Without this a minister is “incompetent for the great end of his work – to speak unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort.”

3)  Spiritual gifts
Finally, Bridges argues that those who lead God’s people must exhibit the gifts necessary for the ministry God has called them to.   He begins by discussing the need to be able to must be able to “communicate and apply what has been imparted.”  Then he goes on to outline the need for wisdom – knowing how to apply God’s Word to people’s lives.

“Each one of these three categories of qualifications,” concludes Bridges,  “is important, far too important to be trifled with.”

Back in March I began a series of postings on Charles Bridges classic book, The Christian Ministry. In the coming days I’ll continue the series with a summary of Chapter 6.
Today, however, I’m posting a review of the book by Brian Hedges, a pastor from Michigan.  He gives a good overview that helps orient us to the book as a whole.

Hedges’ original posting is found at this link:  Bridges overview
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The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges – A Brief Review

The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges is simply one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read. Virtually every page was helpful.

Bridges’ book is a theological and practical expose’ on what it means to be a Christian pastor and preacher. It is significant that a book this old (1849) is still incredibly relevant.

There are five parts to the book – let me give a quick run-down of each.

Part I
In Part one,  Bridges covers the origin, institution, dignity, use, necessity, trials, difficulties, comforts, encouragements, and qualifications of the Christian ministry, along with four steps of preparation for the ministry: habits of general study, special study of the Scriptures, habits of special prayer, and employment in the cure of souls.

Part II-III
Parts two and three deal with five general reasons and ten personal reasons why ministers are often ineffective.

The general reasons include:

1. The withholding of divine influence
2. The enmity of the natural heart of man
3. The power of Satan
4. Local hindrances
5. The lack of a Divine call to ministry

The personal reasons (i.e. causes of ministerial inefficiency connected with our personal character) are:

1. Want of entire devotedness of heart
2. Conformity to the world
3. The fear of man
4. The want of Christian self-denial
5. The Spirit of covetousness
6. Neglect of retirement (time alone with God)
7. The influence of spiritual pride
8. The absence or defect of personal religion
9. The defect of family religion; and the want of connection of the Minister’s family with his work
10. Lack of faith

I can scarcely describe how heart-searching these chapters were. When I was working through these some months back, I felt very deep apprehension and fear over my personal accountability to God for the souls in my charge. I needed (still need) to feel that and Bridges pressed it into my heart like probably no author ever has.

Those of you who know me best will readily see how much work yet needs to be done in my life in regard to these ten things. Pray for me.

Part IV
Part four of the book details the public work of the Christian Ministry. Much space is given to the task of preaching, including the institution and importance of preaching, and preparation for the pulpit.

The last sections of the book I actually read were those detailing the Scriptural mode of preaching the Law and the Scriptural mode of preaching the Gospel. I suppose I put these off, because I didn’t think I would agree with Bridges on his view of the Law, but I actually benefited immensely. I just underlined and underlined and underlined. It is so rich.

Then there are also chapters on the mode of preaching (addressing both topical and expository preaching and extempore and written sermons) and the “Spirit of Scriptural preaching” (broken down into seven qualities: boldness, wisdom, plainness, fervency, diligence, singleness, and love).

Part V
Finally, part five deals with the Pastoral Work of the Christian Ministry, addressing first, the nature and importance of the pastoral work, and second how to treat specific cases in pastoral work (i.e. the infidel, the ignorant and careless, the self-righteous, the false professor, natural and spiritual convictions, the young Christian, the backslider, the unestablished Christian, and the confirmed and consistent Christian.)

This was an especially helpful section, giving much encouragement to me in the midst of some challenging pastoral responsibilities, and also supplying much insight in how to apply the Word to specific kinds of people.

That last chapter will significantly inform my teaching on Application in Expository Preaching to the Strategy 112 students next week (ministerial students in Africa).

It is impossible for me to do justice to the helpfulness of this book. I really know of nothing else quite like it, except maybe Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students. But I think this is even better than that – because of its focus not just on preaching, but on pastoral work. Bridges is eloquent and full of the Gospel. Like Spurgeon said of Bunyan, he just bleeds Bible – prick him anywhere and his blood is bibline. He was also very well-read in the Patristics, the Reformers, and the Puritans, and quotes from their works often.

There are lots of gems scattered throughout that it would be almost impossible for anyone to find elsewhere, unless they pursued a PhD in church history.

Perhaps the best thing I can say is that the book has weight – gravity. It is a serious book, but serious in a joy-giving and helpful sort of way. If you are a pastor or elder (or want to be), I highly recommend that you read it.

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

In Chapters 4-5 Bridges stresses the importance of a “realistic perspective” for those who lead God’s people.

A “realistic perspective” involves a realistic understanding of the trials and difficulties faced in ministry (Chapter 4) as well as the sustaining resources God provides (Chapter 5).

This posting summarizes the “sustaining resources” God provides.

Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges)  – Chapter 5

The trials and difficulties that accompany “Christian ministry” place us “under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure” (2 Corinthians 1:8).  This can end up being for our good if these pressures humble us and crowd us to Christ.  When we turn to him in our weakness, we “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  Bridges mentions six wonderful provisions Christ provides for the comfort and encouragement of those who lead his people.

1. He empowers us through his almighty Spirit
Sooner or later, everyone involved in leading other Christians is forced to cry out, “Who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:16).  God is the one who makes us adequate to the task and he does this through the provision of his Spirit.  Christian ministry is the “ministry of the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:4-18). He is the one who convicts of sin, who opens blind eyes, who makes what is dead alive.

2. He refreshes us by allowing us to see people converted and grow in Christlikeness
There is no greater joy than when God allows us to see sinners converted and/or believers grow in faith, hope, and love as a result of ministry. This refreshes us and causes us to overflow with thanksgiving and gratitude that God has chosen to use us.  Paul testified, “For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord “(1 Thess. 3:7-8).

3. He encourages us through the affection and sympathy of those we lead
Christian ministers often endure the scorn of unbelievers. When believers whom we lead see us endure difficulties because of our service to Christ, they often respond with affection and sympathy. When they do, it can greatly comfort and encourage us.

4. He cause us to grow spiritually through involvement in ministry to others
One of the side effects to Christian ministry is the opportunities it provides us to grow ourselves. A person working in a factory, for example, focuses his attention throughout the day on things that have nothing to do with God. Those who lead God’s people, in contrast, focus their attention throughout the day on the concerns of eternity. As they spend time in prayer and the ministry of the Word, their minds are preoccupied with God. The natural result of this is personal growth in godliness.

5. He strengthens our faith as we see God’s Word change those we minister to
When we use God’s Word to minister to others and their lives are impacted and changed, our confidence in God’s Word grows.

6. He encourages us with hope of being rewarded in eternity for faithful service
Those who lead God’s people will be rewarded for faithful service. Peter encouraged fellow pastors by reminding them that “When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4).  Yes, Christian ministry is difficult and costly. But the rewards outweigh the difficulties.

Before he left his disciples, Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  Look again at this promise.

• Christ says “always.” In any and every difficult the Christian minister faces, this promises applies.
• Christ says “I am with you.” He comforts us by his presence and his Spirit. He defends us in troubles, even when everyone else forsakes us. Since he is there with us, there is not just cause for fear or cowardness. As Paul testified, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).
• Christ says “to the end of the age.” This promises applies to us as much as it did to the first apostles.

Such a promise encourages us to not give up but to work all the harder in the midst of the trials and difficulties that accompany Christian ministry.

In this series of postings, I’m slowly working my way through Charles Bridges’ classic book Christian Ministry.

In Chapters 4-5 Bridges stresses the importance of a “realistic perspective” for those who lead God’s people.

A “realistic perspective” involves a realistic understanding of the trials and difficulties faced in ministry (Chapter 4) as well as the sustaining resources God provides (Chapter 5).

This posting summarizes the “trials and difficulties” leaders face.

Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges)  – Chapter 4

Bridges discusses the “trials and difficulties” faced by those who lead God’s people in Chapter 4.   These are part and parcel of their calling.  Unless leaders are aware of this in advance, they will not be prepared to face the powerful temptation to give up that comes when they face these problems.

These trials and difficulties are due to the restless and subtle activity of the tempter, Satan.  We meet them in three primarily arenas – in the world around us, in the churches we lead, and within ourselves.   Satan’s aim is to reduce our effectiveness as servants of God.  He succeeds when he gets us to divert our focus our time and energy on things (often good things) other than what God has called us to, or by paralyzing us through unbelief and causing us to stop trusting God and his Word.

A)  Trials and Difficulties faced “in the world”

“If they persecuted me,” Jesus reminded his “leaders in training,” they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).  Ministry done in Jesus’ name provokes a reaction from non-believers.   When we tell people the truth, Bridges warns, we can quickly become “the enemy instead of the friend.”  This opens us up to the temptation to be unfaithful to our master.  Resisting this temptation demands much prayer and faith.

B)  Trials and Difficulties faced “in the church”

Bridges explains this trial vividly,

It is not easy to oversee a congregation of volunteers, to feed their souls, to win their children and neighbors, and do it with patience.  It is not easy to “watch and pray” over them and to value them as those God has purchased with his blood, remembering all the while that we will be judged for the quality of our service.  To do so, we will need to be prepared to suffer, just as our Lord suffering in his ministry.  This requires creativity, diligence, discernment and a large portion of the “gentleness and meekness of Christ.

All of this causes a person to sink into despondency unless a high estimation of the Church, the constraining influence of Jesus’ love, and the upholding prop of God’s grace bears us up.  We end up, Bridges writes, exclaiming, “Who is adequate for these things!”

C) Trials and Difficulties from within

Finally, those who lead God’s people face trials and difficulties from within.  The greatest difficulties faced by leaders come from within, due to our corrupt nature.  When things go well in our service, we face the danger of becoming proud and self-confident, attributing our success to ourselves.  When things don’t go well, we face the opposite danger of becoming become impatient or despondent.  We can easily end up “going through the motions,” but “loosing our zeal our work, excusing ourselves from ministry that is difficult and requires sacrifice, and eventually falling into depression.”

Bridges address God’s more than adequate provision of sustaining resources for those who lead God’s people in Chapter 5.  I’ll summarize these in a posting next week.

A friend of my challenged me to read this book together with him.  I accepted his challenge and am glad I did.  I’m reading a chapter a week and trying to summarize the results of my reading.

I’ll be posting some of these summaries on Seedplots.

Christian Ministry is what might be called an unheralded classic.  It’s not talked about a lot, but many well known Christian leaders read it regularly and are challenged and helped by it.

Charles Bridges (1794-1869), was a clergyman in the Church of England. Other published works by Bridges include commentaries on Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Psalm 119.

Bridges writes out of his personal experience as a pastor.  He aims to encourage fellow pastors who have encountered difficulties in ministry.  His thesis is that discouragements in ministry,

Properly sustained and carefully improved, become our most fruitful sources of eventual encouragement.

This book grew out of a letter written to a friend on the subject of “ministerial inefficiency”.  The letter was later expanded and published in a magazine and then developed into a pamphlet.  This pamphlet was then expanded further still into this book.  It was first published in 1829.  It was further enlarged and expanded and printed as a second edition.  A third edition, enlarged further still, was published a year later.

In a later edition, Bridges wrote that his book emerged from his concern over what he saw around him.  There has never been a time, he believed, when godly Christian leadership was more needed.  Therefore, he concluded, it has never been more important to emphasize the Scriptural standard for Christian Ministry.  His book attempted to address this need.

While written over 150 years ago, Bridges book is still helpful today.  Its rooting in a different day and age is, in fact, one of its strengths, along with its rooting both in Scripture, and years of faith experience in local church ministry.