A timely word from J H Gosden: Scripture plainly shows that a man may be divinely called to preach the gospel and yet not be a pastor of a particular church; but the inference that some have been willing to draw from this undoubted fact, that it is immaterial whether a church have a pastor […]

For who hath despised the day of small things?  Zechariah 4:10. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are the last three prophets in the Old Testament. These men preached after the Jews returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon. Because they ministered after that event, we call them the “Post Exilic Prophets.”  When around 516 BC the […]

Thomas Smyth (born in Belfast), pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, S.C., from 1832-1873, gave several practical directions in a Manual for the members of his congregation. The following are twelve rules for promoting harmony among church members (that he appears to have taken out of William Plumer’s Manual for Church Members): 1. To […]

Newly published from Christian Focus Publications is Geoffrey Chang’s examination of C H Spurgeon’s Reformed ecclesiology and Baptist polity… here is an excerpt from the conclusion: More than a century has passed since his death, and yet Spurgeon remains remarkably relevant for modern-day pastors and church leaders. Much attention has been given to Spurgeon over […]

The Pastor’s Soul – The Call and Care of an Undershepherd by Brian Croft and Jim Savastio, published by Evangelical Press (2018). Conrad Mbewe suggests that this book should be read by pastors at least once a year as a spiritual health check. I agree. Especially Part One where Paul’s command to Timothy (1 Timothy […]

Last weekend (Saturday 15th June 2024) I spent an excellent day at the Strength in Truth Conference in Surrey with a well stocked bookstall. Described as ‘A strict baptist conference for young people’ this conference aims to provide a forum for young people to meet up and hear Biblical viewpoints on a wide variety of […]

This article is taken from the Sinner Saved Magazine, Spring 2024. It was written by Henry Fowler (1779 – 1838) who was a hymnwriter and pastor at Gower Street Chapel (1821-1838). I cannot but mourn at the sad state of Zion. Surely the shadows of the evening are stretched out over us! Few are the […]

Love the Ones Who Drive You Crazy: Eight Truths for Pursuing Unity in your Church by Jamie Dunlop We all know the familiar texts on the importance of brotherly love and unity in the church. But are we honest with ourselves about our commitment to this? Especially unity with ‘those people’ – the ones who, […]

Evangelical Pharisees by Michael Reeves, (Crossway, 2023) In Evangelical Pharisees Michael Reeves is writing to Christian believers on the theme of hypocrisy. He writes out of a concern to see orthodoxy in doctrine not just remaining as head knowledge, but leading to a change in heart and life. In the first chapter, ‘Beware of the […]

The Balanced Pastor by John Benton (Grace Publications, 2023). After many years in pastoral ministry John Benton is now Director for Pastoral Support at the Pastor’s Academy, London Seminary. This book is actually an omnibus edition of three recent booklets but is nevertheless slim and concise. The subjects covered are:- Benton writes simply and with […]

The Church of Acts Two – The Scriptural Pattern for the Church Today by Matthew Hyde (Gospel Standard Publications, 2023). This book is made up of five sermons preached at Galeed Chapel, Brighton. They are sermons to a particular church within a particular denomination, but they have relevance to all who are seeking to understand […]

We have now received stock of the latest book in the planned series taken from James Durham’s ‘A Treatise Concerning Scandal’. This one looks at the necessity of Church discipline, here is an extract… If individual Christians were zealous, loving, and prudent in their private admonitions; if ministers and elders were diligent, single-minded, grave, and […]