Hebrews 13:7 teaches us to 'remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith'.
One such 'leader' that I would like to draw your attention to, is the godly example of Archibald Alexander. You may be thinking, 'who is he?'. Alexander is no longer alive, but he is one of those godly men that I personally look forward to meeting in heaven. Dr SInclair Ferguson writes: 'The name [Archibald] "Alexander" is virtually synonomous with the story of the first one hundred years of Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey, and is woven deeply into the tapestry of its origin, development, and justly-deserved international fame'.
Alexander was a highly gifted, self-effacing and godly minister, one who devoted much of his life to training the next generation of godly Christian ministers, in his own day.
This gifted man taught his students: 'Cultivate habitually a sense of your own insufficiency' because he believed that this 'much depends on the blessing of God'. He is often filled with great pastoral insight and wisdom. Alexander taught his students that the committed pastor is someone who will exercise 'courtesy or affability'.
If this all-too brief blog posting has whet your appetite, then I highly recommend the following book.
James M. Garretson, Princeton and Preaching: Archibald Alexander and the Christian Ministry, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2005.
This book is a mine of precious gold for those called to the office of eldership and preacher.
1 comment:
My Dearest Brother Kevin,
Grace, mercy and peace to you, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
I pray that this e-mail finds you and your family doing well, and blessed of the Lord.
After reading your blog this morning, I could not delay any longer e-mailing you to commend you for such beautiful and in depth truth that you convey to the reader. I must say, that the two articles, "The Ingredients of Public Worship" and "Can we Learn Anything from a Presbyterian Understanding of the Local Church"?, are masterfully done and I am in full agreement with you. Oh, that all the Lord's church's and people could see this!
I find myself checking your blog daily to see if you have any new post. Would it be possible to come out with these sorts of post weekly? I know you must be busy with the new church, but it would be such a blessing to the reader "to eat at your table" via your blog, at least once a week.
I pray that the opening of the Lord's church there in Sheffield on the 19th went well. I pray that the Lord continue to draw those He is calling there in Sheffield, as far as the East is from the West, and the North is from the South, to this new Presbyterian Church, and that the Lord give them an insatiable appetite and hunger for his word. And may the Lord give you fresh living manna out of His word weekly, that the sheep may be well fed! In Jesus Name!!!!!!!!
Blessings to you my dear brother, and as always, love in Christ,
Brother Stephen
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