Where are All the Biblical Preachers Today? And the Biblical Hearers?

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C. Matthew McMahon

Christian Preacher
[video=vimeo;185695703]https://vimeo.com/185695703[/video]

John Brinsley should be required reading for every Christian who wants a closer walk with Jesus Christ. This work ought to be read by every Christian, both those who preach the word, and those who hear it. - McMahon

The Preacher’s Charge and People’s Duty, by John Brinsley (1600-1665)

John Brinsley (1600-1665), the younger, was a Presbyterian puritan divine who was a powerful Reformed Gospel preacher and writer.

In this work Brinsley not only focuses on the preacher, but also on the hearer. From 2 Tim. 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, and out of season,” he shows that if God has ordained the office of the preacher to herald his message to people “in season and out of season,” then, in fact, there must also be people “to do the hearing.” This work, then, not only applies to the preacher’s charge, but the people’s duty to hear earnestly and diligently what the preacher has said.

He shows that the minister’s charge is a duty to preach the Gospel of Christ, which is in turn preaching Christ: to preach the Word. The preacher is the herald of God, whose office is discharged by speaking this Word to all people, in all cases, in the name of Christ, boldly, faithfully and plainly. In discharging their duty, preachers are to be “instant in season and out of season”, or, earnest and diligent in its performance at all times. By way of contrast but compliment, the hearer of the word should always strive to hear, also, diligently and earnestly. They ought never to be offended at hearing the word preached in its simplicity, and they must excite themselves to this duty entertaining the word of God with gladness. Not only are they to hear it, but they are to wholeheartedly receive it in order to practice it faithfully.

Get the eBook pack here at Puritan Publications.

Get the Printed Book Here.

Get the Google Play Version Here.

Get the Kindle Version Here.

Get the Nook Version Here.

PreachersChargeJohnBrinsleyPS.jpg
 
Sounds like a good read. :)

Now if we can stop pastors, by God's grace, from charging the laity with 2 Timothy 4:2.
 
It's a fabulous read, and extremely important for both the charge of the preacher, and the duty of Christians to hear the word preached in earnestness and diligence. (I haven't heard anyone today that preaches like Brinsley preached. He is a step above most of his peers in his day.) It's a work that would enact Reformation among the church. Combine this work with the last one on Union with Christ on Romans 6, having it soak into our souls, and we might see revival in our churches.

Here is an outline of his work:

DOUBLE DUTY
MEET JOHN BRINSLEY
PREFACE
A TABLE FOR THE MINISTER’S STUDY
PART 1: THE TEXT
PART 2: PREACHING AND PREACHERS
PART 3: HERALDS OF GOD
PART 4: PREACHING THE WORD
PART 5: THE WORK OF PREACHING
PART 6: THE MANNER OF PREACHING
PART 7: HEARING THE WORD PREACHED
APPENDIX: A NOTE ON PREACHING STRUCTURE
 
Now if we can stop pastors, by God's grace, from charging the laity with 2 Timothy 4:2.

Yes, so right. The other day I was wondering if anyone had ever sat down and calculated the amount of Scripture that is written to exclusively to God's ordained servants and office bearers? I think it would be a pretty significant amount!
 
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