Study Habits of Great Men...Continued from page 1

The most inspirational description I have heard from a modern preacher about the ministry came from James Stalker of Scotland (1848–1927) during an ordination sermon:

I like to think of the minister as only one of the congregation set apart by the rest for a particular purpose. They say to him: Look, brother, we are busy with our daily toils, and confused with cares, but we eagerly long for peace and light to illuminate our life, and we have heard there is a land where these are to be found, a land of repose and joy, full of thoughts that breathe and words that burn, but we cannot go thither ourselves.

We are too embroiled in daily cares. Come, we will elect you, and set you free from toil, and you shall go thither for us, and week by week trade with that land and bring us its treasures and its spoils (Alexander Gammie, Preachers I Have Heard, pp. 44–45).

Indeed, it is our glorious task to “week by week trade with that land and bring [our people] its treasures and its spoils.” Paul established the biblical standard for us. God has enabled many who have preceded us to be faithful to that calling in the quiet of their studies. May the Lord enable our generation of preachers to be faithful in this vital aspect of our holy calling so that we will be well pleasing to the One Who put us into the ministry (II Corinthians 5:9).

Robert Vincent is an assistant pastor at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. He also teaches Church History at Bob Jones University Seminary.

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