If you would truly profit by ordinances, after you have a fixed pastor, I think it is of moment to forget, as much as possible, the persons of men, and confider them as no more than instruments in the hand of God, for your daily instruction and comfort. The more you remember the appointment of God, and wait upon his ordinances, in the faith of his presence, and the expectation of his blessing, the more you are likely to receive both sensible and lasting benefit. I must therefore take the liberty to observe, that we have amongst us a set of wandering unsettled hearers, who run about from one congregation to another, and even from one profession to another, and are scarcely ever to be seen a whole day in one place. If they be but deliberating where to fix, we may fay of them, that they are ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth. But the probability is, that they have itching and curious ears, and go about not to serve God but to hear men. If I am able at all to judge, either by reflection or observation, those are most likely to profit, who having deliberately made their choice, sit habitually and regularly under one minister. By this means they enter into his views; and as he will naturally endeavour, if any thing was wanting at one time, to complete his scheme by supplying it at another, they will thereby have a more comprehensive view of the whole counsel of God. At the fame time, not having the charm of novelty to enchant them, they will have nothing to do but to reap instruction. On the other hand, by hearing separate, detached, and independent discourses, men may please their fancy more, but they will improve their understanding less. It is also plain, that as every minister will endeavour, not only to follow an order in his discourses on one subject, but to have a respect to the connection, and relation of the subjects themselves, the more accurate and exact he is, in suiting one part to the, illustration of another, the less he will be understood by these desultory hearers, who take only a single branch, without being able to perceive its subserviency to the general design. I have many times known exceptions taken at ministers, for some parts of a discourse by such persons, when, if they had heard the whole upon the fame or corresponding subjects, they would have perceived there was no place for their objections. The great purpose, my brethren, of a serious and judicious people, in attending on ordinances, should neither be to please themselves, nor to criticise their teachers; but to hear the word of God, that they may do it. On this account it is, that humble and regular Christians are getting real advantage to their fouls, while some are only watching the opinions, or others only passing judgment on the ability, perhaps no more than the style and outward manner of the speaker.
Archive for the ‘Parish Theory & Practice’ Category
Witherspoon on church-hopping vagrants
Posted in Church Order & Discipline, Ordinary Means Ministry, Parish in American Context, Parish Theory & Practice, Practice of Piety, Religious Marketplace, The Church in America, The Visible Church, Theology of Community, Theology of Place on March 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »
“The Most Joyful Event of My Life” (in-person & livestream)
Posted in Parish Theory & Practice, The Gospel & the Poor, The Romance of Locality, Thomas Chalmers, West Port experiment on February 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »
In Grand Rapids? Join us! Or sign up and/or watch it this Friday, February 9 by Facebook Live.
Note: this is a distinct, public event after the earlier PRTS Student Society lecture below. Both, however, are livestreamed (yet not including the short RPM slideshow as these include unedited photos of personal mission contacts).
“Missions & Markets” livestream
Posted in Commerce & Christianity, Contemporary Parochialism, Establishments, Gathered Church Ecclesiology, Locality & the Law of Residence, Missiology, Parish Theory & Practice, Patronage, Religious Marketplace, Thomas Chalmers on January 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Apologies to everyone who tried to watch the livestream—technical issues. Here is the audio:
RPM: Drunk despair & a shoe on the other foot!
Posted in Parish in American Context, Parish Theory & Practice, Parochial Strategy, Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on December 20, 2023| 1 Comment »
Over the last few weeks, I’ve made more progress door-to-door in Woodbine. It’s got some character to be sure. There are some nice, even stately old homes alternating with run-down and abandoned shells. The one below had the front door completely knocked in to the ground. With poorer judgment, I could have just walked throughout the place.
I’ve encountered and visited with a number of Spanish speakers here in Woodbine. One had me inside. And not long into this first round I’ve discovered just how many African Americans there are. And their relatively openness to talk and comparative friendliness from past experience elsewhere has been mildly surprising–and definitely encouraging.
One of my most recent encounters was with “Dequan.” As I walked up to his house, he stood there, music blaring from his car. He looked late 20s, dressed in typical urban street-wear. As I introduced himself and handed him a leaflet, he very quickly got exercised and said that there was ‘no forgiveness for him–he killed a man!’ I noticed beer on his breath. Hard to say whether he was serious or not; but I had little reason to doubt him as the conversation progressed. I spoke to him of the infinite love of God in Christ who willingly died for wicked sinners like him and like me. I told him, as for his despair of pardon, that there was a great believer in the Bible who killed a man, and yet God forgave him. “Moses!” he replied. I was thinking David. (This fellow probably had a Christian upbringing, maybe even a godly mother or grandmother still praying for him. O, let us never despair of our prodigals!) So now Dequan had two witnesses of divinely pardoned murderers, and “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” I was grateful that he did not brush me off for who I was, and I certainly treated him with the dignity he deserved as a human being. But, I explained to him, he and I were both in the same boat. We are helpless sinners in desperate need of mercy! I got his phone number. Then I asked if I could pray with him? He had quite calmed down by now. As I prayed for Dequan, he volunteered an arm around me. So touching, and I responded in kind as I led our poor souls to the throne of grace.
(more…)“The Most Joyful Event of My Life”: The Story of the West Port Experiment (1844-1847)
Posted in Free Church of Scotland, Locality & the Law of Residence, Parish Theory & Practice, The Gospel & the Poor, Theology of Community, Theology Proper, Thomas Chalmers, Vignettes from the Old Parish Way, Visitation Evangelism, West Port experiment on April 27, 2023| 1 Comment »
Unless otherwise noted here prior to the event, the lecture will be livestreamed here:
Calvin: parish & principle
Posted in John Calvin, Locality & the Law of Residence, Parish Theory & Practice on August 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“This arrangement ought, as far as possible, to be commonly observed, that every one, content with his own limits, may not encroach on another’s province. Nor is this a human invention. It is an ordinance of God. For we read that Paul and Barnabas appointed presbyters over each of the churches of Lystra, Antioch, and Iconium (Acts 14:23); and Paul himself enjoins Titus to ordain presbyters in every town (Titus 1:5). In like manner, he mentions the bishops of the Philippians, and Archippus, the bishop of the Colossians (Phil 1:1; Col 4:17). And in the Acts we have his celebrated address to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus (Acts 20:28). Let every one, then, who undertakes the government and care of one church, know that he is bound by this law of divine vocation, not that he is astricted to the soil (as lawyers speak), that is, enslaved, and, as it were, fixed, as to be unable to move a foot if public utility so require, and the thing is done duly and in order; but he who has been called to one place ought not to think of removing, nor seek to be set free when he deems it for his own advantage. Again, if it is expedient for any one to be transferred to another place, he ought not to attempt it of his own private motive, but to wait for public authority.”
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. II, pp. 321
RPM: Jesus, Lover of strangers
Posted in Parish in American Context, Parish Theory & Practice, Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts on June 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: the LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down” (Psalm 146:8-10).
“Fatima” once again reached out today. Apparently, her nephew and only immediate family in the U.S. changed his mind about having her come out to live with him in Ohio. While it would have been sad to see her go, I cannot help but see this somewhat as a blessing in disguise for her. While we are but “unprofitable servants,” we are the only devout Christians in her life and have shown her an abundance of care for her outward affairs and especially for her soul.
(more…)Join us for our next Chalmers study
Posted in Parish in American Context, Parish in Perspective (Qualifications), Parish Theory & Practice, RP Study Group, Thomas Chalmers on November 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Next Meeting: Thursday, November 18, 2021 @ 4:00 p.m. EST
“A Charge to New Elders at the Tron Kirk, Glasgow” (1816)
For some background reading on this period of Chalmers’ ministry, here are selections from James Dodd’s, Thomas Chalmers: A Biographical Study (1870). And for more about this study, see here.