Book Review: The Ministry by Charles J. Brown
5 09 2011
Charles J. Brown was the pastor of a church in Edinburgh Scotland for over 40 years. My attention was drawn to him as a result of a description I read of him, “Upon hearing him [Charles Brown] preach I was struck with his liveliness and warmth in the pulpit.” Another writer said this of him, “Truly the Word of Christ dwelt in him richly in all wisdom, so that alike in the pulpit and at the communion table, at his prayer meetings, in his classes, in family visitation, and at the sick bed, he fed his people with what had first enriched his own soul.”
He was asked to give a series of different addresses to a class of students of divinity. The lectures were gathered into print and circulated for a number of years. This book is a collection of those lectures. The following topics are covered:
Chapter 1 – The Connection between Godliness and the Christian Ministry
Chapter 2 – Public Prayer
Chapter 3 – Preaching, Its Properties, Place, and Power
Chapter 4 – Elements of Pulpit Power
His comments are practical and helpful! It is an easy read and one that can be done in one sitting. For my friends in ministry I highly recommend chapter 3 and his comments about preaching without notes and bringing life to your pulpit!
This is a book I will read again!
