…of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…1 Chronicles 12.32

The Christian Ministry: Part I, chapter VII
Charles Bridges (1794-1869)
“The Apostle’s own practice explains his rule to embrace the wide field of General Study. His introduction of heathen aphorism in the illustration or application of sacred truth proves, that he apprehended no necessary debasement of its purity from an intermixture of human learning. Stephen mentions it to the honour, not to the discredit, of the Jewish Lawgiver, that he was ‘learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians’…But it is also true that God is pleased to make himself known by the use of means. And when the means are used in subordination to his grace, he will honour the means. Let us then honour human learning. Every branch of knowledge, which a good man possesses, he may apply to some useful purpose.”

Pastors must minister the Word of God in a wide variety of contexts to a wide range of people, whose daily lives take them into all the various fields of information and activity. How can we expect to speak the Word effectively into the world of those we serve if we are ignorant of that world? The sons of Issachar were mighty men of David because, understanding the times in which they lived, they knew what Israel should do. The more a pastor knows of his people, and the more he understands about their fields of endeavor and interest, and the times in which they live, the more effective he will be at speaking truth to the things that are closest to their hearts. To this end, general reading and study must be part of our ongoing preparation for ministry. Your preparation for ministry is important to enable you to make the most of your time in ministry. Let us then, as Charles Bridges urged us, “honour human learning,” and learn as much as we can, so that we serve as well as we can.

What are you presently doing to fulfill this challenge? How do general reading and study fit into your ongoing preparation?

Theological Studies
The Laddership Curriculum of The Ailbe Seminary offers a broad introduction and review of the various theological disciplines essential for shepherds in God’s flock. Watch this brief video to learn more about The Laddership Curriculum. Or sign up for our Ladders Propadeutic, One in Twelve: An Introduction to Christian Worldview (click here).

Vision of the Holy
Holiness begins in our vision of Christ. Download the free PDF, Glorious Vision:28 Days in the Throne Room of the Lord, and discover a clearer and more compelling vision of Christ as revealed in Psalm 45.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.