EncouragEmEnt for today’s Pastors

[Pages:22]EncouragEmEnt for today's Pastors

EncouragEmEnt for today's Pastors

Help from the Puritans

Joel R. Beeke and

Terry Slachter

Reformation Heritage Books Grand Rapids, Michigan

Encouragement for Today's Pastors ? 2013 by Joel R. Beeke and Terry Slachter All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Direct your requests to the publisher at the following address: Reformation Heritage Books 2965 Leonard St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616-977-0889 / Fax 616-285-3246 orders@ Printed in the United States of America 13 14 15 16 17 18/10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

e authors wish to thank Annette Gysen, Rev. Ray Lanning, Rev. Paul Smalley, Phyllis TenElshof, and Irene VandenBerg for their valuable assistance on this book.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Beeke, Joel R., 1952Encouragement for today's pastors : help from the Puritans / Joel R. Beeke and Terry Slachter.

pages cm Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-60178-220-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Clergy--Psychology. 2. Clergy--Religious life. 3. Puritans--History. 4. Clergy--Counseling of. 5. Clergy--Job stress. I. Title. BV4398.B44 2013 253'.2--dc23

2012048363

For additional Reformed literature, request a free book list from Reformation Heritage Books at the above regular or e-mail address.

In memory of six wise ruling elders who have been great friends

and Puritan-like sources of encouragement for me in my pastoral ministry:

Bert Harskamp Gordon Deur Henry Langerak Peter Vander Jagt Peter Van Kempen Uncle Richard Westrate

I count it one of life's greatest honors and joys to have served Christ's church with these godly

"Barnabases" (consolers or encouragers), who have o en cheered and upheld my weary soul

as faithful "Aarons" and "Hurs" (Exodus 17:12).

--JRB

* * *

To the congregation of

East Leonard Church Grand Rapids, Michigan

who have encouraged me in ministry for the past ten years

through their practical support, patient love,

and persistent intercession.

--TS

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Part One: Piety 1. Zeal for the Ministry of the Word. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 2. "In Sweet Communion, Lord, with ee" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 3. Encouraged by God's Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Part Two: Sovereignty 4. God Gives the Increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 5. Submission to God's Will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Part ree: Clarity 6. Taking Heed to Doctrine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 7. Practicing What Is Preached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 8. e Calling of the Shepherd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Part Four: Creativity and Community 9. History and Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 10. e Communion of Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 11. A Cloud of Witnesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

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Encouragement for Today's Pastors

Part Five: Dignity 12. "One among a ousand" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 13. Doing the Work of Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 14. e Urgency and Importance of Preaching the Word . . . . . . 171

Part Six: Eternity 15. e Reward of Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 16. e Glories of Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Epilogue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

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