©2005, Banner of Truth Trust, 280 pp. in hardback

How do men who are called to church planting or the pastorate prepare themselves? Denominations which stress preparation for the ministry have answered this question in one of two ways—study under an experienced minster or attend a seminary. In the early nineteenth century, Princeton Theological Seminary was established by the Presbyterian Church to train men for the pastorate.

Dr. Archibald Alexander was appointed as its first professor. He was called from a Philadelphia pastorate and brought with him a commitment to sound doctrine and intellectual development, a stress on piety, and a zeal for the lost. The wisdom of this appointment was seen in Alexander’s day and can be seen anew by readers of this informative and interesting work. The author provides readers a brief biography of this professor in the opening pages of this work. However, the thrust of the book is on the material Dr. Alexander taught his students in regard to calling and preparation for the ministry. This focus makes these chapters relevant reading for any generation.

Topics covered include the following: “Qualifications for the Ministry,” “Sermon Preparation,” “The Difficulties and Challenge of the Christian Ministry,” and “The Encouragements of the Christian Ministry.”

He lived in an era when many were drawn to emotional experiences rather than propositional truth. He regularly turned his students’ attention to the Bible as the basis for their thinking, proclamation, and counsel. He warned young men not to enter the pastorate just because they wanted to preach. Calling from God through the Spirit’s working within the individual was a requirement. He clearly set forth ways to help determine a ministerial calling.

Much of this volume centers on sermon preparation. To Alexander, and hopefully to seminary professors today, preparation was very important. The congregants themselves must wage spiritual warfare and avoid distractions, such as a wandering mind, in order to concentrate on worship. Pastors were trained to see how their text pointed to Christ or how the doctrine they were teaching pointed to the Savior. In doing so, ministers themselves had to wage spiritual warfare to teach the text rightly. They also were discouraged from bringing controversy into the pulpit. The minister was to use sermons to point hearers to Christ, not to focus on explanations of ongoing controversies.

Realizing that the greatest enemies ministers have are themselves, this wise professor stressed the importance of the minister’s character, prayerful dependence on God for results, and proper preparation of his heart for his daily ministry.

There is far more sound advice in this volume than I can reference in this review. Alexander retained a pastor’s heart throughout his Princeton years. Pastors today can profit by reviewing what he taught. Future ministers can receive much practical instruction on some of the issues that pastors face and on the importance of sermon preparation in feeding the flock. Laity can also benefit in noting the importance of a pastor’s character and the importance of the sermon in a worship service. These reminders continue to be vital today when there is great emphasis to project a certain image and to entertain congregants.

Spiritual battles continue today. It is easy for pastors and people in the pew to focus on man to bring spiritual change rather than God. Charisma and image replace character as more appealing to people. This volume helps readers to keep their priorities straight as to basic contents of a God-honoring pastoral ministry.

Review ©2009 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia