One of the most exemplary, Christ-centered, grace-oriented pastors and authors of yesteryear was Andrew Murray of South Africa.
The Christian Classics Ethereal Library provides 11 of his books as free downloads. He is introduced there: “Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope (1907). Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics.” [1]
In 1895 Andrew Murray gave a series of messages at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. The transcripts were edited and published as the book, The Spiritual Life. An audio edition is online here:
Every Christian leader can receive much edification about the spiritual life from this book.
Suggestion: Murray’s book, New Life: Words of God for Young Disciples , is arranged in 52 concise chapters, so it could be used for a weekly prayer meeting for a full year.
Additional favorites include A Deeper Christian Life and The Two Covenants.
Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) was a pastor who served three terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He published eighteen books and his works are featured on the radio and television program, Love Worth Finding. He was also the founder of the Adrian Rogers Pastor Training Institute for ministers.
“Known for his unique ability to simplify profound truth so that it can be applied to everyday life, Adrian Rogers was one of the most effective preachers, respected Bible teachers, and Christian leaders of our time. For over fifty years, through his evangelistic zeal and uncompromising commitment to the Word of God, he consistently presented the Good News of Jesus Christ with strong conviction, compassion, and integrity.[1]
Part of pastor Rogers’ legacy is the section of the Love Worth Finding web site that features The Pastor’s Study. This includes
“Then He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Matt. 4:19,20).
In the pastorate we are vulnerable to become keepers of the aquarium rather than “fishers of men.” Then, instead of feeding the saints with edifying biblical preaching on Sundays, we can use that occasion to preach the gospel again and again. Admittedly, Sunday sermons should include the gospel for visitors and seekers, but restricting pastoral evangelism to Sunday sermons misses outreach opportunities during the week, and conditions the congregation to the idea that evangelism is left to the pastor and Sunday sermons.
However, Paul instructed Timothy (as a pattern to church leaders) “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). Pastoral leaders need to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry” — including sharing the gospel.
Practical Pointers
In The Secret To An Open Door David A. Morel gives some practical guidelines for witnessing. These three basic elements are vital to fruitfulness in evangelism.
Prayer – breaking through the mystery
Develop a burden for the lost. Psalm 126:5–6
Pray for God to open a door for His Word. Colossians 4:2-6
Ask God to give you the words that need to be shared. Ephesians 6:18
The Bible – revealing the mystery (Heb. 4:12)
It is a spiritual weapon. Eph 6:17
Memorize God‘s word. Joshua 1:8
Share God’s Word.
Faith – stepping out of the comfort zone
Biblical examples:
Peter walking on the water
Moses overcoming his reluctance
Gideon being courageous in battle
Sample questions:
“What does this verse mean to you?” “Does this make sense to you?” “Would you like to receive God‘s free gift of eternal life?”
Similarly, The Pocket Testament League advocates a simple 3-step process called Read-Carry-Share.
Read – The Power of God’s Word (Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 13:1-23)
Carry – In the morning when you put some Gospels of John in your pocket or purse, pray, “Lord, lead me to the person you would have me give this to today.”
Share – Listen to God and share a Gospel of John with the person He leads you to without arguing.
Video dramatization:
Although some have a special gift of evangelism, we should all testify, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
JBW
[1] David A. Morel, The Secret To An Open Door, (Biblical Evangelism Ministries / Gideons Edition, 2012)
[2] P.T.L. publishes the Gospel of John in several translations with a variety of covers. The preface features a gospel presentation as “6 Basic Truths.” https://members.ptl.org/code/products.php
An illustration that I have used with coaching church leaders is The Grace Discipleship Fountain. It conveys the importance of the Holy Spirit’s enablement in church ministry and also four important discipleship contexts. (See also this site’s Coaching tab / Strategic discipling.)
Foundational Scriptures:
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37,38
“And He [Christ] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11,12 [emphasis added]
“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2 [multiplication]
On May 25, 2025 I preached on grace discipleship and explained this diagram. (The sermon begins at minute 33.)
Application: If you find this illustration to be helpful, remember the priority of the Spirit-filled life (Eph 5:18) and evaluate the degree to which these discipleship contexts are cultivated in your life and ministry.
Pastor Jeff Barbieri has published a helpful resource especially to equip disciplers in the local church: Christ Centered Living: Living the Christian Life from Your New Identity in Christ
The Christian life not only begins with Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace, but it is also to be lived out with that same focus. The lessons in Christ Centered Living keep Christ and His work in your life at the very core of every aspect of Christian living. Christ Centered Living is comprised of 25 lessons that can be done in small group, one-to-one, or as an individual study. In your journey through these lessons you will discover how your new identity in Jesus Christ is the foundation for your spiritual maturity, emotional stability, and relational harmony. If you are yearning for the abundant life the Lord Jesus spoke of in John 10:10; if you want to move beyond surface Christianity; if you want to lay a solid foundation for a life of spiritual growth, then please accept my invitation to grow in His likeness through your study of Christ Centered Living!
This workbook includes 25 field-tested lessons and is available for purchase at Amazon.com
Jeff is a coach and church consultant with Grace Enrichment Ministries based in Pennsylvania. He recently gave his testimony and an overview of strategic disciplemaking for Grace Fellowship’s Glimpses of Grace podcast. The recording is here: https://gfiworld.sermon.net/main/main/22433781
As Christian leaders we deal with the disparity between our high calling and our personal frailties.
The apostle Paul was committed to pressing on:
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).
But he did so from an appreciation of being complete in Christ:
“For in Him [Christ Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power (Col. 2:9,10).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Eph. 1:3,6).
James reminds us, however, that we still fall short: “For we all stumble in many things…” (James 3:2a)
Steve Cuss, author of The Expectation Gap, noticed gaps between what he believed and what he actually experienced. He writes especially for pastors who tend to base their identity on their vocation. Steve gleaned from hundreds of conversations with pastors and congregants, and observed three common gaps:
I believe God loves me but I don’t feel it
I believe God is with me but I don’t see it
I thought I’d be further along by now
In his book Steve seeks to help bridge these “gaps” between our beliefs and behavior, between our aspirations and our frustrations.
How does our society perceive the character of pastors today? Some prominent pastors are invited to the White House for consultation (like Billy Graham) or interviewed about religious events and topics on TV news. Others who are caught in a sexual or monetary scandal become infamous as they are held up to public scrutiny as poor role models.
The New Testament’s gives lists of character quality standards for elders and deacons in the pastoral epistles. For example, “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of aa bishop [overseer], he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach…” (1 Tim. 3:1,2 NKJV). The list concludes with this principle: “Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (v. 7).
Years ago Gene Getz wrote a good exposition of this topic in his book, The Measure of a Man: Twenty Attributes of a Godly Man.
We would confess that we all “miss the mark” (Rom 3:23; James 3:1,2), and those who are exemplary would give credit to the enabling of the Holy Spirit. As Paul testified, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain…” (1 Cor. 15:10 NKJV).
What was the perception of Christian leaders in the Middle Ages? The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer gives relevant character sketches.
“Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories in a frame story, between 1387 and 1400. It is the story of a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury (England). The pilgrims, who come from all layers of society, tell stories to each other to kill time while they travel to Canterbury (England).”[1]
Among these travelers, four are Christian leaders. The monk was portrayed as self-indulgent, the friar was described as guilty of immoral sex and gluttony. The pardoner had similar vices but made money by selling fraudulent relics. However one stood out as virtuous—the parson. This character is described in lines 465-516 of this poem written in Middle English. Here is this section in a modern English version:
A good man was there of religion, 480 He was a poor COUNTRY PARSON, But rich he was in holy thought and work. He was a learned man also, a clerk, Who Christ’s own gospel truly sought to preach; Devoutly his parishioners would he teach. 485 Gracious he was and wondrously diligent, Patient in adversity and well content, Many times thus proven had he He excommunicated not to force a fee, But rather would he give, there is no doubt, 490 Unto his poor parishioners about, Some of his income, even of his property. He could in little find sufficiency. Wide was his parish, houses far asunder, But never did he fail, for rain or thunder, 495 In sickness, or in sin, or any state, To visit the farthest, regardless their financial state, Going by foot, and in his hand, a stave. This fine example to his flock he gave, That first he wrought and afterwards he taught; 500 Out of the gospel then that text he caught, And this metaphor he added thereunto – That, if gold would rust, what shall iron do? For if the priest be foul, in whom we trust, No wonder that a layman thinks of lust? 505 And shame it is, if priest take thought for keep, A shitty [dirty] shepherd, looking after clean sheep. A truly good example a priest should give, Is his own chastity, how his flock should live. He never let his benefice for hire, 510 And leave his sheep encumbered in the mire, And ran to London, up to old Saint Paul’s To get himself a chantry there for souls, Nor in some fraternity did he withhold; But dwelt at home and kept so well the fold 515 That never wolf could make his plans miscarry; He was a shepherd and not mercenary. And holy though he was, and virtuous, To sinners he was not impiteous, Nor haughty in his speech, nor too divine, 520 But in all teaching courteous and benign. To lead folk into Heaven by means of gentleness By good example was his business. But if some sinful one proved obstinate, Whoever, of high or low financial state, 525 He put to sharp rebuke, to say the least. I think there never was a better priest. He had no thirst for pomp or ceremony, Nor spiced his conscience and morality, But Christ’s own law, and His apostles’ twelve 530 He taught, but first he followed it himself.
The way a Christian leader’s character is demonstrated may change with the centuries, but the need for virtuous character and integrity is vital in every culture. Paul went on to counsel Timothy (and all of us) “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
For a full description of the four Christian characters in the Canterbury Tales, see Pastors in the Classics: Timeless Lessons on Life and Ministry from World Literature, by Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken and Todd Wilson (Baker Books), pp 17-22.
When our children were in school we would recognize P.T.A. Meeting as a Parent Teachers Meeting. One of my mentors, pastor John Sheered, described his approach as P.T.A, but is stood for Preach, Teach, and Apply. John would preach a message Sunday morning, teach the topic in more breadth /depth Sunday night and application was carried our in neighborhood small groups. That conversation was about 25 years ago and Sunday night services are less common. However, the need to see how preaching needs to be applied in small groups is even more relevant today.[1]
Cell Group Church advocate and author, Joel Comiskey posted this article:
Where do people go to be free from their fears and doubts? Many scroll through TikTok and YouTube, looking for advice. They find tons of motivational speakers, life coaches, and even a few spiritual influencers. Some give decent advice, but most advise to “do what feels right” or “believe in yourself.”
Those same fears and doubts existed in Paul’s day, along with the movers and shakers. The influencers included:
Legalists adding works to grace
Philosophers elevating human wisdom above divine revelation
Heretics promoting secret knowledge
Idolaters pulling people away from the true God
False teachers twisting Scripture for selfish reasons
Paul jealously wanted to guide Christ’s church from spiritual manipulators and false doctrine. He directed his spiritual son, Timothy, to base his life and ministry on God’s Word. He writes,
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4: 2-3).
As evangelical Christians, we believe in the authority of God’s Word above all church councils, traditions, and history.
We believe God intentionally communicated the Bible message in a way ordinary people could grasp. Granted, to understand it fully, we need the inner witness of the Holy Spirit to enlighten our hearts to receive what is already plainly there.
What does preaching God’s Word have to do with the cell church? A lot. In the cell church ministry, we have the unique opportunity to preach the Word of God on Sunday and know that cell members will apply the preached Word in their weekly cell groups. The hearers can talk about God’s Word and apply it…[2]
Perhaps preaching could be compared to giving a spiritual meal, whereas application in small groups would be like digestion, and Christian living and ministry would be comparable to metabolic energy used in body life. James exhorts us to remember biblical application:
“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).” James 1:22-15 Amplified Classic translation
And application is not based on self effort, but abiding in Christ and being empowered by the Holy Spirit (John 15:5; Eph. 5:18).
In his Scripture Sketches, J. C. Bailey gave this summary of John Mark’s early failure, and eventual restoration to important ministry.
John Mark started from a good home. He was converted through Peter who seemed to enjoy a special welcome in the house. I wonder who that damsel Rhoda was who could not open the gate for gladness when she heard Peter’s voice without [Acts 12:13], possibly Mark’s sister: and at the very outset of his Christian course, Barnabas and Paul took him with them on their missionary travels [Acts 13:5]. He was Barnabas’s relation and his cousin [Col. 4:10], the bishop, thought himself justified in bestowing his patronage on such a promising young “curate.” Thus early did nepotism enter the church…
This piece of patronage was not eminently successful. The “living” was poor; the income extremely precarious; probably they received more blows than shekels at any time. The two older men were more seasoned, and did not much mind; but the youth was discouraged … John Mark had as yet only that light idea of the responsibility of Christian service which unfortunately is so common: he thought he could take up and put down God’s work as he liked, and he left the two leaders to go on with the work by themselves whilst he went off home again [Acts 13:13].
Then we lose sight of him for six or seven years, which for all we know may have been so much lost time: and after that he becomes the passive cause of an exceedingly unfortunate dispute. Paul and Barnabas—Paul is now taking the lead—arrange a further mission and Barnabas “determines” to take his nephew again with them, whilst Paul “thought not good” to take one who had already deserted his post. This gave rise to “so sharp” “a contention” that the two veterans separate; and Paul goes on with his purposed work, whilst Barnabas takes Mark and goes to Cyprus (his home) [; and again years elapse before we hear anything further of him.
Here again, Mark was seriously to blame, for if he had said that he would not go under any circumstances when he saw the chief apostle objected to taking him, and saw that the matter caused strife, Barnabas could not have prolonged the dispute. However much we may be consoled by the thought that good was brought out of the evil, the quarrel between the two leaders remains an immense calamity [Acts 15:36-40].
Most of us would perhaps have thought it best to leave Mark alone after that; and it comes as quite a surprise that we subsequently find him doing important work in the assemblies, favorably mentioned in some scattered texts, and finally charged with the high honor of writing one of the four Gospels. Not only does Peter (who was his god-father, if I may use that term) take him in hand with that affectionate care which we should expect from one of his nature, but Paul, who had such a disparaging judgment of him in former times, is able to recognize and acknowledge the value of Mark’s subsequent services. He mentions him as being one of his five fellow-workers, who were “a comfort to him“ [Col. 4:10]] in Rome about A.D. 64, and two years subsequently, in his last letter to Timothy, he tells him to “Take Mark, and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to one for the ministry” [2 Tim. 4:11].
This is truly a most delightful verse: the strong-souled, magnanimous apostle accepting and requesting the services of this one whom he had formerly condemned, and going out of his way to acknowledge and praise him, lest anything which he had then said, and said justly, should attach a stigma to one who had now become a devoted and honorable fellow-servant. And on the other hand we see that Mark is so far from remembering Paul’s hard words with any resentment, that he counts it a favor to minister to him and with him. And above all we see that ours is not a hard Master. He doth not cast off forever.
If we, like Mark, have failed and failed grievously in the past, there may yet be opportunity in the present and future for us, like him, to hope, to dare, to accomplish great services, and to “Let the dead past bury its dead.”
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” Philippians 1:6
“For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again…” Proverbs 24:16
Peter’s restoration to ministry
Peter denied the Lord three times, as predicted] “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26:75
“The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Luke 24:34
“He [Jesus] said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.'” John 21:17. See Acts chs 1-11
Strategic Renewal is presenting a Resilence Conference. “Rediscover Your Passion, Conviction, and Capacity for Ministry This event is for all members of the Body of Christ. There will be tracks for both pastors, church, leaders, as well as church members. This will be a time of powerful plenary presentations, life-giving corporate prayer, and practical workshops to rejuvenate, inspire, and awaken your passion for Jesus Christ and His mission!”
It will be hosted in Woodstock, Georgia, but is also available online: March 18, 2025 1:00PM – March 20, 2025 12:30 PM EDT
Revitalizing Pastors 