Preaching with Spiritual Vigour

including lessons from the life and practice of Richard Baxter

Murray A. Capill

Mentor

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ISBN 1 85792 857 1

© Murray A. Capill

Published in 2003

by

Christian Focus Publications,

Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire,

IV20 1TW, Great Britain.

www.christianfocus.com

Cover design by Alister Macinnes

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. A Model for Preachers

2. Preaching to Yourself

3. Shepherding Souls

4. Preaching Purposefully

5. Speaking to the Heart

6. Driving the Message Home

7. Passion and Power

8. The Reformed Preacher

Appendix: Baxter’s Farewell Sermon

Bibliography

Indexes

Acknowledgements

This book really began as a project largely intended for my own benefit. It was a study fueled by my desire to learn more about how to preach and apply God’s Word with power, and by the need I felt to be fed and stretched in my own preaching ministry. Having long been drawn to the Puritans and their successors, it seemed best to turn to one of them to learn more about vigourous preaching.

What has unfolded since then has been more rewarding than I could ever have imagined. It has been a great privilege to be able to invest considerable amounts of time studying the writings of Richard Baxter. The opportunity to become familiar with his passion for experimental preaching has been immensely challenging, inspiring and humbling. Now also, the opportunity to share this study with others is most gratifying, and if it can be used to strengthen the ministries of other preachers too, I will be deeply thankful to God.

For the privilege of undertaking this study I am indebted to a number of people. First and foremost, to the elders and congregation at the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bucklands Beach. They allowed me time and gave me every encouragement to pursue this study, so as to be better equipped to minister God’s Word. More than that, throughout my ten years of ministry there, they displayed a love of, and hunger for, the preaching of God’s Word that spurred me on and sustained my own love of preaching. To my many precious friends in the congregation, to those who prayed for their preacher, and to those who gave much encouragement, I offer my deepest thanks.

Secondly, I am grateful to the late Tom and Grace Stewart, whose sponsorship enabled me to take up this study at Westminster Theological Seminary in California; to Dr. Joseph Pipa for his personal encouragement and the stimulation of his lectures on the theology of preaching; to Dr. Sally Davey for her detailed and insightful critique of the manuscript; to Dr. Andrew Young, with whom ...