The Power of the Pulpit: Thoughts Addressed to Christian Ministers and Those Who Hear Them

by Gardiner Spring

minister training

Hardcover

First published December 1, 1986

Reviews

[Tom Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gardiner Spring is an utterly unexpected and entirely fascinating find. For more than six decades a pastor in New York City, his book is the expressed juice of a long and fruitful pastorate. Yes, it is written and aimed at a mid-19th century audience, but there is something priceless both about its subject - the pulpit - and its approach. Spring is more than just orthodox and faithful; he is an outstanding wordsmith. He manages to transmute his no small talents from sermonizing to authorizing, and his book positively sings in places because of it. But more importantly than all of this is the content. He does a matchless job of emphasizing the power and importance of the pulpit. I cannot remember when I last read a book that compares to this. If you pastor, or plan to pastor I urge you to obtain it. You will find a most excellent teacher, and draw from it lessons and thoughts and impressions that will long aid your ministry.

[Eleazar Maduka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. This book will help both pastors and their people better understand the great power that the Christian pulpit has in this world. (I definitely have a higher view of the pulpit after reading this book!)
While some of his examples are dated, and his use of the English language a bit old for the modern reader, the priceless gems scattered throughout this book would be worth every single second of any reader's time.

[Timothy Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! A book recommended online by a preacher, written by a preacher for preachers. I have to say the material in this book really challenged me. His emphasis on the Pulpit and its intended impact really got me thinking about the impact of the pulpit I preach from here at Bible Way. The Great Object of Preaching and Ministerial Diligence were exceptional chapters really bringing home the point of the ministry and the role of the minister.

The two chapters (all actually) really go together since you can't have one without the other. As preachers he encourages us to give ourselves to this task, not like we would any other, but with the understanding and reverence that we are engaging in soul changing work. Called of God and equipped by for task at hand.

Just over 240 pages and easy to read I would highly recommend to anyone in considering or in ministry.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this book three-stars because many of the author's points were expanded far beyond what was necessary to make his point. The language is a bit dated and some word choices seem unnecessarily difficult.

With that said there were some chapters that I would rate five-stars:

Chapter 13 - The Preacher's Interest in His Immediate Subject
Chapter 14 - Ministers Must Be Men of Prayer
Chapter 15 - The Personal Piety of Ministers
Chapter 16 - The Example of Ministers
Chapter 17 - The Responsibility of Ministers

These sections I were worthy of repeated reading.

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Power of the Pulpit is one of my favorite books on preaching. Written by Dr. Gardiner Spring a Second Great Awakening preacher and strong advocate for the primacy of the pulpit.