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A Word to Fellow Pastors and Other Christian Leaders: Things Every Minister of the Gospel Must Consider
Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to feed the congregation of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. – Acts 20:28
The objective of the Christian ministry is to convert sinners and to edify the body of Christ. No faithful minister can possibly rest short of this. Applause, fame, popularity, honor, and wealth – all these are vain. If souls are not won, and if saints are not matured, our ministry itself is futile.
Questions we have to ask Has it been the purpose of my ministry and the desire of my heart to save the lost and guide the saved? Is this my aim in every sermon I preach and in every visit I make? Is it under the influence of this feeling that I continually live and walk and speak? Do I pray and toil and fast and weep for this? Do I spend and am I spent for this, counting it, next to the salvation of my own soul, my greatest joy to be the instrument of saving others? Is it for this that I exist? To accomplish this, would I gladly die? Have I seen the pleasure of the Lord prospering in my hand? Have I seen souls converted under my ministry? Have God’s people found refreshment from my lips and gone on their way rejoicing, or have I seen no fruit of my labors? Am I content to remain fruitless? Am I satisfied to preach without knowing of one saving impression I made or one sinner awakened?
Opinions are not what man needs; he needs truth. Not theology, but God. Not religion, but Christ. Not literature and science, but the knowledge of the free love of God in the gift of His only begotten Son.
Table of Contents
Ch. 1: The Importance of Being Hot for Christ
Ch. 2: The Importance of Being Right with God Ourselves
Ch. 3: The Danger of Unfruitful Ministry
Ch. 4: The Importance of Eliminating Our Faults
Ch. 5: The Need of Revival in Ministry
Former Words to Winners of Souls
About the Author
In 1808, Horatius Bonar was born into a family of several generations of ministers of the gospel. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh and was ordained in 1838. As a young pastor at North Parish, Kelso, he preached in villages and farmhouses, proving himself to be a comforter and guide. In 1843, he joined 450 other pastors to form the Free Church of Scotland after the “Disruption.” Horatius Bonar wrote numerous books, tracts, periodicals, and more than 600 hymns. He believed that people needed truth, not opinions; God, not theology; and Christ, not religion. From his first sermon to his last, he ended with “In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”
The objective of the Christian ministry is to convert sinners and to edify the body of Christ. No faithful minister can possibly rest short of this. Applause, fame, popularity, honor, and wealth – all these are vain. If souls are not won, and if saints are not matured, our ministry itself is futile.
Questions we have to ask Has it been the purpose of my ministry and the desire of my heart to save the lost and guide the saved? Is this my aim in every sermon I preach and in every visit I make? Is it under the influence of this feeling that I continually live and walk and speak? Do I pray and toil and fast and weep for this? Do I spend and am I spent for this, counting it, next to the salvation of my own soul, my greatest joy to be the instrument of saving others? Is it for this that I exist? To accomplish this, would I gladly die? Have I seen the pleasure of the Lord prospering in my hand? Have I seen souls converted under my ministry? Have God’s people found refreshment from my lips and gone on their way rejoicing, or have I seen no fruit of my labors? Am I content to remain fruitless? Am I satisfied to preach without knowing of one saving impression I made or one sinner awakened?
Opinions are not what man needs; he needs truth. Not theology, but God. Not religion, but Christ. Not literature and science, but the knowledge of the free love of God in the gift of His only begotten Son.
Table of Contents
Ch. 1: The Importance of Being Hot for Christ
Ch. 2: The Importance of Being Right with God Ourselves
Ch. 3: The Danger of Unfruitful Ministry
Ch. 4: The Importance of Eliminating Our Faults
Ch. 5: The Need of Revival in Ministry
Former Words to Winners of Souls
About the Author
In 1808, Horatius Bonar was born into a family of several generations of ministers of the gospel. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh and was ordained in 1838. As a young pastor at North Parish, Kelso, he preached in villages and farmhouses, proving himself to be a comforter and guide. In 1843, he joined 450 other pastors to form the Free Church of Scotland after the “Disruption.” Horatius Bonar wrote numerous books, tracts, periodicals, and more than 600 hymns. He believed that people needed truth, not opinions; God, not theology; and Christ, not religion. From his first sermon to his last, he ended with “In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”
97 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2019
101 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Horatius Bonar
562 books42 followersHoratius Bonar (19 December, 1808 – 31 May, 1889) was a Scottish churchman and poet.
The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.
He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.
The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland. One of eleven children, his brothers John James and Andrew Alexander were also ministers of the Free Church of Scotland. He had married Jane Catherine Lundie in 1843 and five of their young children died in succession. Towards the end of their lives, one of their surviving daughters was left a widow with five small children and she returned to live with her parents. Bonar's wife, Jane, died in 1876. He is buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.
In 1853 Bonar earned the Doctor of Divinity degree at the University of Aberdeen.
He entered the Ministry of the Church of Scotland. At first he was put in charge of mission work at St. John's parish in Leith and settled at Kelso. He joined the Free Church at the time of the Disruption of 1843, and in 1867 was moved to Edinburgh to take over the Chalmers Memorial Church (named after his teacher at college, Dr. Thomas Chalmers). In 1883, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 8, 2025
A Word in Season
Horatius Bonar pointedly highlights many of the necessities of a holy ministry while also warning of the many dangers. I found his short book helpful for three reasons:
One, he raises the value of holiness in the minister. In a day and age where churches call men if they can preach, we need to be reminded that it is holy men who handle holy things.
Two, Bonar dismisses many of our Reformed excuses for an unfruitful ministry. Blaming a lack of fruit on God’s providence confuses God’s secret and revealed will, and Bonar rightly exposes the fruit of such a misguided excuse.
Three, Bonar teaches us to expect fruit in our ministry. This should the norm, but do we expect conversions and growth to follow every sermon? When they don’t, the problem is with us, not God. When they don’t, we need to ask ourselves serious questions.
And for a bonus round, Bonar is a helpful remedy against much of the “self-care” surrounding the ministry today. As someone who reads Baxter’s “The Reformed Pastor” every year, I find the self-care movement to be a cover for laziness and a lack of zeal. Bonar reminds us that our calling requires us to spend and be spent, that we cannot expect to find rest here below when our Savior did not. He is a good corrective to the modern minister.
Horatius Bonar pointedly highlights many of the necessities of a holy ministry while also warning of the many dangers. I found his short book helpful for three reasons:
One, he raises the value of holiness in the minister. In a day and age where churches call men if they can preach, we need to be reminded that it is holy men who handle holy things.
Two, Bonar dismisses many of our Reformed excuses for an unfruitful ministry. Blaming a lack of fruit on God’s providence confuses God’s secret and revealed will, and Bonar rightly exposes the fruit of such a misguided excuse.
Three, Bonar teaches us to expect fruit in our ministry. This should the norm, but do we expect conversions and growth to follow every sermon? When they don’t, the problem is with us, not God. When they don’t, we need to ask ourselves serious questions.
And for a bonus round, Bonar is a helpful remedy against much of the “self-care” surrounding the ministry today. As someone who reads Baxter’s “The Reformed Pastor” every year, I find the self-care movement to be a cover for laziness and a lack of zeal. Bonar reminds us that our calling requires us to spend and be spent, that we cannot expect to find rest here below when our Savior did not. He is a good corrective to the modern minister.
December 19, 2021
Humbling and Powerful
The brevity of this book might fool some into thinking it’s a quick read, but nothing could be further from the truth. I fought back tears every few pages as Bonar gently and firmly reminded me of the urgency of my calling and the terrible sin of treating it lightly. We pray often for revival in America - perhaps that revival must begin in the pulpit with those who claim to represent God to lost souls. This should be read prayerfully by every pastor or lay leader in the church at least every two years.
The brevity of this book might fool some into thinking it’s a quick read, but nothing could be further from the truth. I fought back tears every few pages as Bonar gently and firmly reminded me of the urgency of my calling and the terrible sin of treating it lightly. We pray often for revival in America - perhaps that revival must begin in the pulpit with those who claim to represent God to lost souls. This should be read prayerfully by every pastor or lay leader in the church at least every two years.
October 30, 2020
You could read this book for free on google play books.
a classic from 1800s, but still relevant for this day. a detailed way a servant could fall, maybe from the author's experience and any other on that time.
a classic from 1800s, but still relevant for this day. a detailed way a servant could fall, maybe from the author's experience and any other on that time.
April 27, 2020
Convicting
This small book is not fluff but depth. It’s aim is to set you on fire as a minister of Christ. Thankful I was lead to read it.
This small book is not fluff but depth. It’s aim is to set you on fire as a minister of Christ. Thankful I was lead to read it.
April 1, 2021
A quick listen to this book struck me as a humbling and chiding work for pastors. I don't mean these in a rejecting way, but that these words are meant to call pastors to grow up in Christ.
September 23, 2021
I love to learn, read, and listen to Christian classic books. They are so much depth, devotion, and meatiness. Mr. Bonar’s book is included. It is very convincing and challenging. For my 21st century ears, the standard for a leader or minister of the gospel as outline here is very high (if I pause every time a sentence hit me, I would never finish this book. Repentance, in the end, is necessary!) and it should be so. As of this writing, the Hillsong Church is in turmoil due to many controversies, scandals, and misconducts among the leaders. I’m glad that the truth is exposed and yet, I’m sad that it brings shame to the church. I’m guilty of my own disobedience but the Scripture is clear that we have to hold ourselves to a higher Biblical standard. This book is a must-read!
To read my review of this book, CLICK HERE: https://legasitv.blogspot.com/2021/09...
To read my review of this book, CLICK HERE: https://legasitv.blogspot.com/2021/09...
November 9, 2022
We take for granted that the objective of the Christian ministry is to convert sinners and to edify the body of Christ. No faithful minister can possibly rest short of this. Applause, fame, popularity, honor, and wealth – all these are vain. If souls are not won, and if saints are not matured, our ministry itself is futile.
The question, therefore, which each of us has to answer to his own conscience is, Has it been the purpose of my ministry and the desire of my heart to save the lost and guide the saved? Is this my aim in every sermon I preach and in every visit I make? Is it under the inf l uence of this feeling that I continually live and walk?
The question, therefore, which each of us has to answer to his own conscience is, Has it been the purpose of my ministry and the desire of my heart to save the lost and guide the saved? Is this my aim in every sermon I preach and in every visit I make? Is it under the inf l uence of this feeling that I continually live and walk?
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August 9, 2020Timely
The words are for today, it is as he was writing to the church now.I strongly recommend it to everyone
The words are for today, it is as he was writing to the church now.I strongly recommend it to everyone
December 16, 2020
I would give this 66% out of 100%. 📚
April 10, 2022
Just love it
What a great little book. It challenges me to rethink my Christian walk. This should be a required reading for church leaders and pastors.
What a great little book. It challenges me to rethink my Christian walk. This should be a required reading for church leaders and pastors.
December 18, 2022
Excelente livreto com exortações muito importantes para todos ministros do evangelho.
May 6, 2020
I have been more familiar with the writings of Horatius Bonar's brother, Andrew, but after reading this little book I will be sure to read more of his works.
Bonar writes a scathing but loving rebuke of unprofitable servants in the Lord's ministry. This is not a braggart blowing off steam, but a pleader interceding for sinners in need of real preaching from lively pulpits.
The Bonars and Spurgeon, alongside other contemporaries (like McCheyne), were prime examples of the warm evangelical Calvinism that saw revival in the mid and late 19th century. Their lives are worthy of emulation and their words of reading over and over.
I challenge any pastor or preacher to read Bonar's book and see if you don't come out the other side thoroughly convicted. A few of my favorite excerpts:
"When we can be satisfied to use the means without obtaining the end and speak of it as though we are submitting to the Lord's will, we use a truth to hide a falsehood, exactly in the same as those formalists in religion do."
"The study of truth as dogma more than in devotion has robbed it of its freshness and power."
"Strange that sudden conversions should be so disliked by some ministers. They are the most scriptural of all conversions."
Bonar quotes other great preachers voluminously in some sections. One such timely passage for our day is where Bonar references Thomas Vincent's book about ministry during the great fire and plague of London, God's Terrible Voice in the City, where Vincent spoke of how "the terror-stricken multitudes hung with breathless eagerness upon their lips to drink in salvation before the dreaded plague swept them away to the tomb. Church doors were flung open, but the pulpits were silent, for there was none to occupy them. Most hirelings had fled...Then God's faithful band of persecuted faithful came forth from their hiding places to fill forsaken pulpits. They stood in the midst of the dying and the dead to proclaim eternal life to men who were expecting death before the next day...Every sermon could be their last. Graves were lying open around them...Every hour possessed a value beyond the wealth of kingdoms...Oh, how they preached! No polished periods, no learned arguments, no labored paragraphs chilled their appeals..."
Quoting Vincent, "The grave seemed to lie open at the foot of the pulpit with dust in her bosom, saying -
"Louden thy cry
To God,
To men,
And now fulfill thy trust;
Here thou must lie -
Mouth stopped,
Breath gone,
And silent in the dust."
What was true in Vincent's day was true in Bonar's day and is true in mine. Life is too short and eternity too long to trifle the moments away. One day, the preacher's mouth will be stopped and his labors done. Get to it. The night cometh when no man can work.
Bonar writes a scathing but loving rebuke of unprofitable servants in the Lord's ministry. This is not a braggart blowing off steam, but a pleader interceding for sinners in need of real preaching from lively pulpits.
The Bonars and Spurgeon, alongside other contemporaries (like McCheyne), were prime examples of the warm evangelical Calvinism that saw revival in the mid and late 19th century. Their lives are worthy of emulation and their words of reading over and over.
I challenge any pastor or preacher to read Bonar's book and see if you don't come out the other side thoroughly convicted. A few of my favorite excerpts:
"When we can be satisfied to use the means without obtaining the end and speak of it as though we are submitting to the Lord's will, we use a truth to hide a falsehood, exactly in the same as those formalists in religion do."
"The study of truth as dogma more than in devotion has robbed it of its freshness and power."
"Strange that sudden conversions should be so disliked by some ministers. They are the most scriptural of all conversions."
Bonar quotes other great preachers voluminously in some sections. One such timely passage for our day is where Bonar references Thomas Vincent's book about ministry during the great fire and plague of London, God's Terrible Voice in the City, where Vincent spoke of how "the terror-stricken multitudes hung with breathless eagerness upon their lips to drink in salvation before the dreaded plague swept them away to the tomb. Church doors were flung open, but the pulpits were silent, for there was none to occupy them. Most hirelings had fled...Then God's faithful band of persecuted faithful came forth from their hiding places to fill forsaken pulpits. They stood in the midst of the dying and the dead to proclaim eternal life to men who were expecting death before the next day...Every sermon could be their last. Graves were lying open around them...Every hour possessed a value beyond the wealth of kingdoms...Oh, how they preached! No polished periods, no learned arguments, no labored paragraphs chilled their appeals..."
Quoting Vincent, "The grave seemed to lie open at the foot of the pulpit with dust in her bosom, saying -
"Louden thy cry
To God,
To men,
And now fulfill thy trust;
Here thou must lie -
Mouth stopped,
Breath gone,
And silent in the dust."
What was true in Vincent's day was true in Bonar's day and is true in mine. Life is too short and eternity too long to trifle the moments away. One day, the preacher's mouth will be stopped and his labors done. Get to it. The night cometh when no man can work.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews