1 Timothy 4:6
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”

 

“In the measure of their ministerial abilities, and in the peculiar turn of their preaching, there is a great variety:
▪︎ some are best in alarming the careless;
▪︎ others are best in administering consolation to the wounded conscience;
▪︎ some are best for the establishment and confirmation of the Gospel doctrines;
▪︎ others are skillful in enforcing practical godliness; and
▪︎ others again, having been led through depths of temptation and spiritual distress, are best acquainted with the various workings of the heart, and know best how to speak a word in season to weary and exercised souls.

In my mind, I sometimes imagine that I could make a perfect minister.
I would take . . .
▪︎ the eloquence of Mr. A,
▪︎ the knowledge of Mr. B,
▪︎ the zeal of Mr. C, and
▪︎ the pastoral meekness, tenderness, and piety of Mr. D.

Then, putting them all together into one man, I say to myself, “This would be a perfect minister!”

Now there is One, who, if He chose it, could actually do this – but He never did. He has seen fit to do otherwise.

The servants of Christ all preach the same truths; but the Holy Spirit, who furnishes them all for the work He appoints them to, distributes gifts to each one individually, according to His own will.”

~ John Newton
(“Letters of John Newton”)

“THE minister is not responsible for his success. He is responsible for what he preaches; he is accountable for his life and actions; but he is not responsible for other people. If I do but preach God’s word, if there never were a soul saved, the King would say,
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
If I do but tell my message, if none should listen to it, He would say: —
“Thou hast fought the good fight: receive thy crown.”
You hear the words of the text:
“We are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, as well in them that perish, as in them that are saved.”
This will appear, if I just tell you what a gospel minister is called in the Bible. Sometimes he is called an ambassador.”

~ Charles Spurgeon
___________

“Holiness in a minister is at once his chief necessity and his goodliest ornament. . . Even in little things, the minister should take care that his life is consistent with his ministry.”

~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(“Lectures to My Students.”)

“A true minister is a servant of Christ, not a seeker of applause; his office is a yoke of obedience, not a throne of dominion.”