Böcker av Charles Edward Jefferson

In this deeply moving meditation on the role of pastors in modern life, Charles Edward Jefferson offers practical advice and inspiring examples of how to guide a congregation with skill and compassion. A must-read for anyone in Christian ministry, this book from the Young Men's Christian Association is a true treasure.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Charles Edward Jefferson was a minister who spoke the word of God in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; this is his spiritual guidance to preachers, imbued with experience and soul.Jefferson entered the service of the Lord at a time very different from today: the United States was nearing the conclusion of its expansion westward, its population burgeoning from successive waves of migration. Railways criss-crossed the nation as new towns sprang up in flurries of settlement: in short, the need for God was greater than ever amid toil and adversity. Church membership and attendance was colossal in this time; a fact the author - an Ohio clergyman - was all too aware of.As well as being a primer for young priests hoping to offer guidance to their congregations, this work cautions against a series of mistakes and wrongheaded mentalities. Jefferson is blunt and down to earth; he acknowledges that preachers - being public speakers - carry the potential for vanity. Yet self-importance is a peril; it can lead to petty demands, to insincere guidance, to indolence, to misrepresentations of God's will. Observantly and eloquently, the author urges readers to tread their path with caution and care, mindful of pitfalls but exuding grace and goodwill.

Charles Edward Jefferson's advice for Christians draws upon years of experience in the Ohio priesthood, in a time of great challenges, when spiritual guidance of the highest quality was very sought after.The author writes in a conversational style, fulfilling the role of spiritual counselor to a lay person who seeks counsel. Initially he seeks to clarify the position of clergy in society; misconceptions exist, which Jefferson eloquently dispels with clear and determined eloquence. We progress to definitions of the positive traits which ministers and believers should strive for: a sympathetic nature which results in cooperation with others. Where liberty is concerned, we must value and use our freedoms, but be mindful of their limitations - when speaking, a minister should not stray into frivolity, or deviate from God's wisdom.Further cautioning readers, Jefferson explains how the valuable lessons of a typical sermon can be undermined by wrongheaded thinking habits. One must be earnest when attending church; a genuine desire to learn or to refresh one's knowledge is crucial. Likewise a minister must refrain from vapid questions - simply asking whether the congregation liked a sermon is insufficient. A good sermon is not a mere item on display; it is a deep and piercing guidance, a warning of wrongdoing, and an illumination of eternal truths.