What does true evangelism look like? In a powerful 1856 sermon on John 10:17–18, James Henley Thornwell calls the church to a missions model shaped by the cross. For Thornwell, Christ’s self-giving sacrifice is both the message and method of evangelism. “The spirit of missions is the spirit of the gospel,” he declares—bold words we still need to hear today.

What does pastoral faithfulness look like—without fame or platform? Cornelius Washington Grafton served one small church in rural Mississippi for over 60 years. In 1916, after 43 years in that same pulpit, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly. In his address, A Forty-Three Year Pastorate in a Country Church, Grafton shares a moving account of quiet perseverance, hardship, and joy in the long work of ministry. This episode reflects on his life and reminds us what true pastoral calling looks like.

Join us this week as we revisit Presbyterian minister Daniel Baker’s A Plain and Scriptural View of Baptism (1853). In this concise, winsome exposition—rooted in both adult and infant covenantal theology—Baker distills biblical teaching on the mode and significance of baptism. Based on an earlier Washington, D.C. sermon (A Scriptural View of Baptism, 1827), and later condensed into Baptism in a Nutshell (1856), his timeless clarity continues to edify today. Tune in to discover why his pastoral voice remains so compelling for thoughtful Christian listeners.

John Leighton Wilson (1809-1886), missionary to West Africa and Presbyterian pastor, offers a timeless and theologically rich call to gospel proclamation in his writing, particularly in his essay Thoughts on Foreign Missions. Here Wilson presents biblical reasons why the church must take missions seriously. Over a century later, his words still stir the church ot action in a day when missionary zeal too often grows cold.

Thoughts on Public Prayer, authored by Samuel Miller, is a comprehensive treatise on the nature, history, and importance of public prayer, particularly within the Presbyterian tradition. Addressed to younger ministers and candidates for ministry, it explores the biblical foundations and historical practices of public prayer, contrasts extemporaneous prayer with liturgical forms, and emphasizes the need for both spiritual fervor and cultivated skill in leading congregational prayer. Miller argues that excellence in public prayer is vital for effective ministry and should be pursued with diligence, study, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Urgent call to cultivate personal godliness: prioritize regular corporate worship, disciplined private prayer, and seriousness in ministry. Warns seminarians against activity without devotion.

Reflection on Benjamin M. Palmer’s In the Broken Home, showing gospel comfort amid the deaths of his children and family, emphasizing covenant hope, baptismal vows, and pastoral consolation.

Overview of William S. Plummer’s defense (1876) of Christ’s impeccability: arguing Jesus, as the God‑man, was not merely sinless but incapable of sin, from Scripture and tradition.

Examines Charles Hodge’s defense of verbal, plenary inspiration and inerrancy: Scripture, as God’s inspired Word, is the sole infallible rule for faith and practice.

Archibald Alexander’s Thoughts on Religious Experience stands as a classic in Reformed pastoral theology, offering a penetrating exploration of the inner dynamics of Christian life. Drawing from decades of ministerial experience, Alexander traces the spiritual journey from early convictions and conversion to the trials and consolations of aged believers. With careful attention to the work of the Holy Spirit and the role of Scripture, he examines the diverse patterns of growth, doubt, assurance, and sanctification that mark the believer’s pilgrimage. The expanded 1844 edition includes pastoral letters that provide seasoned counsel across generational lines, enriching the book’s enduring value for spiritual formation.