“If an experienced pastor had 10 minutes to exhort 200 of the next generation of ministers what would you say to them? That was the charge for R. Albert Mohler Jr., Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan and C.J. Mahaney”

(Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of four responses to this question so.)

In his typical, heartfelt, full-fl edged manner, C.J. Mahaney exhorted young ministers to watch their life and their affections and to enhance both through reading and personal study at the T4G Late Night event.

“If you are called to pastoral ministry, reading is essential, not optional,” said Mahaney, who served as pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md., for 27 years and is now president of Sovereign Grace Ministries.

“That is my simple point, my simple exhortation. The hard work of reading and study are essential.”

Mahaney noted that John Piper’s sermon on justification at T4G was a “living illustration of the fruit of reading and study.”

“If you desire to feel like John feels as he quotes a particular verse from Scripture and you realize that he has been captured by this verse, he is deeply affected by this verse, …what you are observing is the fruit of many hours of reading and study in private,” Mahaney said. “If you want to feel deeply like John feels deeply, then you must think carefully and deeply and you must invest hours in private to experience the kinds of feelings that were communicated this evening.”

Mahaney said one of his biggest fears in pastoral ministry is “getting familiar” with what he does and becoming a professional at it.

“Sophisticated and polished: O, I fear that! I want there to be consistent tears as I dwell, Spurgeon says, where the cries of Calvary can be heard,” he said. “I don’t want to become a professional. I want to be — by God’s grace — as I age, more, not less, amazed by the grace of God. And here is what I have discovered:
reading is a primary means of the creation and cultivation of affection for God in my soul.”

Mahaney exhorted young ministers to pay close attention to their soul and their affections, warning that to not do so is deadly.

“As you are growing in the skillful execution of pastoral ministry, do not neglect your own soul,” he said.

“Watch your life. Watch it carefully. If, even now, you look back in your life and you were more affected by the grace of God at a previous time in your life than you find yourself presently don’t ignore that. If that condition is a prolonged condition it is a serious condition and you must attend to it.”

Mahaney said daily devotion to reading and meditating on Scripture and the study of supplemental materials will lead to “experiences in private with the Savior, logically-informed experiences, that will make all the difference in your personal life.”

Mahaney said all ministers should be affected by Christ, regardless of how gifted they are.

“Though there are limitations in your gifting, there does not have to be limitation in your personal affection for the Savior,” Mahaney said. “As you serve your congregation, there should be discernible growth not only in your pastoral skills, but there should be discernible, observable growth in your affections. People should notice, appreciate and emulate such affections.”

Mahaney noted that late in Paul’s life, with the apostle’s martyrdom fast approaching, Paul asked Timothy to bring his books, a request we should take to heart.

“Spurgeon writes of this verse, 2 Timothy 4:13, ‘He is inspired, and yet he wants books. He has seen the Lord, and yet he wants books,” Mahaney said. “He has written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books.

“As the apostle says to Timothy so he says to every Christian. … A man that never reads will never be read. He who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the vaults of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own.’ Love God with all your mind and as you do, your heart will be affected.”

This article first appeared on the Southern Seminary’s official news portal and is used with permission. Source: http://news.sbts.edu/