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.
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Daniel Baker's Views on Baptism
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.
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John Leighton Wilson's "Thoughts on Foreign Missions"
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.
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Samuel Miller's Thoughts on Public Prayer
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.
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Worship in Everyday Life - B.B. Warfield
In this address, Religious Life of Theological Students, B.B. Warfield challenged theological students to cultivate a vibrant, disciplined spiritual life centered on both personal devotion and the communal worship of the seminary community. He argued that theological education should not only engage the intellect but also nurture the spiritual vitality essential for ministry. Warfield underscored the necessity of public worship, pointing to its role in fostering a shared spiritual identity and supporting individual piety. He also highlighted the centrality of private devotion and theological study as means of maintaining a profound relationship with God.
This podcast is built on a very simple conviction: in order to be faithful in the present, we must be rooted in the past. The old paths of Presbyterianism in the 18th and 19th century have much to teach us about the path we walk today.
In weekly 30 minute episodes, we will reflect on the lives and works of figures such as Archibald Alexander, B.M. Palmer, and Charles Hodge. We will consider enduring themes–prayer, Christian experience, and the church–matters of eternal significance for the people of God until Christ returns.
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