Product Description

"A Pastor's Sketches is a sobering and challenging reminder that the Holy Spirit is the true agent of conversion. This book is urgently needed today when so much of our evangelism is patterned after current marketing methods. It has deeply convicted me to always seek to be in tune with the Holy Spirit as I minister to others." -Jerry Bridges, author of numerous books, "With the decline of biblical Christianity in the 19th century God raised up Asahel Nettleton to be the evangelist who displayed the power of the old ways of bringing the gospel effectively to men and women. In the pastoral ministry it was the skill of Ichabod Spencer who patiently and wisely helped bring many to find rest and maturity in Jesus Christ. He was a pastor's pastor and the fruit of a lifetime's care for God's people was given to the church in this invaluable book." -Geoff Thomas, pastor, author

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #771117 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 600 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent examples of pastoral care and guidance for seekers
Dr. Spencers book is a classic. It is the fruit of a most faithful ministry, richly blessed by the Holy Spirit. He was a very gifted man, especially in the area of personal conversation, where he combined a deep understanding of the Word of God with a profound psychological and pastoral perception. He had the habit at the end of each day to make detailed notes of his pastoral conversations. Therefore, after more than twenty years, he was able to publish two volumes of the most instructive, remarkable and wonderful stories, all 'real life'. There's no comparable book in this area.
I heartily recommend it. Very instructive for ministers and seminary students. The author firmly believed in the Bible as the Word of God. The principles laid down in reformed confessions such as the Westminster Confession, he brought to life in his ministry in a most constructive way.

A Uniquely, Powerful Book on Soul Care
"This is a book of truth. These Sketches are taken from real life. They are facts, not fancies. They are the experiences of some whom the author has known in the course of his ministry. He has not given to them an item of colouring. The only thing about them from which any erroneous impression can possibly arise, is to be found in the fact that they are only sketches, not containing all that could be given in respect to the individuals here mentioned. But they are believed to contain a fair and sufficiently full representation of each case.

The author has made this selection from the materials in his possession, on the principle of avoiding useless repetitions as much as possible, and on the principle of meeting some of the strange difficulties which sometimes trouble inquirers after salvation."

I didn't know what to expect when I began reading a A Pastor's Sketches by Ichabod Spencer. Out of the blue I was asked to review the book by a small publisher I had never heard of which was odd for two reasons: 1) I hadn't updated my blog in months and 2) I would expect a publisher to want well written reviews of their books. I was also worried that if the book was bad I'd have to write a review saying as much, but in the end the lure of a free book was too much for me!

What I found though as I began reading the book was amazing. In fact I was weeping at the end of the first chapter. The book is a collection of conversations that Ichabod Spencer began putting to print in 1851 while pastoring in Brooklyn, New York. This was a time between the Second and Third Great Awakening in America and as such it was a unique period of time. It's also written in an older, more proper, style of American English. Yet, the relevancy of the book was astonishing to me.

As I attempted to tell my friends of what I was reading three things kept coming to mind:

The Unique Style of the Book
I've read other books where there might be a snippet of a conversation here or there, but this book is an entire collection of private conversations between a pastor and his congregants. A quick word about the privacy issue: 1) The author states from the get go that he is fully convinced that he has anonymized the stories enough that no one will know who he is talking about, 2) They're also dead at this time and 3) the purpose for sharing such conversations is excellent.

Many of us would like to know how to answer the seemingly infinite objections to Christianity or guide a confused soul through the rough waters of doubt. How else can you sit in and watch, what I would consider, a master do just that? It's been a wonderful learn-by-example experience for me that would be close to impossible to find in another way (unless you bugged your pastor's office - don't do it!)

Also, the fact that the book is a collection of short stories is perfect for readers like me who like to jump around and sometimes only have time to read a short section.

The Scriptural Saturation of the Conversations
All great books should draw you to the greatest book of all. Ichabod's responses are saturated with Scripture. Sometimes the majority of what he says in a conversation is just Scripture quotations. That might sound annoying at first, but well you just have to see him do it yourself. I long to be able to share Scripture as easily, as boldy, as appropriately to the situation as he does.

The Character of the Man
Ichabod Spencer, as far as I can tell, is not an astonishing man. It is just that though, his simplicity, which makes the conversations so amazing. Ichabod does not come to people with eloquent speech or powerful rhetoric. No, he comes boldly and humbly to people with the best that he has to offer: the Word of God. What you see when reading these conversations is the Word of God at work & bearing fruit and Ichabod as simply the vessel for it.

He isn't brash or pushy. If someone doesn't wish to speak on the topic of faith then Ichabod doesn't wish to make them. If they are willing to though, he can't help but be honest with them, sharing the truths of God in love without shame.

Where to Find It
After looking around I've found that the publisher, Solid Ground Christian Books, is the cheapest place to buy this two volume set (even used on Amazon was more expensive!) On their site you can also find additional information about the book and Ichabod himself. If you are one of those peculiar types that can read a whole book online, then you can read the first volume for free at Google Books.