. . .is held to be almost exclusively the duty of ministers.  The text is usually so applied.  I have no wish to shift off the responsibility from them.  They, if any, ought to go before the flock.  Nor do I wish to put young Christians out of their proper place.

But I do hold very strongly that this responsibility of ministers is shared by all the servants of Christ.  Whatever their position—whatever their measure of grace or gifts, they are called of God to lead on others in the faith, in some measure.  One star may differ from another star in glory, or degree of brightness.  One member of the body may differ from another in size and shape.  But the least star has its place and power, and the least member its work and fitness for that work (1 Cor. xii. 21, 22).  And so of each Christian.  “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards p. 6of the manifold grace of God.R. . . Read More