1. Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor (1656; repr., Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2001), 102.
2. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry (1900; repr., Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1960), 384.
3. David Dickson, The Elder and His Work (1883: repr., Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2004), 58.
4. Ibid., 59.
5. This question must be followed up with some type of “why” question. For example, “Why do you believe God would allow you into heaven?” Answers that resemble “because I’ve been a good person”; “because God is loving”; “because I was baptized”; or “I hope [think] God will allow me into heaven” reveal they do not know the gospel. You must assess this first to be able to direct the rest of a spiritual conversation accordingly. See appendix 2 for examples of spiritual conversations.
6. Baxter, Reformed Pastor, 104.
7. D. A. Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992), 33.
8. Curtis Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors: Words of Encouragement and Counsel for a Lifetime of Ministry (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2001), 104.
9. Derek Prime and Alistair Begg, On Being a Pastor: Understanding Our Calling and Work (Chicago: Moody, 2004), 175.
10. Dickson, Elder and His Work, 60 (italics in the original).
11. Ibid.
12. Baxter, Reformed Pastor, 103.
13. Dickson, Elder and His Work, 60 – 61.
14. John Piper, “Hello, My Father Just Died,” March 6, 2007, www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/taste-see-articles/hello-my-father-just-died (accessed October 21, 2013).
15. Dickson, Elder and His Work, 59.
16. C. H. Spurgeon, Susannah Spurgeon, and W. J. Harrald, C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography (1899; repr., Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim, 1992), 1:371.
17. Ibid., 372.
18. Ibid., 371.