Visit the Sick

Ministering God's Grace in Times of Illness

Book Details

Discerning Reader Editorial Review

Reviewed 03/05/2009 by Paul Martin.

Recommended. Pastoral advice on caring for the sick.

Day One is publishing a great series of smallish books under their “Ministering the Master’s Way” banner. This one, by Pastor Brian Croft, is a fine edition to the series and deals with the entire gamut of ministering to the sick.

After the foreword by Mark Dever, Croft writes a chapter explaining sickness from a biblical and theological perspective. This immediately elevates the book from a simple manual, to a helpful theological contribution. Have we really thought through the theology of visiting the sick? Is it an unfortunate expectation on pastors or a central element of our calling? He concludes this brief, but thorough review of the topic by noting:

Understanding this unfolding storyline of the Bible is essential not only for grasping God’s design and plan for his creation, but also for comprehending God’s eternal purpose in the reality of sickness, disease, pain and affliction in the world. In the midst of the sickness or affliction that someone in our church may be experiencing, we have the glorious privilege of pointing to a greater, divine and more significant reality than that person’s physical circumstances. We can point to sickness and affliction as results of the Fall and to our dying bodies as reminders of our birth in sin. We can remind others that sickness was a means for God to discipline his chosen people that caused them to long for a Redeemer. We can rejoice that the signs of God’s kingdom coming were the healings and restorations by the authority of the Son of God—a foretaste of what we will experience in full when Jesus returns and resurrection becomes a reality.

The rest of the book overflows with excellent counsel on how to serve the sick. He includes sections explaining what kinds of Scripture to read, how to pray the Gospel, as well as encouragement to affirm the sovereignty of God and remind the sick of the promises and character of their Saviour.

There is no shortage of wise pastoral advice in the book. Croft rightly promotes pastoral ministry to the sick and shifts it from duty to spiritual service. He notes some of the powerful effects such ministry can have in the life of struggling saints, and how the entire church can be edified by a pastor’s care of the hurting. Perhaps best of all, he writes of the joy that almost always comes to the pastor as he seeks to serve. How many times have we gone to a hospital or sick room only to leave a few minutes later feeling we received all the blessing!

For the younger pastor (I trust) there is plenty of good practical advice in this book, from making deliberate eye contact, to remembering to freshen your breath! All in all, this is a fine volume and a welcome addition to any pastor’s library.

You can also buy Visit the Sick direct from DayOne Publications here.