Samuel Miller’s Thoughts on Public Prayer
June 13, 2025 · 1:10:07 · with Camden Bucey, Jonathan Master
In this episode Camden Bucey welcomes Dr. Jonathan Master, president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and host of the new podcast Dead Presbyterians Society. Together, they reflect on the theology and practice of public prayer, drawing upon the insights of 19th-century Presbyterian theologian Samuel Miller and his underappreciated classic, Thoughts on Public Prayer.
The conversation addresses the enduring importance of prayer in the public ministry of the church. Dr. Master discusses why pastors must be both God’s mouthpiece to the people through preaching and the people’s mouthpiece to God through prayer. The episode includes a full episode of Dead Presbyterian Society, in which Master offers a deep and moving treatment of Miller’s work—highlighting frequent faults in public prayer, the characteristics of excellent prayer, and the secret devotional habits that sustain it.
Whether you’re a pastor, elder, seminarian, or thoughtful church member, this episode is a call to recover the dignity, order, and spiritual power of public prayer in Reformed worship.
Chapters
- 00:00:07 Introduction
- 00:04:53 Introducing Dead Presbyterians Society
- 00:21:22 Dead Presbyterians Society, Episode 5
- 00:47:28 The Relative Lack of Attention Given to Public Prayer
- 01:01:44 How to Grow in Public Prayer
- 01:06:05 Reading Books to Help Think More Biblically
- 01:08:30 Conclusion
Participants: Camden Bucey, Jonathan Master