Grace Community Church has announced the death of its long-serving pastor and renowned Bible teacher John MacArthur, aged 86.
Paying tribute to his 56 years of faithful ministry, the church called on Christians to join with them in praying for Pastor John’s wife, Patricia, and his family “in this season of sadness mixed with eternal joy”.
Born in June 1939, the son of a Baptist pastor and evangelist, MacArthur studied at Talbot Theological Seminary before joining Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California in 1969, where he served until his home-calling on 14 July following a short illness.
Preach the Word
Through his media ministry Grace To You, his oversight of The Master’s Seminary, and his training of church leaders and pastors overseas, Dr MacArthur will be primarily remembered as an expository preacher who had, as Grace Church recalled, “an unwavering commitment to declare God’s truth”.
Posting a short obituary on its website, the Church said: “Pastor John modeled a true fortitude for His Lord Jesus, believing that to live is Christ and therefore to die is gain.”
It added: “Having fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith, Pastor John was summoned home by his heavenly Master. His faith is now sight; he is at home with the Lord”.
Faithfulness to Christ
Retired pastor John Piper remarked that his long-time friend “inspired thousands of pastors to believe that explaining what the Bible means honors God, saves people and is just plain interesting”.
And in an essay published in honour of MacArthur, Dr Albert Mohler described him as “a lion of the pulpit” with “a relentless expository passion”.
He wrote: “John MacArthur will be greatly missed and deeply mourned. He demonstrated faithfulness over a long lifetime of honorable ministry — a remarkable gift to Christ’s church. His race is now complete — and what a remarkable race it was.
“But, remember this: Pastor John MacArthur would be the first to say that the priority above all other priorities is that the faithful exposition of Holy Scripture continue until Jesus comes.”