Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically
LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMNARY
BOOK CRITIQUE
John MacArthur - Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically
Submitted to Dr. David W. Hirschman, in partial fulfillment
Of the requirements for the completion of the course,
LEAD 635
Pastoral Ministry
By
Paris Marshall-Cole
October 4, 2013
SUMMARY
John MacArthur and a team of authors from the staff of the Masters College and Seminary combine their pastoral expertise and resources to publish the book, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically. This book is targeted to seasoned pastors and men and women who are just beginning ministry. There are four section of the book and each section calls the pastor back to the scripture which many have left. Pastoral ministry had to be rediscovered because of uncertain identify, institutional disenchantment, lack of leadership, the future of evangelicalism hangs in the balance, no clear explanation of scripture, cultural isolation, unbiblical teaching, and emerging, and the ministry as it is being shifted from truth-orientation to a market response ministry (3-4). In order to challenge the ministry, the church must look to the Scriptures which seems, has been forgotten. Questions are arising in the minds of Christian in the twenty-first century, what are pastors in the twenty-first century teaching? Are the scriptures being taught as opinions or truth? Is the pastor to teach what man wants to hear or what God wants to speak through him? Every ministry must be in the will of God who want to be approved workers of the gospel and not disapproved workers. MacArthur states “God’s calling, prayer, priorities, worship, preaching, outreach, discipleship, and other aspects of shepherding Christ’s flock are examined, challenging pastors to deepen the biblical roots of their own ministries” (inside cover). Paul warns Timothy about two men, Hymenaeus and Philetus, who taught that the resurrection of believers had already occurred (1 Timothy
BOOK CRITIQUE
John MacArthur - Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically
Submitted to Dr. David W. Hirschman, in partial fulfillment
Of the requirements for the completion of the course,
LEAD 635
Pastoral Ministry
By
Paris Marshall-Cole
October 4, 2013
SUMMARY
John MacArthur and a team of authors from the staff of the Masters College and Seminary combine their pastoral expertise and resources to publish the book, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically. This book is targeted to seasoned pastors and men and women who are just beginning ministry. There are four section of the book and each section calls the pastor back to the scripture which many have left. Pastoral ministry had to be rediscovered because of uncertain identify, institutional disenchantment, lack of leadership, the future of evangelicalism hangs in the balance, no clear explanation of scripture, cultural isolation, unbiblical teaching, and emerging, and the ministry as it is being shifted from truth-orientation to a market response ministry (3-4). In order to challenge the ministry, the church must look to the Scriptures which seems, has been forgotten. Questions are arising in the minds of Christian in the twenty-first century, what are pastors in the twenty-first century teaching? Are the scriptures being taught as opinions or truth? Is the pastor to teach what man wants to hear or what God wants to speak through him? Every ministry must be in the will of God who want to be approved workers of the gospel and not disapproved workers. MacArthur states “God’s calling, prayer, priorities, worship, preaching, outreach, discipleship, and other aspects of shepherding Christ’s flock are examined, challenging pastors to deepen the biblical roots of their own ministries” (inside cover). Paul warns Timothy about two men, Hymenaeus and Philetus, who taught that the resurrection of believers had already occurred (1 Timothy
Bibliography: Wilson, Michael Todd, and Brad Hoffmann, Preventing Ministry Failure: a ShepherdCare guide for Pastors, Ministries and Other Caregivers. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2007.