As a pastor your job is filled with blessings and satisfaction, as well as unique challenges and pitfalls. Here a ministry veteran covers virtually all of those areas with a wealth of practical insight culled from 44 years in the pastorate. Blending his deep love of the Word and commitment to biblical ministry, Curtis Thomas offers a rich source of help and encouragement that will enthuse and benefit you whether you've pastored for five years or 50.

Pastors are tasked with the incredibly demanding job of caring for the spiritual, emotional, and, at times‚ physical needs of their people. While seminary is helpful preparation for many of the challenges pastors face, there’s far more to pastoral ministry than what can be covered in the classroom. Designed as a reference guide for nearly every situation a pastor will face, this comprehensive book by seasoned pastors Kent Hughes and Doug O’Donnell is packed full of biblical wisdom and practical guidance related to the reality of pastoral ministry in the trenches. From officiating weddings to conducting funerals to visiting the sick, this book will equip pastors and church leaders with the knowledge they need to effectively minister to their flocks, both within the walls of the church and beyond.

The Scriptures advise us to learn from examples of faithful ministers (Heb. 13:7). The Puritans were a group of such ministers whose teaching and living can be particularly encouraging to troubled and discouraged pastors today. They were steadfast in adhering to Scripture as the Word of God, in confessing the great truths of the Reformed faith, and in applying sound doctrine to the problems of life in an age and culture nearly as challenging as our own. In Encouragement for Today's Pastors, Joel R. Beeke and Terry D. Slachter examine the writings of these pastors of a bygone era consider how they can help struggling pastors today. Here pastors will find a helping hand, reminding them of the importance of cultivating personal piety, resting in God's sovereignty recovering clarity in their calling, discovering means of support God provided, recognizing the dignity of their office, and taking comfort in grace and glory to come. Table of Contents: Part One: Piety 1. Zeal for the Ministry of the Word 2. ‘In Sweet Communion, Lord, with Thee’ 3. Encouraged by God’s Promises Part Two: Sovereignty 4. God Gives the Increase 5. Submission to God’s Will Part Three: Clarity 6. Taking Heed to Doctrine 7. Practicing What Is Preached 8. The Calling of the Shepherd Part Four: Creativity and Community 9. History and Science 10. The Communion of Saints 11. A Cloud of Witness Part Five: Dignity 12. ‘One among a Thousand’ 13. Doing the Work of Angels 14. The Urgency and Importance of Preaching the Word Part Six: Eternity 15. The Reward of Grace 16. The Glories of Heaven

In this richly collaborative work, five distinguished scholars examine the oft-neglected embodied practical wisdom that is essential for true theological understanding and faithful Christian living. After first showing what Christian practical wisdom is and does in several real-life situations, the authors tell why such practical wisdom matters and how it operates, exploring reasons behind its decline in both the academy and the church and setting forth constructive cases for its renewal.

Book Summary. Practical Wisdom for Ministry reveals the unwritten and unspoken rules that ensure effective ministry and shares the practical little bolts and nuts that make ministry work effectively. This book specifically sheds light on the following sub-topics: Why you must honor your pastor and leaders The law of the extra mile in the ministry The power of loyalty The danger of familiarity The Nimrod spirit How to catch the spirit and anointing of the ministry How to make your ministry great How to protect your ministry How to be scripturally partial How to stay ahead in the ministry

I have learned many practical lessons about ministry. But with the help of some of my pastor friends, I now have a whole book of practical lessons about ministry. I simply asked each of them to share the one lesson they would like to share with other pastors.This book is designed to share valuable time-tested lessons from men who have pastored for many, many years. Most of these men have pastored the same church for over a quarter of a century. If you added them all up, there are over 200 years of ministry experience in this book.My prayer is that these lessons will save a young pastor from making some of the same mistakes these experienced pastors have made. I am also hoping that these lessons will give some guidance and wise counsel to a discouraged pastor who does not know what to do in a church mess. If you are not a pastor, I hope this book will help you to begin to understand the complicated situations in which pastors often find themselves. - Greg Burdine