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Are Church Leaders Missing the Generational Handoff? There's Still Hope.Are we building institutions that will meaningfully serve the next generation of believers and their leaders?How does a church thrive in a culture where we have to earn credibility?How do we create a sense of belonging to the body of Christ and a strong sense of identity for the next generation?Becoming a Future-Ready Church is a blueprint to guide you through eight critical shifts to help lead your church into the future with wisdom and hope. It describes several major converging trends that will greatly impact the church in America over the next few decades: the Great Resignation of Boomer leaders from churches, the shrinking percentage of Christians in America, and the change in felt needs among rising generations shaped heavily by anxiety, skepticism, and fragmentation.Missiologist and pastor Daniel Yang, religion journalist Adelle Banks, and church researcher Warren Bird have come together in Becoming a Future-Ready Church to help church leaders evaluate whether their ministries are entrenched in strategies that worked well in the past but need to be adapted for the future. By helping us ask better questions about the issues and needs facing the church, they reveal practical ways in which the next generation of church leaders can gain a sturdier foothold as they navigate into the future.

To those who are called, the shepherding ministry is meant by God to be one of life's greatest joys. Yet like a clipper ship sailing past the tip of a great unknown continent in the dead of night, this joy is vast, unexpected, and easy to miss. For many, the initial joy of shepherding souls fades into exhaustion, resentment, even burnout. It does not last. It was not meant to. Much of the early reward of ministry done well is rooted in the gratification of the natural self. The immature shepherd fails to glory in weakness and naturally prefers to glory through strength, giving God the credit of course. Jesus said,'If anyone would come after me... he must take up his cross.'But why a cross? For the joy set before us. Only ministry embraced as an opportunity to die will reduce the temptation to eventually hate it. Only when walking in the power of a crucified life will a minister be anything more than powerless. Only once fallen to the ground and perished will a leader bear much fruit. So wrestle that shepherd's cross on your shoulders. There is much joy yet to be discovered.

People with disabilities are often excluded from full participation in church communities. Accessibility is a key component of the biblical ministry of reconciliation—but it's not enough. To truly work toward reconciliation, churches must both consider the theological implications of disability and also become places where people with disabilities lead.Disabling Leadership presents a practical theology of disability for thoughtful church leaders and congregants. Written by practitioners and a scholar-pastor who are engaged in ministry together, this book encompasses cutting-edge theological ethics as well as stories of how such commitments are embodied in a real church community. The authors equip readers to explore key themes such as:what it means to be humanhow to understand suffering and healinghow churches can be welcoming and accessible communitieshow to face common challenges and issues in resisting ableismDisabling Leadership moves beyond paternalistic views of disability that seek to extract'inspiration'from another's story without engaging in the difficult work of just and dignifying relationships. When we foster genuinely inclusive leadership teams, the authors contend, our churches will be less likely to treat anyone as a'project'and will better reflect God's love as the body of Christ.

A flourishing pastoral heartbeat is possible—for those who are intentional.Ministry in modern society presents a perpetual assault on the pastor's soul. Culture has changed, and the challenges of ministry have changed with it. Many new pastors are discovering that they're ill-equipped to manage unexpected, soul-health tensions of ministry. Some are walking away, and others are choosing to not enter the pastorate despite a sense of God's calling.Cary Schmidt shares a fresh approach to cultivating emotional health for a lifetime in ministry. Infuse your weary pastoral soul with renewed health, consistent joy, and true flourishing.The heart of Steady Strength is to bring vitality and renewed passion to perplexed and weary servants. Schmidt explores how tensions on the modern pastor can be navigated in three compelling ways:Reckoning with the realities of an unusual call.Cultivating health in unique ways.Nurturing a robust, gospel-culture in ministry.Far from a mournful, complaining manifesto of the negative burdens of the pastor's life, this book is a celebration of the wonderful and joyful opportunity to shepherd God's people. In this three-part book, Cary Schmidt unfolds a workable approach to sustained, joyful pastoral health.

Shepherding the Pastor helps new and upcoming pastors understand the common challenges and pitfalls that arise in the early years of ministry and to face difficulties with faith, wisdom, and patience.Many pastors feel isolated and helpless, especially those beginning pastoral ministry. Phil Newton and Rich Shadden know what this road is like, and they want to share what they have gained from pastoral mentoring—Rich, a young pastor receiving support and guidance from Phil, an older, more experienced shepherd.Using real life examples of their mentor/mentee relationship, they identify four key practices that will help pastors thrive despite the stresses of ministry: a deepening walk with Christ, faithful exposition of Scripture, continual learning from mentors, and growth in skillful patience with their flock.Published in partnership with 9Marks.

In Pastor, Jesus Is Enough, Jeremy Writebol invites pastors to hear the words of the risen Jesus in the seven letters within Revelation 2–3: - Pastors love Jesus most - Pastors suffer - Pastors teach and tell the truth - Pastors become like Jesus - Pastors abide in Jesus - Pastors find their value in Jesus - Pastors repent The exhortations in Revelation 2–3 are directed to churches. But they also exhort pastors. In these letters, Jesus draws near to pastors—whether hurting or straying—and reminds them of his sufficiency. In these warnings and promises, Jesus has hard words for pastors. But they are words of life. Most of all, Jesus urges pastors to keep their focus on him. Being enough is exhausting. But pastor, the good news is that you cannot be enough. Because only Jesus is enough.

Reconnect Your Church provides a practical, road-tested vision and process to equip church leaders to reinvigorate their churchHow can churches stay healthy and dynamic over the long-term? What's needed to avoid or reverse church stagnation and decline?While some churches are vibrant and growing, many more are struggling, especially after Covid. The congregation might be declining and ageing, there's little success in reaching out to with the gospel, and more time is spent on inward facing problems than loving God and loving others. But the potential that could be released is huge.David Brown draws on his experience revitalising a church in central Paris to offer a vision and a process for church revitalisation, with a focus on UK and European contexts. Whether you are church planting, in a well-established and thriving church, or looking to turn around a church in decline, Brown provides biblically grounded wisdom along with change management principles for long-term health.When we reapply God's priorities to the church, we unleash new life and energy in following Christ in community.

Help for pastors and elders to bring unity to their churches in divided times and to experience renewal in the trials of ministry.

POOR IN SPIRIT. BROKEN. HUMBLE. HUNGRY. SYMPATHETIC. PURE. RECONCILING. ENDURING. These are not the words that describe the typical picture of the modern-day successful American pastor, but these are the words Jesus said should characterize the lives of his twelve disciples. In many circles, the image of what a pastor is or does looks nothing like the picture Jesus paints for his disciples of the character that marks citizens of his kingdom.Shepherding like Jesus is a call to rebel against much of what our culture understands pastoral leadership to be and return to being the shepherd God has called pastors to be. It's an invitation to recover the most essential element of pastoral ministry: the character of Christ.

A fascinating look at what will increase spiritual power in your life and ministry. In 48 Laws of Spiritual Power, best-selling author Frank Viola lays out the unchanging principles of tapping into God's power and releasing it to serve others. These laws are based on over thirty years of ministry experience—trench-tested in Frank's life and the lives of others who have spent decades in ministry. Though these laws may seem counterintuitive and uncommon, they will equip you to look for God's power in your ministry. In short, digestible chapters packed with secrets of effective and impactful ministry, 48 Laws of Spiritual Power will equip you with what you need for your ministry to thrive. With straight-to-the-point insights, the book provides a unique perspective on God's work and practical tools for overcoming the inevitable hardships that are part of any ministry.48 Laws of Spiritual Power will:Help you access God's power in your personal life and release it in the lives of othersIntroduce you to uncommon wisdom that is rarely talked about in seminary or Bible collegeGive you a fresh look at how to transform your ministry with the power God is ready to grant youThe key to effective ministry is God's power.

'Deeply connecting theology with practice, this book encourages rich biblical-theological reflection for growing and sustaining a vibrant ministry-applying more than twenty key Christian doctrines to pastoral work'--

One of the most daunting tasks that a pastor will ever face is leading his congregation to the future he will not see. It is a reality that no leader wants to admit exists, but whether they like it or not, they will all have to face it one way or another. Bryant Wright, the former long-term pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, faced this issue. After decades of serving his church, the Lord led Bryant to carry out a succession plan. This book captures that journey from the first conversations about stepping down to the final sermon he preached. Succession discusses this journey in a way that shows the leadership of an experienced pastor, the wisdom of a knowledgeable shepherd, and the humility of an obedient servant. This book not only displays the heart of a man who loved and led his church well, but also serves as a model for those preparing for the most difficult task they will ever face.

We need good news now more than ever. We are hungry to connect--with God and with each other. Whether you preach from a pulpit or simply want to communicate more effectively as a leader, this book will empower you to bring that good news with fresh boldness. It teaches a simple, practical method of testing the crucial connection points that too often go missing in our preaching. It invites you to pay attention to the verbs of your sermons, so that you will be better able to lament painful struggles with empathy, awaken joyful hope for the future, and catalyze faithful discipleship in the present.

Pastoral ministry is hard. These days—with pandemics and cultural crises and distrust of the church higher than ever—it may be especially hard. There is a reason an increasing number of pastors are depressed, burned out, leaving the ministry, or—worst of all—imploding their lives through moral failures. Mike Minter planted a church in 1975, and after a long and faithful career in pastoral ministry, he is burdened to see so many struggling pastors. This book is born from both his experience and his concern. His heart is to help younger pastors make it through the ministry intact, and Stay the Course will do just that.

Leading with Love: Essentials of Church Leadership is a handbook, the distilled lessons of Terence Elsberry's thirty-plus years as an ordained minister. It challenges clergy of all denominations to apply his proven leadership skills and knowledge to the ministry God has called them to. Here you'll find a handbook of ministry-enhancing information in a helpful Q. and A. format. The answers focus on key areas of ministry and are the result of proven success. Warm, anecdotal, practical, and motivational, here's a book to help lead church leaders through the heartache, frustrations, and joys of church leadership while by God's grace remembering the underlying purpose of ministry: to share God's love with his people and, with them, and through them, to the world. As Terry says,'The reason why church ministry is so satisfying is because there are so many people to love.'

From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus called and equipped individuals who would serve his community of followers. These'shepherds'are called to preach, pray, and care for the needs of God's people. But what does it mean to be a pastor? And what is the nature of this ministry, according to the Bible?In Gospel-Driven Ministry, Jared Wilson begins by looking at the qualifications for the pastorate, addressing the notion of a call to ministry and how an individual--and a church community--can best identify the marks of maturity and affirm a call. In each chapter, Wilson looks at one of the core practices of pastoral ministry, including:Preaching SermonsDeveloping a Vibrant Prayer LifeCaring and CounselingPastoring Married and SingleGospel-Centered LeadershipFighting Sin and Spiritual WarfareResolving ConflictPassing on the Ministry to OthersIn addition, Wilson provides practical resources including theological insights on baptism and the Lord's Supper, guidance for wedding and funeral sermons, outlines for leading elder and deacon meetings, tips for interviewing new pastors, questions to ask at ordination, and advice on knowing when and how to leave a pastor role. This is a comprehensive, practical guide to pastoral ministry that prepares new pastors and equips those currently serving for long-term, healthy ministry.

In Pastoral Imagination: Bringing the Practice of Ministry to Life, Eileen R. Campbell-Reed informs and inspires the practice of ministry through slices of'on the ground'learning experienced by seminarians, pastors, activists, and chaplains and gathered from qualitative studies of ministry. Each of the fifty chapters explores a single concept through story, reflection, and provocative open-ended questions designed to spark conversation between ministers and mentors, among ministry peers, or for personal journal reflections. The book provides a framework for understanding ministry as an embodied, relational, integrative, and spiritual practice.Pastoral Imagination is closely integrated with the author's Three Minute Ministry Mentor web resource, which introduces the topics in the book through brief video presentations. The book serves as a coaching guide and a ministry mentor in its own right by expanding on these topics through the author's reflections, observations, and questions. Addressing the importance of the practice of ministry, Campbell-Reed states:'Ministry itself, like most professions and complex practices, is dogged and driven by a rush to achieve. Yet to focus on achievement can be disastrous, especially if we skip over the steps for learning. To learn the practice of ministry--a multifaceted professional and spiritual practice--takes time and preparation, risk and responsibility, support and feedback.'The book can be used by individuals for personal growth; with groups in new-pastor retreats, CPE training programs, ministry peer groups, or supervision settings such as internship or field education; for devotional inspiration at staff meetings; and in seminary classrooms that prioritize teaching ministry as a practice.

Preaching is an integral part of every church service, and its purpose has always been to edify, encourage, and to emphasize the positive effects of coming together as a people of God. Yet there remains an inconsistency between the intended goals of preaching and the subjective perception of the listeners. In this homiletical study, Dr. Enoh Šeba provides fresh insight into the “turn to the listener” model and offers a theologically sustainable warrant mandate for the transformation of the preaching practice through a stronger involvement of the congregation. While grounding the research in the experience of Croatian Baptists, Dr. Šeba highlights practical suggestions for both listeners and preachers that are transferrable across contexts. This important work reveals that preaching can and should be transformed into a truly congregational practice that will affirmatively affect the dynamics of ecclesial life. This book will spark conversations and induce small-scale changes on a variety of levels while bridging the gap between preachers and their listeners.

4 Steps for Testing the'Call'to Ministry Many new believers have questions about what it means to live as a Christian in the context of a local church, and pastors are looking for resources to pass along to their congregations to help them think biblically about the Christian life. Created in partnership with 9Marks, Church Questions is a series that seeks to provide ordinary Christians with sound and accessible biblical teaching by answering common questions Christians have about church life. Each booklet offers biblical answers and practical applications with the goal of nurturing healthy church practice and commitment. In this addition to the series, pastor Brad Wheeler addresses the shortcomings of the word'calling'when talking with aspiring pastors about their desire to pursue ministry. Explaining why the idea of calling is both unbiblical and even unhelpful, Wheeler suggests a 4-part process as a better alternative—cultivate godly ambition, display godly attributes, develop an aptitude for teaching and discipleship, and receive the affirmation of a local church. Written from personal experience, this short book is designed to encourage men trying to discern their'next steps'to pastoral ministry.

Few books have more influenced those called to gospel ministry than Charles Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students. This influence of this book, like the Prince of Preachers himself, reverberates to our present age. Carrying forward this tradition is Jason Allen's Letters to My Students. Dr. Allen serves as president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College, the former ranking as one of the largest and fastest growing seminaries in North American. Dr. Allen has also served in multiple pastorates. His passion to serve the church by equipping a generation of pastors, missionaries, and ministers for faithful service is reflected in Letters to My Students. Letters to My Students is a biblical, accessible guide for ministers and ministers-in-training. It brings both biblical and practical wisdom to bear on the minister's three main responsibilities: preaching, leading, and shepherding the flock of God. Martin Lloyd-Jones famously described the call to ministry as the highest, greatest, and most glorious calling to which one can be called. If this assessment resonates with you, you'll want every available tool to strengthen your ministry. Letters to My Students is one such resource.

Christ's sheep need shepherding. That's where you come in. With more than 60 years of ministry between them, Harold Senkbeil and Lucas Woodford have come to understand that everything in ministry--even administration, leadership, and planning--revolves around the ancient tradition of the care of souls. Pastors are entrusted with the care of a flock by the Good Shepherd and are called to be faithful to this task. But pastoring seems to be getting more and more difficult. Based on a sound theological framework, Senkbeil and Woodford present a set of practical tools for church leadership and strategy. Calling on their vast experience, they encourage pastors to protect, guide, and feed their flock as Jesus would, bridging the eternal wisdom of the word of God with the everyday practicality of hands-on leadership. Originally published as Church Leadership & Strategy, this revision includes a new chapter and litany.

There's a ticking time bomb in your ministry. Is it you?The pressures of pastoring are endless, leading many to burnout and depression, sexual misconduct, or substance abuse. But moral failures can be averted and shipwrecked ministries can be repaired. Counselor Michael MacKenzie, a longtime expert in helping pastors at risk, deals with the issues beneath the issues, such as shame, fear, and pain. If we don't address our own weakness and brokenness, we will hurt ourselves and those around us.With vivid pictures of both self-destructive patterns and reconstructive grace, MacKenzie shows how to lay the groundwork for restored identity and service. God can use those exact areas of vulnerability as a catalyst to you becoming the pastor and person he intends you to be.Defuse the bomb before it goes off. Find hope for healing and recovery.

If you aren't innovating, stagnation isn't far away.Ministry leaders carry the burden of keeping their organizations lean, focused, and relevant. The stakes are especially high for churches and other organizations that fulfill the Great Commission. When souls are on the line, there's no room for bureaucratic bloat or sustaining a cumbersome infrastructure. It's up to the leadership—that's you—to realize where the organization is in maintenance mode and find ways to innovate even when the growth curve has slowed and the team has started to grow complacent.Using missions disruptor William Carey as an example, Ted Esler shows how you, too, can innovate in ways that change the ministry landscape. Esler will help you keep an eye on your “eccliosystem”—the ecclesial ecosystem in which you exist. You'll learn about the four stages of organizational culture—disrupting, innovating, sustaining, and stagnating—and gain strategies for staying in that sweet spot where innovations keep coming and stagnation can't take hold.The gospel of Jesus Christ never grows stale. Don't let your ministry ever forget it!

Ministry throws unexpected challenges at you. What if a little more training could help you navigate them successfully?Though church leaders take courses in preaching and Christian education, when do they learn about personal limitations and the benefits of intimate friendships? Or what about conflict resolution? Knowledge gaps like these are often the primary factors that lead to frustration and burnout. In What Great Ministry Leaders Get Right, Jimmy Dodd of PastorServe and Renaut van der Riet of Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL, outline the six core competencies church leaders need to develop healthy, biblical, and sustainable leadership. Jimmy and Renaut address the critical lessons often missing from ministry training that all leaders need to successfully serve their congregations. Whether you've been in the pulpit for years or are just beginning your ministry education, every pastor can make sure they're prepared for the real-world challenges of ministry.

Many people today, including Christians of deep conviction, are deciding, for one reason or another, to stop attending church. They have been swept up by the avalanche in America known simply as the'nones,'thereby joining the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated dubbed the'church alumni association'--or perhaps more accurately'believers in exile'--by Anglican Bishop John Shelby Spong. Research shows that during the first two decades of the twenty-first century, a seismic shift occurred in the U.S. population away from religious institutions and toward disaffiliation. While the causes and effects of this dislocation are varied and numerous, by 2015, the phenomenon of shrinking faith communities was so widespread that'nones'became the third largest religious identity in the world, behind Christians and Muslims. Today there are more religious'nones'than Catholics or evangelicals, and 36 percent of those born after 1981 do not identify with any religion. Does this shift mark a loss of spirituality, or do these changes point to a new global religious awakening, one that affirms religious pluralism and views faith relationally rather than dogmatically--as a way of the heart and not of the head? While some Christians are staying put, experiencing the current shift in traditional church settings, this book proposes a new understanding of the church, a new pattern and vision for Christian living and thinking that can transform our understanding of God, others, nature, and ourselves. Useful for individual or church study, each chapter of The Church Alumni Association concludes with questions for discussion and reflection.

Outreach Resource of the YearWhy Does Narcissism Seem to Thrive in Our Churches?We've seen the news stories. Maybe we ourselves have been hurt by a narcissistic church leader. But what is narcissism, really? And how does it infiltrate the church? Chuck DeGroat has been counseling pastors with narcissistic personality disorder, as well as those wounded by narcissistic leaders and systems, for over twenty years. He knows firsthand the devastation narcissism leaves in its wake and how insidious and painful it is. In When Narcissism Comes to Church, DeGroattakes a close look at narcissism, not only in ministry leaders but also in church systems;offers compassion and hope for those affected by its destructive power and;imparts wise counsel for churches looking to heal from its systemic effects. DeGroat also offers hope for narcissists themselves—not by any shortcut, but by the long, slow road of genuine recovery through repentance and trust in the gospel of Jesus.

How can pastors endure in ministry? How can they finish well? The pastors who have contributed to Before We Forget—some early in their ministries, some with decades of experience—believe remembering is the key to endurance. Remembering their first love. Remembering God's call to ministry. Remembering the lessons God taught them in the early days of their service. The premise of the book is simple. We too often and too quickly forget the lessons God is teaching us. This whole book, then, is an exercise in remembrance. The authors want to remind themselves of God's work in their lives as he has conformed them into the image of Jesus and molded them into more faithful followers and more careful shepherds. As they remember and recount what God has done for them and in them, their reflections will encourage pastors as they too run their race with endurance.Before We Forget includes chapters from the following leading pastors and more: Jimmy Scroggins, lead pastor of Family Church in South FloridaHershael York, senior pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky, dean of the Southern Seminary School of TheologyKevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist ConventionJason Meyer, pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota

What if the secret to pastoral success is to do less ministry?Or maybe it's more like a two-part secret: do less ministry, develop more people. The typical pastor takes on far too much. Who visits the hospital? Who counsels couples? Who teaches and preaches and disciples? Usually, the pastor. But according to Ephesians 4, a pastor's true goal should be to equip the so-called ordinary members of their church to take on these pastoral tasks. Micah Fries and Jeremy Maxfield will show you how by: Exposing the dangerous undercurrents that may be holding back your church cultureTeaching you how to narrow your focus in order to multiply your ministry Walking you through how to delegate, develop leaders, and deploy your members. Yes, the people in those pews expect a lot from you, but learn how you can manage expectations, lead well, and pastor biblically. Not only does this approach drastically reduce the pressure on you, the pastor, it multiplies the effectiveness of your ministry 10, 20, even 100-fold!

Pastor, it's time to turn down the noise and focus on what matters.Today's pastoral world is packed with books, conferences, and seminars teaching you different techniques for being an all-star pastor, growing your church quickly, and changing the world. But the key to true success is much harder and much simpler. Pastors are called to be faithful, to have exemplary character, and to love Jesus. Without faithfulness, their ministry ends up harming others rather than helping them. Churches need pastors with sound doctrine and a sound life.Character Matters was written to help you slow down, cut through the noise and distractions, and focus on what matters—the fruit of the Spirit. Each chapter is a guided, biblical meditation on one aspect of each piece of the fruit of the Spirit. As you reflect and focus on the simple things that matter, you'll see your heart change and your ministry follow, slowly, surely, and by the power of the Spirit.

What separates pastors who finish well from those who don't?When trusted pastors fall into sin and destroy a ministry, the entire body of believers gets hurt. After helping two large churches through the aftermath of such an event, Daniel Henderson discovered that pastoral failings are not primarily rooted in overdeveloped passions for self and sin but rather in underfed visions of eternity and a lack of zeal for God's glory. In Glorious Finish, Daniel Henderson teaches you: Why focusing on God's glory is the key to a fruitful ministryHow leaders can build habits that keep them captivated by God and His gloryHow to stay glory-oriented in the grind, challenges, and spiritual attacks of ministryForget the latest techniques and the strategies—spend some time recentering on what you know is most important—His glory.

Christianity Today Book AwardWhat does it take to be a church planter or other ministry entrepreneur? Most leaders start out with passion, a sense of calling, and a focus on building ministry skills. Such things might get some results, but they are not enough to sustain a healthy ministry—or a healthy life. Beyond the vocational capacities every church planter needs, there's a range of capabilities more difficult to measure but even more essential: what veteran church planter Tim Morey calls spiritual competencies.Morey provides here a practical guide to spiritual formation geared to the unique needs of church planters. He helps readers answer the questions, What are the spiritual capabilities that I as a church planter need to develop? How might I lean into the work Jesus is doing in these vital areas? Spiritual competencies have to do not just with behaviors but also with the motivations, agendas, and scripts that drive behaviors. Morey explores how church planters can become people whoinvest in their own physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual healthaccept limits and share responsibilitiescan be trusted with powerare able to stay resilient and grow through difficultiescan minister without being noticedfind a sustainable pace that helps them avoid burnoutThe health of a church or any ministry organization is directly linked to the health of its leaders. Church planters may be used to improvising, but when it comes to their spiritual lives, they can't afford to just wing it. Featuring real-life stories from leaders, suggested practices, and discussion questions in each chapter, this book will equip individuals and teams (and those who coach them) to commit to an intentional plan for spiritual formation—for the good of their churches, their relationships, and their own lives as disciples of Jesus.

Churches in America are closing at an alarming rate. Dale Sellers of 95Network believes this trend is largely due to discouragement among small-church pastors. Many church leaders begin ministry with dreams of making an eternal impact. But years of striving, stress, and strain have left them feeling defeated, disillusioned, and stalled. Thankfully, there is hope that ministry can turn around for the discouraged pastor. As a former minister who's been in the trenches, Sellers reveals that … God is not keeping score,it's impossible for a pastor to let God down, anddoing ministry from Jesus, not for Him, is a pastor's key to a thriving church.

In'The Place of the Parish'Martin Robinson explores this shift, considering how it is manifested in a variety of contexts, rural, inner-city, Anglican and independent. Drawing on specific examples linked to the so-called ‘New Parish Movement', he demonstrates how a theology of place is made manifest in the mission of the church today.

Pastoral work can be stressful, tough, demanding, sometimes misunderstood, and often underappreciated and underpaid. Ministers devote themselves to caring for their congregations, often at the expense of caring for themselves. Studies consistently show that physical health among clergy is significantly worse than among adults who are not in ministry. Flourishing in Ministry offers clergy and those who support them practical advice for not just surviving this grueling profession, but thriving in it.Matt Bloom, director of the Flourishing in Ministry project, shares groundbreaking research from more than a decade of study. Flourishing in Ministry project draws on more than five thousand surveys and three hundred in-depth interviews with clergy across denominations, ages, races, genders, and years of practice in ministry. It distills this deep research into easily understandable stages of flourishing that can be practiced at any stage in ministry or ministry formation.

A leading psychologist, seminary professor, and pastor offers a comprehensive textbook on twelve areas of pastoral ministry, articulating a biblical model for shepherding God's people.

Through an abundance of examples, this book explores how pastors have both perpetuated and responded to our secular age, and provides a new vision for pastoral ministry today.

The Study of Ministry is a comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of ministry that attends to historical sources, the social sciences, pastoral theology, ecclesiology and cultural studies. The book argues for the study of ministry to be taken seriously as an aspect of ecclesiology and pastoral theology, providing a stimulating resource both for practising ministers and for all those training for ministry in a range of denominations.

Sabbaticals are becoming increasingly common practice in congregations, and while there are many books on helping pastors prepare for their time away, there are no texts that approach the experience with the congregation in mind, from start to finish. This guide for congregations and their pastors draws on nearly two decades of wisdom from the Lily Endowment Clergy Renewal Program and helps draw the conversation away from a pastor-centric model and towards a holistic congregational framework for thinking about how the entire community can benefit from a pastor's sabbatical.

Imagine this scene. You are standing in the pulpit of your church preaching on a Sunday morning. Without your knowledge, the Lord Jesus himself is sitting in the last row, listening attentively to what you're saying. How would this reality impact your preaching? The truth is that this is no mere illustration: the Lord is present in His churches every Sunday, listening to the preaching of His Word. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:17 that ministers are to preach “as from God and before God.” Those who preach God's Word are commissioned by God to preach, and they do their preaching before God, for an audience of one. This, according to Sugel Michelén, is the biblical foundation for expository preaching—preaching that draws out what is in the Word of God. In this work, Michelén, regarded as one of the best preachers in the Spanish-speaking church, makes a biblical case for expository preaching and models for readers how to prepare and preach as from and before God.

Ministry can be challenging, especially when people are behaving badly or escalating conflicts. The Whole Church offers congregational leaders a way to resolve such difficult situations by first viewing the congregation as a whole, then interacting healthily with the congregation, knowing health in one area heals the whole community. The Whole Church offers a way to diagnose the whole congregation, and ways to bring calm, clarify a congregation's identity, create an effective congregational structure, resolve conflicts, handle difficult behavior, motivate change, address unconscious dynamics, and use the sermon all to support the congregation's health and the fulfillment of its spiritual mission.

The pastoral office has always been a difficult calling. Today, the pastor is often asked to fulfill multiple roles: preacher, teacher, therapist, administrator, CEO. How can pastors thrive amid such demands?What is needed is a contemporary pastoral rule: a pattern for ministry that both encourages pastors and enables them to focus on what is most important in their pastoral task.This book, coauthored by three experts with decades of practical experience, explains how relying on a pastoral rule has benefited communities throughout the church's history and how such rules have functioned in the lives and work of figures such as Augustine, Calvin, Wesley, and Bonhoeffer. It also provides concrete advice on how pastors can develop and keep a rule that will help both them and their congregations to flourish.

“Urgent, timely, and inspiring biblical wisdom for Christian leaders who want to start strong, thrive fully, and finish well!” –W. Scott Brown, Christian Leadership Alliance “Too often technique and numeric growth are on the minds of young pastors. Learn from a veteran and seek faithfulness!” –Matt Schmucker, co-founder, 9Marks “A powerful and preventive message for every pastor who desires to hear ‘well done'at the finish line.” –Cliff Clifton, North American Mission Board, director of Send DC As leaders, it's our greatest desire: a life that honors God, strengthens our family, and draws those we lead to Jesus Christ. But behind our well-intentioned efforts and carefully prepared sermons, we also carry fear of failure, disappointments, hurts, and hidden sins. These can become slow leaks resulting not only in public failure, but more importantly, in devastation to those we love and lead. But here's the good news: You don't have to live in fear. The God who called you stands ready to empower you to confidently plug the slow leaks in your life, to vigorously flourish, and to finish well. In Beware the Slow Leaks, Pastor Steve King draws on over forty years of ministry to equip Christian leaders to build healthy, gospel-centered habits now so they don't have to bail their ship later. With biblical wisdom, personal stories, and spiritual care, King inspires ministers to practice what they preach—providing eight pro-active strategies to help Christian leaders fully thrive and confidently finish. Now is the time to fortify your hull against the slow leaks. Join Pastor King as he points you to the God who has called you to sail the waters with Him, not just bail your boat.

This new volume in the SCM Research series argues that both preaching and Action Research are inherently exposing practices. They require a deep level of self-consciousness, and a willingness to hold oneself up to critique and comment. But at their best they are both formed within a deep and supportive critical community. Applying a methodology rooted in Action Research as way of Doing Theology (ART), and drawn from the author's own research within a specific'community of practice','The Naked Preacher'demonstrates for preachers and ministers new ways to be critically and constructively self-aware. It also offers an important contribution for practical theologians with an interest in action research and critical reflection.

We all need help navigating the politics of ministry.'Politics'is often considered a dirty word. It brings to mind lies and manipulation, accusations and scandals. But at its most basic level, politics is simply the everyday activity of getting things done with other people: understanding their interests, recognizing the power dynamics at play, and learning how to negotiate relationships and institutions to achieve a common goal.These realities are as true in ministry settings as anywhere else. In The Politics of Ministry, Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald Guthrie combine their long ministry experience with sociological research on the topic. Filled with real-life stories taken from a variety of ministry settings, this book sets out wise principles and practices that help us see more clearly the political dynamics at play in our churches and parachurch ministries.All ministry is political. As servants of Christ's kingdom, we are called to navigate the politics of ministry with grace, wisdom, and charity. This book shows us how the gospel of Jesus changes the way we work with those around us toward our common goal.

In The God Who Goes before You, Michael S. Wilder and Timothy Paul Jones establish a foundation for Christian leadership that draws not from human assumptions, but from the wisdom of God. By considering the whole canon of scripture as their supreme and sufficient authority, Wilder and Jones present both pastors and laity with a Christ-centered, kingdom-focused vision of godly leadership. When it comes to leadership, there is much to be learned from empirical research and from marketplace leaders. However, without Scripture as our authority, flawed views of God's purposes and human nature will skew our understanding of the character and practices of God-called leaders. In this book, Wilder and Jones redefine leadership as Christ-centered followership and present a radically countercultural perspective on leadership practices in the church today.

This book wrestles with quandaries of pastoral ministry in what psychotherapist Mary Pipher calls'the age of overwhelm.'Drawing especially from the wisdom of Jesus'own teaching and healing ministries as portrayed in the Gospel of Luke, it offers an intimate narrative introduction to pastoral theology for guiding bewildering tasks of pastoral care and counseling. These essays encourage seminarians and ministers to embrace their role as agents of healing by exploring their own debilitating shame and daring to speak what in childhood could not be spoken; by revealing their discoveries to a trusted confidant so as to feel less loathsome or lonely; by attending to even minute individual differences, in self and others, that fuel social isolation; and by believing in those persons who first believed in them.

Diana Shiflett has been leading groups of all descriptions in spiritual practices for many years, and she understands the difficulties involved: the potential for awkwardness and self-doubt, the nagging question of whether anyone's getting anything out of this at all. But more than that, she understands the value of spiritual practices: their deep roots in the history and worship of God's people, and their ability to calm our distracted minds and hearts so we are ready to hear the voice of Jesus.In this personal, hands-on guide, Shiflett walks us through a wide array of spiritual practices, from communal silence and Scripture meditation to active prayer and corporate discernment. She proves a reliable guide, offering step-by-step instructions, pointing out hazards and pitfalls, and sharing her own experiences with honesty and humor.With this book as a guide, these spiritual practices can become life-giving resources in your ministry setting for years to come.

The bestselling writer and popular broadcaster Sam Wells reflects on the essence of discipleship and Christian ministry today. Believing that ministry is essentially about'being with'the other, whether that is God, the church, friends or strangers, he explores the theme of'believing with'in variety of contexts.

With may be the most important word in the Christian faith. In the Trinity, as Samuel Wells points out, we see the eternal persons of the Godhead being with each other. In the Gospels we see Jesus being with the people he encounters, mediating God's grace to them with his own incarnational presence. Those in ministry are likewise called to the task of being with—with God, with the church, and with the created world and those who dwell in it. In Incarnational Ministry Wells elaborates on the concept of being with in eight dimensions: presence, attention, mystery, delight, participation, partnership, enjoyment, and glory. His vivid narratives and wise reflections will challenge readers to deeper discipleship and more vital ministry as they explore what it means to be with the troubled, the hurt, the afflicted, the challenged, the dying—and all who are embraced by the church's incarnational ministry.

Author Olu Brown shares principles from the story of Moses, to guideleaders through some of the most gut-wrenching situations they willface. Leadership Directions from Moses answers the question, ‘How can Iremain effective in answering my own call, when people around me—some ofwhom are trusted friends and colleagues—will not (or cannot) stay onthe journey we've set out to complete? How can I keep moving forward,when the path suddenly becomes so difficult?'The book covers topics like how to help others leave gracefully, how notto be upended when others choose to leave, how to have difficultconversations, and how to find unexpected opportunity in the challengeof new vacancies. It is full of practical help, including examples frompastors and churches across the US. It is also filled with compassionand wisdom—a pastoral book for pastors facing this difficult, nuanced,and often-emotional topic.