Resources on Pastoral Ministry
Read with Understanding!
To read is important; to read with understanding much more so. Charles Bridges (1794-1869) cautions: “No man can read everything; nor would our real store be increased by the capacity to do so. The digestive powers would be overloaded for want of time to act, and uncontrolled confusion would reign within. It is far more easy to furnish our library than our understanding.” Therefore, Bridges argues, the quality of what we read is more important than the quantity, and for reading to have it’s greatest value, it must have as its companions “reflection, conversation and composition.” – Charles Bridges, The Christian Ministry (1830; Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1991), 46-47.
Read MoreGenevan minister Theodore Beza (1519-1605) describes beautifully the responsibilities of the Christian pastor: “It is not only necessary that [a pastor] have a general knowledge of his flock, but he must also know and call each of his sheep by name, both in public and in their homes, both night and day. Pastors must run after lost sheep, bandaging up the one with a broken leg, strengthening the one that is sick. . . . . In sum, the pastor must consider his sheep more dear to him than his own life, following the example of the Good Shepherd.” – from Scott M. Manetsch, Calvin’s Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536-1609 (Oxford: 2013), 281.
Read MoreGenevan minister Theodore Beza (1519-1605) describes beautifully the responsibilities of the Christian pastor: “It is not only necessary that [a pastor] have a general knowledge of his flock, but he must also know and call each of his sheep by name, both in public and in their homes, both night and day. Pastors must run after lost sheep, bandaging up the one with a broken leg, strengthening the one that is sick. . . . . In sum, the pastor must consider his sheep more dear to him than his own life, following the example of the Good Shepherd.” – from Scott M. Manetsch, Calvin’s Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536-1609 (Oxford: 2013), 281.
Read MoreW.G.T. Shedd encourages pastors to promote serious reading in their congregations: “The studious, thoughtful Christian is always more unworldly and sincere, than the Christian who reads but little and thinks still less. The pastor can employ no means more certain to sanctify his flock, than reading and reflection, upon their part. Just in proportion as he is able to induce the habit of studying the Scriptures, and of perusing doctrinal and religious books, will he spiritualize the church to which he ministers.” – William G.T. Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology. 11th ed. (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902), 326.
Read More“Let a man mercifully correct what he can; let him patiently bear what he cannot correct, and groan and sorrow over it with love.” – Cyprian (c. 200- 258) in Scott M. Manetsch, Calvin’s Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536-1609 (Oxford: 2013), 189.
Read MoreDon’t let your life run to waste! Small bits of time add up, and especially over a lifetime. William G.T. Shedd observes: “Small spaces of time become ample and great by being regularly and faithfully employed. It is because time is wasted so regularly and uniformly, and not because it is wasted in such large amounts, that so much of human life runs to waste.” – William G.T. Shedd, Homiletics and Pastoral Theology. 11th ed. (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902), 394.
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