B&H Academic

Because Truth Matters

  • About
  • Contact
  • Biblical Studies
  • Church History
  • Theology
  • Pastoral
  • Apologetics
  • Spurgeon
  • Missions
  • Academia

Now Available: Pastoral Ministry (Treasury of Baptist Theology)

December 11, 2017 by Barnabas Piper Leave a Comment

Pastoral Ministry: The Ministry of a Shepherd

Deron Biles, Ed.

Treasury of Baptist Theology, Book 1

Description

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” —Psalm 78:72

Being a pastor is an audacious calling—both a remarkable privilege and an unaccomplishable task. In general, the Bible talks about the identity of a shepherd more than the activity of a shepherd. Yet both are vital in ministry. Ezekiel 34 is God’s message to pastors: His template by which our ministries will be measured. Pastoral Ministry brings together this mandate of God, the needs of the sheep, and the model of the good Shepherd to uniquely inspire and equip you to fulfill your ministry as a shepherd.

Endorsements

“After pastoring a church for fifteen years, Pastoral Ministry was refreshing and encouraging to read. It reminded me of exactly what the Lord has called his shepherds to do. I highly recommend this book for any pastor, whether you’re just starting out, or have been faithfully shepherding for decades.”
 —Matt Carter, pastor of preaching and vision, The Austin Stone Community Church

“Nothing is more important to the church today than to have a clear view of the role of the pastor, who is the ‘undershepherd’ of the congregation. And nothing is more important to the pastor/shepherd than to know what God’s Word declares about his assignment. The pattern for the shepherd is the Great Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. The role is vital and demanding. The writer of Hebrews concludes in 13:17 that the shepherd must ‘give account’ to God. James reminds us that the he will face ‘a stricter judgment.’ The shepherd does not choose to be a shepherd, he is appointed by God to be a shepherd. He is not a hired hand, but a divinely selected leader who loves the sheep and gives his life to them. These pages clearly reveal that the shepherd has a high calling, an enormous responsibility, a demanding holiness of life and a compassionate ministry given to him on behalf of the church. He is always guided by the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and faithfulness to the sufficiency and complete trustworthiness of God’s Word.”
—Jimmy Draper, president emeritus, Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention

“After more than twenty-five years of pastoring, I am convinced that ministry is not for the faint of heart. The Bible calls the pastor a shepherd for a reason—his life is devoted to caring for sheep—and sheep can be messy. Pastors can be messy too. Pastoring well means knowing how to lead well and leading well requires a biblical understanding of what God expects from His shepherds. Pastoral Ministry was written for such a purpose. Each chapter will open your eyes to both who God expects pastors to be and what God expects pastors to do. It’s more than a ‘how to’ book; it’s a ‘who am I’ book. Read this and you will gain valuable insights about how to pastor your people, but even greater, you will also be challenged to look within your own heart to consider how God is pastoring you.”
—Mark A. Howell, senior pastor, Hunters Glen Baptist Church

“The high calling of a pastor is to shepherd the people of God with the Word of God for the glory of God. Indeed, pastors are accountable before God for their stewardship of this high calling. For this reason, I pray that the Lord will bless this book to help encourage and equip pastors to be the shepherds God has called them to be.”
—David Platt, president, The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

Details

Paperback

256 Pages

$29.99

Download a Free Chapter

Order Your Copy

Filed Under: Baptist Studies, Pastoral, Theology Tagged With: Deron Biles, Pastoral Ministry, Treasury of Baptist Theology

So You Want to Be an Expositor?

February 7, 2017 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by Greg Harris

To become a seasoned expositor of God’s Word requires a method, or a series of specific steps. Equally important, however, is one’s starting point, which is, sadly, quite often lacking. One’s starting point is important not only for learning how to become a better expositor, but also as a means of attaining reverence for God, another aspect of biblical exposition that is often overlooked. In short, we start—and stay—with God.

I have had the high privilege and calling of teaching Bible Exposition classes for more than thirty years. Very often, when I finish a class on a book such as Isaiah or Hebrews, students will sigh and say, “Oh, if we could only go back to the beginning of the Bible and do what we are doing now, it would be so tremendously rewarding!” I agree—such is the richness of God’s Word. However, I remind them that if we were to do that, they would be in seminary for twenty or more years and never leave our campus or go to minister to churches or institutions. Yet it is in response to this desire, and through God’s sovereignty, that the current volume, The Expositor’s Handbook: Old Testament Edition, has come into existence.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Old Testament, Pastoral

Greg Harris Explains ‘The Bible Expositor’s Handbook of the Old Testament’

February 2, 2017 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

The Bible Expositor’s Handbook of the Old Testament provides a thorough introduction to the attitudes and practices required to deeply understand the message of the Old Testament. Exhorting students of Scripture to approach the Old Testament with an attitude of humility and expectation, Greg Harris lays the groundwork for a Christ-centered interpretation that takes into account the redemptive story of the whole Bible. Employing a literal-grammatical hermeneutic, Harris leads the reader through the process of observing, interpreting, and applying the Old Testament.

Dr. Greg Harris—department head and professor of Bible exposition at The Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, California—shares in this 5-minute video how this volume can help those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the Old Testament, and how Jesus Christ is the key to understanding its various parts.

Order a copy of The Bible Expositor’s Handbook of the Old Testament on WORDsearch, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Christianbook.com. Request a faculty review copy here.

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Old Testament, Pastoral

A Call to Restore Sound Theology and Relevance to African-American Preaching

January 12, 2017 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

enduringtruth_cvrEnduring Truth argues that faithfulness to Scripture is the solution to a “crisis” among African American preaching. Though misinterpreting God’s Word is not restricted to one race or culture, author Aaron Lavender identifies three factors that have precipitated the decline of black preaching specifically: racial segregation, black liberation theology, and prosperity theology.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Pastoral, Preaching

Brother Pastor, Are You a Christian?

January 10, 2017 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by James W. Bryant and Mac Brunson

Some years ago one of the authors was invited by the Lutheran bishop of Dusseldorf to come to Germany and speak to his new pastors. The bishop had been converted to Christ long after he had become a Lutheran minister. When asked what he saw as the greatest need of his young, beginning pastors, he replied, “They need to be saved.”

In a private conversation with one of the young men, the author asked how he decided to become a minister. He shared that he was working in a trucking company and the work was very hard. He did not think he wanted to work that hard the rest of his life. He looked around at the various professions and decided that being a pastor in Germany would be easy.

German Lutheran pastors have their salaries guaranteed by the government, whether or not anyone attends the churches they serve. So this young man decided to become a pastor. He had no personal conversion experience and no sense of a divine call. There is nothing in the Bible that even approaches such an idea of the pastorate.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Pastoral

Churches, Repent!

December 27, 2016 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by Elmer Towns and Ben Gutierrez

Before Revelation pronounces a message of judgment on the unbelieving world, it first calls the churches to repentance. In these letters the Lord of the church speaks lovingly but firmly to the churches in words of both commendation and condemnation.

The message to each church follows the same sevenfold pattern:

1. Commission: “To the angel of the church ”
2. Character: “The One who . . . says this”
3. Commendation: “I know your works ”
4. Condemnation: “But I have this against you ”
5. Correction: “Repent . . . turn . . . change”
6. Call: “He who has an ear, let him hear”
7. Challenge: “To him who overcomes”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, New Testament, Pastoral

4 Principles at the Heart of Discipleship

November 29, 2016 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by Michael Kelley

Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

following-christIt’s also a very elusive thing. We live in a day and time when everything seems to be more complex than the next thing, whether in terms of technology, relationships, or what kind of coffee to buy (or not to buy). We are complex people with complex feelings about complex issues. That’s why when you stumble upon something simple, no matter what it is, it’s immediately appealing (or at least it is for me). The bright light of simplicity shines forth good and straight and true in the midst of the dull bulbs of complication.

Is it possible, though, that we also have a love of complexity? That though we express a desire out loud for life to be simpler, we secretly treasure the complex in our hearts? I think that may in fact be true when it comes to something else we have a knack for complicating – discipleship.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Discipleship, Pastoral

God’s Five Negatives

November 3, 2016 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by Benjamin L. Merkle

pexels-photoSome have (mistakenly) stated that the subjunctive mood communicates uncertainty. The subjunctive mood, however, can communicate something that is emphatically certain not to happen. Such is the case with a use of the subjunctive labeled “emphatic negation.” This use is expressed by the double negative οὐ μή (the indicative and non-indicative negative particles) plus the aorist subjunctive. As the name suggests, this type of negation is emphatic and strongly denies that something will occur. In fact, it is the strongest way to negate a statement in Greek.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Greek, Pastoral

What is a “Christ-Centered” Expositor?

October 27, 2016 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

9781433685743_thechrist-centeredexpositor_cvrThe Christ-Centered Expositor by pastor and preaching professor Tony Merida provides a comprehensive overview of effective expository preaching that begins with the inner life of the expositor, and then moves to the essential elements of sermon preparation and delivery.

We recently reached out to Merida and asked him what makes a Christ-centered expositor, about falling short in sermons, what overlooked preacher we have the most to learn from, and more.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Pastoral, Preaching

What Is “Christ-Centered” Preaching Anyways?

October 18, 2016 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by Bryan Chapell

9781433685743_thechrist-centeredexpositor_cvrWhy should a preacher’s exposition of Scripture be “Christ-centered,” as Pastor Tony Merida advocates in this wonderful text?

In part, the answer must be that Jesus teaches us to expound Scripture with his ministry in constant view. The Gospel of Luke tells us that after Jesus rose from the dead and was walking with his disciples on the road to Emmaus, he explained the Bible this way: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27 ESV).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Pastoral, Preaching

9 Marks of a Great Preacher and Teacher

October 13, 2016 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by Tony Merida

9781433685743_thechrist-centeredexpositor_cvr“If I take this class, will it make me a great preacher?” On the first day of class, I tell students upfront that I cannot manufacture expositors. I wish I could. Why do I say this? For this reason: much of great preaching and teaching rests on the individual’s personal life and with the sovereign Spirit of God. One has to take personal responsibility for spiritual and theological depth, and for personal and ministry growth, and one must acknowledge that God sovereignly works in people’s lives by his own pleasure and for his own glory.

To highlight this reality, allow me to offer nine marks that contribute to the making of a great expositor. Examine your own heart as you read through this list.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Pastoral, Preaching

4 Cultural Characteristics that Make Discipleship an Uphill Battle

October 11, 2016 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

by Michael Kelley  

william_blake_-_christ_giving_sight_to_bartimaeus_-_google_art_projectOne of the primary terms the Bible uses to describe our relationship with Jesus is the word “walk.” It’s a good word; it has the connotation of a forward progression. We aren’t meant to have a stagnant relationship with our Lord; instead, we are making forward progress in intimacy and obedience.

But there are certain characteristics of our culture that make this walk seem like it’s going uphill. These are attributes that are so infectiously true of the environment we live in that they inevitably work their way into our own lives just because we are humans at this given place and at this given time. Unfortunately, though, these cultural characteristics are also obstacles to discipleship, this long walk in the same direction with Jesus. It’s important, then, for us, the people of the walk on the way to recognize some of the factors that make this walk so arduous sometimes. 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Discipleship, Pastoral

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Newsletter

Get a free chapter of The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon, Volume 1 (edited by Dr. Christian George) when you sign up for our email updates. Be the first to hear about new releases, deals, and samples!

Social Media

Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube BHAcademic.com RSS

B&H Academic

Download Academic Catalog 2018-2019

(3MB, PDF)


 

Request Review Copy - Faculty

Request Review Copy - Media

Visit BHAcademic.com for new releases, sample content, and more.

Latest Tweets

BHAcademic COMING SOON - Telling God's Story, 3rd Edition, by @PrebenVang and Terry G. Carter By approaching Scripture as one… https://t.co/I8o6Ismycc
3h • reply • retweet • favorite
BHAcademic Above all, fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for… https://t.co/0tSLXuQNXY
Jan 19 • reply • retweet • favorite
BHAcademic RT @rhyneputman: My new @BHAcademic book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, releases on 5/15. I wanted to write a fun, practical intro to…
Jan 19 • reply • retweet • favorite
BHAcademic @EarthPrimeQuinn @SirRobertHowell @kellum_s We're so glad they've been helpful for you!
Jan 18 • reply • retweet • favorite
B&H Academic

Categories

Popular Posts

  • 3 Tips for Using Biblical Languages in Preaching
  • Spurgeon’s Message to the Pastor: Take Care of Your Family
  • What Are the Benefits and Dangers of Expository Preaching?
  • 7 Qualities of Expository Preaching
B&H Academic logo
Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube BHAcademic.com RSS

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in