Pastoral Ministry Archives

Student Ministry by the Book: Biblical Foundations of Student Ministry

by Ed Newton and R. Scott Pace

We recently spoke with co-author R. Scott Pace to discuss his new book Student Ministry by the Book: Biblical Foundations of Student Ministry. Read on to find out more about why Pace and Newton wrote this timely volume:

What motivated you to write this book?

I have a great, personal love for students and their families, and my passion is to see the next generation spiritually nourished and nurtured. I hope to be able to equip others who serve in the area of student ministry within the local church, and ultimately to see students grow into fully devoted disciples through these programs.

Are you working with students at the moment?

I am involved in my local church ministry through various speaking and discipleship capacities, including serving student ministries by speaking at conferences, camps, and retreat weekends. Over the last 20 years, I have served as a pastor in a variety of full-time and interim capacities, and I have always loved working with students.

How does your book support the ministry of the Church?

Student ministry and ministry to families of students is a primary demographic in the local church, and this particular ministry is absolutely essential to the church. Our book seeks to train, equip, and encourage those who lead and serve in this crucial ministry area.

Who do you see benefitting most from this volume?

I think that student pastors, leaders, and parents will all find it helpful in their ministry. Particularly, I believe that those training for student ministry leadership in an academic or internship setting will benefit greatly from this book. It can serve as both a primer on the subject of student ministry and as a foundational classroom resource.

R. Scott Pace currently serves as the Johnny Hunt Chair of Biblical Preaching, associate professor of preaching and pastoral ministry, director of the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Ministry, and the director of the Hunt Scholars Program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina. Scott’s greatest passion is for his family. He and his wife, Dana, have been married since 1999. They have four children – Gracelyn, Tyler, Tessa, and Cassie.

Description

The field of youth ministry is often driven by fads and trends. Leaders attempt to reach students by chasing the ever-changing tides of teenage culture, but their heartfelt and painstaking efforts are often met with a lack of authentic spiritual transformation. Student Ministry by the Book addresses these and other common missteps by providing a biblical philosophy and practical guide for youth ministry. Student pastors, youth leaders, and parents of teens will all benefit from this thoroughly biblical and practical approach, designed as a handbook for starting, strengthening, and sustaining a youth ministry in the local church.

Endorsements

“This is a book that is just as beneficial to a parent as it is to a youth pastor. I can’t wait to give copies to the student ministry team at our church!”

—Brent Crowe, vice president, Student Leadership University

“If you want to be more than an activities director and begin to build student disciples, this is the place to start.”

—Andy Harrison, student ministries specialist and Falls Creek program director, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

“I enthusiastically recommend Student Ministry by the Book to every youth pastor and person preparing to be one. This one belongs in your library.”

—Richard Ross, professor of student ministry, J.M. Price Chair of Religious Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Details

Hardcover

160 Pages

$19.99

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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