Practical Wisdom for Pastors : Words of Encouragement and Counsel for a Lifetime of Ministry

by Thomas, Curtis C.

• ISBN13: 9781581342529
• ISBN10: 1581342527
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-03
• Publisher: INGRAM

Summary

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."I wish this book had been available when I began in ministry more than 35 years ago. As I read, I found my own enthusiasm for pastoral ministry invigorated, and even as a veteran pastor, I found much I could benefit from." -John MacArthur"The beginning workman in God's vineyard could hardly find a more practical, helpful, and instructive work than this book. With sound judgment, good taste, and a mature knowledge of the pitfalls challenging every pastor, Curtis Thomas brings together the real hands-on, how-to-do-it advice that can make the road a lot smoother." -D. James Kennedy"Thomas has done a great service for all pastors, young or old." -Adrian Rogers"A great gift that will both guide and encourage ministers in this highest of all callings." -R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	11	(2)
Foreword	13	(2)
John MacArthur
Introduction	15	(5)
Section One: Personal Life
Our Call	20	(1)
Personal Devotional Life	21	(2)
Prayer	23	(1)
Accountability Partners	24	(2)
Admitting Mistakes	26	(1)
Our Financial Reputations	27	(2)
An Undisciplined Appetite	29	(1)
Our Dress	30	(1)
Personal Life: For Additional Study	31	(3)
Section Two: Family Life
Our Wives	34	(2)
Our Homes	36	(2)
Ignoring Our Own Families	38	(1)
Family Devotional Life	39	(1)
Family Life: For Additional Study	40	(4)
Section Three: Study Habits
Our Personal Libraries	44	(2)
Poor Study Habits	46	(1)
Spending Day After Day in the Study	47	(2)
Staying out of the Study	49	(1)
Making Your Studies Work for You Later	50	(2)
Daily Schedules	52	(2)
Our Bible Notes	54	(2)
Faxes, E-Mail, the Internet	56	(1)
Periodicals, Pamphlets, Newspapers	57	(1)
Reading, Writing, Speaking	58	(2)
Continuing Education	60	(2)
Study Habits: For Additional Study	62	(2)
Section Four: Messages
Topical Messages	64	(1)
Tone of Voice	65	(2)
Too Much Time on Exegesis	67	(2)
Sermons with No Structure	69	(1)
Sermons with Too Many Points	70	(1)
Sermons with No Discernible Point	71	(2)
Sermons with No Illustrations	73	(1)
Sermons with Too Many Illustrations	74	(1)
Sermons That Drone On and On	75	(2)
Addressing Implications Only	77	(2)
Pulpit Notes	79	(3)
Balancing Truth	82	(1)
Failing to Share the Pulpit	83	(2)
Translations	85	(2)
Messages: For Additional Study	87	(5)
Section Five: Church Life
Candidating Before a Church	92	(2)
Leading, Not Following	94	(2)
Trying to Do It All	96	(2)
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings!	98	(2)
House Calls	100	(2)
Hospital Visits	102	(2)
Fellow Pastors/Elders	104	(2)
Deacons	106	(2)
Church Finances	108	(2)
The Telephone	110	(2)
Schedules and Appointments	112	(1)
Diaries/Daily Planners	113	(2)
Short-Term Assessments of the Members	115	(1)
Avoiding Cliques	116	(2)
Being Fair with Your Congregation	118	(1)
Settling the Score Publicly	119	(2)
Looking Down on Others	121	(1)
``I'll Pray for You''	122	(1)
Listening to Complaints	123	(2)
Members with Vague Complaints	125	(1)
Getting the Facts	126	(2)
Open Rebuke	128	(1)
Fear of the Congregation	129	(1)
Letting Church Problems Fester	130	(1)
Church Hopping by the Members	131	(2)
People Who Are Relocated	133	(3)
Changing Your Church	136	(2)
Leaving a Church	138	(2)
Stepping Down	140	(1)
Leaving a Legacy	141	(2)
Church Hopping by the Pastor	143	(2)
Church Life: For Additional Study	145	(3)
Section Six: Counseling
Pastoral Counseling	148	(4)
When to Refer	152	(2)
Suicide	154	(1)
Making Judgments	155	(2)
Counseling: For Additional Study	157	(3)
Section Seven: Weddings, Divorces, Funerals
Marriages	160	(1)
Separations	161	(2)
Divorces	163	(2)
The Wedding Service	165	(2)
Funerals	167	(2)
Weddings, Divorces, Funerals: For Additional Study	169	(3)
Section Eight: Relationships with Others
Mentoring	172	(2)
An Independent Spirit	174	(2)
Evangelism/Outreach	176	(2)
Our Public Involvement	178	(1)
Jealousy and Competition	179	(2)
Standing Alone	181	(1)
Missions	182	(2)
Relationships with Others: For Additional Study	184	(2)
Section Nine: Dangers
Proof-Texting	186	(1)
Taking a Position	187	(2)
Majoring on the Minors	189	(1)
The Tyranny of the Urgent	190	(1)
Our Secretaries	191	(2)
Our Office Doors	193	(1)
Assuming Too Much	194	(2)
Our Genuine Needs	196	(1)
Dealing with Panic (Our Own!)	197	(2)
Confusing the Gospel	199	(1)
Neglecting Exercise and Recreation	200	(1)
Christian Liberty for the Pastor	201	(2)
Shackles for the Pastor	203	(2)
Are We the Resident Authority?	205	(1)
When Fear Strikes	206	(1)
Taking All the Blame for Failures	207	(2)
Taking Credit for Success	209	(1)
Litigation	210	(3)
Dangers: For Additional Study	213	(3)
Section Ten: Miscellaneous
Why Not Female Pastors?	216	(2)
The Senior Pastor	218	(1)
The Pastor and the IRS	219	(2)
One-Issue Churches	221	(1)
Miscellaneous: For Additional Study	222	(23)
Appendices
Appendix I: Pastor's Self-Evaluation Questionnaire	224	(15)
Appendix II: What Should a Sermon Do?	239	(6)
Bibliography	245	(22)
Index	267