Reforming Pastoral Ministry: Challenges for Ministry in Postmodern Times

by Armstrong, John H.

• ISBN13: 9781581341799
• ISBN10: 1581341792
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-05
• Publisher: Good News Pub

Summary

There is a special blessing in the Christmas message which is frequently missed by many. The birth of Jesus is not simply an interesting fact of history wholly unrelated to your present life . . . but rather it has a direct bearing upon it.When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the personal importance of His coming was emphasized. He said, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).Have you ever thought that it was foryouthe Saviour was born? Do you realize that when God sent His Son into the world, He sent Him to becomeyourSaviour? Listen to the word of the herald angel, "I bringyougood tidings of great joy... for untoyouis born... a Saviour." Yes... it was foryouthat Jesus came.He did not come to be the inspiration of sacred art, nor to be the theme of glad song, much less to be merely a good man and a great teacher... Jesus Came to be the Saviour, and as such He was born toyou.Bound inseparably together are the Saviour's birth and His death. He came to save, and to save He must die... die in the sinner's stead, bearing the full penalty of divine wrath of sin. This too was personal--it was foryou.And such a very personal message of God's love and grace demands a personal response. The Saviour who was born wasGod's gift to you. And He wants you to receive that gift. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).To receive the gift of God by faith you must believe that Christ actually was born to beyourSaviour and that He died foryoursins. Because He arose victorious over death, He offers you abundant, everlasting life.Won't you receive the gift of God this Christmas? It can be your best Christmas yet!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	9	(2)
The Contributors	11	(4)
Foreword	15	(2)
Erwin W. Lutzer
Editor's Introduction:	17	(4)
John H. Armstrong
Semper Reformanda: The Pastoral Role in Modern Reformation	21	(20)
John H. Armstrong
Deliver Us from Professionalization: Recovering Pastoral Ministry	41	(18)
Mark Coppenger
The Utter Necessity of a Godly Life: The Foundation of Pastoral Ministry	59	(24)
Joel R. Beeke
Restoring Biblical Exposition to Its Rightful Place: Ministerial Ethos and Pathos	83	(14)
R. Kent Hughes
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing: Preaching Christ as the Focus of All Reformation	97	(16)
Thomas N. Smith
From Faith to Faith: What Makes Preaching So Vital for Reformation?	113	(16)
Wilbur C. Ellsworth
Leading the Church in God-Centered Worship: The Pastoral Role	129	(18)
Jerry Marcellino
The Cure of Souls: The Pastor Serving the Flock	147	(20)
Jim Elliff
Reforming the Church Through Prayer: The Pastoral Contribution	167	(20)
Arturo Azurdia
All Things in Common: The Pastoral Role in Building Real Fellowship	187	(18)
David W. Hegg
Pastoral Ministry and the Place of the Sacraments	205	(12)
T. M. Moore
How Shall I Respond to Sin in the Church? A Plea to Restore the Third Mark of the Church	217	(22)
Joseph Flatt, Jr.
Pastoral Success in Evangelistic Ministry: The Receding Horizon	239	(24)
Mark F. Dever
The Pastor and Church Growth: How to Deal with the Modern Problem of Pragmatism	263	(20)
Phil A. Newton
Index	283