«Jesus is the role model for all ministry. He introduced and demonstrated a leadership style that sometimes shocked His contemporaries, but forever set the standard for the Christian church. He also knew that the future church could only man-age if it had devoted and qualified leaders. He therefore spent much of His earthly ministry transferring His leadership principles to His disciples. This emphasis on leadership training is an example that the church should always follow. To train new generations of competent and devoted leaders is perhaps the single most important factor for the survival and growth of the church. Every generation of Christians needs leaders who have learned the same leadership lessons that the twelve men whom Jesus trained had to learn, and have the same heart and affection for God's kingdom as they had. Society changes every day, but the leadership principles Jesus taught remain forever…»
Оглавление
Маттс-Ола Исхоел. Pastoral Ministry
Opening
Part I. The disciple
Introduction
Chapter 1. The calling of God
Chapter 2. A time of preparation
Chapter 3. An ethical code
Chapter 4. Grace for the journey
Part II. The shepherd
Introduction
Chapter 5. The good shepherd
Chapter 6. Attitudes of a shepherd
Chapter 7. Those whom you have given me
Chapter 8. That great city
Part III. The master builder
Introduction
Chapter 9. The spiritual foundation
Chapter 10. Structure and co-workers
Chapter 11. Growth and development
Chapter 12. The art of preaching
Part IV. The trailblazer
Introduction
Chapter 13. Boldness
Chapter 14. Finding new ways
Chapter 15. Facing resistance
Chapter 16. A balanced life
Closing
Отрывок из книги
Jesus is the role model for all ministry. He introduced and demonstrated a leadership style that sometimes shocked His contemporaries, but forever set the standard for the Christian church. He also knew that the future church could only manage if it had devoted and qualified leaders. He therefore spent much of His earthly ministry transferring His leadership principles to His disciples. This emphasis on leadership training is an example that the church should always follow. To train new generations of competent and devoted leaders is perhaps the single most important factor for the survival and growth of the church. Every generation of Christians needs leaders who have learned the same leadership lessons that the twelve men whom Jesus trained had to learn, and have the same heart and affection for God’s kingdom as they had. Society changes every day, but the leadership principles Jesus taught remain forever.
This book is about the ministry that we usually call pastor. The New Testament mentions different leadership ministries in the church. For example, in Ephesians 4:13 Paul speaks about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. All of these represent different functions in the body of Christ. In other places we find other terms that also describe leadership positions; for example, bishops (1 Timothy 3:1–2), elders (Acts 14:23) and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8). The way these terms are used and the purposes they serve will today differ from denomination to denomination. There are many ways churches are organized, depending on their theology, culture and history.
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The more a person values preparation and is willing to learn from others, the more he will do for God. The apostles began their walk with Jesus knowing very little about God’s kingdom or what it means to be a fisher of men. But Jesus day by day and week by week taught them all they needed to know. Because they started as devoted disciples, they could one day become apostles.
When Jesus first met them, the disciples were not ready to take on any kind of leadership role. They lacked knowledge about God and His will, they did not have the compassion a spiritual leader must have, and their character was far from ready to be an example for others. And this is where we all begin. We need to mature spiritually before we can be leaders in the church.
