The 21st Century Pastor

The third millennium. It's a time of tremendous opportunity for the church--and tremendous challenge. More than ever, pastors need a model for ministry that can equip them for the rigors of a restless, increasingly secularized culture. In the 21st Century Pastor, David Fisher explores the apostle Paul's concept of ministry to offer a paradigm that is both biblical and relevant. Paul's view is fleshed out with examples from Fisher's own twenty-five years of pastoral experience, presenting a roadmap for today's pastor that is scholarly, practical, dynamic, and inspiring. The 21st Century Pastor first addressees crucial issues of pastoral identity, the significance of geography, time, and ecclesiology. It then explores Paul's metaphors for ministry (jars of clay, farmers and builders, servants and stewards, and others) to reveal an accurate portrait of an effective, biblical pastor--the kind who will speak to the heart of modern culture rather than languish on its fringes. Filling the rare role of a pastor to pastors, Fisher's sage insights help pastors answer their own identity questions, empowering them to minister to a deeply needy society. Says Fisher, "Pastors who know what time it is will, in the name and power of God, create communities of faith where the values of the Gospel are embraced, taught, and lived out."

Strong leaders have vision that is both far-reaching and focused on the details. Having that vision is what separates the church with a hodge-podge of ineffective programs and activities from churches that reach people effectively, efficiently, and consistently with the Good News. Now in its third edition, this groundbreaking book continues to offer church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders concrete help with crafting vision statements, encouraging buy-in from the influencers in the church, turning up the energy level, and ultimately growing the church.

Trends and skills for those who offer pastoral care Christian pastoral care has changed a great deal in the past few decades in response to many factors in our rapidly changing world. In part 1 of Nurturing Hope, Lynne Baab discusses seven trends in pastoral care--shifts in who delivers pastoral care, the attitudes and commitments that undergird pastoral care, and societal trends that are shaping pastoral care today. She illustrates them with stories from diverse congregations where Christian caregivers are meeting those challenges in creative and exciting ways. In the second half of the book, Baab presents four practical, doable, energizing skills needed by pastoral carers in our time. Focusing on skills that help carers nurture connections between everyday life and Christian faith, she explores the need for carers to understand common stressors, listen, pray with others, and nurture their personal resilience. Grounded in an understanding of God as the true caregiver and healer, the author offers tips for readers who are training other pastoral carers or developing their own understanding and skills. Each chapter ends with discussion and reflection questions, making the book helpful for groups. Lynne Baab brings readers hope for their caring role and for their own spiritual journey.

More than 600 ideas! Jumpstart your sermons, master your preaching, energize church worship, and find time to get away with the family, . . . okay, maybe not all in one breath. But, you'll discover inspiration and perspective in this collection of top techniques and activities to help you encourage community, refuel your ministry--and minister to yourself as well. Book includes time-saving, reproducible masters for baby dedications, funerals, weddings, visitor response, certificate of appreciation, sermon logs and more! # Organization includes eight sections: Sermon Sparks: Sermon jump-starts, illustrations, stories, movie clip ideas, and interactive object lessons # Preaching Techniques: Ways to use media and technology, organize old sermons and illustrations, and creatively prepare new sermons # Revitalize Church Worship: Ideas for informal worship, introducing new songs to your congregation, interactive prayer, creative sermon closings, and revitalizing your worship space # Worship Service Jump-Starts: Twenty ready-made services that focus on acts of service, honoring those in your congregation, and times of reflection and inspiration # Recharge Your Personal and Family Life: Self-directed retreats, creative ways to spend time with your spouse, getaways with your family, and quick spiritual boosters # Congregational Care: Tips for hospital visits, weddings, funerals, baby dedications, encouraging church members, and welcoming new people into fellowship # Develop Your Leaders and Volunteers: Lead effective meetings, try some adaptable meeting agendas, and strengthen your volunteers and staff # Community Service and Outreach: Motivate church members to join a local service project, take part in outreach, and support world missions and missionaries Bonus: Cross-reference notes link relating ideas!

There are many philosophies and strategies that drive today's youth ministry. To most people, they are variations on a single goal: to make faithful disciples of young people. However, digging deeper into various programs, books, and concepts reveals substantive differences among approaches. Bestselling author Chap Clark is one of the leading voices in youth ministry today. In this multiview work, he brings together a diverse group of leaders to present major views on youth ministry. Chapters are written in essay/response fashion by Fernando Arzola, Greg Stier, Ron Hunter, Brian Cosby, and Chap Clark. As the contributors present their views and respond to each of the other views, they discuss their task and calling, giving readers the resources they need to develop their own approach to youth ministry. Offering a model of critical thinking and respectful dialogue, this volume provides a balanced, irenic approach to a topic with which every church wrestles.

Times are changing. The Truth never will. It's tough to be a pastor today. Christians who stand up for what God has said are disregarded and labeled right-wing extremists. Political correctness and tolerance of anything but godly character is the norm. So how do ministers lead God's people in this pagan culture? How do they shepherd the flock as the lights fade dimmer and the nights grow colder? This book is not about programs. It not about developing the best techniques for numerical growth. Rather it is a discussion of the heart of the matter - the heart of the shepherd. In Shepherding the Church, Dr. Stowell takes a look at what it takes to be a truly effective leader from the inside out. He encourages today's leaders to focus on their own character, spiritual growth, and spiritual gifts. Examine some heart issues like: how do I prove to my congregation that I'm trustworthy? how do I lead by loving? how do I overcome insecurities? how can I transform lives with my preaching? how do I lead my flock by the way I live my life? how do I persevere?Even in these tough times, effective leadership is possible. Learn from Dr. Stowell as he encourages today's leaders to keep their eyes on the non-negotiables of Christian ministry.

Pentecostal clergy are kneeling at the gateway to the twenty-first century with a prayerful sense of purpose. Two thousand years after our Savior's resurrection, we're still hearing His call to feed my sheep. The Pentecostal Pastor is an encyclopedia of wisdom for all who heed those words. The Pentecostal Pastor connects you with an esteemed panel of seventy-four pastors, missionaries, college presidents, and Christian leaders. Their rich portfolio of ministry experience spans America's cities, suburbs, and rural areas. Well-qualified to nurture clergy of today and tomorrow, they discuss real issues faced by real pastors. Inspiration and information on eighty-five diverse topics is organized for easy access. Articles are indexed by both Scripture and subject, and arranged under six themes: Priorities in the Pastor's Life, The Pastor's Personal Life, Preparing for Revival, Effective Accountability, Ministry to the Body, and Spirit-Anointed Worship.

If the church is to thrive in the twenty-first century, it will have to take on a new form as it ministers to the 120 million unchurched people in the United States. Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century is still virtually the only available text on church planting in North America and beyond. In this third edition, readers will find material on the importance of healthy, biblical change in our churches, updated appendixes, insight on our postmodern ministry context, and strategies for reaching new population demographics such as Generations X and Y. Pastors, ministry leaders, and church planters will find the information and advice found in this book invaluable as they carry out their ministries.