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Counsel your flockFulfilling your role as a teaching shepherdDisciple makerCOUNSEL YOUR FLOCK The book is all about authentic Christian ministry, making disciples Gods way; being shepherds who care, provide, feed, carry, lead and protect God’s flock. It exhorts pastors to a renewed reliance on the sufficiency of Scripture. We have a sure and sufficient revelation from God, so why do ministers and elders need to resort to man-centred theology with church-growth theories and pragmatic methodology which make pastors into business professionals rather than pastors after God’s own heart who feed the flock on heaven sent knowledge and understanding? The message that this book contains is vital for the purity and usefulness of the church. The book essentially explains three passages of Scripture. Colossians 1.24-29 teaches the price, personality, purpose and perspiration of authentic ministry. Ephesians 4.11-16 teaches the provision, progression, purpose, proof and power of growth. 1 Peter 5.1-4 teaches three more characteristics of ministry before we finish with the solemn reality of judgment and rewards for elders. How we should approach ministry with zeal and sobriety. Clear and conciseThis is all done marvellously well in a short space. There are some great helps with simple explanations of key Greek words and lots of proof texts to back up every progression in his arguments. The style is clear, concise and penetrating. Sin is revealed for what it is in God’s eyes; internal corruption is our problem, not an imbalance of chemicals, so the cure can obviously only come from a supernatural source. Pastors are to lead and expose the flock to a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ who alone can sanctify, not programmes and theories. How cunningly the devil is drawing evangelicalism away from Christ to purely notional facts about him. I think a better title for the book would be ‘Pastor your flock’ or ‘Shepherd your flock’, but this does not affect the content of the book. There are so many books that say what other books have already said and do not need to be written or published. The writers would be better off praying and pastoring their flocks than giving us books we don’t need. Publishing companies in the UK and USA would be better off focusing on needs abroad rather than trying to sell more books we don’t need in the UK. This book is worth printing though; it would be a great introduction for those thinking about ministry or in the process of preparation. Elders who serve voluntarily could be greatly blessed by this book. Pastors who don’t read, study, exposit, quote, memorise, meditate, rely and love the Scriptures should read this book. Pastors who have lost their zeal should read this book. I think, though, that this book will do its greatest service to the kingdom of God abroad. This book would be perfect for every pastor outside the first world. My prayer is that missionary societies will translate and distribute this book. A book of this size cannot deal extensively with Pastoral Theology, yet I was a little disappointed that the Cross of Christ was not mentioned as our supreme message, and neither was the need for ministers to be men of prayer and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Stephen Nowak, © Evangelicals Now - September 2009 |