Equipped for Good Work: A Guide for Pastors [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

This is a book about pastoral ministry. It is written to guide both new and experienced ministers in their everyday pastoral work. The book includes many suggestions and advices on different aspects of church building and administration. Having lived the life of a pastor for more than

40 years and as a professor of pastoral work at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Cothen brings firsthand experience with each of his topics. The book consists of 16 chapters as outlined below that also highlight the major contents of the book. I will attempt to present under each chapter where possible the points that intrigue me.

Chapter 1 ¡V The Pastor and His Work

X Jeremiah had been set aside for ministry before he was born (Jeremiah 1:5). God is firm in His mind for each of us from the beginning of life to its end. Refusals to do God¡s will lead to the waste of much native endowments (pp.5-6)

X A strong and secure family base is essential for the effective pastoral work (pp.7)

X Because a man is called of God does not always mean that he is accepted by all people (pp.9). But, there are things known to him that can be shared with no one but God (pp.16)

Chapter 2 ¡V The Building of the Church

X The pastor not only must be well grounded theologically on the doctrine of the church, but he must also knowledgeable in the practical/real life aspects of the church such as church immediate environment, different functions and ministries (pp.22)

Chapter 3 ¡V Communication in the Church

X The more knowledgeable the pastor becomes about human response the better able is the Holy Spirit to use him (pp.40)

X Without a high level of personal integrity and mutual respect, cooperation within the group becomes impossible (pp.47)

Chapter 4 ¡V A Pastorate from Start to Finish

X To be a successful pastor of a church, the pastor must begin well, proceed with care and compassion, and terminate with Christian grace (pp.56)

Chapter 5 ¡V The Need for Pastoral Preaching

X To take human weakness in one hand and divine power in the other and bring them together through a strong pulpit ministry is the consuming passion of a faithful pastor (pp.84)

Chapter 6 ¡V The Planned Preaching Ministry

X With the Bible before him and an awareness of where his people are in their spiritual lives, a pastor can plan a preaching program that will enhance personal and church growth (pp.98).

X The pulpit sets the pace and direction for church programming. When the pastor knows where he is going, the church finds it much easier to follow (pp.99)

Chapter 7 ¡V Pastoral Evangelism

X Society is success oriented, and the church is not exempted from the expectation. But, the pastor shall not simply make this the driving force behind his efforts. He must retreat to the privacy of the secret prayer chamber and listen again to God (pp.125-126)

X A climate of love, concern and mutual helpfulness is needed in the church if people are to be reached for Christ and nurtured in His love (pp.131)

Chapter 8 ¡V The Pastoral Weddings

X Consult a physician for a physical checkup before marriage (pp.142)

Chapter 9 ¡V The Pastor¡s Ministry to the Bereaved

Chapter 10 ¡V The Church Ordinances

Chapter 11 ¡V Policies and Programs for Effective Ministry

X The church needs to maintain and publish some basic ¡§operating documents¡ on the different functional areas of church administration including the church constitution

Chapter 12 ¡V Budgeting for Effective Ministry

X Good budgeting is good discipline for a church and its staff (pp.227)

X The budget must remain flexible and subject to amendment of circumstances change (pp.229)

Chapter 13 ¡V The Pastor and the Church Staff

X Be sure to select quality people. Only those with highest moral and spiritual qualifications should be sought (pp.233). Weak leadership is one of the most expensive things that a church can have (pp.236)

X Dedication is important. Those who lead churches must demonstrate the love and fervent spirit they talk about (pp.237)

Chapter 14 ¡V The Pastor and His Deacons

X A pastor should make it his business to get to know his deacons on a personal basis (pp.240)

X The pastor should plan a special orientation period for new deacons (pp.249)

X The pastor and the deacons must always remember that authority should reside in the church ¡V not in the deacons or the pastor. The church should never be confronted with a majority and minority report from its servants. The deacons and the pastor should go to the place of prayer until they can come to the church as one voice (pp.253)

Chapter 15 ¡V The Pastor¡s Public Relations

X Public relation for a church and its pastor is the knowledgeable sharing of ideas and programs in such ways as to secure favorable response from those persons who need them (pp.254).

X The pastor must be able to discern the interests of people and familiarize himself with their attitudes (pp.255)

Chapter 16 ¡V Finally, Brethren

X The resources of a large number of people are necessary for the good health of a church (pp.266)

X The pastor may be a hero one moment and a bum the next. (pp.267). The most helpful thing a pastor can have in both good times and bad is the certain knowledge that he is where God has placed him trying to do what God called him to do. He may not always have the approval of men, but he can always be sure of God¡s approval if he remains faithful (pp.268)

X God measures His servants by their obedience and faithfulness, not by worldly standards of success (pp.268)