Portraits of a Pastor

Imagine sitting around a table with some of today's healthiest pastors just talking about church life and this is what you get. Goodness gracious what a resource. I have so dearly enjoyed hearing from these pastor as they share their hearts around ministry. Don't just give me the good stuff, but give me the real stuff because it is in the realness of ministry that I need help. I would even highly suggest that this book be a book that young pastors need to read before they jump into the deep end of the pool. It won't make the pool any less shallow, but at least they know a bit better of what they are jumping into. That is just good wisdom that is being shared with them. I really value this resource and this book. Thank you so much.

Being a pastor is a burdensome job. Too often a pastor has to wear many hats and he ends up spread too thin, whether these duties are demanded by the congregation or are self-imposed. Either way, the result is often burnout: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Add to this the secularized culture that we live in, the lack of confidence in the church and the Word, and the demotion of the importance of the pastorate, and you can begin to see the struggles that they face on a daily basis.

This short, powerful book discusses nine different roles and expectations a pastor experiences: preacher, leader, missionary, evangelist, man of God, theologian, church historian, shepherd, father, and husband. Each topic is authored by a different evangelist so that you get many different perspectives. The chapters are both biblical and practical, designed to help the pastor to more faithfully, and more effectively, serve the local church with clarity and purpose.

This book highlights the joys and struggles of being a pastor, as well as the great honor that comes with preaching and teaching God's Word. Expository preaching is expanded upon in simple yet powerful terms. Thinking and leading missiologically is emphasized. Each topic presented in this book is thoroughly discussed. There may be a tendency to select and read only the topics you feel you might need a refresher on, but I urge you to read this book in its entirety. You will feel a deeper conviction and passion to be the pastor that God has called you to be.

I am not a pastor. I have been a deacon in my church for the past three years. I will take many points from this book and apply them to my own spiritual life, and I will also be more prepared to facilitate my pastor and church with any needs they may have. I recommend this book to all Christians, especially pastors and leaders within the church. I received this as a free ARC from Moody Publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.