When Paul used the nursing mother illustration, he probably anticipated the danger of the Thessalonians running to an extreme with it, and becoming too “soft.” Because he immediately introduces the Firm Father model to balance it (1 Thess. 2:11).
When Paul used the nursing mother illustration, he probably anticipated the danger of the Thessalonians running to an extreme with it, and becoming too “soft.” Because he immediately introduces the Firm Father model to balance it (1 Thess. 2:11).
Yesterday, I proposed that pastoral training begins in the womb. Today, I’d like to suggest that one of the best seminary classes a pastor or trainee pastor could attend is to spend time with a young mother.
Looking back on my life I’ve been increasingly struck by how God was preparing me for Gospel ministry long before I was even converted. And in such reflection I’ve found plenty material for worship – worship of God’s sovereignty, God’s wisdom, and God’s love.
When reviewing Paul’s description of the Christian pastor in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, I was struck by how much emphasis he places on exceptional character rather than exceptional gifts, and by his focus on what a person is to be rather than what a person is to do.
As someone who is about to begin teaching a course on The Minister and his Ministry, I’m so glad to be able to commend a book like this to my students. Most books on pastoral ministry take a thematic or topical approach and proof text their points from all over Scripture. The strength of A Portrait of Paul is it’s exegetical foundation; while referring to other Scriptures, it concentrates on expounding eleven verses in Colossians.
Jeremy Walker at The Wanderer is doing the church valuable service by his ongoing collection and summarizing of pastoral theology resources here. He’s up to the letter D. Stay tuned as he works his way through the alphabet.