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In Thomas Oden's Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry, he takes one chapter to reflect on the analogy of pastor as shepherd. In the midst of that chapter, he strikes at the heart of what I think is missing within much of pastoral ministry as it is currently practiced in North America: pastoral authority approached as service. The …
Continue reading "Real Shepherds: Thomas Oden on pastoral leadership as service"
My first introduction to the work of Eugene Peterson was through one of my college roommates, who often read from Peterson’s paraphrase of Scripture, The Message. In his own idiosyncratic style, Peterson’s work with the words of Scripture helped me remember God’s word was a relational word to us here and now. Roughly five years …
Continue reading "Ten Ways Eugene Peterson Shaped My Pastoral Ministry"
My continued reflections on pastoral ministry, the church, and what it means to be in ministry in North America led me back to Thomas Oden's Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry. I first read this book while still an undergrad at Wheaton College but enrolled with special permission in a graduate level class entitle "Pastoral Ministry," I …
It’s a pleasure to be a regular contributor to The Gospel Life blog. sponsored by the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. My latest post dropped today: "The Pastor and Evangelism: Six Freeing Approaches to Fulfilling Our Evangelistic Calling." Here’s an excerpt, but you can read the entire post here. If we are honest as pastors, …
Here are the discussion questions that accompany my message, "Exile Community," which is the final part of our series "Exiles" on the book of 1 Peter. This study walks through 1 Peter 5. We conclude our series, “Exiles,” on 1 Peter by looking at chapter 5. Begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak into your …
Matthew Erickson 