Pastor and the Modern World, The: Reformed Ministry and Secular Culture

It’s a high calling to serve the people of God, and a hard one in today’s world. Pastors need wisdom, encouragement, and guidance to serve people living in the context of secularism. In The Pastor and the Modern World, they get exactly that. Three seasoned pastor-scholars―William Edgar, R. Kent Hughes, and Alfred Poirier―come to the aid of today’s pastor, bringing their experience to bear on cultural engagement, the craft of preaching, and the care of souls. How has secularism infiltrated culture and the arts, and what is a Christian response to it? How does a pastor prayerfully construct a message that moves the hearts of his congregants? What can we learn from Gregory of Nazianzus about being a “physician of souls”? These questions are answered, with many more, in a volume that’s sure to encourage pastors to take up their call with fresh enthusiasm and Spirit-led vigilance.

120 pages.

View excerpt here.

“The Pastor and the Modern World: Reformed Ministry and Secular Culture is a rare gem. Three faithful pastor-scholars, each one writing from his own perspective, offer us instruction and inspiration for fruitful ministry. Here we gain insight into our cultural moment, wisdom for our weekly preaching, and humility from our distant history. I feel privileged to recommend this captivating book.” - Ray Ortlund, Pastor to Pastors, Immanuel Church, Nashville

“In these lectures, seasoned pastor-theologians equip us to proclaim the epoch-transcending gospel of Christ into a cultural milieu that imagines that it has outgrown such good news. Dr Edgar insightfully profiles that secular milieu by engaging trends in philosophy, social sciences, and the arts. Dr Hughes invites us into his pastoral study, showing us how to hear (humbly) and herald (boldly!) God’s good message, which stirs affections and transforms hearts. Dr Poirier challenges us to become men so overwhelmed by our calling to be spiritual physicians that we cast ourselves, in desperation, on the Savior who came to heal sin-sick folk like us. Together, these fathers in the faith—and the forefathers whose wisdom they refresh to our ears—summon us to strenuous faithfulness as stewards of God’s mysteries, men shaped by Christ and his cross, bringing God’s message of astonishing grace, into a milieu in need of the hope that only the Sovereign Creator-Redeemer can give.” - Dennis E. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California

“These three essays by esteemed pastor-theologians give us much food for thought concerning a mind that discerns the secularizing trends of our culture, a heart inflamed with love for God and people, and a life of caring sacrificially for Christ’s flock. A much-needed book abounding with valuable insights for pastors and ministry for a very needy day and a very secular world!” - Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan