What it means to be called into ministry for the “one Jesus” of the New Testament
Richard Burridge’s Four Gospels, One Jesus? has long been a popular introduction to the New Testament gospels. In this book Burridge looks specifically at pastoral ministry through the lens of each gospel. The book’s four major parts are MATTHEW—Teaching Good News, LUKE—Pastoral Care, MARK—Suffering the Way of the Cross, and JOHN—Praying the Divine Life.
Combining the skills of a leading biblical scholar with the wisdom derived from years of pastoral experience, Burridge invites readers to consider such questions as how to extend pastoral care to people both outside and inside Christian community, how to take care of oneself and one’s family, and how to stay attuned to the Spirit by cultivating a fresh and vigorous life of prayer.
Full of practical advice on developing and maintaining the skills needed for ministry today, Four Ministries, One Jesus will be a vital resource for anyone who is called to Christian ministry.
This book looks at the curious, wonderful vocational work of God through the lenses of the four gospels. Pastors will surely find new meaning in their vocations and new enthusiasm for their work by reading Richard Burridge’s wise, encouraging book.
—Will Willimon, Duke Divinity School
Like a suspension bridge with cables rooted on either side of a canyon (an image that Burridge uses), this book links Christian scripture and tradition on the one side with the realities of ministry in the world church on the other. The book carries the reader over the gap in a readable and highly informative way. Burridge uses the four portraits of Jesus in the four gospels to draw out the meaning of the formation criteria of a range of churches from across the world. It is instructive especially for those exploring licensed and ordained ministry and, indeed, for anyone engaged in ministry. I commend this book warmly.
—Stephen Spencer, Anglican Communion
In Four Ministries, One Jesus, Burridge brings to bear both his academic expertise and his ministerial experience on four aspects of life-in-ministry, namely, teaching, pastoral ministry, suffering, and praying. By exploring these ministerial duties in concert with the Evangelists’ variegated, mutually reinforcing portraits of Jesus, Burridge helps all who minister, whether ordained or not, to do so with a clearer vision of and greater fidelity to the One who came teaching and doing good. I warmly and enthusiastically commend this volume to all who would walk in Jesus’s steps and minister in his name
—Todd D. Still, Truett Seminary