The Pastor's Ministry: Biblical Priorities For Faithful Shepherds
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Every pastor struggles with countless demands on his time. A plan for setting and sticking to ministry priorities is a necessary skill. While some choose to respond to the most urgent needs, others seek a more balanced and intentional approach. But what determines these priorities? Where should a busy pastor look for wisdom in making these decisions?
In the Pastor’s Ministry, pastor and author Brian Croft looks to the Scriptures to determine the top 10 priorities for a faithful pastoral ministry. These biblically rooted responsibilities help pastors determine how to spend their time and respond with discernment to the demands of the church.
To be successful and faithful in pastoral ministry, every pastor needs to understand these core callings and make them part of his regular practice. These 10 responsibilities guide how a pastor schedules his time, helping him to lay the foundation for a biblically faithful ministry in his church.
Get more top-notch resources for pastoral ministry with the Practical Shepherding Series (2 vols.).
- Analyzes 10 top priorities for faithful pastoral ministry
- Draws on Scripture for a foundation for faithful and effective ministry
- Helps pastors determine how to spend their time and respond to demands with discernment
- Foundation: Guard the Truth
- Foundation: Preach the Word
- Foundation: Pray for the Flock
- Focus: Set an Example
- Focus: Visit the Sick
- Focus: Comfort the Grieving
- Focus: Care for Widows
- Faithfulness: Confront Sin
- Faithfulness: Encourage the Weaker Sheep
- Faithfulness: Identify and Train Leaders
Top Highlights
“Second, following the intent of the last suggestion, try to preach and teach a balance of the Old and New Testament in your church.” (Page 31)
“A preacher must be deeply affected by the word he steps into the pulpit to preach.” (Pages 48–49)
“Third, if you aren’t rotating your preaching between the Old and New Testaments, at least try to have a reading from both the Old and New Testaments in every gathering for worship.” (Page 31)
“From these examples, we learn that guardians of the gospel of Jesus Christ have a twofold purpose: to hold firmly to the faithful word and to refute those who would contradict it. Pastors are the appointed guardians of God’s truth, and above all else they must hold firm to it, boldly refuting those who come against it and passing it on to the next generation of appointed guardians.” (Page 27)
“Pastors do more than speak the message of the gospel; they guard the essential truths of the gospel.” (Page 28)
Faithful pastoral ministry is one of the most urgent needs of the church. Brian Croft is a careful guide to faithful biblical ministry and a needed voice among evangelical pastors.
—R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
This book will be a huge blessing to many shepherds and even more sheep. I wish it had been around when I was starting out in ministry 20 years ago.
—David Murray, professor of practical theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
- Title: The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds
- Author: Brian Croft
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Print Publication Date: 2015
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 192
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Pastoral theology › Biblical teaching
- ISBNs: 9780310527046, 031052704X
- Resource ID: LLS:PASTORSMINISTRY
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-03-11T22:43:17Z
Brian Croft is the former Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky and is the Founder and Executive Director of Practical Shepherding, Inc. Through his blog, Practical Shepherding, he seeks to equip pastors and leaders to faithfully shepherd God’s people in the local church. He is also Senior Fellow for the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization and an Adjunct Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the husband of Cara and father of four children, son, Samuel and daughters, Abby, Isabelle, and Claire. He has served in pastoral ministry for over twenty-five years, spending seventeen of those years as Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church.