What to Look for in a Pastor: A Guide for Pastoral Search Committees
Overview
Finding the right pastor is critical in the life of a church. But most churches rely on the inexperienced and sometimes blinded pulpit committees, which often gamble with the selection of their candidates because they usually don’t have a clear understanding of biblical guidelines for choosing a pastor.
So how does a church find the right man for its pulpit? This book is designed to assist pastoral search committees by discussing the issues that surround six fundamental questions: Can the man preach effectively? What else should he do as pastor? Is he qualified? Is he theologically sound? Does his practical theology match his written theology? And how can a church find this man? Search committee members, church leaders, pastors who desire to keep the right balance between preaching and other shepherding responsibilities, and all who want to learn more about the role of a pastor will be helped by the clarity Brian Biedebach brings to this subject.
Logos Bible Software dramatically improves the value of any resource by enabling you to find what you are looking for instantly and with unbelievable precision. As you are reading What to Look for in a Pastor, you can easily search and access topics or Scripture references you come across, for example, “doctrine” or “shepherd.”
- Provides help to committees and churches in finding the right fit for their pulpits
- Discusses issues that surround six fundamental questions
- Gives biblically based answers to the questions asked
Top Highlights
“‘Expository preaching is setting forth the meaning and message of the biblical text. In its purest form, it also includes an outline derived from the text, an explanation of what the original author meant, and an application from the text for the audience.’” (Page 21)
“It is important for your search committee to look for an expositor in the most technical sense of the word. The more he expounds Scripture, the more your congregation will grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.” (Page 20)
“To be above reproach does not mean that you are perfect, but that your spiritual character has been consistent long enough that no one would be able to point an accusing finger at you.” (Page 63)
“If one holds a moderate definition, one can say that all biblical preaching is expositional but pure exposition is the most biblical form of preaching.” (Page 19)
“J. I. Packer in God has Spoken: ‘The true idea of preaching is that the preacher should become a mouthpiece for his text, opening it up and applying it as a word from God to his hearers, talking only in order that the text itself may speak and be heard.’” (Pages 14–15)
Perhaps no process in all of church life is more fraught with pitfalls and hazards than the task of choosing a new pastor. Pastoral search committees often consist of marginally-equipped lay people who are utterly inexperienced when it comes to examining a pastor and evaluating his giftedness. In many cases, members of search committees themselves could not pass the most elementary doctrinal exam, and they are often totally clueless about how to choose a pastor to lead and feed the flock. What to Look for in a Pastor is filled with sound advice and solid help for churches seeking pastors. Brian Biedebach’s book fills a void that has needed to be addressed for a very long time.
—Phil Johnson, executive director, Grace to You
Brian has written a resource that will be helpful for churches for years to come.
—John MacArthur, pastor-teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California
- Title: What to Look for in a Pastor: A Guide for Pastoral Search Committees
- Author: Brian Bidebach
- Publisher: Day One
- Publication Date: 2011
- Pages: 208
Reviews
2 ratings
Raymond Sevilla
5/7/2015
Jeffrey Godfrey
8/26/2014
