I requested a copy of the book “The New Guidebook for Pastors” by James W. Bryant and Mac Brunson because I was interested to see what kind of advice this book may have in it for newer pastors and even for more experienced pastors.
I received a copy of this book from B&H Bloggers / B&H Academic for me to do a review on it. In full disclosure, I was not required or requested by B&H Academic to write a positive review.
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I would give this book an 8.5 out of my normal 10 point rating scale. On a “5 star” scale that some websites use, I would give it about a 4 1/2-star rating.
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The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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QUICK SUMMARY:
**See all sections below for full detailed review**
If you are looking for a practical guidebook as a new pastor and you are in agreement with the Southern Baptist viewpoints, then look no further. I have seen many comments on this book where people are providing some negative feedback about it from the perspective that it may alienate a woman from being a pastor. However, you have to remember, “The New Guidebook for Pastors” is written from the Southern Baptist perspective and belief.
“The New Guidebook for Pastors” really is an updated and revised version of W.A. Criswell’s “Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors”, which I believe was published around 1980 or so. I have not personally seen a copy of Criswell’s book, so I cannot personally speak to what was updated or revised in The New Guidebook for Pastors.
This book is not exhaustive by any means as each chapter could almost have its own book devoted to it. While I may not necessarily agree wholeheartedly with absolutely everything in this book, I found it to be a very practical guidebook to help a pastor (new or old) grow in their ministry.
This book does bring some of the more modern situations into perspective, where you may have seen or read older books that don’t cover these things (such as using technology during sermons for just one example). Is it completely up to date, meaning 2018 technology? No. but this book was published in 2007, so for that time, it is a fairly cutting-edge book.
“The New Guidebook for Pastors” does cover some topics that I have not even seen covered in some other pastor guidebooks, which I found helpful. Topics such as How to Build Your Personal Library, Sample Staff Organization Charts, Journaling and Filing (organization skills), Salary and Benefits, and many others.
Again, this book is from the Southern Baptist perspective. But even if you are not Southern Baptist, I can guarantee that you will find a lot of practical help and advice in this book.
I would strongly recommend “The New Guidebook for Pastors“. This would especially be on my “must buy” list for anyone that is a new pastor. Again, keeping in mind your particular denomination may or may not follow all of the Southern Baptist beliefs in this book, but there is still a ton of practical things that you will benefit from.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
DESCRIPTION OF THIS BOOK
Type of Book: Pastoral Resources
Publisher: B&H Academic / Lifeway
Author: James W. Bryant and Mac Brunson
Publication Date: June 1, 2007
ISBN-13 of Book Reviewed: 978-0805444292
Price for the Book: At the time of writing this review, the best place to get this book is from Christianbook.com. They have it for $18.49 – suggested retail from the publisher is $24.99. Please note that these prices do not include any potential shipping charges.
If you would like to purchase this book, please support my page and purchase by clicking any of the links to Christianbook.com on this page like the one below. If you would like to purchase this book as an e-Book (epub) for $11.99 click HERE.
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The New Guidebook for Pastors By James W. Bryant & Mac Brunson / B&H BooksSenior Professor Jim Bryant (Criswell College) and Senior Pastor Mac Brunson have compiled a guidebook in the tradition of W.A. Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors (1980). Their purpose and desire were to create a work that is relevant to the postmodern twenty-first-century milieu in which pastors find themselves. It is a text which covers a breadth of topics and circumstances a pastor faces throughout his or her ministry. |
Physical Characteristics:
Binding: Paperback
Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.7 x 9 inches
Number of Pages: 320 pages
The Goal of This Book:
The authors’ goal of “The New Guidebook for Pastors” is to provide an update with more modern topics from “Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors“. I don’t have a copy of that 1980 book to compare The New Guidebook for Pastors to, so I can’t speak to how it was updated and/or revised. However, there are a lot of fairly modern topics from politics, to salaries, to benefits and organization skills to name just a few.
My Favorite Part:
I think the presentation of the material was done nicely in this book. I would say this book is one of those “buy it and reference it off and on throughout a pastor’s ministry” type of book. However, if you are a new pastor, or becoming one, then you will find a lot of very helpful advice in this book. I think many new pastors could benefit greatly from this book and the topics presented. Very nicely done.
Recommendation:
I would strongly recommend “The New Guidebook for Pastors“. This would especially be on my “must buy” list for anyone that is a new pastor. Again, keeping in mind your particular denomination may or may not follow all the beliefs in this book, but there is still a ton of practical things that you will benefit from.
Book Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 – The Pastor and His Call
2 – The Pastor and His Preparation
3 – The Pastor and His Preaching
4 – The Pastor and His Prayer Life
5 – The Pastor and His Family
6 – The Pastor and His First Church
7 – The Pastor and His Leadership
8 – The Pastor and His Staff
9 – The Pastor and Worship
10 – The Pastor and Technology
11 – The Pastor, Missions, and Evangelism
12 – The Pastor and the Ordinances
13 – The Pastor, Weddings, and Funerals
14 – The Pastor and His Counseling
15 – The Pastor and Finances
16 – The Pastor and His Ethics
17 – The Pastor, Politics, and Moral Issues
18 – The Pastor and Changing Churches
19 – The Pastor and His Denomination
20 – The Pastor and His Retirement
21 – The Pastor and His Reward
Appendixes
1 – Where Does a Pastor Go for Personal Counseling?
2 – Where Does a Pastor Go for Help When He Is Fired?
3 – How Does a Pastor Build His Personal Library?
4 – A Sample Wedding Ceremony
5 – A Sample Order of Service for a Funeral
6 – Sample Staff Organization Charts
7 – The Pastor’s Resume
8 – The Pastor’s Salary and Benefits
9 – Journaling and Filing
10 – The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000
11 – How to Conduct a Business Meeting
12 – Calendar Planning
13 – How to Give a Public Invitation in Church
14 – What Version of the Bible Should the Pastor Use?
Notes
Bibliography
Company Summary:
From the publisher’s website: B&H Academic, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources, is dedicated to providing resources for undergraduate and graduate theological education.
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