On Being a Pastor: Understanding Our Calling and Work [Paperback]

Derek Prime (Author), Alistair Begg (Author), Al Mohler (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Now in paperback, On Being a Pastor is an essential tool to help pastors fulfill their calling. A pastor’s responsibilities are unique, demanding that he nurture his own spiritual life as well as that of the people in his care. Derek Prime and Alistair Begg provide practical advice for both the spiritual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry. Topics include prayer, devotional habits, preaching, and specific ministry duties.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The ministry of pastors is not simply a job; it’s a vocation.

A PASTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES are unique, demanding that he not only nurture his own spiritual life but also the lives of those in his care.  What a challenge this can be!

Derek Prime and Alistair Begg provide practical advice for both the spiritual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry.  They delve deep into topics such as prayer, devotional habits, preaching, studying, and specific ministry duties. The result is an essential tool for those in pastoral ministry.

This new edition includes updated examples from Derek Prime’s experiences in Scotland as well as additions from an American church pastor, Alistair Begg.  Experienced pastors as well as those just beginning will resonate with the truth and wisdom presented here.

Being a pastor is a high calling, which requires devotion, skillfulness, and unique spiritual preparation. Derek Prime and Alistair Begg provide clarity for the call, wisdom for the journey, and experience for the task. This book is like a conversation with good friends providing practical no nonsense counsel for the ministry challenges of the 21st century.
-JACK GRAHAM
President, Southern Baptist Convention
Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church
Dallas, Texas

On Being a Pastor is an outstanding book, which should be on every pastor’s
shelf I have read and consulted the previous version from the pen of Derek Prime
for many years. Now it has been revised and enriched with the cooperation of
Alistair Begg, and the result is splendid!
-ERIC J. ALEXANDER
Retired Pastor
St. George’s-Tron Parish Church
Scotland

About the Author

ALISTAIR BEGG has been the senior pastor at Parkside Church in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, since 1983. He is the daily speaker on the national radio program Truth For Life which airs on 700 radio outlets and travels extensively in a ministry of evangelism and Bible teaching. Alistair and his wife, Susan, have three grown children.

DEREK PRIME is an itinerant minister and writer. A former president of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, Mr. Prime served as a pastor for more than 30 years, the last 18 as minister of Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh. Among his numerous books are the Sarah and Paul series, Practical Prayer, Unspoken Lessons about the Unseen God, James, and Let’s Study 2 Corinthians. Derek and his wife, Betty, live in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; annotated edition edition (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802431194
• ISBN-13: 978-0802431196
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom from Experienced Pastors, February 8, 2006

By 

Brian G Hedges (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Being A Pastor: For Pastors and Teachers (Hardcover)

While books on preaching abound today, books on the broader duties of pastoring are few and far between. Here is one to fill the gap. A revised and expanded version of Derek Prime's earlier book, Pastors and Teachers, this book is a comprehensive, yet remarkably personal, study of the art of pastoring.

Five basic convictions govern the content of the book, as outlined in the introduction:
(1) "Christ's special gift to His Church is the gift of pastors and teachers;"
(2) "The pastor and teacher is an elder among other elders in the local church" (regardless of whether the term elder is used or not);
(3) "The work of elders - by whatever name they are called - need to be encouraged and developed;"
(4) "Whatever the pattern is for shared leadership in the local church, there must be a leader among leaders;"
(5) "Both the pastor and teacher himself and the church fellowship of which he is a part need to be clear as to his function and place in the body of Christ" (p. 14).

The authors then devote close to three hundred pages to clarifying that function and place. Virtually everything is discussed: Call and Calling (chapter one), Life and Character (chapter 2), Goals and Priorities (chapter 3), Prayer (chapter 4), Devotional Life (chapter 5), Study (chapter 6), Preaching (chapter 7), Pastoral Care (chapters 8-9), The Conduct of Worship (chapter 10), Leadership (chapters 11-12), Family and Leisure (chapter 13), and "Perils Tempered by Privileges" (chapter 14).

One of the unique aspects of the book is the inclusion of personal insights from each of the authors. The chapters usually begin by laying out general principles, but then include personal testimony from either Prime or Begg (or both) on how they apply those principles in their own ministry contexts. Having perspective both from an older, pastor of a smaller church (Prime), as well as a younger pastor of a larger, urban church (Begg) gives the book a sense of balance, making it useful to any pastor, regardless of his context for ministry. One of the most valuable portions of the book is the discussion on "the special pressures that may be upon a pastor's wife" (p. 269-279).

Finally, the book is well laid-out, making it easy to navigate. The thorough table of contents (including sub-headings in the chapters) allows On Being a Pastor to function like an encyclopedia on pastoral responsibilities.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Distinguishes between a godly pastor and a merely professional one, November 1, 2006

By 

Christian Book Previews "Christian Book Previews" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: On Being A Pastor: For Pastors and Teachers (Hardcover)

This book presents a bold and beautiful picture of the character and spiritual life of a pastor. Originally written by Derek Prime as Pastors and Teachers (1989), Alistair Begg's contribution serves as an incredible enhancement to the book. Both authors of this revised, expanded edition of Prime's work are seasoned pastors. And their wisdom is strewn throughout every page.

While it is a rich treat to be able to walk beside these men as they wander through what the Bible says a pastor is to be and do, it is an added privilege to be let in on the relationship that these men have with each other. At times, this reviewer felt as though he were transported into a living room with a warmly lit fire, listening to these old friends chat about the task that God had called them to give their lives over to.

While the book moves through the biblical descriptions of a pastor, it is laden with entire pages where it is either Prime or Begg writing, commenting on what has already been said, making current application of the principles in each of their own lives. In these special parts of the book (which occur throughout), it is the seasoned wisdom of godly pastors that readers are able to observe. Moreover, they speak as men who have lived out the principles they are writing about. It is not theoretical pastoral musings, these men are authentic shepherds who know their calling and want to discharge their duty to the best of their abilities, by grace. Most often when the writers interject their personal thoughts and comments, Prime is followed by Begg. The comments made in this order marvelously show forth a symphonic order, granting glimpses into the authors' relationship, showing Begg like a student, carefully learning from his former pastor and mentor. Begg was Prime's ministry assistant while the latter was pastoring at Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh, Scotland. The book shows how that early relationship made such an enormous impact on Begg's subsequent life and ministry.

This book is not a manual about the nuts and bolts of pastoral ministry. It is about the biblical principles that separate a godly pastor from a mere professional minister, while offering practical tips throughout. Therefore, I would highly recommend this work to any pastor who is seeking to grow spiritually in his role as a shepherd, or any seminary student on his way to becoming a pastor. - Jason Sexton, Christian Book [...]

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ministry Tips from Two Seasoned Pastors, April 3, 2008

By 

Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On Being A Pastor: For Pastors and Teachers (Hardcover)

Derek Prime and Alistair Begg share helpful information about how they conduct their pastoral ministries. They discuss their personal devotion habits, their commitment to regular reading, and the preparation of their sermons. They also talk about how the demands of pastoral ministry often rob them of valuable study time, and that some weeks are more hectic than others.

They also candidly discuss how they prioritize time with their families. There is even a helpful discussion of whether or not a pastor should study at home or at the office (Alistair works at the office, Derek works at home).

There is also a chapter about hospital and home visitation, though neither one does much of either unless there is a crisis. Alistair pastors a church where the members are scattered over a 60 mile radius, and finds that home visits would be an imposition for many busy families.

They also acknowledge that in their multistaffed churches, they do not make as many visits as they might be making if they were solo pastors of small country churches in the USA.

Before Alistair started pastoring at Parkside Church in Bainbridge, Ohio, he was Derek Prime's assistant, and Begg repeatedly mentions how amazed he is that his former mentor can be so well disciplined and organized. You get the impression that Alistair feels like a spiritual lightweight in the company of Prime.

But it is obvious by the compassionate and humble way Alistair writes that he has spent many hours basking in the presence of our great God. He and Prime are especially fond of the Puritans, particularly John Owens, D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, and modern Anglican pastors John Stott and J.I Packer.

Alistair in particular is quite fond of Charles Spurgeon (in fact, Alistair has published a modernized version of Spurgeon's classic devotional Evening and Morning).

I used to attend Parkside weekly during the years I was working on my Master of Divinity, and I know personally that he labors hard in the vineyard for Christ. I wasn't familiar with Derek Prime until I read this book, but he is equally impressive.

I found the book very helpful. I am fascinated by what others pastors say about their ministries, and you will be, too, when you read this book.