What does a true pastor look like, and what constitutes a faithful ministry? How can we identify the life and labors of one called by God to serve in the church of Jesus Christ? To address these questions, Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker examine how the apostle Paul describes his pastoral relation to the people of God in Colossians 1:24 2:5. By discussing these essential attitudes, qualities, and characteristics of a faithful minister of Christ, A Portrait of Paul provides gospel ministers an example of what they should be, and demonstrates for churches the kind of pastors they will seek if they desire men after God s own heart.
A Portrait of Paul
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The apostle Paul has always been a hero whom I look to as a model for my ministry. His unrelenting faithfulness in the worst kinds of trials is a remarkable example to every pastor and missionary. In the midst of suffering, hardship, and (in the end) the abandonment of his own friends and fellow workers, Paul remained steadfast, dynamic, and utterly devoted to Christ. This invaluable study of Paul s life from Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker is a wonderful, powerful, soul-stirring examination of Paul s self-sacrifice and his unfaltering service to the church. It will both motivate and encourage you, especially if you re facing trials, opposition, or discouragement in your service for Christ. John MacArthur, Pastor/Teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California and President of The Master s College and Seminary --endorsement
The greatest need in churches today is for godly men to shepherd the flock of God. No church will rise any higher than the level of its spiritual leaders. Like priest, like people. To this end, Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker have done an exceptional job in providing a model for pastoral ministry, drawn from the extraordinary example of the apostle Paul. This book is built upon careful exegesis, proper interpretation, penetrating insight, and challenging application. Herein is profiled the kind of minister every church so desperately needs and what every true minister should desire to become. Steven J. Lawson, Senior Pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama --endorsement
This work on the Christian ministry is a clarion call to true devotion and piety in the pastorate. The theology is pure and the language is as powerful as it is beautiful. I pray that every pastor and congregant might take up this book and read it. It will hold a place in my library beside Baxter s Reformed Pastor, Bridges s Christian Ministry, and Spurgeon s Lectures. I will refer to it often. It will serve as a great antidote against all that might cause my heart to stray from Christ s call. Paul Washer, Director of HeartCry Missionary Society --endorsement
The greatest need in churches today is for godly men to shepherd the flock of God. No church will rise any higher than the level of its spiritual leaders. Like priest, like people. To this end, Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker have done an exceptional job in providing a model for pastoral ministry, drawn from the extraordinary example of the apostle Paul. This book is built upon careful exegesis, proper interpretation, penetrating insight, and challenging application. Herein is profiled the kind of minister every church so desperately needs and what every true minister should desire to become. Steven J. Lawson, Senior Pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama --endorsement
This work on the Christian ministry is a clarion call to true devotion and piety in the pastorate. The theology is pure and the language is as powerful as it is beautiful. I pray that every pastor and congregant might take up this book and read it. It will hold a place in my library beside Baxter s Reformed Pastor, Bridges s Christian Ministry, and Spurgeon s Lectures. I will refer to it often. It will serve as a great antidote against all that might cause my heart to stray from Christ s call. Paul Washer, Director of HeartCry Missionary Society --endorsement
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a book reviewer, I do not have much to really critique since the book is an exposition of Colossians 1:24-2:5. Ventura and Walker strike at the heart of what is wrong with so much in the pastoral ministry today quite simply because so many of the pastors in the ministry are not following God's word for pastors. A Portrait of Paul, while about the apostle Paul is extremely Christo-centric in its approach and application. In other words, when Christ says, "I am the vine and you are the branches, apart from me you can do nothing" (emphasis added), He means it-especially for pastors.
As a pastor, I needed this book. There were sections I read which brought me to tears as I realized just how frail and unbiblical a pastor I am. While it may surprise some to hear that a pastor is not perfect (some pastor's actually suffer from a "God-complex!"), I can readily admit that I have much room for improvement. Especially when compared to the "job description" laid out for us by Paul in Colossians 1:24-2:5.
If you are a pastor, please pick up this book. If you are thinking about going into the ministry, this book is an must read-you may quickly learn that the pastoral calling is not for you! If you have a pastor, pick up a copy today and give it to them. We are indebted to Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker for writing this book. While many may not read Baxter's Reformed Pastor because it was written so long ago by a (gasp!) Puritan that it can't possibly speak to us today, they would readily pick up this book given its "modern" take on the ministry. In so doing, they will be the greater for it and the congregation in which they are the undershepherd will reap the benefits.
As a pastor, I needed this book. There were sections I read which brought me to tears as I realized just how frail and unbiblical a pastor I am. While it may surprise some to hear that a pastor is not perfect (some pastor's actually suffer from a "God-complex!"), I can readily admit that I have much room for improvement. Especially when compared to the "job description" laid out for us by Paul in Colossians 1:24-2:5.
If you are a pastor, please pick up this book. If you are thinking about going into the ministry, this book is an must read-you may quickly learn that the pastoral calling is not for you! If you have a pastor, pick up a copy today and give it to them. We are indebted to Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker for writing this book. While many may not read Baxter's Reformed Pastor because it was written so long ago by a (gasp!) Puritan that it can't possibly speak to us today, they would readily pick up this book given its "modern" take on the ministry. In so doing, they will be the greater for it and the congregation in which they are the undershepherd will reap the benefits.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ventura and Walker use Colossians 1:24 through 2:5 as the starting point for their discussion of the character of Paul and what attributes of his (and Christ's) should you look for in the Pastor of your church. They ask two penetrating questions for those reading the book. The first question is, "What kind of minister are you going to be?" The second question is "How do we recognize true ministers of Christ?"
As such they take a unique approach to their book. Each chapter looks at different aspects of the Colossians passage as well as some others from Paul that add to the discussion. But then at the end of each chapter they have a section written to "Fellow Christians" where they put forth their question to you about how you will know whether your Pastor is following closely in the footsteps of Christ and like the Apostle Paul or not. The second section is written to "Fellow Pastors" and is a direct challenge to those of us who are Pastors to ask us whether we are living up to the Biblical example of an under-shepherd or not. I found this section of each chapter to be enlightening and sometimes a bit frightening as I realize how far I have to go to develop a Christlike character.
The book very carefully describes the Apostle Paul as shown in his writings. Someone who is intelligent, direct, controversial, challenging, brutally honest and willing to suffer for the furthering of the Gospel and to protect the flock. For me, Chapter three on the Hardships of Paul's Ministry spoke strongly to me. They discuss the realm of Christian martyrs and Paul's own suffering both emotionally and physically. The challenge to us as Fellow Christians is whether we are willing to suffer for the Gospel. Christ taught that the sheep will not be treated any better than the shepherd, i.e. the followers of Christ will be treated just like Christ was treated, poorly. The challenge to Fellow Pastors is whether we are willing to suffer emotionally and physically for our flock as well as for Christ. That is a difficult question but one that needs to be asked.
For Pastors this book will challenge us as to why we entered the Pastorate, was it for the glamour of leading a group of people or was it out of an intense desire to love and serve the Body of Christ? To many times authority and power corrupt people, we see that in politicians as well as in some pastors.
This book will challenge all of us in the Body of Christ as to whether we are living a Christlike life or not.
Enjoy!
As such they take a unique approach to their book. Each chapter looks at different aspects of the Colossians passage as well as some others from Paul that add to the discussion. But then at the end of each chapter they have a section written to "Fellow Christians" where they put forth their question to you about how you will know whether your Pastor is following closely in the footsteps of Christ and like the Apostle Paul or not. The second section is written to "Fellow Pastors" and is a direct challenge to those of us who are Pastors to ask us whether we are living up to the Biblical example of an under-shepherd or not. I found this section of each chapter to be enlightening and sometimes a bit frightening as I realize how far I have to go to develop a Christlike character.
The book very carefully describes the Apostle Paul as shown in his writings. Someone who is intelligent, direct, controversial, challenging, brutally honest and willing to suffer for the furthering of the Gospel and to protect the flock. For me, Chapter three on the Hardships of Paul's Ministry spoke strongly to me. They discuss the realm of Christian martyrs and Paul's own suffering both emotionally and physically. The challenge to us as Fellow Christians is whether we are willing to suffer for the Gospel. Christ taught that the sheep will not be treated any better than the shepherd, i.e. the followers of Christ will be treated just like Christ was treated, poorly. The challenge to Fellow Pastors is whether we are willing to suffer emotionally and physically for our flock as well as for Christ. That is a difficult question but one that needs to be asked.
For Pastors this book will challenge us as to why we entered the Pastorate, was it for the glamour of leading a group of people or was it out of an intense desire to love and serve the Body of Christ? To many times authority and power corrupt people, we see that in politicians as well as in some pastors.
This book will challenge all of us in the Body of Christ as to whether we are living a Christlike life or not.
Enjoy!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By J. Green
Format:Paperback
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A Video Review by Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society [...]
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Book! Buy it and Read it!
Book Review: A Portrait of Paul
Is your church looking for a pastor? Do you desire to be an elder within a church? Are you curious as to how you can pray for your pastor? Read more
Is your church looking for a pastor? Do you desire to be an elder within a church? Are you curious as to how you can pray for your pastor? Read more
Published 23 months ago by The Reformed Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read!
This book is a must read. How many times have you heard that before? But it's true--really. Men in the ministry, men aspiring to the ministry, and churches evaluating men for the... Read more
Published on February 12, 2011 by Jim Domm
5.0 out of 5 stars
A recommended read
It is my privilege to know the authors through a pastors' conference we attend. So I had confidence, even before I picked up the book that it would be worthwhile reading. Read more
Published on December 9, 2010 by John Wakefield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Study of a Faithful Minister
In the modern Evangelical world of incessant novelties and pastoral pop-stardom, how can a church discern between a glitzy, charismatic, flash-in-the-pan pulpiteer and a faithful,... Read more
Published on October 25, 2010 by N. Pitchford
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read for all Believers in Christ.
Excellent portrayal of the pastoral ministry through a thorough examination of the life of the Apostle Paul. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Published on October 17, 2010 by John Farese
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great study for pastors, pastoral aspirants, and congregations.
The authors, Robert Ventura and Jeremy Walker, introduce the book by proposing to examine the distinguishing marks of a biblically faithful minister, using Paul's teaching and... Read more
Published on October 15, 2010 by Robert R Gonzales
