A Modern Classic on preaching and ministry. Gain an insight into the work of the pastor. It is based on the thesis that the pastor, being the shepherd of the flock, feeds the flock upon God’s Word; the bulk of pastoral work is therefore through the ministry of the Word. This edition includes biographical information by Frank Lyall.
Work of the Pastor
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"A great little book by a remarkable missionary to whom I owe an immense personal debt. Every minister should read it once a year - at least!" Sinclair B. Ferguson "This small classic presents Mr. Still’s best thinking and most passionate convictions about the work of ministry that he loved so well and fulfilled so completely." Philip Ryken
About the Author
William Still was minister of the Gilcomstom Church of Scotland from 1945 until 1997. His ministry had a strong emphasis on Biblically based expository preaching
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Kyle
Format:Paperback
As a young pastor who has already experienced the "good, bad, and ugly" sides of ministry, I found William Still's writing on "The Work of the Pastor" to be very encouraging in that it contains a wealth of practical wisdom on making the preaching of the Word of God the central focus in ministry - that everything else in ministry must be the natural outworking of the pastor's preaching ministry.
As Still says, "The Word became flesh, and it must become flesh again in you." (p. 24) And "...the Word must become flesh to confront and challenge and penetrate the minds and hearts, the consciences and wills of other flesh." (p. 114)
As Still says, "The Word became flesh, and it must become flesh again in you." (p. 24) And "...the Word must become flesh to confront and challenge and penetrate the minds and hearts, the consciences and wills of other flesh." (p. 114)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
William Still's THE WORK OF THE PASTOR is a timeless KEEPER for pastors & lay people, recommended to be read through annually, and/or referenced frequently. This little book is thoroughly understandable & most enjoyable reading, for anyone interested in how one pastor ministered so blessed for 50 years in the same church. Still's perspective will hold the reader's attention like a magnet. Obtain & read a copy. You'll be glad you did. RLR
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Erik Raymond
Format:Paperback
One of the longings of young pastors is to spend time with older, seasoned men who have run the race well, and then stand close to the finish line full of zeal and focus. If you are privileged to have this type of interaction you will be greatly refreshed and encouraged.
This is what William Still did for me. Though he is now in heaven and I have never met him, his book The Work of the Pastor is a great blessing to me.
Still was the pastor at Gilcomston South Church of Scotland, Aberdeen for over 50 years! His ministry impact shows today through men like Sinclair Ferguson. Still worked closely with Ferguson in his teenage years until Pastor Stills died in 1997.
This book is a collection of addresses given to theological students in 1964. In the introduction we read:
The thesis is that the pastor, being the shepherd of the flock, feeds the flock upon God's Word; the bulk of pastoral work is this therefore through the ministry of the Word. Only the residue of problems and difficulties remaining require to be dealt with thereafter. p. 11
The addresses center on the pastor's role and how he should go about the role (preaching, prayer, visitation, counseling, discipleship, private devotions, etc). It is by no means exhaustive, but that should not discourage you from picking it up. He hits on so many practical, everyday items that it is pure gold for the pastor of any stage. He is a comrade in the ministry.
An apsect that I especially enjoy is his unvarnished style. It is what you would expect if you were sitting down for a cup of coffee with a passionate Scotsman. He doesn't pull any punches. It is so very refreshing.
It is to feed the sheep on truth that men are called to churches and congregations, whatever they may think they are called to do.
If you think that you are called to keep a largely worldly organisation, miscalled a church, going, with infinitesimal doses of innocuous sub-Christian drugs or stimulants, then the only help I can give you is to advise you to give up the hope of the ministry and go and be a street scavenger; a far healthier and more godly job, keeping the streets tidy, than cluttering the church with a lot of worldly claptrap in the delusion that you are doing a job for God.
The pastor is called to feed the sheep, even if the sheep do not want to be fed. He is certainly not to become an entertainer of goats. Let goats entertain goats, and let them do it out in goatland. You will certainly not turn goats into sheep by pandering to their goatishness.
Do we really believe that the Word of God, by His Spirit, changes, as well as maddens men? If we do, to be evangelists and pastors, feeders of sheep, we must be men of the Word of God.
I agree with Dr Ferguson's endorsement: "A great little book by a remarkable missionary to whom I owe an immense personal debt. It pulsates with energy. Every minister should read it once a year-at least!
This is what William Still did for me. Though he is now in heaven and I have never met him, his book The Work of the Pastor is a great blessing to me.
Still was the pastor at Gilcomston South Church of Scotland, Aberdeen for over 50 years! His ministry impact shows today through men like Sinclair Ferguson. Still worked closely with Ferguson in his teenage years until Pastor Stills died in 1997.
This book is a collection of addresses given to theological students in 1964. In the introduction we read:
The thesis is that the pastor, being the shepherd of the flock, feeds the flock upon God's Word; the bulk of pastoral work is this therefore through the ministry of the Word. Only the residue of problems and difficulties remaining require to be dealt with thereafter. p. 11
The addresses center on the pastor's role and how he should go about the role (preaching, prayer, visitation, counseling, discipleship, private devotions, etc). It is by no means exhaustive, but that should not discourage you from picking it up. He hits on so many practical, everyday items that it is pure gold for the pastor of any stage. He is a comrade in the ministry.
An apsect that I especially enjoy is his unvarnished style. It is what you would expect if you were sitting down for a cup of coffee with a passionate Scotsman. He doesn't pull any punches. It is so very refreshing.
It is to feed the sheep on truth that men are called to churches and congregations, whatever they may think they are called to do.
If you think that you are called to keep a largely worldly organisation, miscalled a church, going, with infinitesimal doses of innocuous sub-Christian drugs or stimulants, then the only help I can give you is to advise you to give up the hope of the ministry and go and be a street scavenger; a far healthier and more godly job, keeping the streets tidy, than cluttering the church with a lot of worldly claptrap in the delusion that you are doing a job for God.
The pastor is called to feed the sheep, even if the sheep do not want to be fed. He is certainly not to become an entertainer of goats. Let goats entertain goats, and let them do it out in goatland. You will certainly not turn goats into sheep by pandering to their goatishness.
Do we really believe that the Word of God, by His Spirit, changes, as well as maddens men? If we do, to be evangelists and pastors, feeders of sheep, we must be men of the Word of God.
I agree with Dr Ferguson's endorsement: "A great little book by a remarkable missionary to whom I owe an immense personal debt. It pulsates with energy. Every minister should read it once a year-at least!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not for Pastors Only
I am convinced that this little book is one of the most powerful and vital studies available, not only with respect to the work of the pastor, but to the relation of the pastor to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ryan Mcgraw
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not incredibly profound, but helpful nonetheless.
This book was a very practical book regarding Pastoral ministry. While nothing profound was said in the book, I appreciated the heavy emphasis on the need for pastors to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephen Altrogge
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the Man who Mentored Sinclair Ferguson
Even the best of pastors don't often stay in one church for too long. That was one of the greatest surprises I learned as a budding young pastor. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Gregory P. Hoadley
