Bryant, James W., and Mac Brunson. The New Guidebook for Pastors. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2007.
James W. Bryant and Mac Brunson collaborate as authors of The New Guidebook for Pastors. Bryant (Th.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is senior professor of pastoral theology at The Criswell College in Dallas, Texas. Brunson (D. Min., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. The idea for their book began with a discussion about revising Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors. It was eventually decided that a new work was in order. The purpose of the book is to provide an overview of all major facets of pastoral ministry. The authors admit that each chapter of the book could easily be turned into a book of its own. Their goal was to produce a resource that would aid the new pastor as well as the seasoned pastor. They envisioned a text that would be used in seminaries in an effort to equip pastors for their work as well as producing a book that would be used regularly in the context of the local church.
The book is comprised of an introduction, twenty-one chapters, and fourteen appendixes. Each chapter of the book is distinct in its topic. The nature of pastoral ministry, however, reveals that the topics are all interrelated. The first chapter is titled, “The Pastor and His Call.” The authors demonstrate from Scripture that the pastorate is primarily a calling rather than a profession. To make the point they review God’s call of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. These two servants had unique callings and experiences, but each had to make a step of faith in obeying God’s call. Bryant and Brunson appeal to prospective ministers to serve with certainty and conviction if called by God. The authors build upon the minister’s call by discussing the need for spiritual and educational preparation. In the next chapter they relate the importance of biblical preaching which aims to expound God’s Word in context to a modern audience. The prayer life of the pastor is stressed next with practical examples of how to be a man of prayer personally, at home, and in the congregation. Chapter five covers the topic of a pastor’s family life showing how it is his first priority under God and how it can affect his ministry for the good or bad. Bryant and Brunson move to the issues related to accepting your first pastorate and leadership in the church. This naturally involves leading a staff of paid or unpaid workers which is the topic of chapter eight. The next few chapters deal with congregational ministry such as planning and conducting worship services, using technology, leading the church in missions and evangelism, officiating in the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, performing weddings and funerals, and conducting counseling. Some of the book’s remaining chapters return to the importance of moral and ethical issues by discussing the proper handling of personal and congregational finances, the development of ministerial ethics, navigating political and moral issues, and the proper way to change pastorates. Chapters nineteen and twenty seek to aid the pastor in his relationship with the denomination and in planning for retirement. The last chapter of the book closes with a reminder that each pastor will stand before the Lord to give an account of his work. On that day the minister will not be judged on the basis of the skills of his hands alone. The Lord will also judge the heart. It is for this reason the authors call for the pastor to maintain a passion for God, for God’s Word, and for the lost. He must fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.
The authors are to be commended for attaining the goal of providing a practical guidebook for modern pastors. They touch on all the major issues of ministry in the twenty-first Century. Throughout the book the authors correctly place more stress on the pastor’s calling and personal life than the practical issues of the ministry. This is not to say that those issues are minimized. Topics such as preaching, balancing church and family life, leading staff, and conducting weddings and funerals are all discussed. The pastor’s work, however, will be rewarded by the Lord now and in the life to come only if he has served with integrity. This emphasis permeates the book. In a day in which pragmatism seems to be the motivating factor in many churches this emphasis is a welcomed voice. Readers will certainly find the book very practical. Each chapter begins with a testimony from a seasoned minister or theologian and contains real life examples from the experiences of the authors. The appendixes provide wise counsel on giving altar calls, building a personal library, conducting church business meetings, and many more common scenarios. The authors provide extensive notes and a bibliography for the reader who wants to research a topic more fully. The authors write with a lucid, almost conversational style. A minor deficiency of the book concerns the cursory nature of some topics of discussion. For example, the authors did not address the steps to developing a comprehensive ministry budget nor how to give oversight through a finance Committee. A sample funeral sermon would have been beneficial to new pastors but Bryant and Brunson did not include one. These are minor criticisms and can be overlooked considering the scope of their work. The New Guidebook for Pastors should be required reading for every pastor. It is filled with truths discovered, not in the halls of academia, but in the daily life of local church ministry. Seasoned minister and novices alike will find themselves referring to this resource often throughout the course of ministry. The wise pastor will consider the perspectives of Bryant and Brunson and in doing so will save himself from needless pain and untold heartache.
