Both Baxter and Witmer, in their books “The Reformed Pastor”,” The Shepherd Leader”, argue about how to be a good leader in a biblical way for Maturate Pastoral Ministry. While Baxter describes from his own point of view, Witmer harmonizes with Baxter including other points. Firstly, in this essay, we will be comparing and contrast, Timothy Witmer’s framework for leadership with his “old shepherd friend” Richard Baxter in The Reformed Pastor (1657)
Secondly, we are going to Evaluate Witmer’s framework for leadership in which extant is biblical, practical and relevant to my personal context. Finally, there will be a Self-assess of my personal leadership in the church and home against this (modified) framework, with explaining strength and …show more content…
These functions are to be carried out corporately on congregational level (macro) and personally among the people (macro) act20:20).
• Shepherd-elders will be called to give an account for their care of the sheep one day and therefore, the sheep are to respect their authority. (1 peter 5:4; heb 13:17)
Even, he makes a bridge between the old testament and new testament by providing evidence from ezel 24:23-31 & John 10:1-30 that “Jesus is the fulfilment of prophecy concerning the perfect messianic shepherd to come and in him his sheep find the ultimate provision, direction, and security”.pg 194.Not only that he gives historical background of pastor, leader, deacon to attach with biblical leadership. For an example, to connect the relationship with shepherding, Witmer mentions, in his introduction, that “the word pastor comes from the Latin word meaning shepherd”. This simple word meaning of “Pastor” gives me a great awareness how Pastor is distinguished from an ordinary leader, in my practical …show more content…
But I do believe that this knowledge which I have been gathering, will be a great help for me in my future pastoral life, as it gives an understanding of Biblical aspects of leadership. I agree that “an effective shepherding ministry must be systematic” pg 195 Indeed categorise all works into macro and micro ministry will be helpful to work systematically and more efficiently. Furthermore, it is real nice to distribute work responsibility between the ruling and teaching elders. Obviously, this will reduce workloads and the pastor might have much time to concentrate on sound doctrine and spiritual matters. But in practical life, for small church it is unnecessary to appoint ruling elder and teaching elders where the pastor is sufficient doing all work. And sometimes it is unclear for the ordinary church people distinguish differences between their responsibilities, as both of them are involved with feeding, leading, and protecting the flock. By the way, my personal assessment is that the work frames are real important for measurement the strengths and weaknesses of our current system, as well as any systems we try out at any
Secondly, we are going to Evaluate Witmer’s framework for leadership in which extant is biblical, practical and relevant to my personal context. Finally, there will be a Self-assess of my personal leadership in the church and home against this (modified) framework, with explaining strength and …show more content…
These functions are to be carried out corporately on congregational level (macro) and personally among the people (macro) act20:20).
• Shepherd-elders will be called to give an account for their care of the sheep one day and therefore, the sheep are to respect their authority. (1 peter 5:4; heb 13:17)
Even, he makes a bridge between the old testament and new testament by providing evidence from ezel 24:23-31 & John 10:1-30 that “Jesus is the fulfilment of prophecy concerning the perfect messianic shepherd to come and in him his sheep find the ultimate provision, direction, and security”.pg 194.Not only that he gives historical background of pastor, leader, deacon to attach with biblical leadership. For an example, to connect the relationship with shepherding, Witmer mentions, in his introduction, that “the word pastor comes from the Latin word meaning shepherd”. This simple word meaning of “Pastor” gives me a great awareness how Pastor is distinguished from an ordinary leader, in my practical …show more content…
But I do believe that this knowledge which I have been gathering, will be a great help for me in my future pastoral life, as it gives an understanding of Biblical aspects of leadership. I agree that “an effective shepherding ministry must be systematic” pg 195 Indeed categorise all works into macro and micro ministry will be helpful to work systematically and more efficiently. Furthermore, it is real nice to distribute work responsibility between the ruling and teaching elders. Obviously, this will reduce workloads and the pastor might have much time to concentrate on sound doctrine and spiritual matters. But in practical life, for small church it is unnecessary to appoint ruling elder and teaching elders where the pastor is sufficient doing all work. And sometimes it is unclear for the ordinary church people distinguish differences between their responsibilities, as both of them are involved with feeding, leading, and protecting the flock. By the way, my personal assessment is that the work frames are real important for measurement the strengths and weaknesses of our current system, as well as any systems we try out at any