Pastoring a church is one of the most difficult occupations in the contemporary world, but to the outside observer and the critic it often appears easy. If it is an easy task, why do so many find it difficult? Could it be that both the pastor and congregation need to study, under stand, and practice unity and cooperation?
The cover claims that "this book is one of the most in-depth studies you will find on church life." An excessive assumption, but the book does have merit on two counts: 1. It discusses matters relevant to the pastor and congregation. These include spiritual authority, Christian obedience, servanthood, self-discipline, the responsibility of the church toward the believer and the unsaved, the obligation for Christians to be examples, and the church's obedience to Christ as its head. 2. The book has a structured, systematic approach to church life. It is my experience that a great deal of frustration, failure, and dis satisfaction in ministry can be attributed to misdirected effort on the part of the pastor and congregation.
No church can do everything. It is vital to avoid striving for omnicompetence. Each church should concentrate on fewer things, making sure that they are the really important ones. The author helps the pastor and congregation to discriminate between the urgent and the important, the latter being frequently neglected because it appears mundane; the former pursued because it appears necessary, but it usually proves to be of only passing interest.
In eight Bible studies MacArthur dis cusses the church on an anatomical model--the skeleton, the internal system, the muscles, and the Head of the church. The studies reflect the author's successful ministry in Grace Community Church, Panorama City, California.
This book is relatively short, easy to read, and inexpensive. It could be used profitably as the basis for a midweek prayer meeting series. This good advice, if followed, will certainly deepen the spirituality of any church and make its ministry more meaningful and effective.
