The Augustinian Pastor - by Joseph H Sherrard (Paperback)

About the Book

A veteran pastor and scholar retrieves the theology and ministry of Augustine for the increasingly complex task of pastoral ministry in the 21st century.

Book Synopsis

Can embracing Augustine as a role model and mentor transform pastoral life and ministry? In this book, Joseph Sherrard invites readers to encounter Augustine anew--not merely as a theologian or philosopher but as a pastor and mentor.

After more than a decade of ministry, Sherrard encountered Augustine afresh; he found that Augustine's writings and sermons came alive when he heard them in the voice of a fellow pastor shepherding his flock. Sherrard discovered a mentor who had walked the road before him: Augustine understood the complexities of ministry, navigating the challenges of his own complicated times while guiding his people through church conflict and forming them for the ordinary work of love.

Sherrard weaves together the story of Augustine's life and his various writings to offer pastors a deep well of wisdom for their ministry today. He considers who the pastor is and how that informs the various things the pastor does. The book explores topics such as pastoral friendship, a rule of life, pride and humility, preaching, discipleship, and the church community. Each chapter ends with a section on how readers might implement Augustinian principles, providing concrete suggestions for specific ministry practices.

With a foreword by Esau McCaulley, this book offers timeless wisdom, insight, and encouragement for the work of pastoral ministry.

About the Author

Joseph H. Sherrard (PhD, University of St. Andrews) has been pastoring for nearly 20 years and currently serves as pastor of discipleship at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians and serves as a guest lecturer at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando. He is also the author of T. F. Torrance as Missional Theologian: The Ascended Christ and the Ministry of the Church.