Thursday, October 28, 2010

Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome

"Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome" by R. Kent and Barbara Hughes.

What the world calls success is not necessarily what God calls success.  How then do we evaluate and know what success in the ministry looks like?  I believe this book presents a succinct view of Biblical success.  Obviously, the writers (R. Kent Hughes, and his wife Barbara) are not independent fundamental Baptists, but the content of their writing is Biblical, and therein lies the strength and power of this book.  It is a compilation of what they have learned through their personal experience and study of the Scriptures.  We would do well in ministry to consider what they have learned about true Biblical success as it relates to ministry work.

Contents:

Introduction

Part 1 "A Dark Night of the Soul"
1.  Disappointed Dreams
2.  "Hang On to My Faith"

Part 2 "Definitions"
3.  Success is Faithfulness
4.  Success is Serving
5.  Success is Loving
6.  Success is Believing
7.  Success is Prayer
8.  Success is Holiness
9.  Success is Attitude
10.  Sweet Success!

Part 3 "Encouragements"
11.  Encouragement from God
12.  Encouragement from the Call
13.  Encouragement from the Ordinary
14.  Encouragement from Fellow Workers
15.  Encouragement from Reward

Part 4 "Helps"
16.  How the Pastor's Wife Can Help
17.  How the Congregation Can Help

Conclusion
Notes

Also, this book has lots of really good and enchanting illustrations and mini-stories.  204 pages of good reading here.

Published by Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58134-974-0
ISBN-10: 1-58134-974-2
Here is a link to Amazon.com which has a limited "look inside" this book.

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