Customer Reviews for Reformation Heritage / Soli Deo Gloria A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Reformation Heritage / Soli Deo Gloria A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Average Customer Rating:
(6 Reviews) 6
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4 out of 4100%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Review 1 for A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Overall Rating:
An Amazing Challenging book! Buy it and Apply it!
Date:June 13, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Book Review: A Portrait of Paul
Is your church looking for a pastor? Do you desire to be an elder within a church? Are you curious as to how you can pray for your pastor? All these questions are answered and explained in Rob Ventura’s and Jeremy Walker’s book A Portrait of Paul. Ventura and Walker pull lessons from Paul to instruct, challenge, and call congregation to re-evaluate their understanding of the role of a pastor. Venture and Walker get their “Portrait of Paul” from Colossians 1:24-2:5. Being one who desires to be an elder within a church, I found this book extremely challenging/convicting. Walker proves his name correct by giving the reader a roundhouse kick to the face every single chapter of the book. To reiterate this, Venture and Walker did a great job, in that every chapter felt like a Chuck Norris kick to the face (I wanted to make sure my Walker analogy was understood). One aspect I loved about the book was that every chapter has a section for how congregants can pray for the pastor. Within every chapter there is a section set off for the lay person titled “Fellow Christian.” Also, within every chapter there is a section devoted to application specifically for the pastor, titled “Fellow Pastor.” A key theme is explained in every chapter. The conclusion of the chapter is set apart for application for the lay person and for pastor. Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the fact that it was saturated with scripture. I think Spurgeon quote would be accurate for this book “if you poked this book it would bleed Bibline.” With all honesty if you removed scripture from this book it probably would be maybe 7 pages long (I honestly do not believe I am exaggerating with this idea). You may be thinking why buy the book if it is just a list of bible references? Both writers do a phenomenal job exegeting the passages and drawing implications from these passages. Although I am not in a position as a ruling elder within the church, I was challenged anew on how to prepare myself for future ministry within the church and how I could pray regularly for my pastor. If your church is currently seeking a pastor or is curious as to what the responsibilities of an elder are, then read this book. This book is a must read for anyone who aspires to be an elder. Those who desire to see a genuine revival within your church, buy this book and apply this book.
Is your church looking for a pastor? Do you desire to be an elder within a church? Are you curious as to how you can pray for your pastor? All these questions are answered and explained in Rob Ventura’s and Jeremy Walker’s book A Portrait of Paul. Ventura and Walker pull lessons from Paul to instruct, challenge, and call congregation to re-evaluate their understanding of the role of a pastor. Venture and Walker get their “Portrait of Paul” from Colossians 1:24-2:5. Being one who desires to be an elder within a church, I found this book extremely challenging/convicting. Walker proves his name correct by giving the reader a roundhouse kick to the face every single chapter of the book. To reiterate this, Venture and Walker did a great job, in that every chapter felt like a Chuck Norris kick to the face (I wanted to make sure my Walker analogy was understood). One aspect I loved about the book was that every chapter has a section for how congregants can pray for the pastor. Within every chapter there is a section set off for the lay person titled “Fellow Christian.” Also, within every chapter there is a section devoted to application specifically for the pastor, titled “Fellow Pastor.” A key theme is explained in every chapter. The conclusion of the chapter is set apart for application for the lay person and for pastor. Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the fact that it was saturated with scripture. I think Spurgeon quote would be accurate for this book “if you poked this book it would bleed Bibline.” With all honesty if you removed scripture from this book it probably would be maybe 7 pages long (I honestly do not believe I am exaggerating with this idea). You may be thinking why buy the book if it is just a list of bible references? Both writers do a phenomenal job exegeting the passages and drawing implications from these passages. Although I am not in a position as a ruling elder within the church, I was challenged anew on how to prepare myself for future ministry within the church and how I could pray regularly for my pastor. If your church is currently seeking a pastor or is curious as to what the responsibilities of an elder are, then read this book. This book is a must read for anyone who aspires to be an elder. Those who desire to see a genuine revival within your church, buy this book and apply this book.
~The Reformed Reader~
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Review 2 for A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Overall Rating:
A Must Read!
Date:February 12, 2011
Jim Domm
Location:Englewood, NJ
Age:55-65
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This book is a must read. How many times have you heard that before? But it’s true—really. Men in the ministry, men aspiring to the ministry, and churches evaluating men for the ministry simply must read this book. Extremely well written, weighty with content and substance, but not heavy to read, there’s nothing fluffy here. Some reviewers have commented on how convicting the book is. It is that. But it’s also extremely encouraging, especially for men who take the ministry seriously, and have had a taste of ministerial suffering. Applications are searching and practical, coming evidently, not from academic theoreticians, but ecclesiastical practitioners. Christ-centered and thoroughly biblical, it would be difficult for a gospel minister, or one in the making, to read this book and not profit from it. As another reviewer has said, here is a great gift to give your pastor.
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Review 3 for A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Overall Rating:
Highly recommended
Date:December 9, 2010
John Wakefield
Location:Orillia, Ontario
Age:45-54
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
It is my privilege to know the authors through a pastors' conference we attend. So I had confidence, even before I picked up the book that it would be worthwhile reading. But I had no idea of how God would powerfully impact my life through the book.
It's easy, as a pastor, to lose focus in the midst of so many demands upon our time; or to get into a rut, just doing things one week because you did them the week before. The exposition of Paul's ministry to the Colossian church and its applications to the modern pastor and church in this book, helped me to refocus on the things that are most important in the service of Christ. My mind was instructed, my heart encouraged, and conviction often drove me to my knees to cry out to our Saviour for grace to be a faithful pastor.
Both men have written with great insight. At times, I felt like they were sitting in my congregation. At other times, it seemed like they were with me in my study, with a clear understanding of my heart. It was just what I needed to spur me on to seek greater likeness to the great Shepherd.
The book is profitable for both pastors and church members. At times, I was eager to get to the "Fellow Christian" application. The "Fellow Pastor" sections were just as challenging and helpful. I highly recommend the book. It is already on my read again list. It is a book that demands the accompaniment of prayer.
It's easy, as a pastor, to lose focus in the midst of so many demands upon our time; or to get into a rut, just doing things one week because you did them the week before. The exposition of Paul's ministry to the Colossian church and its applications to the modern pastor and church in this book, helped me to refocus on the things that are most important in the service of Christ. My mind was instructed, my heart encouraged, and conviction often drove me to my knees to cry out to our Saviour for grace to be a faithful pastor.
Both men have written with great insight. At times, I felt like they were sitting in my congregation. At other times, it seemed like they were with me in my study, with a clear understanding of my heart. It was just what I needed to spur me on to seek greater likeness to the great Shepherd.
The book is profitable for both pastors and church members. At times, I was eager to get to the "Fellow Christian" application. The "Fellow Pastor" sections were just as challenging and helpful. I highly recommend the book. It is already on my read again list. It is a book that demands the accompaniment of prayer.
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Review 4 for A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Overall Rating:
Must reading for the Pastor
Date:October 11, 2010
Terry Delaney
Location:Millstadt, IL
Age:25-34
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
As a book reviewer, I do not have much to really critique since the book is an exposition of Colossians 1:24-2:5. Ventura and Walker strike at the heart of what is wrong with so much in the pastoral ministry today quite simply because so many of the pastors in the ministry are not following God’s word for pastors. A Portrait of Paul, while about the apostle Paul is extremely Christo-centric in its approach and application. In other words, when Christ says, “I am the vine and you are the branches, apart from me you can do nothing” (emphasis added), He means it–especially for pastors.
As a pastor, I needed this book. There were sections I read which brought me to tears as I realized just how frail and unbiblical a pastor I am. While it may surprise some to hear that a pastor is not perfect (some pastor’s actually suffer from a “God-complex!”), I can readily admit that I have much room for improvement. Especially when compared to the “job description” laid out for us by Paul in Colossians 1:24-2:5.
If you are a pastor, please pick up this book. If you are thinking about going into the ministry, this book is an must read–you may quickly learn that the pastoral calling is not for you! If you have a pastor, pick up a copy today and give it to them. We are indebted to Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker for writing this book. While many may not read Baxter’s Reformed Pastor because it was written so long ago by a (gasp!) Puritan that it can’t possibly speak to us today, they would readily pick up this book given its “modern” take on the ministry. In so doing, they will be the greater for it and the congregation in which they are the undershepherd will reap the benefits.
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Review 5 for A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Overall Rating:
Date:June 4, 2010
Terry Delaney
As a book reviewer, I do not have much to really critique since the book is an exposition of Colossians 1:24-2:5. Ventura and Walker strike at the heart of what is wrong with so much in the pastoral ministry today quite simply because so many of the pastors in the ministry are not following Gods word for pastors. A Portrait of Paul, while about the apostle Paul is extremely Christo-centric in its approach and application. In other words, when Christ says, I am the vine and you are the branches, apart from me you can do nothing (emphasis added), He means itespecially for pastors.As a pastor, I needed this book. There were sections I read which brought me to tears as I realized just how frail and unbiblical a pastor I am. While it may surprise some to hear that a pastor is not perfect (some pastors actually suffer from a God-complex!), I can readily admit that I have much room for improvement. Especially when compared to the job description laid out for us by Paul in Colossians 1:24-2:5.If you are a pastor, please pick up this book. If you are thinking about going into the ministry, this book is an must readyou may quickly learn that the pastoral calling is not for you! If you have a pastor, pick up a copy today and give it to them. We are indebted to Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker for writing this book. While many may not read Baxters Reformed Pastor because it was written so long ago by a (gasp!) Puritan that it cant possibly speak to us today, they would readily pick up this book given its modern take on the ministry. In so doing, they will be the greater for it and the congregation in which they are the under shepherd will reap the benefits.
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Review 6 for A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ
Overall Rating:
Date:May 13, 2010
Robert Gonzales Jr.
The authors, Robert Ventura and Jeremy Walker, introduce the book by proposing to examine the distinguishing marks of a biblically faithful minister, using Pauls teaching and ministry example highlighted in Colossians 1:24-2:5 (though they dont limit their exposition to this text alone). Their aim is to encourage the reader to see the contours of Christ in the ministry and teaching of the apostle Paul. Once that pattern is ascertained, it will serve as the goal for any man aspiring to the Christian ministry, the paradigm that enables the people of God to discern a God-owned ministry, and, in many respects, an exemplar of godliness, to which every child of God may strive.A Portrait of Paul is biblically sound, pointedly practical, and sagaciously simple. In addition to an exposition of Colossians 1:24-2:5, they provide the reader with a host of citations from other pertinent texts of Scriptures as well as judicious quotes from past and contemporary authors. Helpful works for further study and reflection are referenced in the notes. The exposition of each chapter concludes with practical applications directed both to fellow pastors (or aspiring pastors) and also to fellow Christians. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who would seek to imitate Paul as he sought to imitate Christ.
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