Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol. 91.2) Pastoral Ministry in a Changing World

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A Lifetime of Faithfulness begins with an education that is Trusted for Truth SBTS.EDU
President's Message R. ALBERT MOHLER, JR. ALBERTMOHLER.COM @ALBERTMOHLER Social change used to come slowly. Think of the Middle Ages, often dismissed as the Dark Ages. Social structures and patterns did change over time, but that usually mean a lot of time. Generation after generation could pass with little change to the society and little sense of change. Our times are dramatically different. Social change now comes quickly, measured by months and days, rather than decades and centuries. Sociologists sometimes refer to this as “social velocity,” and most of us feel it happening all around us. Pastors and preachers feel this change taking place, sense its importance, and can trace the effects of such massive change in the experience of a congregation and the individual lives of believers. Time and space are collapsing as the role of the pastor now demands a rather urgent understanding of what is happening in the world around us – and in the world experienced by church members. The world that provided the social context for this institution through more than a century and a half is gone – utterly gone. In my own lifetime we have shifted from concern that church would be co-opted by cultural Christianity to the concern that we are now in a post-Christian culture that threatens religious liberty. Now, the concern of most pastors is not that their church members will be seduced by the culture, but that the culture itself poses a direct threat to Christian faithfulness. The danger of seduction has given way to the danger of intimidation. The only proper Christian response to the challenge of a post-Christian culture is deeper conviction and increased boldness. Pastors must preach the Word with undiluted conviction, unmatched clarity, and unquestioned courage. Otherwise, all is lost. Just look at the social science data that underlines the post- Christian condition of younger Americans. On the other hand, consider the thousands of young men studying to be faithful pastors right now through Southern Seminary. I am in awe of what God is doing as so many young people are responding with the full measure of conviction, knowing exactly how they are seen by a post-Christian culture. With them, I am invigorated by the challenge of raising up a generation of young men coming to be made ready for a lifetime of gospel ministry. They have already been swimming against the currents of their own generation. They have come to Southern Seminary because they want a bold and convictional theological education. They want Bible – lots of it. They want doctrine – all of it. They want ministry training – and they soak it up. Who would not be invigorated by that? Do you want to be encouraged? Come see what God is doing at Southern Seminary as the next generation of “soldiers of Christ, in truth arrayed” is readied for deployment. These students are serious, convictional, devotional, and joyful. They know the landscape of the post-modern world and they are determined to preach Christ and lead gospel churches. They match seriousness with sweetness. God is doing something marvelous in this generation and right here at Southern Seminary and Boyce College. Come see it for ourself, pray for us, and thank God for calling out the called in this generation. How kind of God to let us be a part of all this. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. FALL 2023 1
Page 1: 6 The Strange World of Personal Min
Page 5 and 6: Contents v91 n2 PASTORAL MINIST
Page 7 and 8: SBTS.EDU/NEWMDIV PERSONALIZED INCEN
Page 9 and 10: The Strange World of Personal Minis
Page 11 and 12: Jeremy Pierre It also presumes a wi
Page 13 and 14: "What your people need from you is
Page 15 and 16: Ready to Build Your Library? Visit
Page 17 and 18: Five Ministry Challenges I Didn’t
Page 19 and 20: Hershael W. York 3 SCREENS ARE DISC
Page 21 and 22: Hershael W. York a multicultural, p
Page 23 and 24: "Through all the sadness, confusion
Page 25 and 26: What Does it Mean To Be a Shepherd
Page 27 and 28: Timothy Paul Jones The Presence of
Page 29: "The position of the God-called she
Page 32 and 33: NEWS & FEATURES summer, Columbian C
Page 34 and 35: NEWS & FEATURES James P. Boyce Cent
Page 38 and 39: NEWS & FEATURES “Neither Good, no
Page 40 and 41: NEWS & FEATURES Jonah Twiddy, recip
Page 42 and 43: NEWS & FEATURES came to Southern to
Page 44 and 45: NEWS & FEATURES people would clearl
Page 46 and 47: NEWS & FEATURES THE SOUTHERN BAPTIS
Page 48 and 49: NEWS & FEATURES THE SOUTHERN BAPTIS
Page 50: Fall Semester Highlights
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The Whole Bible for the Whole Congr
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Mitch Chase be with us all the way,
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Christ-Centered Students Need Chris
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Southern Seminary Magazine (Vol. 91.2) Pastoral Ministry in a Changing World

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