Ordering Your Private World
by Gordon MacDonald | Book Summary
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Author: Gordon MacDonald
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However, this does not have to be the case. There is a way to live and to minister that preserves the most important priorities in the life of the pastor while also effectively meeting the needs associated with his job. This involves ordering one's inward life — his soul. The pastor must relentlessly pursue an ordered soul to ward off the potential pitfalls that result from a disordered life. This kind of ordering requires tough questions to be asked of oneself. The pastor must focus more on being called than on being driven. The pastor must protect his priorities to his own personal relationship with the Lord and to his own family. The mantle of leadership weighs heavily on those who are called to carry it, but a strengthened and ordered soul points the leader back to his dependence on his Savior, Jesus, and enables the pastor to live out his calling effectively and safely. |
Gordon MacDonald has served in numerous influential leadership capacities across five decades of ministry. He pastored extensively at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts. He also served as Chancellor at Denver Seminary, as well as the editor at large of Leadership Journal. He also held posts at major Christian parachurch organizations such as World Vision and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.
He has authored or co-authored over a dozen books including Secrets of a Generous Life, Renewing Your Spiritual Passion, Mid-Course Correction, and A Resilient Life.
An avid outdoorsman and runner, MacDonald is married to Gail, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Ordering Your Private World
by Gordon MacDonald
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | Gordon MacDonald |
| Publisher | Thomas Nelson |
| Date | September 5, 2017 |
| Pages | 246 |
Overview:
Many leaders, and especially pastors, lead hurried and harried lives. Pastors often fill the role of CEO, counselor, public speaker, author, administrator, and even custodian. The demands on a pastor's time seem never-ending. If pastors and leaders are not careful, this demanding lifestyle can lead to burnout and even moral failure.
However, this does not have to be the case. There is a way to live and to minister that preserves the most important priorities in the life of the pastor while also effectively meeting the needs associated with his job. This involves ordering one's inward life — his soul. The pastor must relentlessly pursue an ordered soul to ward off the potential pitfalls that result from a disordered life.
This kind of ordering requires tough questions to be asked of oneself. The pastor must focus more on being called than on being driven. The pastor must protect his priorities to his own personal relationship with the Lord and to his own family. The mantle of leadership weighs heavily on those who are called to carry it, but a strengthened and ordered soul points the leader back to his dependence on his Savior, Jesus, and enables the pastor to live out his calling effectively and safely.
Rankin Wilbourne, the senior pastor of Pacific Crossroads Church in Los Angeles, is pastor with a heart for bridging the gap between the gospel preached and the lives of those who hear and believe that gospel message. Union With Christ was birthed out of his desire to see Christians know and enjoy God in the ways that the scriptures promise we can.
Wilbourne spent five years in corporate banking before responding to God's call to the ministry. After training at Princeton Theological Seminary, Wilbourne spent four years as Minister of Teaching and Missions at First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga (TN). In 2006, he re-planted Pacific Crossroads Church, which has 90 community groups and hundreds of volunteers serving in the Los Angeles area.