Miller, O Shepherd, Where Art Thou?

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Calvin Miller, O Shepherd, Where Art Thou? B and H Publishing Group, 2006.

Referenced in: Pastoral Care

LifeandLeadership.com Summary

Written in the style of a humorous, convicting fable about Pastor Sam, who becomes frustrated that while he is giving quality pastoral care to the hurting individuals in his church, his colleagues at other churches are experiencing widely-reputed megachurch successes. Out of his frustration, he begins to “mega-size” his church and minimize his attention to the “lesser” members. At times this seems more like a polemic against mega-churches than a call to pastoring, e.g. his reflection of Richard Baxter that we limit church size to what one pastor can care for, and a weak view of lay-caregiving. Despite this, it is sprinkled with helpful perspectives and provides excellent reflective pieces on the tendency to be preoccupied with rhetorical flare, church size and numbers, glamour, and celebrity.

From the Publisher

In this hilariously humbling fable about modern church culture, master storyteller Calvin Miller introduces Sam, a misguided ministry professional who is free to hit the golf course more often after reading Physician, Heal Thyself: How to Kiss Pastoral Care Good-bye Forever. Clearly poking fun at the “professionalization” of doing the Lord’s work, Miller’s point is that no matter how complex church life becomes, staying involved in the lives of real people is still top priority.

About the Author

Calvin Miller is a favorite author of longstanding acclaim best-known for his classic, The Singer, among other celebrated works on the life of Jesus. He is also professor of preaching at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama.


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