The Work of the Pastor

by William T. Still

Gain an insight into the work of the pastor. It is based on the thesis that the pastor, being the shepherd of the flock, feeds the flock upon God's Word; the bulk of pastoral work is therefore through the ministry of the Word.

Genres: Theology, Leadership, Christian, Ecclesiology, Church, Christianity, Discipleship

117 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 1996

About the author

William Still was minister of the Gilcomston South Church of Scotland in Aberdeen from 1945 until 1997. His ministry had a strong emphasis on Biblically based expository preaching.

Reviews

[Timothy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am simultaneously encouraged and convicted by Willy Still. His simple (not simplistic) approach to the work of the pastor reveals a deep understanding of and belief in the work of God by his Holy Spirit, through appointed means: the preached Word. A steady, balanced diet of the Word is essentially the work of the pastor, which informs the work of the church. To feed the sheep is the shepherds job. Fed sheep are offered as living sacrifices and so go about their lives to the glory of God.

This is at the foremost of books that should be required of those seeking to enter pastoral ministry. I hear enough aspirational and idealistic views of pastoral ministry (and I had my own, when I started) from young men in Bible College or Seminary that this might just be the cold water that is needed, not to quench the Spirit, but rather to cause them to seek the Spirit’s guidance with great trepidation and soberness in discerning their call.

[Jermaine Van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bars all the way through. Couldn’t put it down. Great book on the sufficiency, supremacy, contagious nature and effectual fruit of the Word in the ministry of the pastor. Pastors, drink this. Soon-to-be-pastors, read this for preparation. Folks in the pews listening to pastors and being pastored by them, read this and pray that your pastor is like the one Still paints in this book. We are called to die!! So that the Spirit can use us as an instrument for godliness!!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blunt and bracing, insightful and inspiring.

[Jeff Shelnutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Still posits that the pastor has one primary duty: to feed the sheep. He’s in good company. Jesus said the same thing to Peter (John 21:17). This feeding is primarily accomplished, according to the author, through the careful and thorough chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse exposition of the Word.

Expositional preaching has gained significant traction in evangelical churches in recent years. But when Still introduced this approach to his Scottish congregation at Gilcomston South Church in the middle of last century, it caused almost two hundred congregants to up and leave.

Largely due to the influences of American-styled evangelicalism, initially through DL Moody and later Billy Graham, the vast majority of pastors typically focused week after week on basic gospel presentations from the pulpit. While there is a place for evangelism in the church (and I would argue the Gospel should be the heartbeat of every sermon), if pastors are to fulfill their callings, those who are already saved need to be fed.

In his characteristically plain-speaking style, Still writes, “Certainly, we must not make the disastrous error of going on preaching [to those in the church] what is called the simple Gospel, isolating a few mere facts, wonderful as they are, until the last manjack is known to have been converted. What are all the hungry sheep going to do until then?”

Answering his own question, Still says, “It is to feed sheep on such [Scriptural] truth that men are called to churches and congregations, whatever they may think they are called to do.”

“Remember, it is not the synthesis of the Word of God, not doctrinal presentations of the Word, but the very Word of God itself, read, commented upon, expounded in its parts vitally and intelligently related, that does the work in men’s hearts.”

Scattered throughout the book is also practical advice on pastoral care and counseling. In these duties, however, the author is careful to point out that a steady and biblical preaching ministry is much more effective in the long-run for dealing with the individual’s issues. When a congregation is properly fed on the Word of God, the man in the pew learns to feed himself.

One (some would say negative) effect of Still’s ministry was that he never had a large congregation. Instead, many who sat under his teaching ended up spread all over the globe as ministers and missionaries, following the same ministerial pattern as their pastor.

Knowing the Bible is not enough. Even being a gifted teacher will not suffice. “...most important of all--in your personal, intimate, up-to-date knowledge of Christ, secure in his calling, anchored, rooted to your right place, you must in fact die at the stake to all you are in yourself, bad and good. Do not forget that while Jesus died with all our badness to take it away, He had to die to all the good...we are to hand ourselves over to God...a living sacrifice.”

For me this is a book that will get reread. It’s short, direct, instructive and convicting.

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite book I've ever read on the work of pastoral ministry. It is intensely practical and devotional, and there are a couple of places where it made me laugh out loud. I'm definitely not on board with the writer's eschatology, but even that couldn't induce me to give this book less than five stars.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sound, hard-won insights from a seasoned minister on the importance of preaching the whole Bible to God's people.

[Asnaldo Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buenos los consejos que el autor comparte con los pastores. Excelente libro!!!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my "must read" books for pastoral ministry. It is worthy of the appellation "modern classic." If you're a pastor, you ought to make sure to not only read it, but re-read it, which I have.

[Deiniol Williams]

An easy to read and engaging book urging the Christian minister not to get sidetracked but to focus on preaching the word and on prayer. Along the way Still is critical of evangelical ministers of his day (content of book produced in 1965-1966) for losing sight of the fact that this is the pastor’s work, and his criticisms still seem valid of some common views of the ministry today.

He refers regularly to the biblical metaphor of sheep used to describe a church congregation. It is the pastor’s job to ‘feed’ the sheep, which is done through the ministry of the word and prayer. But Still takes the sheep metaphor in another direction too and suggests that because in Israel sheep were fed in order to be offered up on the altar, the work of the pastor is to feed the congregation in order that they might offer their lives wholly in worship to God. I’ll ponder that for a while.

[Ryan Handermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

In general:
Recommended by Sinclair Ferguson.
WIlliam Still was a 20th century pastor of a congregation in the Church of Scotland for 50 years.
5 stars. Great exhortations and reminders for those in ministry, if a little bit idiocincratic.

Five short exhortaions to those in pastoral work or pursuing pastoral work.

Solid stuff on the importance of devotion to God's word first and foremost. Some good practical tidbits on visitation, and pastoral work. And good cautions on the limitations of the pastor.

Favorite Quotes:

"It is most important to try to discover with difficult spiritual and psychological cases whether their problems are beyond you or not and if they are, to leave them to others better equipped and qualified." 45

"Some Meddling Ministers want to sort out everybody. God is not so optimistic." 44

"The only reason why a truly regenerate and divinely called servant of God fails to be fruitful in his own day ... must be that he is not living in instant, tensile experience of the death/resurrecction of Christ, nor is dead to all but hte mighty purpose of God." 78

"Happy is the minster whose people release him from petting and pampering them, so that he can get on with the real work of building the church, seeking the lost, patiently encouraging others to persevere, and sharing the sorrows, sicknesses, loneliness and heartbreaks of those who are in real need." 52

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is gold. With all the humility I can muster, I believe that Pastor Still overstated several things, but the book is still GOLD.

The most important material in the book relates to:
A) keeping the Ministry of The preached and applied Word (in its totality and wholeness) central to pastoral ministry, and
B) dying to self

On the second point, there is a three-paragraph section on pages 101-102 that is worth the price of the book. “It is only out of a life that is dead not only to win but to self in all its various and subtle aspects, that God will bring resurrection to others. Death works in us, but life in others (2 Cor. 4:12). That is the profoundest and most practical principle in the Bible.... You can see what a death this is to die to those who think you are nothing if not popular. If we are not prepared to suffer, we shall not reign. The two belong together, as Peter says over and over again in his first epistle. Hurt and fruit, death and life, sorrow and joy. They belong together, as manure belongs to a fruitful garden.”

[Matthew Kottman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few excellent points in this book for pastors, but the book as a whole left something to be desired. First it’s a series of sermons and reads like it. Second he sounds a bit self-righteous in areas and can be harsh. But there were some veins of Gold scattered in here. If you’re looking for a gold rush, you may want to stake a different claim. If you want to hear a pastor from a previous generation and are willing to apart the messages for our context, you might find this book helpful.

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Still's dominant idea: The ministry of the word in preaching is the heart beat and central concern of the work of the pastor. I'm very encouraged by his sheer confidence in the power of preaching -- all other aspects of pastoral ministry are just "mopping up". William Still is certainly a man of strong opinions, and admittedly I'm doubtful about some of his other contentions. I enjoyed the first two chapters enormously but found the final 3 chapters more of a mixed bag.

[Tanner Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Still is witty, blunt, and extremely cognizant of his time period of the 1900s. He knew the sins and tendencies of pastors during his day; which also speaks very clearly to our own era of the 21st century.

Synopsis: preach the Word at all cost. Great book!

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, yet profound. I will be returning to it every few years.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book for pastors and for laypeople.

[Colin Fast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Short, direct, edifying, convicting. Worth reading—and then rereading.

[Kyle Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blunt assessments on the essentials of pastoral ministry.

[Joel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still was excellent. Very to the point and clearly cares about the building up of Gods people through the word. I enjoyed this short, practical work that was helpful, challenging and encouraging.

Not sure I was convinced on all that he said and his secondary view on evangelism, but I could certainly see where he was coming from in his view of the danger of only doing that. Overall a great read!

[Susan Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly outstanding.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written from a faithful and strikingly honest pastor with language that is seeped in experience. William Still’s short book is filled with advice and admonitions. From the calling itself, to the pulpit, Still does not cease to express in clear tones what it has truly meant for him to be a pastor, and what it means to be called by God to such a role. It’s not a trivial thing. Above all, the pastor is to feed the sheep the whole Word of the God. This is a book that any aspiring minister should read, and I reckon, a book that those behind the pulpit can return to again and again. It may encourage, vindicate, or even convict many a pastor, but all the while reminding them of what God’s calling honestly looks like.

—

“It’s no small thing to be a pastor. Many enter into this ministry in false pretense or with selfish ambition.
Consider, importantly, your character and how God has worked on you. Those are both important prerequisites to the pastorate. To less and care for the sheep so they will faithfully give of themselves to the Lord.
“Pursue the pastoral metaphor a little further: Israel's sheep were reared, fed, tended, retrieved, healed and restored - for sacrifice on the altar of God. This end of all pastoral work must never be forgotten - that its ultimate aim is to lead God's people to offer themselves up to Him in total devotion of worship and service.” (17)

“It is to feed sheep on such truth that men are called to churches and congregations, whatever they may think they are called to do. If you think that you are called to keep a largely worldly organization, miscalled a church, going, with infinitesimal doses of innocuous sub-Christian drugs or stimulants, then the only help I can give you is to advise you to give up the hope of the ministry and go and be a street scavenger; a far healthier and more godly job, keeping the streets tidy, than cluttering the church with a lot of worldly claptrap in the delusion that you are doing a job for God. The pastor is called to feed the sheep, even if the sheep do not want to be fed. He is certainly not to become an entertainer of goats. Let goats entertain goats, and let them do it out in goatland. You will certainly not turn goats into sheep by pandering to their goatishness. Do we really believe that the Word of God, by His Spirit, changes, as well as maddens men? If we do, to be evangelists and pastors, feeders of sheep, we must be men of the Word of God.” (23)

“There is, of course, only one Teacher, the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:16, 17, 26; 16:7-15). And if the Holy Spirit is not in our hearts, in our life and in all our teaching of the Word of God (and He will not be if our characters are not being moulded according to the moral and spiritual pattern of the Word), then we had better not open our mouths. For there is nothing so boring, stale, flat and unprofitable as holy things retailed in the absence of the Spirit. This is one of the devil's most cunning tricks, to cause the Word of God to be dispensed by lazy, sleepy, moribund creatures, who find preaching the most burdensome part of their work and cannot help showing it. I have heard people praying, preaching and teaching, and have been so desolated and my heart has been so opposed to the whole depressing exercise, that I have almost wished the things they said were not true so that I could refute them.” (26)

“My whole concern in my work of trying to make pastors (and I have made too few, although I have had many men through my hands) is that they become men of God; then, the pastoral work will look after itself. It will still have to be done. But the man of God is made for that.” (27)

“At the other extreme from those who regard you as a mere official to perform rites, sign forms, and do bits of peripheral social work not yet catered for by the welfare state, there are those who must not be allowed to devour your time and energy because their problems are beyond you. It is not that they are beyond God. Rather, there are limits to your ability and calling, and, this being a world not only of sin but of the fruits of sin, it is constantly strewn with the wrecks of God's judgements; that's what ruined lives are. There are some who want their lives sorted out, even by Christ if He will be so kind, and by Christ's minister, too. After all, that's what he is paid for! By Christ but not for Christ. The whole world wants Christian fruits, but not Christian roots - cut flowers only!” (43)

“The answer to every problem, even the ones that have no full and final earthly solu-tion, is in the Word. Pin your faith to that. Let the Word solve or settle all.” (47)

“When real people come seeking real help, receive them with all grace, patience and forbearance. Let them talk: don't jump to conclusions and turn the interview into another sermon on the lines they may have heard many times before. If they are real, they know all that. But there may be something that has not been made plain so far, at least to them. Let them talk, and you listen.” (47)

“Indeed, my whole view of the Christian's responsibility for primary evangelism is founded upon the belief that the greatest evangelistic and pastoral agency in the world is the Holy Spirit dwelling naturally in God's children, so that Christ shines out of them all the time - or nearly all the time - and is known to do so by those with whom they have anything more than casual con-tact, and even with them. We have to let our light shine - not hide it, and certainly not flash it, which draws attention to ourselves - and we must believe that it is shining. Now and then comes the opportunity to let its beam blaze out like a lighthouse, as some need is made known, or we are challenged as to our faith. But, normally, we let the light shine, believing that Jesus Christ is witnessing through us, in and to the world.” (53)

“This is what should be seen in our normal visiting Far better that someone should ask for a word of prayer, or a reading, than that one should leave a trail of forced readings and prayers in a number of homes where it was not convenient, or where people were sorely embarrassed, or annoyed, and didn't want them. I am never put out, although some who ask me hope that I may, by being asked to pray in a home. 'We had to ask him to pray: he doesn't know the first thing about his job!' In such a house they get a poor prayer. Who could pray in that atmosphere? I daren't pray what I think which is, Lord, would you deal with this self-righteous lot who love to take the minister down a peg by showing how pious they are? To visit such people is a pain, and one hopes that sooner or later the Word will get under their skin and they will be humbled. But in other homes one's whole soul cries out to speak with the Lord, and we are instantly in heaven and speaking of Him and to Him, and seeing our common life in His gentle light.” (54)

[Matt Moran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still pastored the same Scottish church for 50+ years. Emphasis is on the priority of the Scripture in ministry above anything else. Good to read in the context of Acts 6 with the apostle's focus on Word and Prayer.

Against entertainment: "Let goats entertain goats, and let them do it in goatland. You will certainly not turn goats into sheep by pandering to their goatishness."

On not being able to help everyone: "Some meddling ministers want to sort out everybody. God is not so optimistic."

On the necessity of preaching the whole Bible: "To keep dipping away into our own pet subjects and giving folk what we like best, or they like best, is not the way to feed the flock ... if we are called at all, it is to the ministry of the whole Word of God."

[Reagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second time going through it! A powerful little book that lights a fire in the status quo of Christian ministry. Too many good things to highlight. His writing style was a little hard for me to track with though, I had to slow down and reread things a few times to make sure I understood his meaning. There were a few times where I decided I didn’t know his meaning and I’d have to be okay with that.

This book is good to read before entering pastoral ministry, but I shall return to it regularly.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a glorious view of Christ and his bride which William Still faithfully "pastured" for over 52 years. A high view of Scripture as God's means for building His church and wisdom from a seasoned and faithful pastor abound in this book. I'll be coming back to it again, and recommending it to young and old pastor-elders.

[Ricky Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read about the work of the Pastor. I felt like I was receiving wise advice from a grandfather in the faith. I love the overarching message of this book...Pastors are to be ministers of the Word above all else. It is the Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that evangelizes and sanctifies the church.

[H.b. Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Still challenges pastor to make prayer and the ministry of the word their priority in ministry. Full of wisdom. A high view of the church. A concern for souls and spiritual growth. Exalting Christ. This is a good read for pastors. Highly recommend it.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this classic work William Still emphasizes the work of the pastor as involving the use of the ordinary means of grace among the people of God. The book is humble, insightful, and direct in its challenge to rival visions of the pastor.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh take on the pastor's calling & work. I'll definitely read more from Mr. Still.

[Rex Blackburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars — This book was not what I expected. Some moments of brilliant glory, but surrounded by a pretty fragmented, curmudgeonly group of reflections on pastoral ministry. The chapters are different talks, which contributes to the fragmented nature of the book (but the flow of thought even within the chapters seemed somewhat random), and the quality of the content really depends on the chapter. I would say the best material is towards the beginning of the book.

Some bright moments:

-“It is to feed sheep on such truth that men are called to churches and congregations, whatever they may
think they are called to do. If you think that you are
called to keep a largely worldly organisation, miscalled
a church, going, with infinitesimal doses of innocuous
sub-Christian drugs or stimulants, then the only help
I can give you is to advise you to give up the hope of the
ministry and go and be a street scavenger; a far healthier and more godly job, keeping the streets tidy, than cluttering the church with a lot of worldly claptrap in the delusion that you are doing a job for God. The pastor is called to feed the sheep, even if the sheep do not want to be fed. He is certainly not to become an entertainer of goats. Let goats entertain goats, and let them do it out in goatland. You will certainly not turn goats into sheep by pandering to their goatishness. Do we really believe that the Word of God, by His Spirit, changes, as well as maddens men? If we do, to be evangelists and pastors, feeders of sheep, we must be men of the Word of God.”

-“It is godly character, which is the real pastor, or is the basis of him… my whole concern in the work of trying to make pastors is that they become men of God; then, the pastoral work will look after itself.”

-“ depending for all you are worth on the Holy Spirit, and believing that this is the biggest thing you can do for a local congregation in all the world, minister the word of God to them at once. This is your life, not a part of it, but your life. Other things come in, of course, but this is your life, the most thrilling life anyone can live on earth, to expose a group of people, Christian, or not, to the all searching eye of the word of God.”

-“God has caused you to become pastor to some souls here who are as valuable to him as any in the world— your quiet persistence will be assigned that you believe. God has a purpose of grace for people, and that this purpose of grace will be promoted, not by gimmicks, or stunts, or new ideas, but by the word of God released and preaching by prayer.”

-(on pastoral counseling) “So much of God‘s will is just Christian common sense when we are prepared to see it safely. Very often all the people want is to think their problems through and your hearing and come with you to the obvious conclusion.”

-Interesting, and I know exactly what he means: “A soul is never so much in private with God as when sitting in church, being sifted, searched, corrected, fed, and nourished by the ministry of the Word.”

[James Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable small book on the most important work a pastor can do for his flock. Namely – feed it. I could write paragraphs and paragraphs on this book, yet I think that sums it up well enough. This book is based off a series of addresses to ministers (or ministers-in-training) given by William Still in the last century. William Still is a former pastor – now gone to his rest – of Gilcomston South Church in Aberdeen, Scotland. And he spent over fifty years pastoring this one church. That may seem remarkable in this day and age, but this experience enables him to preach with conviction one of the themes of this book – focus on feeding the flock which is yours and avoid being distracted by other things, as shiny or diverting as they may appear. Preach the word! In season and out of season, and so William Still did. And so in reading his advice to other ministers, it helped to keep in mind that the advice he gave was coming from a man who believed so strongly in the power of the Word of God by the workings of the Holy Spirit. He states simply that he could in and of himself do nothing for people. Only God can change hearts. And one of the primary mechanisms for working in hearts is the Word of God which has been given to us. And so Still exhorts ministers to avoid spending time on frivolous side-ministries and to avoid spending time chasing after those who do not want to be chased. Instead, a pastor simply must be faithful to his congregation in providing them what has been given to him to preach. A pastor must have a strong relationship with Christ and love Him above all else, for this light shall not go unnoticed! A pastor must keep his focus narrow and allow the Spirit to work through his congregation and their giftings to accomplish the purposes of God throughout the community and the world. There are many nuggets in this book and far more I could discuss but I fear I have already been overly verbose. There are parts of this book where the author is very strong, almost too strong I could fear. But that is just my soft modern ethos speaking. I appreciate the author’s boldness and burden for the church. And he speaks strongly because he knows the ministers he is addressing need to be convinced of the truth which he shares. Grateful for this pastor and the work he did in Gilcomston South. Grateful for his frankness and passion in sharing with us all the “secrets” to pastoring a church. It really is quite simple in the end. A pastor of a church is an under-shepherd – one tasked with growing and maturing his flock to offer them as living sacrifices to the Good Shepherd. And so this shepherd – pastor – must know his flock intimately and feed them well. This is a hard task and not meant for many. But God shall richly reward his faithful servants.