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On Pastoring: A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor
From one pastor to another...
No one is ever fully prepared for the ministry. For pastors just starting out, those needing a little rebalancing, or those growing tired in the trenches, a short guide to the basics is a welcome relief.
In On Pastoring, H. B. Charles gives 30 instructive reflections on the pastor’s heart, leadership, and public ministry, covering topics
Cultivating personal godlinessPrioritizing your familyGuarding your ministry effectivenessPlanning, preparing, and preaching sermonsBalancing pastoral roles and dutiesBeing a pastor means wearing many hats, weathering lots of pressure, and bearing great responsibility. Let H. B. Charles be a trusted advisor as you do the serious work of shepherding a flock of God.
No one is ever fully prepared for the ministry. For pastors just starting out, those needing a little rebalancing, or those growing tired in the trenches, a short guide to the basics is a welcome relief.
In On Pastoring, H. B. Charles gives 30 instructive reflections on the pastor’s heart, leadership, and public ministry, covering topics
Cultivating personal godlinessPrioritizing your familyGuarding your ministry effectivenessPlanning, preparing, and preaching sermonsBalancing pastoral roles and dutiesBeing a pastor means wearing many hats, weathering lots of pressure, and bearing great responsibility. Let H. B. Charles be a trusted advisor as you do the serious work of shepherding a flock of God.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2016
71 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
H.B. Charles Jr.
16 books52 followersH.B. CHARLES, JR. Is the Pastor-Teacher at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, where he has served since the fall of 2008. He is primarily responsible for preaching-teaching, vision casting, and leadership development. Prior to coming to Shiloh, he led the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles for almost eighteen years. Succeeding his late father, he began his pastorate at Mt. Sinai at the age of seventeen.H.B. Charles regularly speaks at churches, conferences, and conventions around the country. He has contributed to several books and journals, and is the author of It Happens After Prayer. H.B. and his wife Crystal have three children: H.B. III, Natalie, and Hailey. Keep in touch with HB Charles at HBCharlesJr.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 16, 2025
Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down! HB is one of my favorite preachers, pastors, and theologians. Just solid. And this book is no different. HB can say something so complex and pregnant with wisdom in 7 words. Something like “Give Mark a minute” which both speaks to equipping young preachers to develop their gifts (a “minute” in the mix to test their gifts) and also speaks to holding off on platforming young preachers to develop their maturity (a “minute” more in the ministry microwave, so to speak). If you are a pastor, get this book. Great insight on how to handle church conflict, the priority and uniqueness of pastoral counseling from the Word, how to make meetings enjoyable and God-honoring, and, probably my favorite, how to plan NOT to preach to avoid burnout in a calendar year!! The one thing I noted: HB is not a Presbyterian in his polity so there are some issues that come up in his illustrations that probably wouldn’t be issues in the PCA for pastors in the work, thanks to the wonderful ministries of Geneva Benefits, RBI, and Call Package guidelines for presbyteries. Minor stuff. GREAT BOOK.
September 14, 2024
Great book! I love how practical it is. H.B writes like a friend or a mentor. One of the things he mentions that his father taught him and advises in this book is to be a friend to pastors. That is exactly how this books feels. A good friend sharing his experiences with you and helping you navigate life as a pastor. H.B.'s writing is humble and encouraging. I've learned so much from this book and have already shared it with 3 people. I'm sure this is a book that I will come back to again and again.
December 14, 2023
Very American and a very specific view of pastoral ministry, but whether you like those things or not he had some great things to say.
February 3, 2018
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Moody Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
Although the experiences of this gentleman is far different from the experience of most pastors I happen to know personally, I often find it interesting to read about the subject and in this case the author provided a great deal of insight and advice to the reader about the subject of pastoring [1]. This experience began for the author at the age of seventeen (!) when he succeeded his late father as the pastor of a Baptist church in Los Angeles to the present-day. Rather than providing a detailed discussion of the "call" to ministry that is commonly spoken of, this author writes instead an intensely practical and also challenging set of advice in short chapters for those who are already serving in the ministry about issues that ministers would ask for help if they could trust someone to give them good advice. The fact that the book also encourages those who are not ministers (like this reader) to be appreciative of pastors in the face of widespread cynicism about ministers in contemporary society is also something that will likely be appreciated by this book's target audience.
In a bit less than 200 pages this book manages to cover thirty chapters worth of information in three parts. The author begins, appropriately enough, in looking at the pastor's heart. Included in this part are the fact that we should focus on our service to God, that a real pastor is godly, that pastors have no business seeking worldly prominence, and that we should be faithful where God has us and not be filled with dissatisfaction about our present location. The second part of the book focuses on the pastor's leadership, where the author discusses how to raise up young (and possibly immature) ministers, being patient when dealing with cultural/organizational change, handling conflicts and planning one's preaching and even some tips in the sort of books that should be in a pastor's library. The third part of the book looks at the public ministry of the pastor, looking at the sufficiency of God's word over life experience, the importance of being a worship leader, expository preaching, making meetings worthwhile, and even ways that a congregation can encourage their pastors, closing with some brief but poignant lessons learned by the author over the course of his life.
This book encouraged me to read more from the author, and that is among the highest praise that I can give for a book. The advice was intensely practical and the author managed to toe a difficult line between being open about his own foibles and weaknesses while also demonstrating himself to be a man of godly character, not least because he managed to seek and find such worthwhile counsel from his wife and other pastors with whom he had a relationship of respect. Despite the fact that the author and I have some very different beliefs about God's word, this book wisely focused on those areas where particular biblical worldviews made less of a difference than a shared commitment to live according to the Bible and to serve God and one's brethren as best as one is able without letting one's service be sabotaged by ungodly lives or a blind and arrogant search for celebrity status. The author is certainly a tough-minded one, but he is also genuinely interested in the spiritual and moral well-being of his reading audience, and that sort of goodwill counts for a lot in a book like this one.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
Although the experiences of this gentleman is far different from the experience of most pastors I happen to know personally, I often find it interesting to read about the subject and in this case the author provided a great deal of insight and advice to the reader about the subject of pastoring [1]. This experience began for the author at the age of seventeen (!) when he succeeded his late father as the pastor of a Baptist church in Los Angeles to the present-day. Rather than providing a detailed discussion of the "call" to ministry that is commonly spoken of, this author writes instead an intensely practical and also challenging set of advice in short chapters for those who are already serving in the ministry about issues that ministers would ask for help if they could trust someone to give them good advice. The fact that the book also encourages those who are not ministers (like this reader) to be appreciative of pastors in the face of widespread cynicism about ministers in contemporary society is also something that will likely be appreciated by this book's target audience.
In a bit less than 200 pages this book manages to cover thirty chapters worth of information in three parts. The author begins, appropriately enough, in looking at the pastor's heart. Included in this part are the fact that we should focus on our service to God, that a real pastor is godly, that pastors have no business seeking worldly prominence, and that we should be faithful where God has us and not be filled with dissatisfaction about our present location. The second part of the book focuses on the pastor's leadership, where the author discusses how to raise up young (and possibly immature) ministers, being patient when dealing with cultural/organizational change, handling conflicts and planning one's preaching and even some tips in the sort of books that should be in a pastor's library. The third part of the book looks at the public ministry of the pastor, looking at the sufficiency of God's word over life experience, the importance of being a worship leader, expository preaching, making meetings worthwhile, and even ways that a congregation can encourage their pastors, closing with some brief but poignant lessons learned by the author over the course of his life.
This book encouraged me to read more from the author, and that is among the highest praise that I can give for a book. The advice was intensely practical and the author managed to toe a difficult line between being open about his own foibles and weaknesses while also demonstrating himself to be a man of godly character, not least because he managed to seek and find such worthwhile counsel from his wife and other pastors with whom he had a relationship of respect. Despite the fact that the author and I have some very different beliefs about God's word, this book wisely focused on those areas where particular biblical worldviews made less of a difference than a shared commitment to live according to the Bible and to serve God and one's brethren as best as one is able without letting one's service be sabotaged by ungodly lives or a blind and arrogant search for celebrity status. The author is certainly a tough-minded one, but he is also genuinely interested in the spiritual and moral well-being of his reading audience, and that sort of goodwill counts for a lot in a book like this one.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
February 20, 2025
Some good things
May 20, 2021
Felt like sitting down with a humble and seasoned pastor to listen and learn. Helpful book
September 28, 2019
"What can that [seventeen-year-old] boy tell me when my marriage is in trouble? What can that boy tell me when I am having trouble with my children? What can that boy tell me when I'm having trouble with my job. He's only seventeen. He hasn't experienced anything yet. What can that boy tell me?
…He can tell you whatever the Word of God tells him to tell you!"
Review:
Reading through H.B. Charles' On Pastoring feels much like what you would want from an extended evening fireside chat with a seasoned pastor. He opens his heart, sharing his hurts and hopes, his feats and failures, his tips and tricks and, most importantly, His one love. It is clear, at least from this book, he never let the desire for fame or success corrupt his allegiance to the Word of God. He is, in my estimation, a humble, honest and honorable man worth imitating.
This book is an easy and enjoyable read. It's 31 short (5-6 page) chapters on various topics related to pastoral ministry. Some chapters are more illustrative and helpful than others, which may be more obvious to this book's intended audience. Yet there is much in the way of practical wisdom and short proverbial statements to be garnered here (I have attached a short list of them below).
It's clear from his story that "selling out" was something He always sought to avoid. I appreciated the chapter that began with the reality TV show about pastors, in which Charles remarked that people don't need to know that we [pastors] are like everyone else. Rather, "they need to know we are godly."
My main critique is that he seems to have a pretty rigid, traditional (if not dated) and admittedly Western understanding of the church model. A topic he address frequently is a pastor’s schedule, vacation and vocation. His assertions in part assume an economy and society in which a church could support a pastor to take care of his family, deck out his library and fund his traveling ministry, assumptions that don’t hold water without leaking once you step outside the US. It’s all true for his context, but I wouldn’t consider recommending this book to a pastor in the global South where bi-vocational ministry is the norm. I also think he tends to promote the idea of a lead pastor over that of a plurality of elders. Again, this is largely grounded in the Southern USA culture in which he works, but I think it it's a feature of our churches that should fade away in favor of the more biblical model of presbyterian plurality that tends to be the norm in protestant churches outside of the West. (3/5)
Selected Quotes:
"Your prayer life should be like an iceberg. No matter how large an iceberg may tower over the waters, the vast majority of its substance is underwater. Eighty percent of the iceberg is below the waterline [i.e. done in private]”
"A dull pencil beats a sharp mind any day." (referring to taking notes while reading)
"Do not panic if nothing seems to happen after you preach." And don't be discouraged if no one compliments your sermon. Besides, they're not there to compliment you, and you're not there to be complimented." Trust God with the results.
"The pastor who is always available will be of no use when he is available."
"Be a friend to other pastors, even if they are not friends to you."
"If you guard your character, Your reputation will take care of itself."
"People do not give to needs. They give to vision. Don't beg people to give. Lead in such a way that your work is worth investing in."
"A cynical pastor is an oxymoron."
"Don't sell out!"
…He can tell you whatever the Word of God tells him to tell you!"
Review:
Reading through H.B. Charles' On Pastoring feels much like what you would want from an extended evening fireside chat with a seasoned pastor. He opens his heart, sharing his hurts and hopes, his feats and failures, his tips and tricks and, most importantly, His one love. It is clear, at least from this book, he never let the desire for fame or success corrupt his allegiance to the Word of God. He is, in my estimation, a humble, honest and honorable man worth imitating.
This book is an easy and enjoyable read. It's 31 short (5-6 page) chapters on various topics related to pastoral ministry. Some chapters are more illustrative and helpful than others, which may be more obvious to this book's intended audience. Yet there is much in the way of practical wisdom and short proverbial statements to be garnered here (I have attached a short list of them below).
It's clear from his story that "selling out" was something He always sought to avoid. I appreciated the chapter that began with the reality TV show about pastors, in which Charles remarked that people don't need to know that we [pastors] are like everyone else. Rather, "they need to know we are godly."
My main critique is that he seems to have a pretty rigid, traditional (if not dated) and admittedly Western understanding of the church model. A topic he address frequently is a pastor’s schedule, vacation and vocation. His assertions in part assume an economy and society in which a church could support a pastor to take care of his family, deck out his library and fund his traveling ministry, assumptions that don’t hold water without leaking once you step outside the US. It’s all true for his context, but I wouldn’t consider recommending this book to a pastor in the global South where bi-vocational ministry is the norm. I also think he tends to promote the idea of a lead pastor over that of a plurality of elders. Again, this is largely grounded in the Southern USA culture in which he works, but I think it it's a feature of our churches that should fade away in favor of the more biblical model of presbyterian plurality that tends to be the norm in protestant churches outside of the West. (3/5)
Selected Quotes:
"Your prayer life should be like an iceberg. No matter how large an iceberg may tower over the waters, the vast majority of its substance is underwater. Eighty percent of the iceberg is below the waterline [i.e. done in private]”
"A dull pencil beats a sharp mind any day." (referring to taking notes while reading)
"Do not panic if nothing seems to happen after you preach." And don't be discouraged if no one compliments your sermon. Besides, they're not there to compliment you, and you're not there to be complimented." Trust God with the results.
"The pastor who is always available will be of no use when he is available."
"Be a friend to other pastors, even if they are not friends to you."
"If you guard your character, Your reputation will take care of itself."
"People do not give to needs. They give to vision. Don't beg people to give. Lead in such a way that your work is worth investing in."
"A cynical pastor is an oxymoron."
"Don't sell out!"
June 24, 2018
This book is real. It doesn’t sound academic but is more of the I’ve-done-it-and-lived-to-talk-about-it variety. H. B. Charles Jr. has pastored for 25 years and has been through battles and crises, so you feel that he understands as you reflect on your own in the ministry. The spiritual temperature of this book is high, its God-honoring viewpoint is apparent, its proclamation of the primacy of the Word in preaching is clear, and its general encouragement to stay at it is unwavering.
Mr. Charles covered every topic that you’ve come to expect in these type volumes, but here you find more heart. There’s a rawness that says the author has learned through both success and failure. There are things he’s been taught by others as well as things he’s learned the hard way. In some cases, his main benefit is the affirmation of your own conclusions that have also developed in the turbulence of ministry. He will encourage you to never lose the awe of your call, nor the wonder of your work, even if you are inflicted with the occasional scar.
The book is divided into three main parts: the pastor’s heart, the pastor’s leadership, and the pastor’s public ministry. Each part gets 10 down-to-earth chapters. I agreed with his conclusions again and again. I appreciated the needed reminders of what I already knew. All in all, this book left me encouraged. What could be higher praise for a book on pastoring?
I received this map free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Mr. Charles covered every topic that you’ve come to expect in these type volumes, but here you find more heart. There’s a rawness that says the author has learned through both success and failure. There are things he’s been taught by others as well as things he’s learned the hard way. In some cases, his main benefit is the affirmation of your own conclusions that have also developed in the turbulence of ministry. He will encourage you to never lose the awe of your call, nor the wonder of your work, even if you are inflicted with the occasional scar.
The book is divided into three main parts: the pastor’s heart, the pastor’s leadership, and the pastor’s public ministry. Each part gets 10 down-to-earth chapters. I agreed with his conclusions again and again. I appreciated the needed reminders of what I already knew. All in all, this book left me encouraged. What could be higher praise for a book on pastoring?
I received this map free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
July 14, 2024
This is by far the best book on pastoral ministry. There are 30 different short chapters that discuss 30 important practical topics. I’m sure this is helpful for seasoned pastors, but it’s like gold to me as a new pastor. Many learned lessons and more polished approaches to areas of pastoral ministry in this book! It’s a short and easy read. Feels like a seasoned pastor is sitting right across from you at a table sharing his wealth of information to you to go and be faithful!
December 3, 2018
One of my favorite books of this year. This is one I’ll read over and over for years to come.
January 16, 2019
Very real, very from-the-trenches advice and exhortation out of lived experience. Pastoral ministry is difficult and there are things that you can never foresee or plan for, although to have open and honest discussions and literature like this is extremely important.
November 17, 2020
Very helpful and practical.
June 22, 2022
Fantastic book. Chapters are simple and concise. H.B. Charles is a blessing. If you are a pastor, you must have this book on your shelf.
August 5, 2024
Very helpful and practical. I love how HB can write in a way where you find yourself convicted and yet very encouraged at the same time. I really appreciated this book.
August 26, 2024
Very helpful book. H.B. covers the many topics you would want to see in a pastoring book. Chapters are short in order to touch on everything, but still have great content. Highly recommend.
February 10, 2019
This book was enjoyable, helpful, encouraging, challenging and so much more. Thank you H.B Charles for writing a short book that will go a long way.
November 16, 2023
Excellent book for every pastor.
December 16, 2023
This is the best book I read this year. HB walks you through pastoral ministry in a way that makes it feel like you are in the study with him. He hits a huge number of subjects but does not spend too much time with fluff, he is direct and to the point. This book has wisdom from a seasoned and confident pastor and also a humble and gentle servant. This is a must for any man in pastoral ministry.
April 16, 2021
Lots of great practical advice, especially for young pastors. Some portions seemed a bit dogmatic, but overall I would recommend it to anyone starting in ministry.
June 28, 2023
Encouraging.
September 18, 2018
This was a very helpful and practical book on pastoral ministry. It should be required reading in Seminaries and Bible Colleges.
Read
December 14, 2025Truly, in all seriousness, lots of good points and lessons to be offered for growing pastors if you can get past the blatant sexism. I cannot get past it. Don’t recommend.
June 15, 2024
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with a pastor, ask plenty of questions, and listen to the wisdom that he has gleaned over 25 years of ministry experience. Then look no further than H.B. Charles Jr’s book On Pastoring: A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor. H. B. Charles Jr is the pastor-teacher at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida. As the subtitle indicates this is a short guide. The book is packed with thirty bite-size chapters, most chapters only being five pages or so.
Pastor Charles gives us the chance to sit across from him and drink in the wisdom that he has learned from the Scriptures, fellow pastors, mentors, and from his time pastoring two different churches on two coasts for the past twenty-five-plus years. This book is chocked full of prudent and practical wisdom that has been road tested on the front lines of full-time pastoral ministry. The book is divided into three sections: The Pastor’s Heart, The Pastor’s Leadership, and The Pastor’s Public Ministry.
In part one Charles begins by addressing the heart of the pastor. When speaking about how the pastor's testimony informs how he ministers he writes that “the details of your calling are purposeful, not accidental,” (24) and that we should not be “discouraged. Don’t compare yourself to others. And don’t underestimate the grace, wisdom, and power of God at work in your life” (25). A warning that hits you right between the eyes is when Charles writes, “The fact that you are spiritually gifted does not make you qualified to be a pastor” (35). Though “giftedness” is somewhat needed to be a pastor barring everything else 1 Timothy 3 lays out as qualifications, it is also the fastest way for a pastor to believe his hype. Which is the first step to falling on their faces.
When musing on the size of the congregation Charles reminds us that the size and the depth of your church are not the same thing. Charles writes, that a pastor “must remain faithful even when he isn’t being fruitful” (48). He continues to say that a pastor should “Be faithful where God has you rather than long for where he doesn’t want you” (49). This is a sobering word, it seems that it is easier to keep thinking of what comes next instead of just keeping your head down and plodding away until the Lord either takes you home or moves you on. These are great reminders that the ‘grass may be greener” but it doesn’t mean it’s the pasture for you.
In the second section of the book, Charles turns his eyes to pastoral leadership. There are numerous times when the sheep will come by and wreak havoc on the pastor’s schedule. In quoting Spurgeon he reminds us that every pastor has to know what things need to be ignored and what things need to be paid attention too (74). A pastor must take the time to raise his replacement and to be patient with the young men that need to do some growing up in the same way that Paul did with Timothy and Titus. When it comes to the pastor with a grand vision, change moves slowly, especially when it comes to breathing new life into a church. In quoting James Boice, a wise pastor should “make haste slowly” and as Charles adds “the harvest doesn’t come in a hurry” (90).
Charles is open about his failure in trying to weigh in on every issue that the church faced. It is the foolish leader that thinks that he can handle all of the problems that crop up in the church. Charles reminds the reader that, “A dog can whip a skunk any day, but it may not be worth the stink” (96). A workman is only as good as the tools he uses, so his tools matter. And for the pastor his first tools are books. Charles gives the sage advice that it is better to date a book before you marry it (106) and that buying used can be more profitable than buying new (107) especially if they are filled with previous notes. It is also a difficult thing trying to discern when it is time for the pastor to transition to a phase of ministry. Charles offers the counsel that, in pursuing such a transition; prayer, godly wisdom, and discernment are required (114-116).
The last section of the book deals with the pastor’s public ministry. In the chapter about the sufficiency of the Scripture, Charles writes “The word of God is sufficient to make you competent and fully equipped for Christian ministry. Scripture is sufficient to save the lost, sanctify the saints, govern the church, counsel the troubled, and even change the culture” (131). Charles also advocates for expository preaching through whole books (140). Charles ends the book with the chapter entitled “Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way” which is simple, and very impactful. It is a simple list of phrases that H.B. has acquired over the years that sum up what he has gleaned over his time in pastoral ministry.
This book is an enjoyable read, it will be returned too very often. It has much to offer and there are numerous aspects of the book to be commended. But the three aspects of the book were life-giving: its accessibility, brevity, and practicality. H.B. Charles is a master communicator and it can be seen in this book. The book is very reminiscent of Luther’s Table Talk or Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students. His warm and conversational style presents pastoral insights from a seasoned pastor to aspiring ones. It isn’t a book front-loaded with a lot of theological jargon, and it truly felt as if you are sitting across from pastor Charles as you read it. This is a perfect resource to place into the hands of any new or veteran pastors. They will be greatly blessed by the accessibility of this book. It is his style and candor that makes the book so relatable, and easy to digest.
Another aspect of the book that was a strength is its brevity. This is a mercifully short book on pastoral ministry. It does truly live up to the subtitle, which calls it “A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor”. Each chapter is a little nugget of pastoral gold for anyone willing to take the time to mine the book. Given the shortness of the book, it lends itself to have a devotional feel to it. Though the brevity of the book is also a weakness of it, it does offer more than expected in each of the chapters.
This was a highly practical book. Sometimes books on pastoral ministry can be driven more by theory and less by practice. This book is the exception to the rule. This isn’t a book of all theory, but he does offer plenty of theories. Though some aspects weren’t practical, it is still a book that is packed with practical wisdom and insights. Charles has packed the book full of practical wisdom that a pastor could take and tailor the information that he is receiving and apply to their pastoral ministry. Any pastor will be greatly edified by what pastor Charles has presented in this book.
These three aspects of the book helped to capture the goal of the book. To condense twenty-five years of pastoral wisdom into a book that clocks in at 208 pages is an amazing feat, to say the least. These aspects helped drive the point and message of the book home. Pastor H.B. Charles has done what he set out to do: to write a short, accessible guide to help other pastors navigate pastoral ministry. If not for these three aspects of the book then the book would have fell flat and felt like an intellectual diatribe at the most and at the least a pastor bragging about how he did it right and if you do it his way then you will be a success as well.
A critique that can be offered about the book is that it could have been longer. H.B. is upfront and honest that it is not an exhaustive treatise on pastoral ministry. He does however give a list of other great books on pastoral ministry in his “Further Reading” section. But at the end of the day, the reader can feel like they are left wanting. That’s not to say that the book isn’t worth the read, but quite the contrary.
Anyone seeking some practical and pastoral wisdom will find this book massively helpful, just hoping for just a few more pieces of nugget-sized wisdom. With all the pastoral and practical wisdom that H.B. has it felt like he was holding back, like he wanted to give more but didn’t. A suggestion that could be given is that if given the chance to do revisions of the book it would help the reader greatly if Charles would go back and fill out some of the sections with more insights and wisdom.
Another critique is that this book is based on Charles's pastoral experiences. Charles is upfront that everything that he is sharing comes from his pastoral perspective.
There is great wisdom that can be gleaned from a faithful pastor's experiences. But there is no guarantee that his experiences will be the same for anyone who puts his words into practice. Charles's advice is rooted and grounded in Scripture, but it is also rooted in Charles’ own experiences.
So, a pastor has to be careful with what he does with this sage advice. Though he is writing out of his context there is much that he could do to change the book unless it is written from a more general perspective and not such a specific one. The book is written from a more Western mindset, which could lead itself to be alienating to some of our brothers in the global church who are not a part of churches that can afford to support the pastor and his family, giving them a well-stocked library, and fund his traveling preaching ministry. The only suggestion to offer is that if he were to revise the book, to keep in mind the brothers he is writing too. The wisdom he offers can be used in any situation, but maybe writing in more generalities would help keep from alienating anyone.
Pastoring can be one of the hardest and loneliest things a man ever does. It is filled with pitfalls, and land minds, and can be hard to navigate alone. But H.B. Charles has written a book to let any and every pastor that reads it know that they don’t have to do ministry without some basic tricks of the trade. On Pastoring is a book that belongs in the hands of every pastor. This is a book that will be reread many times given that the wisdom and insights in this book are pure gold and timeless. It is not often that pastor with twenty-five plus years of pastor ministry bears his heart in the hopes to help another pastor.
Pastor Charles gives us the chance to sit across from him and drink in the wisdom that he has learned from the Scriptures, fellow pastors, mentors, and from his time pastoring two different churches on two coasts for the past twenty-five-plus years. This book is chocked full of prudent and practical wisdom that has been road tested on the front lines of full-time pastoral ministry. The book is divided into three sections: The Pastor’s Heart, The Pastor’s Leadership, and The Pastor’s Public Ministry.
In part one Charles begins by addressing the heart of the pastor. When speaking about how the pastor's testimony informs how he ministers he writes that “the details of your calling are purposeful, not accidental,” (24) and that we should not be “discouraged. Don’t compare yourself to others. And don’t underestimate the grace, wisdom, and power of God at work in your life” (25). A warning that hits you right between the eyes is when Charles writes, “The fact that you are spiritually gifted does not make you qualified to be a pastor” (35). Though “giftedness” is somewhat needed to be a pastor barring everything else 1 Timothy 3 lays out as qualifications, it is also the fastest way for a pastor to believe his hype. Which is the first step to falling on their faces.
When musing on the size of the congregation Charles reminds us that the size and the depth of your church are not the same thing. Charles writes, that a pastor “must remain faithful even when he isn’t being fruitful” (48). He continues to say that a pastor should “Be faithful where God has you rather than long for where he doesn’t want you” (49). This is a sobering word, it seems that it is easier to keep thinking of what comes next instead of just keeping your head down and plodding away until the Lord either takes you home or moves you on. These are great reminders that the ‘grass may be greener” but it doesn’t mean it’s the pasture for you.
In the second section of the book, Charles turns his eyes to pastoral leadership. There are numerous times when the sheep will come by and wreak havoc on the pastor’s schedule. In quoting Spurgeon he reminds us that every pastor has to know what things need to be ignored and what things need to be paid attention too (74). A pastor must take the time to raise his replacement and to be patient with the young men that need to do some growing up in the same way that Paul did with Timothy and Titus. When it comes to the pastor with a grand vision, change moves slowly, especially when it comes to breathing new life into a church. In quoting James Boice, a wise pastor should “make haste slowly” and as Charles adds “the harvest doesn’t come in a hurry” (90).
Charles is open about his failure in trying to weigh in on every issue that the church faced. It is the foolish leader that thinks that he can handle all of the problems that crop up in the church. Charles reminds the reader that, “A dog can whip a skunk any day, but it may not be worth the stink” (96). A workman is only as good as the tools he uses, so his tools matter. And for the pastor his first tools are books. Charles gives the sage advice that it is better to date a book before you marry it (106) and that buying used can be more profitable than buying new (107) especially if they are filled with previous notes. It is also a difficult thing trying to discern when it is time for the pastor to transition to a phase of ministry. Charles offers the counsel that, in pursuing such a transition; prayer, godly wisdom, and discernment are required (114-116).
The last section of the book deals with the pastor’s public ministry. In the chapter about the sufficiency of the Scripture, Charles writes “The word of God is sufficient to make you competent and fully equipped for Christian ministry. Scripture is sufficient to save the lost, sanctify the saints, govern the church, counsel the troubled, and even change the culture” (131). Charles also advocates for expository preaching through whole books (140). Charles ends the book with the chapter entitled “Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way” which is simple, and very impactful. It is a simple list of phrases that H.B. has acquired over the years that sum up what he has gleaned over his time in pastoral ministry.
This book is an enjoyable read, it will be returned too very often. It has much to offer and there are numerous aspects of the book to be commended. But the three aspects of the book were life-giving: its accessibility, brevity, and practicality. H.B. Charles is a master communicator and it can be seen in this book. The book is very reminiscent of Luther’s Table Talk or Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students. His warm and conversational style presents pastoral insights from a seasoned pastor to aspiring ones. It isn’t a book front-loaded with a lot of theological jargon, and it truly felt as if you are sitting across from pastor Charles as you read it. This is a perfect resource to place into the hands of any new or veteran pastors. They will be greatly blessed by the accessibility of this book. It is his style and candor that makes the book so relatable, and easy to digest.
Another aspect of the book that was a strength is its brevity. This is a mercifully short book on pastoral ministry. It does truly live up to the subtitle, which calls it “A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor”. Each chapter is a little nugget of pastoral gold for anyone willing to take the time to mine the book. Given the shortness of the book, it lends itself to have a devotional feel to it. Though the brevity of the book is also a weakness of it, it does offer more than expected in each of the chapters.
This was a highly practical book. Sometimes books on pastoral ministry can be driven more by theory and less by practice. This book is the exception to the rule. This isn’t a book of all theory, but he does offer plenty of theories. Though some aspects weren’t practical, it is still a book that is packed with practical wisdom and insights. Charles has packed the book full of practical wisdom that a pastor could take and tailor the information that he is receiving and apply to their pastoral ministry. Any pastor will be greatly edified by what pastor Charles has presented in this book.
These three aspects of the book helped to capture the goal of the book. To condense twenty-five years of pastoral wisdom into a book that clocks in at 208 pages is an amazing feat, to say the least. These aspects helped drive the point and message of the book home. Pastor H.B. Charles has done what he set out to do: to write a short, accessible guide to help other pastors navigate pastoral ministry. If not for these three aspects of the book then the book would have fell flat and felt like an intellectual diatribe at the most and at the least a pastor bragging about how he did it right and if you do it his way then you will be a success as well.
A critique that can be offered about the book is that it could have been longer. H.B. is upfront and honest that it is not an exhaustive treatise on pastoral ministry. He does however give a list of other great books on pastoral ministry in his “Further Reading” section. But at the end of the day, the reader can feel like they are left wanting. That’s not to say that the book isn’t worth the read, but quite the contrary.
Anyone seeking some practical and pastoral wisdom will find this book massively helpful, just hoping for just a few more pieces of nugget-sized wisdom. With all the pastoral and practical wisdom that H.B. has it felt like he was holding back, like he wanted to give more but didn’t. A suggestion that could be given is that if given the chance to do revisions of the book it would help the reader greatly if Charles would go back and fill out some of the sections with more insights and wisdom.
Another critique is that this book is based on Charles's pastoral experiences. Charles is upfront that everything that he is sharing comes from his pastoral perspective.
There is great wisdom that can be gleaned from a faithful pastor's experiences. But there is no guarantee that his experiences will be the same for anyone who puts his words into practice. Charles's advice is rooted and grounded in Scripture, but it is also rooted in Charles’ own experiences.
So, a pastor has to be careful with what he does with this sage advice. Though he is writing out of his context there is much that he could do to change the book unless it is written from a more general perspective and not such a specific one. The book is written from a more Western mindset, which could lead itself to be alienating to some of our brothers in the global church who are not a part of churches that can afford to support the pastor and his family, giving them a well-stocked library, and fund his traveling preaching ministry. The only suggestion to offer is that if he were to revise the book, to keep in mind the brothers he is writing too. The wisdom he offers can be used in any situation, but maybe writing in more generalities would help keep from alienating anyone.
Pastoring can be one of the hardest and loneliest things a man ever does. It is filled with pitfalls, and land minds, and can be hard to navigate alone. But H.B. Charles has written a book to let any and every pastor that reads it know that they don’t have to do ministry without some basic tricks of the trade. On Pastoring is a book that belongs in the hands of every pastor. This is a book that will be reread many times given that the wisdom and insights in this book are pure gold and timeless. It is not often that pastor with twenty-five plus years of pastor ministry bears his heart in the hopes to help another pastor.
September 29, 2019
I had the privilege of hearing H.B. Charles, Jr. preach at The Gospel Coalition's national conference in Indianapolis last April. I had never heard of him before, but I overheard various people in the exhibitor's hall mention how much they were looking forward to hearing him, so I was eager to find out what all the excitement was about. I have great respect for others who spoke at TGC19 -- John Piper, Ligon Duncan, David Platt, Tim Keller -- but H.B.'s message was by far the most impactful.
When I saw that Moody Publishers, a company I respect and trust, had partnered with For the Church, a ministry of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to print some titles from H.B. Charles, Jr., I knew that I wanted to request a review copy of On Pastoring.
The book is divided into three sections: the first is on the pastor's heart, the second is on his leadership, and the third is on his public ministry. What follows are 30 brief chapters full of powerful biblical wisdom and compelling personal anecdotes. It's like the offspring of a 30-day devotional and Charles Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students. In it H.B. Charles, Jr., addresses the call to pastoral ministry, having your own pastor, raising up future leaders, leaving a church, preaching, and more. It could be read devotionally, a chapter a month, or used as a discussion starter for an elder or leadership team. For an in-depth treatment on pastoral ministry, look elsewhere, but for a devotional look at pastoral ministry, On Pastoring is just what you need.
When I saw that Moody Publishers, a company I respect and trust, had partnered with For the Church, a ministry of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to print some titles from H.B. Charles, Jr., I knew that I wanted to request a review copy of On Pastoring.
The book is divided into three sections: the first is on the pastor's heart, the second is on his leadership, and the third is on his public ministry. What follows are 30 brief chapters full of powerful biblical wisdom and compelling personal anecdotes. It's like the offspring of a 30-day devotional and Charles Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students. In it H.B. Charles, Jr., addresses the call to pastoral ministry, having your own pastor, raising up future leaders, leaving a church, preaching, and more. It could be read devotionally, a chapter a month, or used as a discussion starter for an elder or leadership team. For an in-depth treatment on pastoral ministry, look elsewhere, but for a devotional look at pastoral ministry, On Pastoring is just what you need.
November 9, 2016
This book had been in my wish list for quite some time now and I'm so glad that I finally read it. This is one of the best books on pastoring that I've ever read.
This book is not really a how-to book on pastoring nor is it a theological reflection on the pastoral ministry. Instead this book feels more like a compass to make sure that you are heading in the right direction in this ministry.
The book is divided into 3 major sections: The Pastor's Heart, The Pastor's Leadership, and The Pastor's Public Ministry. In each major sections there are 10 short chapters that are reflective and practical.
The best feature of this book has to be Charles' writing style. When I read this book I can't help but feeling like being mentored by a seasoned pastor. This book is just a gem to set my heart, mind, and priorities right in regards of my pastoral ministry.
This is one valuable gold nugget! So enjoyable to read and so impactful!
5 out of 5
This book is not really a how-to book on pastoring nor is it a theological reflection on the pastoral ministry. Instead this book feels more like a compass to make sure that you are heading in the right direction in this ministry.
The book is divided into 3 major sections: The Pastor's Heart, The Pastor's Leadership, and The Pastor's Public Ministry. In each major sections there are 10 short chapters that are reflective and practical.
The best feature of this book has to be Charles' writing style. When I read this book I can't help but feeling like being mentored by a seasoned pastor. This book is just a gem to set my heart, mind, and priorities right in regards of my pastoral ministry.
This is one valuable gold nugget! So enjoyable to read and so impactful!
5 out of 5
October 27, 2025
This book is a collection of his thoughts on pastoring, so some of the chapters stand out in an excellent way, and others did not land as strongly for me. He is definitely writing to the "lead" pastor, and as a pastor that preaches quarterly and spends most of my time in Sunday school classes, small group oversight, individual discipleship, etc. this simply was not for me in particular.
His emphasis on character, faithfulness to the Scriptures, and love for the people and not a platform all serve as good reminders, but if you divide the work of pastoring into feeding, guarding, tending, and guiding, I found the book stronger on the first two (though from the public position not in individual discipleship) and *almost* completely lacking in the latter two.
I personally love hearing him speak at conferences, etc., but for a book on pastoring, I did not find this to adequately speak to the whole calling of a pastor.
His emphasis on character, faithfulness to the Scriptures, and love for the people and not a platform all serve as good reminders, but if you divide the work of pastoring into feeding, guarding, tending, and guiding, I found the book stronger on the first two (though from the public position not in individual discipleship) and *almost* completely lacking in the latter two.
I personally love hearing him speak at conferences, etc., but for a book on pastoring, I did not find this to adequately speak to the whole calling of a pastor.
December 14, 2025
Ein hilfreiches Buch für jeden angehenden Pastor, aber auch für solche, die bereits im Dienst sind. Die Kapitel sind kurz, weswegen das Buch auch sehr abwechslungsreich ist. Es bietet viele Einblicke aus dem Dienst von dem Autor. Er gibt seine Erfahrung weiter, die aus seinem langjährigen Dienst resultiert. Ich persönlich konnte sehr viel aus dem Buch ziehen, insbesondere aus dem ersten Teil, wo es um die Bewahrung des Herzens ging. Aber auch die praktischen Kapitel sind nützlich für den persönlichen Dienst. Das Buch hebt die besondere Bedeutung des Pastorendienstes hervor, gleichzeitig wird aber die Einstellung und Verhalten des Pastors thematisiert. Ein Buch, wozu man immer mal greifen sollte, um sich neu auszurichten im Dienst.
February 20, 2018
What a fantastic short and sweet book on pastoring. I have read many books on how to pastor and what to expect from pastor I get but nothing is as simple yet profound as this one. H. B. Charles Jr. Really knows how to put things simply, practically, and convicting. He gives advice from how to preach to how to help those in need. He reminds pastors to preach for God and helps men focus not on mans affirmation but on whether or not they are doing the will of God.
Do not listen to the few negative voices in the church rather listen to the many encouragements. A must read for all pastors and aspiring pastors!
Do not listen to the few negative voices in the church rather listen to the many encouragements. A must read for all pastors and aspiring pastors!
May 15, 2018
I felt ministered to, challenged, and encouraged as I read through this book. I did not necessarily agree with Pastor H. B. Charles Jr on everything, but it caused me to ponder more deeply and appreciate his concern for other pastors. Would definitely recommend for any new(er) people in the ministry, and veterans too.
October 24, 2019
One of my favorite books on ministry. Punchy, powerful, and practical. H.B. can flat out write! His illustrations and anecdotes are the glue of this great book. I've learned a lot, highlighted a ton, and will certainly come back to this one for pastoral wisdom and guidance in the future! Pastors or aspiring pastors, get this book!
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