Still Not Professionals
Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors

Still Not Professionals: Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors is a celebration and extension of John Piper’s Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. With two brief exhortations from Piper and eight others from veteran pastors, this short ebook aims to strengthen and challenge Christians in general, and pastors in particular, for the labor of everyday life and ministry. The contributors were asked to express their “heart of hearts” for fellow leaders. You’ll find these chapters tap into profound human themes, in both the pastor and his flock, and will be of use, we hope, beyond the North American context of the contributors.

by John Piper Modal , Daniel L. Akin Modal , Thabiti Anyabwile Modal , Mike Bullmore Modal , Sam Crabtree Modal , Ray Ortlund Modal , Jeff Vanderstelt Modal , and Douglas Wilson
Read here by J.N.Wheels

Find the Still Not Professionals link from Desiring God Here: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/still-not-professionals

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Full Text:
BROTHERS, THE MINISTRY IS SUPERNATURAL
John Piper
It’s been ten years since the publication of the book Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. Nothing has happened in the last ten years to make me think this book is less needed. In fact, instead of going away, the pressure to “professionalize” the pastorate has morphed and strengthened.
Among younger pastors, the talk is less about therapeutic and managerial professionalization, and more about commu- nication or contextualization. The language of “professionaliza- tion” is seldom used in these regards, but there is a quiet pressure felt by many pastors: Be as good as the professional media folks, especially the cool anti-heroes and the most subtle comedians.
The New Professionalism
This is not the overstated professionalism of the three-piece suit and the power offices of the upper floors, but the understated professionalism of torn blue jeans and the savvy inner ring.
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Still Not Professionals Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors
This professionalism is not learned in pursuing an MBA, but by being in the know about the ever-changing entertainment and media world.
This is the professionalization of ambience, and tone, and idiom, and timing, and banter. It is more intuitive and less taught. More style and less technique. More feel and less force.
If this can be called professionalism, what does it have in common with the older version? Everything that matters. The way I tried to get at the problem ten years ago was to ask some questions. Let me expand that list. Only this time think, old and new professionalism.
Is there professional praying?
Professional trusting in God’s promises? Professional weeping over souls?
Professional musing on the depths of revelation? Professional rejoicing in the truth?
Professional praising God’s name?
Professional treasuring the riches of Christ? Professional walking by the Spirit?
Professional exercise of spiritual gifts? Professional dealing with demons?
Professional pleading with backsliders? Professional perseverance in a hard marriage? Professional playing with children? Professional courage in the face of persecution? Professional patience with everyone?
These are not marginal activities in the pastoral life. They are vital.
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Still Not Professionals Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors

The Heart of Ministry
Why do we choke on the word professional in these connec- tions? Because professionalization carries the connotation of an education, a set of...