ShepherdTools.org

Need to know WHICH commentary is best for you?

When needing to choose a commentary, a review can help. This is a big list! LINK

Prepare for Rain - Book Review

I read a lot of material, online and in print, some of it technical, some of it fiction, some of it very serious study. Every once in a while a book comes along that captivates me and speaks to me.  I just completed reading Prepare for Rain by Dr. Michael Catt of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany Georgia. Some may recognize Sherwood Baptist Church as the church that went into the movie making business with “Facing the Giants” and Flywheel. Dr. Catt is the senior pastor of Sherwood and brought to the church the vision "we can reach the world from Albany, Georgia". Prepare for Rain is Dr. Catt's reflection of the ministry in Albany as they prepared to receive a blessing from God and follow his direction.  Prepare for Rain traces his history at Sherwood and the process God took them through to go from a typical Southern Baptist Church to a dynamic church that now has a ministry to the world. Their movies have reached around the world and have resulted in thousands coming to Jesus. The sports park Sherwood built in Albany has brought many families into fellowship and into the kingdom.  Dr. Catt led the church across racial boundaries as they fellowship with a predominantly African American congregation in Albany. Dr. Catt makes the point through the book that we need to prepare the ground by getting on the plow and prepare for the rain to come.  We cannot pray for rain and not prepare the ground to receive it. As the Pastor of a small church I have read a great number of church growth books and almost always felt inadequate after I completed them. Not so with Prepare for Rain. Dr. Catt reinforces the idea that as long as we are faithful to prepare for rain and plow the ground we have, God is faithful to give a blessing to us. I would recommend this book to every Pastor and lay leader in every church, especially those that want to see God work through them. It is a quick read but would be worth it if it took much longer. Dr. Catt has tremendous insight in the ministry and work of the Lord. This book should be on everyone’s shelf and read at least once a year.

Pastor Rich Schnieders

 

Free Magazines

I read a number of magazines but mostly I scan for things I may want to know more about. If you like to look for free, you can visit Books a Million and the like, or this site on the web: LINK

A Reminder to Be Reading and Learning

This author shared a personal story that reminded me of the importance of learning and growing in ministry: LINK

Must Read Books

Pastor Keith Shearer says some of the "oldies are still goodies" when it comes to must read books for Pastors.  He recommended:

1. The Glory of the Ministry (AT Robinson).
2. Preaching and Preachers (D. Martin Lloyd-Jones)
3. Words to Winners of Souls (Horatius Bonar)

Pastor Shearer is Senior Pastor at Myerstown Grace Brethren Church.