Papers by DrErnest Musekiwa
The Bible clearly teaches that to each member in the church, God has given a special calling. The... more The Bible clearly teaches that to each member in the church, God has given a special calling. The calling of each member in the church is a vivid proof of the sovereignty of God over the churches emphasizing first, that God has a general call for all believers, and secondly, that those who are called by God are called to responsibility and accountability. However, there is a special class of individuals that have been called to leading ministries to which a specific call of God which is distinct from the general call of all believers is evinced. In this paper, the writer will argue that the general call for believers is totally different from that of particular ministries and that those who serve in significant ministries should be fully aware of this special and unique call.
In this paper, the writer seeks to present his own philosophy of ministry by looking at the ident... more In this paper, the writer seeks to present his own philosophy of ministry by looking at the identity and role of a minister of the gospel. Furthermore, practices and policies that stem from one’s relationship and fellowship with Triune God will be presented which makes effective Christian ministry in the pastorate, at church, in family, and with other pastoral leaders and the church in general. It is hoped that this philosophy of ministry will permeate all that the writer will do from henceforth after the completion of this course and will continue to improve it with much study, prayer, reflection, and experience
The rite of ordination is of special importance to the church as attested to by the testimony of ... more The rite of ordination is of special importance to the church as attested to by the testimony of Scripture. According to the Bible, several meanings are applied to it such as “appoint,” “establish,” and “issue an order.” In its religious sense, the word ordain means “to invest officially
with ministerial or priestly authority,” that is, installing or elevating a special officer of the congregation. In this paper, the writer seeks to explain why ordination is a non-event in other churches, then will explain the meaning and importance of ordination, and will also discuss the notion of the clergy as a “special caste.”
The work of the pastor is filled with many perils, dangers, and temptations. To his young discipl... more The work of the pastor is filled with many perils, dangers, and temptations. To his young disciple Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim 4:16). Throughout Scripture, pastors are called upon to be exemplary to those whom they lead (c.f. 1 Tim 4:12; Tit.2:7; Phil. 3:17). Ngewa (2009:339) rightly puts it, “An elder must be someone whose behavior should not bring the church into disrepute.” This is a question of ‘integrity’ which the Advanced English Dictionary defines as “an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting” or “moral soundness.” In this paper, I am going to discuss the importance of integrity, the moral steps that I will take to safeguard my integrity, and how to maintain mental soundness and emotional balance.
Christ, He gave some to be pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:11). The primary role of the pastor in th... more Christ, He gave some to be pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:11). The primary role of the pastor in the church is to shepherd the flock. 3 In many congregations today the people are demanding that "the pastor perform and produce in ways that God never intended." 4 The apostle Peter reminded the elders to "feed the flock of God which is among you" (1 Pet. 5:2). Paul, on the other hand admonished the Ephesian leaders: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Pastors should understand that their call to the ministry is a heavenly calling that God chose for them to participate in the sovereign purposes of God. Seamands observes, "The ministry we have entered is the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son, to the Father, through the Holy Spirit, for the sake of the church and the world." 5 The pastor's call is "the unmistakable conviction an individual possesses that God wants him to do a specific task." 6 T. Austin-Sparks observed, "God's true leaders are spiritual men and men of the Spirit." 7 For this reason, one veteran pastor wrote, "Unless called by God, you must not enter the pastorate." 8 However, caution must be exercised, for many have called themselves into the ministry (c.f. Jer. 23) and others have embraced an artificial call to the ministry because they have relied on man-made inventions and human trainings and have thought that this is enough without God's unction. The pastoral calling emanates from the Triune God. God calls, equips, and sends his servants (c.f.
There is a great need today for the church to realize the full mission of God. Christopher Wright... more There is a great need today for the church to realize the full mission of God. Christopher Wright begins his
My understanding of pastoral care in the church today is likened to that of the shepherd who is c... more My understanding of pastoral care in the church today is likened to that of the shepherd who is carrying his sheep. "Like a shepherd he will shepherd his own drove. With his arm he will collect together the lambs; and in his bosom he will carry them." (Isa. 40:11). This image strikes me most since it beautifully portrays the daily task of the shepherd in providing care, support, pasture, and protection for the sheep. During King David's era, he poetically described the task of the Lord as a Great Shepherd in Psalm 23. David's daily experiences combined with his faith led him to compose this great poem of trust and confidence in God. This paper will seek to use the 23 rd Psalm along with other shepherd passages as the benchmark for this essay. It will show that the imagery of the shepherd is one of the best images that resonate with pastoral care in the church today since it embodies the major actions of the Redeemer who loved us and gave himself for us. The Ministry of Shepherding The image that I have chosen shows how the shepherd has taken a keen interest in one sheep leaving the rest of the flock. Carrying the lamb in his arms, the shepherd has spotted the one sheep that is vulnerable and in need of help. This is reminiscent of the parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 where the devotion of the shepherd and his concern is for the one that is lost. This concept fascinates me as I look at pastoral care because as noted in Dykstra, "Dealing with people
The first epistle to the Corinthians suggests that there were several problems that were found at... more The first epistle to the Corinthians suggests that there were several problems that were found at the Corinthian church. These problems had brought divisions, heresies, and bad behavior among the members. Despite the church’s boasting of spiritual gifts, its religious behavior triggered the apostle’s hot displeasure, especially after reading of the report of this church and the testimony of witnesses who had been in fellowship with them (chapter 1). To this end, the whole epistle is pastoral and correctional. The apostle answers some questions, and it gives commendation and chastisement at the same time, so that the Corinthians can be established in the faith again.
Uploads
Papers by DrErnest Musekiwa
with ministerial or priestly authority,” that is, installing or elevating a special officer of the congregation. In this paper, the writer seeks to explain why ordination is a non-event in other churches, then will explain the meaning and importance of ordination, and will also discuss the notion of the clergy as a “special caste.”
with ministerial or priestly authority,” that is, installing or elevating a special officer of the congregation. In this paper, the writer seeks to explain why ordination is a non-event in other churches, then will explain the meaning and importance of ordination, and will also discuss the notion of the clergy as a “special caste.”