The Good Shepherd's Way : Twelve Practices for Flourishing Through Challenging Times

How do Christians follow the Good Shepherd's example in the highs and lows of life and ministry? Esther Prior outlines 12 practices for flourishing drawn from the Gospel of John.

Christian life and ministry is often difficult, discouraging, and lonely. Christians find faith hard to hold onto when facing challenging circumstances. Congregations struggle to persevere when uncertain times hit. Leaders find themselves navigating complicated and painful situations with little support. Drawing on twelve key practices arising from John's Gospel - "the 12 Cs" - Esther Prior offers a framework for Christian life in challenging times that is biblically rooted and pastorally tested. Each chapter explores one of the "Cs" by examining different episodes in Jesus's life as narrated in the Gospel of John and reflecting on the theological and pastoral implications of the Good Shepherd's example. Filled with personal anecdotes, practical application, and reflection questions, this is a resource that Christians can return to as they navigate times of pressure, uncertainty, and change with resilience and hope.