EXEMPLARY SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
Facing the challenges, escaping the dangers
By Jerry Wragg. Day One. 153 pages. £7.00
ISBN 978-1846252006
This is a great book on the principles and practice of local church leadership.
In Part 1, on the dynamics of leadership, it looks at the character of the leader. This is where, rightly, the emphasis of the book lies, in explicit contrast to alternative emphases on ‘management-style’ leadership popular within the wider evangelical scene. In Part 2, on the dangers of leadership, it tackles issues like handling criticism and conflict. Part 3 focuses on the development of leaders, both potential and actual.
Written in a crisp style by a serving pastor who previously worked alongside John MacArthur, this book is full of sound biblical teaching on leadership, well applied and laced with illustrations from personal experience in church life.
To give a flavour, in the chapter on conflict, Wragg writes: ‘A leadership that carefully implements godly principles at the first sign of trouble will bless the sheep and cultivate an environment where conflict dies a natural death’ (p.104, his italics). I quoted that at a recent leadership gathering in our church and they liked it!
I am ordering copies for all our elders and deacons. Recommended for all church leaders and leadership teams and those in any kind of leadership in church life.
May God use books like this to encourage us to lead well to God's glory and the great benefit of our churches.
John Samuel,
pastor of a church in Dublin, Ireland
