Mark Driscoll, A Book You Will Actually Read On Church Leadership (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 96 pages, ISBN 9781433501371

Christians and even churches seem to find traditional NT leadership issues a bit boring, if not irrelevant, to modern church culture. An ever increasing trend in developing leadership teams is to adapt a more corporate style of government and move away from traditional modes for elders and deacons focusing more on the essence of leadership than structure. On Church Leadership presents a conservative, traditional viewpoint with a contemporary paradigm that weaves in a value of leadership involving more than qualifications and organizational charts. And it’s short, just 76 pages between the intro and the ample appendix. No fluff here.

Knowing a bit about author Mark Driscoll, pastor of the large and growing Mars Hill Church in Seattle, will enhance appreciation for his point of view. Driscoll is on the leading edge of being Reformed and relevant, a hip version of Spurgeon ala Urban Outfitters with a matching church culture. What you will see through the pages, beginning with Jesus, is a description of elders as spiritual leadership, deacons as assistants who oversee material and practical affairs and clearly defined membership requirements.The chapter on leadership teams lays out the dynamics of prophet, priest and king mixed in with “air war” and “ground war” paradigms. Other offerings include a question and answer section and a sample of the Mars Hill membership covenant.

Another item, surely to raise more than eyebrows, is Driscoll’s extensive chapter (more than a fourth of the book) on the role of women in leadership. He does not see the Bible supporting any role for women as pulpit teachers or in the ranks of elder and at the same time does see women filling the deacon role. That chapter alone is worthy of a substantial review and I suggest you read it for yourself.

Notably absent from the material is discussion on roles of five fold ministry gifts (Eph 4) particularly as they relate to leadership functions and structure. While there are several paragraphs in the question and answer section that marginally address his view of an apostle, more inclusive commentary and clarity would be helpful. According to his website at www.theresurgence.org, Driscoll does believe in the charismatic gifts but it’s clear he wouldn’t identify with some segments of the contemporary charismatic church.

From the recent plant to the well established church and to those struggling with church leadership issues, this book is worth a look. Contemporary methodology from the pulpit to the pew can produce strong numbers but weak churches. Driscoll challenges leaders to maintain a conservative biblical basis and a culturally relevant mindset. You may not find consensus with everything presented but there is a wealth of resources for practical insight and implementation to aid leaders in developing or restructuring a solid framework for effective ministry.

Reviewed by Ron Messelink

Publisher’s page: www.crossway.org/books/on-church-leadership-tpb/

As of May 31, 2014, the full digital version of A Book You Will Actually Read On Church Leadership is available at: http://theresurgence.com/files/2011/04/11/OnChurchLeadership_MarkDriscoll.pdf

John Maxwell and Jim Dornan, Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 214 pages.

In one of his latest of a growing list of writings, John Maxwell, pastor, conference speaker, and leadership mentor teams up with businessman Jim Dornan to write, Becoming a Person of Influence. This is a book about leadership, and the title bears the heart of what the writers claim leadership is all about: influence.

This book is not directly spiritually oriented or for that matter overtly biblically referenced in its approach to the subject of leadership. Nevertheless the model and ideas presented are generally rooted in Christian concepts. The result is a very practical and positive display of leadership thinking, that combines the personal experience of the authors with a plethora of examples from mostly famous individuals, encasing them in a simple, well-defined strategy for influence.

Maxwell and Dornan established a basic 4-step progressive model for influence consisting of: 1) modeling, 2) motivating, 3) mentoring, and 4) multiplying. Each of the steps involves certain qualities that round out the concept and provide the catalyst for advancement. It is in these qualities that one can see the Christ-character content. In paging through the chapter on faith the most obvious of such character is expressed. Also developed are qualities of integrity, nurture, understanding, and listening, etc. These qualities are then presented through the 4-step model in a specific sequence so as to spell out the acronym INFLUENCER.

One could regard the efforts of the authors as just another in a growing library of books on leadership technique. And while it is that, the practical and easy to remember models and qualities provide a great base by which one can commit the teaching to remembrance. Mixing this in with humor, passion, and the experiences of people we all know of, Becoming a Person of Influence is a valuable tool for everyone from hopeful novice to seasoned leader. It is a useful aid in developing a positive influence in the corporate arena or the everyday home life, and so enable others to be all God intended them to be.

Reviewed by Ronald Messelink

John Pester, “Jesus Christ: Last Adam, Life-giving Spirit,” Affirmation and Critique, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Oct. 1998).

Affirmation and Critique is a quarterly which addresses theological subjects in a continuum. Through a variety of articles by numerous authors, the last seven issues have focused on the person and work of Christ in a weighty manner that is likely unattractive to the average pastor (or reader for that matter). However, distilling the core truths expressed into practical and palatable servings for sermon material should make wading into A&C a fruitful venture. Others, whom may routine such manner of publications will find it well researched, intellectually engaging, and spiritually energizing.

John Pester, in his article “Jesus Christ: Last Adam, Life-giving Spirit,” challenges the reader with this question: Do we as believers establish our faith upon a confession of Christ only, or upon a deeper understanding of the believer’s changed relation or position in Christ? If a believer’s foundation of faith rests, perhaps even somewhat superficially, on the context of Peter’s confession of Christ, as found in Matt. 16, is this the best foundation? Pester says that we must come to a deeper understanding of Christ as found in the Christology and Pneumatology of Paul. He presents I Cor. 15:45b as a fuller recognition of the “now” Christ, namely as the last Adam and life giving Spirit. In this article, Pester then takes at how the necessity of this deeper understanding is both expressed and implied in the Pauline letters.

Recognition of the last Adam is essential to the believer’s broader experience of Christ-crucified because, Pester says, we all have participation in Adam’s lineage and legacy of sin and death. Only by becoming partakers of the Last Adam are the extended effects of sin and death terminated. This is realized through the life-giving Spirit of Christ-resurrected. Herein lies the power for victorious living and effective work and witness. Or as I myself would express this—positional truth becoming experienced truth.

Pester also notes that the process of experience is reverse of the doctrinal sequence. One must first experience the life giving Spirit before there is a practical severing of our soulish connection to the fallen Adam. This, he observes, is the operation of the “law of the Spirit.”

Experience with his own life and with assisting others to live victoriously has convinced the reviewer, with some reservations, that the author makes a valid and compelling case. I believe this helps explain why so many believers live in the shadow of a historical conversion, being experientially bogged down at the cross, ignorant of the Spirit’s contemporary resurrection power as the catalyst for a vibrant and successful Christian walk.

Cover from the 2007 edition

Keith M. Bailey, Servants in Charge: A Training Manual for Elders and Deacons (Camphill, PA: Christian Publications, 1979), 186 pages.

One can find about as many a different ministry philosophies as there are church groups or denominations these days. Leadership styles and structures also seem to abound. Yet the Bible is quite clear on specific areas of church government. Servants in Charge will be a great help to the pastor and local church in developing a strong solid leadership base.

The book, which also contains a study guide, presents a thorough review of biblical qualifications, responsibilities, tasks and giftings required for those who may serve in the elder and deacon offices. Bailey does a good job in noting the spiritual qualities necessary in selecting individuals for a solid leadership team. Deacons are likewise as elders to be spiritual men, and not merely those who handle the material or financial end of the ministry. Elders, on the other hand may play a role in financial oversight as well. In other words while there are distinctive roles to each respective office there may be an overlapping of functions in the local church.

Often when problems arise in a local church there is one basic struggle that must be resolved: Just who is really running the show? Power struggles and leadership styles have ruined numerous churches and many times a pastor has sought to maintain “spiritual authority” by simply ignoring biblical church government or at best relegating the offices to a facade. In Bailey’s view the pastor is an elder but has a position of authority over the other elders of the church and also as executive director will lead the deacons. This establishes a chain of command and a leadership team at the same time. Biblical precedent and support for this position is solidly presented in the book. The tasks and responsibilities of the pastor-elder versus the lay elder are also documented.

Many will find Bailey’s view on the role of the deaconess, and his interpretation of scripture as it regards this subject, to be quite interesting. While he does make good points on the tasks of the deaconess, he maintains that there is a clear distinction between the deacon and the deaconess role. Although some may oppose his view of the deaconess altogether, others may see the distinctions as unwarranted.

As a pastor working with the everyday reality of these offices in the church I can heartily recommend the book as an excellent resource for those looking to find positive and effective advice in forming, developing, and reshaping their leadership team.

Reviewed by Ronald M. Messelink

Cover from the 2006 reprint.

John Bevere, Breaking Intimidation (Creation House, 1995), 205 pages, ISBN 9781591858812.

Like their worldly counterparts, Christian bookstores today seem to be laden with self-help or, if you will, “spiritual” pop psychology books. Breaking Intimidation is no such book.

Author John Bevere confronts head on a spiritual problem most of us encounter at one time or another: Intimidation. He relates how a people-pleasing, conflict-avoiding, back-peddling response to difficult circumstances often causes a direction other than God’s will, thereby short-circuiting God’s purposes in the sphere of personal and corporate spiritual life. What is refreshing in the author’s approach is how he cleanly identifies the problem: the fear of men rather than fearing God.

While not theological by definition, the author’s premise does an adequate job with a pragmatic yet Scriptural theme in identifying two fundamental truths of a vital and functional faith. Those truths that Bevere identifies are knowing who God is and knowing who we are in Christ. The author’s use of numerous Biblical witnesses to drive home his points challenges the reader to a personal examination as well as prescribing an application for change. The reviewer had an opportunity to read the book at a time when intimidation was presenting specific challenges to his own life and ministry and the message proved helpful.

Encouraging also is the author’s willingness to poke at some charismatic sacred cows in the unearthing of how intimidation manifests. Bevere has produced a readable yet informative book. Breaking Intimidation can be recommended as profitable time invested.

Reviewed by Ron Messelink

Sample chapters available: www.charismahouse.com/sample-chapters/19040-breaking-intimidation-by-john-bevere