Using Authority Well: A Concise Guide for Men

by Jonathan Leeman

Accessible Guide from 9Marks Equips Men to Steward Their God-Given Authority

Every position of power—in homes, churches, and boardrooms—has the potential to strengthen people or to harm them. Bad leaders abuse their authority or abdicate it. And their actions breed distrust in authority generally. Yet what do godly authority and leadership look like—the kind that causes people to flourish?

Many men today have lost their bearings when it comes to leadership. In this condensed version of his book Authority, Jonathan Leeman equips men to take hold of the authority they've received and responsibly steward it for the good of others.

Exploring the domains of marriage, fatherhood, church, and the workplace, he offers practical, Scripture-based advice for daily life. This accessible guide, perfect for men's groups, helps listeners submit to God and gain biblical wisdom for their most important roles.

Practical Advice for Various Areas of Biblical insights for fathers, husbands, employers, church pastors, and more Adapted from Jonathan Leeman's Book Authority : Features condensed content Perfect for Small Groups and Men's With engaging questions throughout, this is a great resource for churches and mentors Includes a New Introduction and a Chapter with Advice for Single Men

112 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

JONATHAN LEEMAN is the editorial director of 9Marks, which involves him in editing the 9Marks series of books as well as the 9Marks Journal. He has written a number of books on the church, including Reverberation, and he teaches theology at several seminaries. Jonathan lives with his wife and four daughters in a suburb of Washington, DC and serves as an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington. You can learn more about him and his writing at www.9Marks.org.

Reviews

[Brandon Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good thoughts for all of life.

[Alex Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

You should read this book. Especially if you’re a man. You should read this book.

I received this book at a conference and asked a group of men at my church to read it with me. I’m so excited for those discussions, because I think Leeman has a lot of insightful things to say about the right use of authority.

Looking over my life, I am so thankful for the people, especially the men, who leveraged their authority for my good. My dad. My pastors. Good bosses. Good authority is an immense blessing for those under its care, just as bad authority can be tyrannical. I pray that I never forget how weighty a responsibility my authority is. I pray that my wife, church members, and (God willing) kids flourish under godly authority that reflects the goodness of God.

[Tomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Makes you think and helps you understand what authority is. It’s a great book focusing on men and points out that we as men all have authority and how we should use it wisely.

[Brady Boatwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that makes concise what Leeman writes in his “Authority.” A great one for men who might not have the time to read the larger work.

[Andrew Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and only 100 pgs. Exceeded my expectations

[Zak Mellgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s kind of amazing how much wisdom Leeman packs into 100 pages. Review forthcoming. In the meantime, some banger quotes:

“God has given us all authority because exercising authority plays a central role in what it means to be created in his image. We image him by ruling like he rules.” - pg. 4

“Good authority creates, builds up, strengthens, disciples, disciplines, corrects, encourages, gives opportunity, gives life, and passes out power. Bad authority, by contrast, destroys, deceives, steals, oppresses, uses, usurps, exploits, violates, undermines, dehumanizes, and annihilates.” - pg. 11

“An authority of counsel…impels compliance by earning trust and building a relationship. Church members and wives need to be able to trust the character, competence, and confidence of the men leading them. Trust is the currency that pastors and husbands have to spend-the gas that makes the car move. Wives and church members will feel more inclined to follow when they trust the personal integrity and self-sacrifice love of the man or men who lead.” - pg. 30

“A wife should be able to watch her husband in order to learn what Jesus’s love and authority are like. It should be as though when Jesus shows up, she’ll more easily recognize him because she’s been watching her husband imitate Christ’s patterns for years.” - pg. 42

“God designed children not to rule but to learn how to rule through discipline and discipleship. When well-meaning but naïve parents grant their children such rule too early, those children fail to reach their fullest potential and are ultimately miserable.” - pg. 49

“Wisdom is learned in Sunday school class but also on Mom’s piano bench and in Dad’s workshop. It’s learned by being apprenticed in all the skills of life that are necessary for fulfilling the call to God-imaging dominion-both the theological and the practical, so that one might feed on the bread of heaven and the bread of earth.” - pg. 50

[Rob Sumrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using Authority Well is Jonathan Leeman’s abridged version of his excellent work, Authority. He condenses Authority - a formidable but worthy book - down to a helpful, quick read aimed at the hearts of Christian men.

This is a must-read. Leeman’s take is solidly biblical and eminently practical. He sets proper limits on authority while holding up the necessity of authority. A reader looking for an endorsement of their toxic leadership will need to look elsewhere; they won’t find it here. Nor will the complacent, authority-abdicating man find validation of his passivity. Leeman threads the needle, decrying both toxic masculinity along with its abusive tendencies and unmotivated passivity along with its hen-pecked laziness. Neither version of manliness reaches the standard. Particularly helpful is his distinction between the authority of command and the authority of counsel. I have already used these categories multiple times in pastoral discussions. I can see this language enduring in the church because of how extremely helpful it is.

[Brayden Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful and practical book for men. If you can’t convince someone to read Leeman’s bigger book, Authority, this will be a good start.

[Josiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an easy but thought-provoking read. I will first outline the book and then share some highlights. After defining authority, Leeman discusses the authority of a husband, father, manager, and elder. In the penultimate chapter, Leeman addresses young men who aspire to use authority well and concludes with a call to all men to fear the Lord. He asks very practical diagnostic questions in many of the chapters. The book also includes a discussion guide in the back of the book for each chapter. As a husband, father, and teacher, I found that this book has given me good questions to think through and to pray about.

Leeman explains that authority flows from God because God is the authority. Therefore, authority is not a product of sin. It has been corrupted by sin, but it is still an important tool. His authority is both immanent (He is with us) and transcendent (He is above us). Leeman uses this distinction to differentiate between the authority to command and the authority to counsel. To give some quick examples: The government's authority is transcendent and can command and compel obedience. A father's authority, by contrast, is more immanent-he is with his kids-and his authority transitions from command to counsel as the children age. As a husband, my authority is immanent. I am with my wife and can counsel her, but I cannot force or pressure her to do what I think is best.

Leeman relies on God's character to illustrate how to exercise authority because our view of God shapes how we use authority. In his chapter for pastors, he talks about how the best pastors smell like the sheep, just like Jesus-the Great Shepherd. In his chapter for husbands, he points out that husbands are to imitate Christ in the Gospels - not Christ seated on His throne or acting as the Judge.

Leeman also argues that authority's purpose is to give life to others, helping them to grow up into the calling God has for them. He points out that God could have controlled everything better than humans possibly could, yet He empowers us with authority to do His will on earth. As someone who tends toward micromanagement and fear, I found this corrective helpful.

Another point I found helpful was the need to rely on God. Leeman repeatedly emphasizes that he is not perfect and that he-and all men who desire to wield authority well-must confess their sinful failures to lead well and rely on God. This is what separates this book from a self-help book; it recognizes that even good leaders need the grace that only Christ provides.

[Jt overby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author graciously gave a copy of this book to one of his students, a pastoral assistant at our church, and I used my authority (well?!) and took it from him so I could read! Excellent book. We plan on buying this book for the men of our church to give away on Father’s Day. I benefitted from Leeman’s teaching on authority of command vs. counsel, the authority of a husband, and the authority of a single man the most. Highly recommend!

[Steve Dauster]

Helpful and quite concise. Took only a couple of hours to read - but still worth it.

Not a difficult book to understand - but still very countercultural. Good discussion of authority in the different spheres of the Christian life.

Might be worthwhile to check out his larger work on the subject, but this shorter version will likely be where I stop.

[Kelton Zacharias · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a condensed version of “Authority,” which was my favorite book of the year when I read it. It doesn’t have the same depth or breadth as the original, so it isn’t nearly as rich. Still, if you want the core ideas in a much shorter and more approachable format, this is an excellent choice. I’d recommend Authority if you have the time, but this is a worthwhile alternative.

[David Byun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and helpful book for understanding biblical, emotive, and life giving authority. What does the Bible say authority should look like? Jonathan Leeman answers this question by defining authority and applying its principles to multiple contexts where authority is needed.

[Caleb Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing better out there on authority is his bigger book. I'm really thankful Leeman condensed the larger book down for men. Just absolutely an essential read for Christian men. The new chapter on authority and the single man is great.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little summary of authority. It’s a quick read, and worth it. There are a few things I might quibble with, but the primary themes are good.

[Richard Carwile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for men who lead or serve in their local churches and covers a wide variety of issues relevant to what it means for a man to serve and to lead. Great book!

[Ryan Rhew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on biblical manhood (all things considered) available today. Only 100 pgs, but meaty and helpful!

[Cory Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this abbreviated book, it's exactly what it says.