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

128 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

[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.

[Andrew Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and only 100 pgs. Exceeded my expectations

[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!

[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.

[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.