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Paul and His Team: What the Early Church Can Teach Us About Leadership and Influence
What can we learn about leadership and influence from Paul?
Most Christians know something of the apostle Paul’s life and ministry, but what about the incredible team of influencers he assembled and mobilized? Who were they, and how did Paul lead this team to accomplish God’s purposes? Even more, what can we learn from their successes and failures, and how can we imitate their qualities?
These are the questions that inspired Ryan Lokkesmoe, PhD, to write Paul and His Team. Like a church-ministry version of Team of Rivals, it reveals important principles about leadership and influence by showing how this early ministry team:
Adapted to cultural, doctrinal, and interpersonal challenges
Found common ground with their audiences
Led baby believers toward maturity
Stayed united despite differing opinions
Equipped others for the work of the ministry
Conducted their lives with self-discipline
Built and maintained strategic partnerships
Navigated sensitive cross-cultural situations
Persisted through difficulty, frustration, and fractured relationships
Persevered when ministry was discouraging
Developed leaders to replace them
Whether you are in a position of leadership or are simply a passionate follower of Christ, you are an influencer that God is using to build His church. And while Paul and His Team certainly reveals a lot about Paul's character as a leader, it also highlights both prominent and obscure members of his team to offer a textured portrait of the early church’s influence in spreading the gospel.
Let’s learn from the men and women God used to build the church, letting them shape our leadership and influence as we continue their work.
Includes group discussion questions at the end of each chapter, making this book ideal for a church-staff or small group study.
Most Christians know something of the apostle Paul’s life and ministry, but what about the incredible team of influencers he assembled and mobilized? Who were they, and how did Paul lead this team to accomplish God’s purposes? Even more, what can we learn from their successes and failures, and how can we imitate their qualities?
These are the questions that inspired Ryan Lokkesmoe, PhD, to write Paul and His Team. Like a church-ministry version of Team of Rivals, it reveals important principles about leadership and influence by showing how this early ministry team:
Adapted to cultural, doctrinal, and interpersonal challenges
Found common ground with their audiences
Led baby believers toward maturity
Stayed united despite differing opinions
Equipped others for the work of the ministry
Conducted their lives with self-discipline
Built and maintained strategic partnerships
Navigated sensitive cross-cultural situations
Persisted through difficulty, frustration, and fractured relationships
Persevered when ministry was discouraging
Developed leaders to replace them
Whether you are in a position of leadership or are simply a passionate follower of Christ, you are an influencer that God is using to build His church. And while Paul and His Team certainly reveals a lot about Paul's character as a leader, it also highlights both prominent and obscure members of his team to offer a textured portrait of the early church’s influence in spreading the gospel.
Let’s learn from the men and women God used to build the church, letting them shape our leadership and influence as we continue their work.
Includes group discussion questions at the end of each chapter, making this book ideal for a church-staff or small group study.
224 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2017
21 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Lokkesmoe
9 books7 followersRYAN LOKKESMOE PhD is the Lead Pastor of Real Hope Community Church in the Houston area. He earned his master's degree in New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and his doctorate in New Testament at The University of Denver. Ryan is the author of Blurry: Bringing Clarity to the Bible (CLC Publications), and has written Small Group curriculum for LifeWay as well as articles for the Lexham Bible Dictionary. Ryan previously served as the Small Groups Pastor at a multi-site church. He lives in Richmond, TX with his wife Ashley and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 7, 2018
Decent book. Only somewhat helpful as the chapters were too brief. But I appreciated the topics addressed and the attempt to illuminate Paul's leadership qualities.
February 24, 2018
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Moody Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
There is no shortage of books that seek to mine the Bible for leadership advice [1], and this book seeks to stand out from the pack by pointing to obscure leaders who assisted Paul. The author thinks, probably correctly, that many people are daunted by the more obvious leaders of the Bible like Jesus or the twelve disciples, and appreciate learning about leadership from those figures who are more obscure. The appeal, for the writer, of writing about more obscure biblical personages, is at least twofold. On the one hand, obscure people allow one to fill in the gaps with reasonable surmises and plausible speculation, all the easier to demonstrate one's point, while on the other hand it allows the author to show his bona fides as an expert on Paul and the early New Testament Church, which is a bit of a mixed bag because there are some aspects of Paul's beliefs that the author gets woefully mistaken because of his antinomian perspective. Fortunately, most of this book does not discuss the author's mistaken thoughts on Paul's beliefs or the doctrines and practices of the early Church, and talk instead about generally useful leadership principles and practices that one can learn from the New Testament and a few references to the apostolic fathers.
In about two hundred pages the author gives an introduction and conclusion as well as eleven chapters that seek to provide a discussion about various aspects of leadership that can be found in the life and example of Paul and his associates. The author begins by looking at Paul's evangelical approach of building common ground with his audience, and then cautions leaders to avoid putting too much of a burden on others, which is an easy thing for Christian leaders to do. After this the author looks at offstage leaders, defining them as people without a public or blog presence, which I suppose would not include people like me. Two chapters on conflicts follow, including some thoughts on how relationships can be revived after conflicts like Paul's conflict with Barnabas over John Marks, as well as some thoughts on conflicts that are worthwhile, like the author's ferocious struggle against negative book reviews (/joke). The author then looks at how leaders can find genuine collaboration as well as build diplomatic bridges over cultural chasms, such as the chasms that are all around us at present within our own divided cultures. Chapters follow on making people feel visible and valued in being a relational steward and also how to restore relationships even when it hurts, something that is of deep interest for many of us who are prone to being involved in conflicts. The last two chapters look at how to lead when it appears as if one is losing in the political and cultural conflicts of our age, and how to room replacements as one faces one's inevitable demise, something many institutions do poorly.
Looked at in its totality, there are many aspects of this book that are appealing, despite the author's antinomian worldview creeping up occasionally. Where the book is at its weakest is where the author is trying to show off his supposed knowledge of the Bible and how Paul's practice and theology addresses aspects of obedience to God's laws, something this author appears woefully ignorant of. For the most part, though, the author is trying to look at Paul's behavior as a leader, and in this the author has some worthwhile principle to provide. I was a bit surprised that the author spent so much time talking about conflict, and spent so much time being so negative about the leadership that one tends to find within churches, but that tends to come with the territory, I suppose. This is certainly a book well worth reading for those who are Christian leaders who want to find within Paul's complex life as it is discussed in Acts and his letters some worthwhile leadership insights, and that is always something to appreciate, regardless of what one thinks of the author's scholarly pretensions regarding the theology of the early Church.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
There is no shortage of books that seek to mine the Bible for leadership advice [1], and this book seeks to stand out from the pack by pointing to obscure leaders who assisted Paul. The author thinks, probably correctly, that many people are daunted by the more obvious leaders of the Bible like Jesus or the twelve disciples, and appreciate learning about leadership from those figures who are more obscure. The appeal, for the writer, of writing about more obscure biblical personages, is at least twofold. On the one hand, obscure people allow one to fill in the gaps with reasonable surmises and plausible speculation, all the easier to demonstrate one's point, while on the other hand it allows the author to show his bona fides as an expert on Paul and the early New Testament Church, which is a bit of a mixed bag because there are some aspects of Paul's beliefs that the author gets woefully mistaken because of his antinomian perspective. Fortunately, most of this book does not discuss the author's mistaken thoughts on Paul's beliefs or the doctrines and practices of the early Church, and talk instead about generally useful leadership principles and practices that one can learn from the New Testament and a few references to the apostolic fathers.
In about two hundred pages the author gives an introduction and conclusion as well as eleven chapters that seek to provide a discussion about various aspects of leadership that can be found in the life and example of Paul and his associates. The author begins by looking at Paul's evangelical approach of building common ground with his audience, and then cautions leaders to avoid putting too much of a burden on others, which is an easy thing for Christian leaders to do. After this the author looks at offstage leaders, defining them as people without a public or blog presence, which I suppose would not include people like me. Two chapters on conflicts follow, including some thoughts on how relationships can be revived after conflicts like Paul's conflict with Barnabas over John Marks, as well as some thoughts on conflicts that are worthwhile, like the author's ferocious struggle against negative book reviews (/joke). The author then looks at how leaders can find genuine collaboration as well as build diplomatic bridges over cultural chasms, such as the chasms that are all around us at present within our own divided cultures. Chapters follow on making people feel visible and valued in being a relational steward and also how to restore relationships even when it hurts, something that is of deep interest for many of us who are prone to being involved in conflicts. The last two chapters look at how to lead when it appears as if one is losing in the political and cultural conflicts of our age, and how to room replacements as one faces one's inevitable demise, something many institutions do poorly.
Looked at in its totality, there are many aspects of this book that are appealing, despite the author's antinomian worldview creeping up occasionally. Where the book is at its weakest is where the author is trying to show off his supposed knowledge of the Bible and how Paul's practice and theology addresses aspects of obedience to God's laws, something this author appears woefully ignorant of. For the most part, though, the author is trying to look at Paul's behavior as a leader, and in this the author has some worthwhile principle to provide. I was a bit surprised that the author spent so much time talking about conflict, and spent so much time being so negative about the leadership that one tends to find within churches, but that tends to come with the territory, I suppose. This is certainly a book well worth reading for those who are Christian leaders who want to find within Paul's complex life as it is discussed in Acts and his letters some worthwhile leadership insights, and that is always something to appreciate, regardless of what one thinks of the author's scholarly pretensions regarding the theology of the early Church.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
December 13, 2018
This book first drew my interest because I had been reading through the epistles of Paul and had learned a great deal about his ministry. The idea of learning more about Paul and his team was what interested me the most. However I learned a great deal more.
In each chapter, Ryan introduces us to one or more of Paul’s team members such as Timothy, Mark, Barnabus or Tychicus and then tells us a story from the Bible that illustrates the leadership lesson we can learn from them. It’s really well done. You suddenly see these ideas and lessons that were definitely there all along but you just didn’t see in a leadership light before. Ryan is not pulling something out of the Bible that isn’t really there to fit his book. He is sharing something that is there, but hidden.
Ryan makes sure he shows how that leadership quality can be used by any kind of leader.
[…] I want to be clear that this book is not just for ministry professionals. While on the surface the activities of Paul’s team most closely resemble the work of full-time pastors, it would be a serious error to conclude that the lessons we learn from them are only meant to be applied in professional ministry circles. Understanding the spiritual outlook and organizational temperament of Paul’s team provides wisdom and inspiration for anyone who wants to be a more effective influencer for Christ – whatever your context might be. Parents, teachers, supervisors, employees, coaches, students, volunteers, law enforcement officers, military personnel, church leaders, neighbors, grandparents, friends, siblings – whatever hat you happen to wear[…].
I found some of the information helpful to other kinds of leaders too (non religious.) As a Girl Guide leader I can understand how some of the lessons apply to me in that case as well.
Although it’s not just for pastors, I will be passing my copy of the book on to our Reverend and I know she will find someone in our church clergy who wants to read it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
In each chapter, Ryan introduces us to one or more of Paul’s team members such as Timothy, Mark, Barnabus or Tychicus and then tells us a story from the Bible that illustrates the leadership lesson we can learn from them. It’s really well done. You suddenly see these ideas and lessons that were definitely there all along but you just didn’t see in a leadership light before. Ryan is not pulling something out of the Bible that isn’t really there to fit his book. He is sharing something that is there, but hidden.
Ryan makes sure he shows how that leadership quality can be used by any kind of leader.
[…] I want to be clear that this book is not just for ministry professionals. While on the surface the activities of Paul’s team most closely resemble the work of full-time pastors, it would be a serious error to conclude that the lessons we learn from them are only meant to be applied in professional ministry circles. Understanding the spiritual outlook and organizational temperament of Paul’s team provides wisdom and inspiration for anyone who wants to be a more effective influencer for Christ – whatever your context might be. Parents, teachers, supervisors, employees, coaches, students, volunteers, law enforcement officers, military personnel, church leaders, neighbors, grandparents, friends, siblings – whatever hat you happen to wear[…].
I found some of the information helpful to other kinds of leaders too (non religious.) As a Girl Guide leader I can understand how some of the lessons apply to me in that case as well.
Although it’s not just for pastors, I will be passing my copy of the book on to our Reverend and I know she will find someone in our church clergy who wants to read it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 6, 2018
Ryan Lokkesmoe is the lead pastor of Real Hope Community Church in Houston, and has a Ph.D. in New Testament studies. In Paul and His Team: What the Early Church Can Teach Us About Leadership and Influence, he brings his pastoral and academic experiences into fruitful dialogue about what the apostle Paul teaches concerning influencing others for the sake of the gospel.
“Many leadership books address the mechanics of leadership and primarily focus on what and how questions,” Lokkesmoe writes. “This book will be more concerned with who and why questions. Who are we as influencers, and why do we lead the way we do?”
Among the leadership traits of Paul and his team that stand out most are these: (1) “Their singular focus was Christ.” (2) “They treated others as equals.” (3) “They were agents of reconciliation.”
Paul and His Team is a good reminder that “our leadership within the church should always have that distinctive tone and posture when compared to any other leadership context.”
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote "Yes" on my Amazon.com review page.
“Many leadership books address the mechanics of leadership and primarily focus on what and how questions,” Lokkesmoe writes. “This book will be more concerned with who and why questions. Who are we as influencers, and why do we lead the way we do?”
Among the leadership traits of Paul and his team that stand out most are these: (1) “Their singular focus was Christ.” (2) “They treated others as equals.” (3) “They were agents of reconciliation.”
Paul and His Team is a good reminder that “our leadership within the church should always have that distinctive tone and posture when compared to any other leadership context.”
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote "Yes" on my Amazon.com review page.
October 10, 2017
Leadership books can actually be bought for pennies these days. The field of leadership is flooded with books, articles, and how-to guides. As it relates to biblical leadership and team building, however, the topic is far less developed. Church leadership is often discussed but biblical models are often stretched to fit the perspective of the author. In my personal reading experience this topic has been largely limited to discussing what kind of leader Jesus was. That is why this book is a great read. Not only does it explore the leadership qualities of Paul, but it discusses many different people that were connected to Paul and the roles they seemed to play on his team. This book is not dogmatic or how-to in nature, but it leaves you with some biblically solid ideas on how to build and lead a team. The simple, straightforward, and thought provoking approach makes this book a great addition to a leadership library.
March 30, 2025
I'm no expert on theology or leadership but I really enjoyed the focus on Paul's "fellow workers" that are named in Paul's epistles and in Acts. I found this to be a simple and interesting study of Paul's leadership style that can be valuable to church leaders and to those in leadership outside the church.
Author Ryan Lokkesmoe makes note of, and applauds, the secondary leaders that helped him set up and run churches throughout his time. Leaders who stayed to build the churches and those who ran his letters back to the followers, and also those who stayed and supported him during his imprisonment.
This book is an ode to those who run the daily operations of the church, teach the children, run Bible studies out of their homes and generally support the pastors and ministers in serving the parishioners. It is also a call for all of us to step up and do our part.
Author Ryan Lokkesmoe makes note of, and applauds, the secondary leaders that helped him set up and run churches throughout his time. Leaders who stayed to build the churches and those who ran his letters back to the followers, and also those who stayed and supported him during his imprisonment.
This book is an ode to those who run the daily operations of the church, teach the children, run Bible studies out of their homes and generally support the pastors and ministers in serving the parishioners. It is also a call for all of us to step up and do our part.
August 11, 2018
Quick read; found the book was well researched and compiled. Provided an accessible historical and exegetical overview of Paul's leadership in the early church. The first five chapters were particularly great and worth the cost of the book.; final three chapters seemed rushed and not as well thought through, which made finishing the book feel a bit onerous. Would recommend.
September 12, 2018
I enjoyed the author's thoughtful and researched analysis of Paul's leadership team. Lokkesmoe brought out interesting tidbits of several individuals that I've read their names in the Bible, but often wonder who they were. Now I know who they are and this book serves as a source of encouragement for those of us not in the traditional ministry, but engaged in the ministry of Christ at work.
November 18, 2019
This book was well written and had some engaging thoughts on the text; however, I had read most of this elsewhere already. For seasoned veterans of New Testament biblical studies and/or leadership books, there won’t be much new here. However, if you’re looking for a good and simple book to give to lay people or non-scholarly types, this book would fit the bill quite well.
April 28, 2022
Great thoughts on principles Paul had with his team. He realized he needed others. He gave others credit, saw them as equals, and let them help him. He called them fellow workers. Some very good leadership and team-building principles.
November 21, 2017
Great idea. It’s a little too short; some areas could have been expanded. Overall good.
August 10, 2022
Fantastic perspective of Paul’s ministry, with his team. Highly recommend for companies, staff and any leadership groups.
February 17, 2018
It was easy to see how much research, care, and attention went into writing this book. It had the ability to be a fluffy and vague overview of leadership lessons from Paul but instead is filled with biblical context and guidance. I thought the author did an excellent job at what he set out to write and teach: lessons from the early church that we can apply as we lead and influence others today. Paul and His Team is a great book for pastors/other Christian leaders and includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter that make it ideal to use as a study for a group of pastors, church staff, small group leaders, etc.
*This review is based on a free digital advance copy provided by the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
*This review is based on a free digital advance copy provided by the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews