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Courageous Churchmen: Leaders Compelling Enough to Follow
What is it that compels a group of people to follow the leadership and vision of one person? Why are the insights and pursuits of certain individuals more persuasive than those of others? This book reveals how leadership should be characterized in the church, and how biblical leadership must differ from the kind of leadership promoted in the world. It explores the dynamics of leadership, particularly the character traits that need to be built up or eradicated in leaders, the dangers that leaders face and temptations to which they are particularly prone, and the development of future leaders: how to recognize leadership potential and encourage leadership gifts in the next generation.
- GenresLeadership
215 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
18 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 9, 2025
This book will prove very helpful to any current or aspiring church leader. The book continues to benefit the reader as it progresses, with my favorite chapters being 6-12. This section covers what many eldership books do not. Highly recommended for church elders or men who aspire to such an office.
December 10, 2022
I think that Jerry Wragg's gifting is more as a preacher than an author, but this book is full of biblical wisdom about what it means to be a servant leader of a church. I'm very grateful for his emphasis on humility, character growth, and mortification of sin as non-negotiables for any man in or pursuing pastoral ministry.
February 13, 2023
A very practical, good viewpoint in leadership pertaining to ministry. Digs into the depths of the characteristics a leader should exemplify as well as dangers in leadership and other important aspects of leadership. Definitely would recommend for anyone wanting to pursue ministry or already in ministry.
May 5, 2020
My son, Dallas and I, have been working our way through this book, spending time each week talking about the chapter read. To put it bluntly: This is an excellent book. I met the author last year at a conference, and while having lunch with him and several other men, I decided to observe, to watch Jerry's interaction, his people skills, his shepherding heart, etc. He masterfully fielded questions about ministry, about church, about doctrine, about leadership, etc., doing so with a heart of humility and genuine concern for those who he interacted with. Meeting him in person and listening to him speak over lunch gave me an appreciation for Jerry that carried over to what I read in the pages of this book.
Jerry broke his book down into three main sections: 1) The Dynamics of Leadership; 2) The Dangers of Leadership; and 3) The Development of Leadership.
In the first section, the author challenges the reader to consider his life and whether his life can be said to be worth following. He reminds the reader that God looks at the heart. That is such a sobering reminder for anyone who stops and ponders the fact that, even if the externals appear to be righteous and godly, it is God alone who reads the heart. The author challenges the reader to consider a life of meekness, of integrity, and of having stamina for the long-haul of ministry. Stamina is oh so critical, for the life of ministry is one of heartache, of challenges, of weakness.
The second section was one that challenged me most. In this section, the author talked about some of the common struggles that leaders face, struggles that are not only external (you know, that result from other people). He begins by writing about the kinds of leaders that God actually resists. What are the qualities in the life of the leader who God opposes. It's a great chapter and one that challenges, warns, and humbles the receptive heart. The author also speaks to a very common struggle that leaders face and that is the envy that one can struggle with as he observes other leaders and their particular gifting. Many of us in leadership have seen the very effective preacher, teacher, counselor, etc. and it is easy to find oneself shot through with an envy-a jealousy-towards that person who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit in such a unique and beautiful way. But there is more that the author covered. He offers a whole chapter on the issue of criticism, both receiving and giving. It challenged my heart in so many ways. Wragg then spent a couple of chapters speaking to the issue of conflict. One may be inclined to think that he is writing to the leader about how to help people in the church navigate through conflict that they have. Actually, Wragg was speaking more so, to conflict leaders may have with one another and with others in the church body. Leadership often brings with it conflict. Anytime a leader has to make decisions, he is fully aware of the reality that there may be others who don't like his decisions, others that may have a radically different perspective/view on the decision to be made. Navigating through times of conflict within a leadership team can be challenging. The author offers some great counsel for leaders to think their way through many issues. In the second section the author also talked about leaders who defect. This chapter lead to an incredible discussion with my son about the history of ministry that I have been involved in and the sad realities of defection that I saw in the lives of some, once, very effective leaders. Last, this section ended with speaking to the issue of the leader as a watchman. We know that savage wolves abound. Paul warned the spiritual leaders of the church of Ephesus that after his departure there would be savage wolves who would enter the church and seek to lead astray many people. Paul warned the same group that there would even be from amongst their own some who would rise up and lead sheep astray (Acts 20). In this chapter, Wragg speaks to the clear biblical demand that leaders have to be sound in doctrine and to be continuously on the lookout for false doctrine, teachings that are more subtle in their deceptiveness, and how the true shepherds need to be functioning like watchmen, confronting and challenging errant doctrine that leads the sheep astray.
In the last section, Wragg offers some insight into leadership training. This section is dear to my heart as I get older and begin to think about the next generations that will make up the church. It was both insightful and a great challenge to read what the author had to say about the efforts needed to train up the next generation of leaders.
I believe that any and all leaders of the church would greatly benefit from reading this excellent, excellent book. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to do so.
Jerry broke his book down into three main sections: 1) The Dynamics of Leadership; 2) The Dangers of Leadership; and 3) The Development of Leadership.
In the first section, the author challenges the reader to consider his life and whether his life can be said to be worth following. He reminds the reader that God looks at the heart. That is such a sobering reminder for anyone who stops and ponders the fact that, even if the externals appear to be righteous and godly, it is God alone who reads the heart. The author challenges the reader to consider a life of meekness, of integrity, and of having stamina for the long-haul of ministry. Stamina is oh so critical, for the life of ministry is one of heartache, of challenges, of weakness.
The second section was one that challenged me most. In this section, the author talked about some of the common struggles that leaders face, struggles that are not only external (you know, that result from other people). He begins by writing about the kinds of leaders that God actually resists. What are the qualities in the life of the leader who God opposes. It's a great chapter and one that challenges, warns, and humbles the receptive heart. The author also speaks to a very common struggle that leaders face and that is the envy that one can struggle with as he observes other leaders and their particular gifting. Many of us in leadership have seen the very effective preacher, teacher, counselor, etc. and it is easy to find oneself shot through with an envy-a jealousy-towards that person who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit in such a unique and beautiful way. But there is more that the author covered. He offers a whole chapter on the issue of criticism, both receiving and giving. It challenged my heart in so many ways. Wragg then spent a couple of chapters speaking to the issue of conflict. One may be inclined to think that he is writing to the leader about how to help people in the church navigate through conflict that they have. Actually, Wragg was speaking more so, to conflict leaders may have with one another and with others in the church body. Leadership often brings with it conflict. Anytime a leader has to make decisions, he is fully aware of the reality that there may be others who don't like his decisions, others that may have a radically different perspective/view on the decision to be made. Navigating through times of conflict within a leadership team can be challenging. The author offers some great counsel for leaders to think their way through many issues. In the second section the author also talked about leaders who defect. This chapter lead to an incredible discussion with my son about the history of ministry that I have been involved in and the sad realities of defection that I saw in the lives of some, once, very effective leaders. Last, this section ended with speaking to the issue of the leader as a watchman. We know that savage wolves abound. Paul warned the spiritual leaders of the church of Ephesus that after his departure there would be savage wolves who would enter the church and seek to lead astray many people. Paul warned the same group that there would even be from amongst their own some who would rise up and lead sheep astray (Acts 20). In this chapter, Wragg speaks to the clear biblical demand that leaders have to be sound in doctrine and to be continuously on the lookout for false doctrine, teachings that are more subtle in their deceptiveness, and how the true shepherds need to be functioning like watchmen, confronting and challenging errant doctrine that leads the sheep astray.
In the last section, Wragg offers some insight into leadership training. This section is dear to my heart as I get older and begin to think about the next generations that will make up the church. It was both insightful and a great challenge to read what the author had to say about the efforts needed to train up the next generation of leaders.
I believe that any and all leaders of the church would greatly benefit from reading this excellent, excellent book. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to do so.
August 1, 2020
There is some good stuff here, but overall the book fails to deliver on the title and is neither courageous or compelling.
Jerry Wragg lays out a blueprint for the type of leaders he is looking for in his ministry. He draws from his many year of experience and calls for men of strength, integrity, courage, and faith. His points are often overly simplistic and predictable. But worse than that is the distracting tone he carries through by inserting short critical jabs at other modern church leaders and the coming generation of church leaders. Perhaps a pastor who is dealing with the daily temptation toward pragmatism would empathize with his tone through this section but I found it very off putting.
The second half of the book sectioned off as "The Dangers of Leadership" was much more helpful. Chapters on spiritual gifts, handling criticism, and resolving conflict were carried well by the authors strength of experience. While nothing here was life changing or particularly poetic, I am sure that church leaders of any level would find these chapters to be engaging, challenging, and encouraging.
The final chapters of the book details out what to be looking for in potential leaders in your church. With only two chapters to flesh these ideas out, he takes only a cursory look at these subjects, but the information is lovely. While I am not in a hurry to read another book by this author, a deeper dive into the subject of developing leaders, looking for the right raw materials, and shaping the next generation would be a good place for him to go.
Jerry Wragg lays out a blueprint for the type of leaders he is looking for in his ministry. He draws from his many year of experience and calls for men of strength, integrity, courage, and faith. His points are often overly simplistic and predictable. But worse than that is the distracting tone he carries through by inserting short critical jabs at other modern church leaders and the coming generation of church leaders. Perhaps a pastor who is dealing with the daily temptation toward pragmatism would empathize with his tone through this section but I found it very off putting.
The second half of the book sectioned off as "The Dangers of Leadership" was much more helpful. Chapters on spiritual gifts, handling criticism, and resolving conflict were carried well by the authors strength of experience. While nothing here was life changing or particularly poetic, I am sure that church leaders of any level would find these chapters to be engaging, challenging, and encouraging.
The final chapters of the book details out what to be looking for in potential leaders in your church. With only two chapters to flesh these ideas out, he takes only a cursory look at these subjects, but the information is lovely. While I am not in a hurry to read another book by this author, a deeper dive into the subject of developing leaders, looking for the right raw materials, and shaping the next generation would be a good place for him to go.
August 5, 2020
The author divides this book into three sections: Part 1, The Dynamics of Leadership; Part 2, The Dangers of Leadership; and Part 3, The Development of Leadership. The leadership he's referring to is pastoral leadership.
I've had the experience of being in churches with very good leaders, in churches with pastors who weren't leaders at all, but were dictators, and in churches whose pastors were good preachers, but had no clue about leadership. As the author states, "Bookstores are well stocked with books on leadership, and most of them are filled with dangerously bad advice for people in positions of spiritual leadership." And that's true, as they are filled with pop psychology stressing tricks and techniques for leveraging their authority to get maximum results. I heard one pastor who had swallowed worldly leadership philosophy exclaim, "I'm the leader of a million dollar a year corporation."
Spiritual leadership is completely different. Jesus's leadership of the Twelve was completely different (see Mt 20:25-38). This books describes what spiritual leadership is, the dangers of leadership, and developing leaders. I highly recommend it.
I've had the experience of being in churches with very good leaders, in churches with pastors who weren't leaders at all, but were dictators, and in churches whose pastors were good preachers, but had no clue about leadership. As the author states, "Bookstores are well stocked with books on leadership, and most of them are filled with dangerously bad advice for people in positions of spiritual leadership." And that's true, as they are filled with pop psychology stressing tricks and techniques for leveraging their authority to get maximum results. I heard one pastor who had swallowed worldly leadership philosophy exclaim, "I'm the leader of a million dollar a year corporation."
Spiritual leadership is completely different. Jesus's leadership of the Twelve was completely different (see Mt 20:25-38). This books describes what spiritual leadership is, the dangers of leadership, and developing leaders. I highly recommend it.
December 12, 2018
A very helpful book concerning the character of a church leader, would be important for anyone to read who is considering ministry.
The strongest features of the book are its biblical principles regarding conflict resolution and a particularly strong section on how to distinguish biblical mandates from personal preferences.
The strongest features of the book are its biblical principles regarding conflict resolution and a particularly strong section on how to distinguish biblical mandates from personal preferences.
December 23, 2023
Brilliant!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews