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3D Leadership: Defining, Developing and Deploying Christian Leaders Who Can Change the World
The world needs godly, trained leaders just as much as the church does. Taking the examples of Jesus and Paul, Reeder presents a model of multiplication that intentionally and continuously raises up other leaders. With its three–pronged approach to leadership development, this book guides readers through a time–tested paradigm that works in real life and is fully grounded in Scripture. The principles, personal illustrations, and practical ideas it contains will effectively equip leaders and the church for their task of transforming first the body of Christ and then our culture.
- GenresLeadership
208 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2018
32 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Harry L. Reeder III
10 books3 followersHarry L. Reeder is Senior Pastor at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He is married to Cindy, and they have 3 children and 10 grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 6, 2025
The book starts with a bang and ends with a fizzle. The preliminary chapters were helpful in defining and developing leaders, but the chapters on deploying leaders lacked substantial concreteness. Regardless, it served as a good book for discussion in our men’s group.
A further note for readers from smaller congregations. The book is obviously geared for leadership development in larger congregations where you have the blessing of a larger pool of potential leaders.
A further note for readers from smaller congregations. The book is obviously geared for leadership development in larger congregations where you have the blessing of a larger pool of potential leaders.
May 3, 2019
The author, a pastor, writes that the church used to be a leadership factory that developed leaders not only for the church but also for the world. The church used to serve as a distribution center that deployed those leaders throughout the world. But he tells us that today, it’s the other way around. Most churches now try to make leaders out of people who have been identified as successful in the world. He states that today’s church typically takes the leaders developed under a worldly, self-directed model of leadership, and attempts to deploy them in the church.
The author, unlike many who teach about integrating our faith and work, and myself as well, makes a clear distinction between the sacred and secular, here referring to the church and Christian ministries (sacred) and the world (secular). The book was not what I was expecting it to be. I liked the idea of churches being leadership factories, teaching those within their churches solid leadership principles, and then deploying them in leadership positions in business, sports, government, non-profits, etc. to use their gifts for the Lord. However, this book focuses primarily on developing leaders for churches and Christian ministries, with only passing references to deploying leaders outside of the church, and no practical steps on how to do this.
The book takes its leadership principles solely from the Bible. It uses many helpful illustrations of leadership, many from military history, for example, but misses out on good leadership teaching from Christian leaders such as John Maxwell, Patrick Lencioni, Ken Blanchard, and others. The author tells us that genuine, effective leadership must be learned from God’s Word, nurtured in God’s church, and then transported into God’s world. He writes that the church must follow the Bible’s model for defining, developing, and deploying leaders while simultaneously rejecting the world’s leadership models and standards.
The author uses the term “3D” leadership for defining, developing and deploying leaders. Christian leaders are multiplied and mobilized when the church takes the time to define leadership, then develop leaders, and then deploy leaders. He writes that whenever God decided to do something special, He called, equipped and empowered grace-driven leaders, who in turn multiplied themselves through other leaders. He tells us that by faithfully applying the model of leadership revealed in the Scriptures, the church can again turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
The author gets “3D” from Jesus, our model for leadership. For three years, Jesus defined leadership, developed three groups of leaders - He called the Twelve, and He focused on the Three (Peter, James, and John) - and then deployed them with the mission and vision of the Great Commission.
The author provides a short definition of leadership is “A leader influences others to effectively achieve a defined mission together”. He discusses the difference between “thermometer leaders” and “thermostat leaders”. “‘Thermometer” leaders merely reflect the state of our declining culture, while “thermostat” leaders work hard to change it. Good leaders serve others, that is one of the key differences between a thermostat leader and a thermometer leader.
He looks at the two foundational texts for leadership roles in the church, contained in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. He states that the two basic qualifications for a leader in God’s church: a divine calling and a Godly character. Chapter 3 of 1 Timothy lists twenty-seven qualifications and Titus 1 has seventeen of them, and all but one or two are clearly issues of character rather than giftedness. Good leadership needs both.
The author outlines a model for leadership in churches based on principal leaders, proven leaders and potential leaders. A principal leader multiplies himself, developing proven leaders from potential leaders, who then attract other potential leaders. In this model, the principal leader is the pastor, who should invest in a team of proven leaders who each conduct ministry through teams of potential leaders, and then develop ministry teams of possible leaders.
The author looks at three problems that have entrapped many Christian leaders - indolence, immorality, and insubordination. He covers three basic styles of leadership that we see taught or exemplified in the Scriptures – authoritative participatory, and delegated, and also three types of leadership required for a victorious “army” - visionary leadership, strategic leadership, and tactical leadership.
The book is helpful in developing a leadership model for churches and Christian ministries. I wish it would have included more about deploying leaders in business, sports, government, etc. It also includes an unhelpful dichotomy between sacred and secular vocations.
The book includes helpful “Questions for Thought and Discussion” at the end of each chapter.
I highlighted a number of passages in the book. Below are 10 of my favorite quotes:
1. Grace-filled leaders will become transformed leaders, and then inevitably will become transformational leaders.
2. Modeling is a major key to having the opportunity to influence others, and especially other leaders.
3. Great leadership requires an understanding of our mission and an unyielding commitment of faithfulness to it
4. Great leaders are those who intentionally reproduce themselves.
5. The mark of great leaders is not the number of their followers, but how they attract and intentionally develop the next generation of leaders.
6. Circumstances do not determine your character, they reveal it, and become the occasion to refine it.
7. A large following does not necessarily reflect the presence of biblical leadership. A truer test of an effective Bible-based leader lies not with the size of the followership, but with the quality of leaders he or she produces.
8. A Christian leader is to shape the culture; the culture must not be allowed to shape the leader.
9. We need men and women who are able to change the trajectory of the culture for the glory of the Lord and the good of others.
10. The idea of servant leadership is a familiar one that, sadly, is often taught but seldom practiced.
The author, unlike many who teach about integrating our faith and work, and myself as well, makes a clear distinction between the sacred and secular, here referring to the church and Christian ministries (sacred) and the world (secular). The book was not what I was expecting it to be. I liked the idea of churches being leadership factories, teaching those within their churches solid leadership principles, and then deploying them in leadership positions in business, sports, government, non-profits, etc. to use their gifts for the Lord. However, this book focuses primarily on developing leaders for churches and Christian ministries, with only passing references to deploying leaders outside of the church, and no practical steps on how to do this.
The book takes its leadership principles solely from the Bible. It uses many helpful illustrations of leadership, many from military history, for example, but misses out on good leadership teaching from Christian leaders such as John Maxwell, Patrick Lencioni, Ken Blanchard, and others. The author tells us that genuine, effective leadership must be learned from God’s Word, nurtured in God’s church, and then transported into God’s world. He writes that the church must follow the Bible’s model for defining, developing, and deploying leaders while simultaneously rejecting the world’s leadership models and standards.
The author uses the term “3D” leadership for defining, developing and deploying leaders. Christian leaders are multiplied and mobilized when the church takes the time to define leadership, then develop leaders, and then deploy leaders. He writes that whenever God decided to do something special, He called, equipped and empowered grace-driven leaders, who in turn multiplied themselves through other leaders. He tells us that by faithfully applying the model of leadership revealed in the Scriptures, the church can again turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
The author gets “3D” from Jesus, our model for leadership. For three years, Jesus defined leadership, developed three groups of leaders - He called the Twelve, and He focused on the Three (Peter, James, and John) - and then deployed them with the mission and vision of the Great Commission.
The author provides a short definition of leadership is “A leader influences others to effectively achieve a defined mission together”. He discusses the difference between “thermometer leaders” and “thermostat leaders”. “‘Thermometer” leaders merely reflect the state of our declining culture, while “thermostat” leaders work hard to change it. Good leaders serve others, that is one of the key differences between a thermostat leader and a thermometer leader.
He looks at the two foundational texts for leadership roles in the church, contained in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. He states that the two basic qualifications for a leader in God’s church: a divine calling and a Godly character. Chapter 3 of 1 Timothy lists twenty-seven qualifications and Titus 1 has seventeen of them, and all but one or two are clearly issues of character rather than giftedness. Good leadership needs both.
The author outlines a model for leadership in churches based on principal leaders, proven leaders and potential leaders. A principal leader multiplies himself, developing proven leaders from potential leaders, who then attract other potential leaders. In this model, the principal leader is the pastor, who should invest in a team of proven leaders who each conduct ministry through teams of potential leaders, and then develop ministry teams of possible leaders.
The author looks at three problems that have entrapped many Christian leaders - indolence, immorality, and insubordination. He covers three basic styles of leadership that we see taught or exemplified in the Scriptures – authoritative participatory, and delegated, and also three types of leadership required for a victorious “army” - visionary leadership, strategic leadership, and tactical leadership.
The book is helpful in developing a leadership model for churches and Christian ministries. I wish it would have included more about deploying leaders in business, sports, government, etc. It also includes an unhelpful dichotomy between sacred and secular vocations.
The book includes helpful “Questions for Thought and Discussion” at the end of each chapter.
I highlighted a number of passages in the book. Below are 10 of my favorite quotes:
1. Grace-filled leaders will become transformed leaders, and then inevitably will become transformational leaders.
2. Modeling is a major key to having the opportunity to influence others, and especially other leaders.
3. Great leadership requires an understanding of our mission and an unyielding commitment of faithfulness to it
4. Great leaders are those who intentionally reproduce themselves.
5. The mark of great leaders is not the number of their followers, but how they attract and intentionally develop the next generation of leaders.
6. Circumstances do not determine your character, they reveal it, and become the occasion to refine it.
7. A large following does not necessarily reflect the presence of biblical leadership. A truer test of an effective Bible-based leader lies not with the size of the followership, but with the quality of leaders he or she produces.
8. A Christian leader is to shape the culture; the culture must not be allowed to shape the leader.
9. We need men and women who are able to change the trajectory of the culture for the glory of the Lord and the good of others.
10. The idea of servant leadership is a familiar one that, sadly, is often taught but seldom practiced.
December 11, 2022
Many leadership books are practical. Many leadership books help one identify a leader. Many leadership books fail to develop a philosophy, or dare I say, a theology of leadership, that is seen here by Reeder. Of course, he does provide insight into developing leaders, but only after successfully illustrating the qualities of a true leader that is after God’s own heart. A worthwhile and necessary read for those seeking to disciple and equip the next generation.
February 7, 2020
Reeder III, Harry L. 3D Leadership: Defining, Developing and Deploying Christian Leaders Who Can Change the World. Scotland, UK: Christian Focus, 2018.
For too long, when it comes to making leaders, the church has been held captive by the ways of the world. “Genuine, effective leadership must be learned from God’s Word, nurtured in God’s church, and then transported into God’s world” (13). Leadership making must be restored to the biblical vision. The church must become a leadership factory. We need to define, develop, and deploy faithful Christ followers not only for the church, but also for the world.
Leaders will either conform to the culture or seek to transform the culture. In Reeder’s words, leaders are either thermometer leaders, merely reflecting the current temperature of the culture or thermostat leaders, bringing about a change in the cultural temperature. Christian leaders, leading out of the gospel, are transformed. And transformed leaders become transformational leaders (26). In other words, leaders reproduce.
Reeder’s 3D model of defining, developing, and deploying is a helpful rubric for Christian leadership. It’s intentionally focused on reproduction, on becoming a leadership factory. He defines a leader as one who “influences others to effectively achieve a defined mission together” (34-35).
Unfortunately, the last section (deploying) didn’t really address the deployment of leaders. It would have been helpful to have specifically practical advice here. Maybe even, provide as an example what Briarwood has done in their leadership training. How did Reeder deploy leaders? How should we consider the training of 3, 12, and 70? Instead, we are treated to a seemingly random chapter on Satan (the dangers of deploying leaders?) and the nature of leadership (chs. 10-11) which should have been placed under Part 1. The book would have been stronger if this essential final section was more cogent and coherent. In failing to address how to deploy leaders it failed to propel the book’s vision forward.
At the very end of the book, Reeder mentions in passing that Christian leadership is ultimately an act of worship (196). This struck me and in retrospect, I can’t help but think that this was a missed opportunity. I would have loved to have seen leadership as worship fleshed out. That could be a new book.
Nonetheless, the model of defining, developing, and deploying serves as helpful categories for developing a fully orbed, biblically based leadership development plan. To that end, 3D Leadership offers a helpful guide toward creating a leadership factory.
For too long, when it comes to making leaders, the church has been held captive by the ways of the world. “Genuine, effective leadership must be learned from God’s Word, nurtured in God’s church, and then transported into God’s world” (13). Leadership making must be restored to the biblical vision. The church must become a leadership factory. We need to define, develop, and deploy faithful Christ followers not only for the church, but also for the world.
Leaders will either conform to the culture or seek to transform the culture. In Reeder’s words, leaders are either thermometer leaders, merely reflecting the current temperature of the culture or thermostat leaders, bringing about a change in the cultural temperature. Christian leaders, leading out of the gospel, are transformed. And transformed leaders become transformational leaders (26). In other words, leaders reproduce.
Reeder’s 3D model of defining, developing, and deploying is a helpful rubric for Christian leadership. It’s intentionally focused on reproduction, on becoming a leadership factory. He defines a leader as one who “influences others to effectively achieve a defined mission together” (34-35).
Unfortunately, the last section (deploying) didn’t really address the deployment of leaders. It would have been helpful to have specifically practical advice here. Maybe even, provide as an example what Briarwood has done in their leadership training. How did Reeder deploy leaders? How should we consider the training of 3, 12, and 70? Instead, we are treated to a seemingly random chapter on Satan (the dangers of deploying leaders?) and the nature of leadership (chs. 10-11) which should have been placed under Part 1. The book would have been stronger if this essential final section was more cogent and coherent. In failing to address how to deploy leaders it failed to propel the book’s vision forward.
At the very end of the book, Reeder mentions in passing that Christian leadership is ultimately an act of worship (196). This struck me and in retrospect, I can’t help but think that this was a missed opportunity. I would have loved to have seen leadership as worship fleshed out. That could be a new book.
Nonetheless, the model of defining, developing, and deploying serves as helpful categories for developing a fully orbed, biblically based leadership development plan. To that end, 3D Leadership offers a helpful guide toward creating a leadership factory.
September 18, 2023
Providentially, Harry Reeder, also a longstanding faithful Presbyterian minister, passed on the same day as Tim Keller. Reeder gave most of his life's ministry to the subject of developing leadership in the local church. There is nothing too powerful or new in this book that has not already been said by many books on biblical leadership, and I suspect that this is an updated edition of Reeder's earlier works. However, it is a salient reminder that the basics of Christian character and sanctification go a long way in building Christian leaders for the local church. I did enjoy the many historical warfare/battle leadership figures that he cites as Christian examples, and Reeder consistently demonstrates how these biblical principles are gospel-centered and driven, and not just wisdom of the world. What stood out to me again and again from these pages is the continued reminder that "godliness is more important than giftedness." Dear brothers, watch your life and your doctrine.
January 22, 2025
Concise, clear, AND comprehensive biblical leadership
I really liked the author's impassioned and yet well-thought out points, which were surrounded by sincere exportations. You can feel the seasoned pastor aching and encouraging for young pastors and church leaders he is leaving behind. It's only a few years after the publication of this book that he suddenly passed away, and this book really captures his passion for Christ's church.
I really liked the author's impassioned and yet well-thought out points, which were surrounded by sincere exportations. You can feel the seasoned pastor aching and encouraging for young pastors and church leaders he is leaving behind. It's only a few years after the publication of this book that he suddenly passed away, and this book really captures his passion for Christ's church.
May 22, 2025
More like 3.5 stars. The first chapter or so of this basic book on leadership really dragged for some reason that I can’t pinpoint. But the rest of the book provides a readable, practical, and biblical introduction to leadership for the church and the world. This would be great for officer training or church-based leadership training in general.
December 13, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book, and would give 3.5/5 if I could. It is fast-paced, full of memorable formulas, historical illustrations, and personal anecdotes.
Seems to me to be building on Reeder’s book, The Leadership Dynamic (Crossway).
Seems to me to be building on Reeder’s book, The Leadership Dynamic (Crossway).
December 1, 2018
Good. Very practical, with some wise insights throughout. But the book is very repetitive and could have even shorter.
March 29, 2019
Should have been a pamphlet.
January 18, 2020
Helpful but repetitive
Read
June 19, 2025A great one-stop shop
November 24, 2023
Habla del liderazgo desde una perspectiva bíblica.
Como los líderes realmente somos siervos. Cuáles son las características de un buen líder.
Como los líderes realmente somos siervos. Cuáles son las características de un buen líder.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews