Saint Peter’s Principles: Leadership for Those Who Already Know Their Incompetence

by Peter A. Lillback

In The Peter Principle, Dr. Laurence J. Peter argued that competent employees are promoted until they reach positions where they are incompetent. Any wise leader, then, can learn from Saint Peter‚"‚€‚"a man who knew his own incompetence, trusted in Christ, and met his deficiencies through the insights of God's Word. In this comprehensive handbook, Peter Lillback, president of Westminster Theological Seminary, uses the apostle Peter's life and writings to guide men and women through the details and daily challenges of leadership in any arena. Readers will think through their relationships, productivity, management style, communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, integrity, and more. Practical spiritual exercises help to put the lessons of each short chapter into action.

Genres: Leadership

596 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2019

About the author

Peter A. Lillback is an American theologian who serves as President and Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He is also President of the Providence Forum and a senior editor at Unio cum Christo. Ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he holds credentials as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. Lillback earned degrees from Cedarville University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He is the author of George Washington’s Sacred Fire.

Reviews

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lillback's book is downright biblical. Every leadership principle is based from a Scriptural text, most from Peter's life and his message in the books of 1 and 2 Peter. Lillback sources his content right from the life of Peter, and often fills in details from his own life. It's not sermonic or tedious to read, as if a series of exhortations, but winsome and helpful, often speaking to the issues of everyday life. It is well organized and easy to go back and reference for help in a specific area such as relationships with co-workers or productivity.

The reader would be hard pressed to find a book like this in the entire genre of leadership. It is certainly much more than a mere combination of pragmatic strategies with a few bible verses thrown in. It's a work that is both biblically principled and practically focused and the practices grow right out of the principles. Lillback includes spiritual exercises and questions at the end of each chapter to aid the implementation of these principles. He doesn't allow the material to remain abstract.

There is a deep mine of wisdom found in these pages, gleaned from a lifetime of work in the ministry context. I am appreciative of Lillback and his candor, humility, and wisdom.