The Gospel Shaped Leader: Leaning on Jesus to Shepherd His People

How do you grow as a leader in the church? Should you read church growth books? Take a few seminars? Or just wing it? Scott Thomas, former President of Acts 29, church planter, and pastor has a different approach. He unpacks how leaning on Jesus empowers not just your teaching, but also grows the humility and biblical wisdom you need to lead.

Through many years of ministry experience, Thomas has seen the importance of the "soft skills" of leadership empathy, kindness, and listening and how not developing those skills negatively impacts churches. Yet simply knowing the need for what the world calls "emotional intelligence," doesn't guarantee growth in these areas. But understanding and applying the gospel will bring transformation.

Thomas gives practical, specific help in navigating spiritual and emotional challenges that leaders commonly encounter and unpacks how a gospel-shaped response brings healing. Complete with reflection questions at the end of each chapter to encourage self-inventory and further study, The Gospel Shaped Leader will encourage church leaders of all ages in the categories of self-awareness, self-management, relational awareness, and relational management, with the goal of recognizing strengths and weaknesses so they can continue growing more like Christ.

"In this wise and searching book, Scott Thomas takes us into the heart of true leadership as defined by the gospel itself. Shaped deeply by the eternal truths of Scripture, informed usefully by the broader world of psychology, and reflecting clearly a world of ministry experience, The Gospel Shaped Leader gives all of us an accessible but comprehensive vision of true Christian leadership."
—Dane Ortlund, Senior Pastor, Naperville Presbyterian Church; author of Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

Format: Paperback