Challenges of Christian Leadership (book review)

(view original article here)

Just when we thought we had received everything God had to give us through John Stott’s ministry, IVP publishes this little gem of a book that has previously only been available in Spanish.

It originates from four addresses from 1985 that Stott gave at a staff conference for IFES in Latin America. The subjects he chose face the challenges of discouragement (teaching us to persevere under pressure), self-discipline (maintaining spiritual freshness), relationships (treating all people with respect), and youth (how to be a leader when comparatively young).

Stott’s characteristic gentle tone pervades the book. Each chapter is both simple and down-to-earth, yet profound. His biblical and practical insights offer realistic hope of growth in facing each challenge. But be warned. It would be very easy to read it too quickly without the prayerful self-examination the subject calls for.

Closing the book are reminiscences from two of Stott’s former study assistants, further illustrating the man’s teaching with the way he lived. An appendix of quotations from Stott’s other books about leadership is also included.

Peter Newton,
Shepherd Drive Baptist Church, Ipswich

This article was first published in the June 2014 issue of Evangelicals Now. For more news, artciles or reviews, visit our website or subscribe for monthly updates