The Fourfold Leadership of Jesus

The Fourfold Leadership of Jesus

by Andrew Watson (Author)

Synopsis

'Don't follow me. Follow Jesus!' runs a popular slogan. Yet the apostle Paul wrote, 'Follow my example, as I follow Christ.' Can we hope to echo Paul's words, or should we always be pointing away from ourselves to Christ? This book considers four of Jesus' commands to his disciples as the basis for four models of leadership in the church which may be appropriate in different seasons of ministry: come (a pastoral approach), follow (inspiring by example), wait (faithful in obedience), go (evangelistic and mission-focused). Above all, Andrew Watson concludes that developing individual character and discipleship is an essential aspect of leadership in the church.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Edition: Unexpurgated
Publisher: Bible Reading Fellowship
Published: 22 Feb 2008

ISBN 10: 1841014354
ISBN 13: 9781841014357
Book Overview: Looks at how Jesus variously calls his disciples to come, follow, wait and go - and what these commands teach us about Christian discipleship and the call to lead. USP: Shows that leadership is a key part of discipleship - not just for 'special Christians' Author's expectations for the book: He says: 'I've been very encouraged by the feedback I've received on the Come, Follow, Wait, Go theme, and was prompted to write a book on the encouragement of Professor Ove-Conrad Hanssen, a Norwegian academic and author who also has a heart for the renewal of the church. My dream would be for this book to inspire and motivate many (lay and ordained, women and men) to grow in their discipleship and their ability to lead and encourage others.' What prompted this proposal? Author approached NS What is the competition? Other authors/titles/publishers? There are a very large number of leadership books on the market, including several that focus on Jesus. Of these James Lawrence's Growing Leaders (BRF) looks at the character, competence and calling of the leader, but is more a highly practical workbook than a developed reflection on the character of Jesus himself. Leighton Ford's Transforming Leadership (IVP) focuses on the leader as strategist, seeker, shepherd-maker and so on, with a particular focus on vision, values and empowering change. John Adair's The Leadership of Jesus and its legacy today (Pilgrim Press) is a helpful, occasionally quirky book comparing Jesus' leadership with that of other leaders, both Greek, Roman and Jewish. Leading Jesus-Style by Mark Ashton (Willow Creek) focuses on vision, strategy, team building and mission. These all tend to be directed towards a predominantly evangelical readership, whereas the aim of this book is to speak to a wider audience. Special edition potential: - Special timing? - Marketing suggestions: Author is involved with a number of different networks, including New Wine, HTB, the Church Army, General Synod, CPAS, the Philo Trust and the Lutheran churches of Norway and Sweden. He regularly speaks at conferences (generally on a leadership theme), and says he would promote his book with enthusiasm!

Media Reviews
The most refreshing and illuminating leadership book I have read in years. J John These are days when the Church needs leaders who know Jesus and seek to lead like him. Andrew Watson is one such man. Drawing on his experience of leading a growing church, this book is packed with wisdom, good advice, and sound biblical principle. It will change and inspire. Mark Russell, Chief Executive, Church Army Leadership is complex - ask any leader. Simplistic advice is rarely true or helpful. That's why this book is so valuable. Andrew Watson offers clear biblical reflection to inspire and encourage leaders to lead more like Jesus. James Lawrence, Director of the CPAS Arrow Leadership Programme From: The Methodist Recorder 6 March 2008 Anglican vicar of a Twickenham church Andrew Watson speaks at conferences in the UK and abroad on issues relating to leadership: he has distilled his message into print with The Fourfold Leadership of Jesus . The book's four parts relate to the calls of Jesus to Come to me - starting with Accessible leadership; Follow me - examining Inspirational leadership; Wait for me - describing long-term leadership; and Go for me - multiplying leadership, which deals with misleadership as well as responding to the missionary challenge. His range of references is wide and helpfully detailed - from second century Pliny to a 21st century community health and development society in the slums of Delhi - and he writes from the experience of pioneering three church plants and as a member of the Church of England's Council for Mission and Ministry. From The NEWSpaper (Hereford Diocese) - Winter 2008 Over the last 15 years the Diocese of Hereford has done a considerable amount of work on developing the ministry of all believers. As more people have engaged with the mission imperative of the church and are active in ministry the Diocese has recognised the need to enhance the leadership skills of the Clergy. There are many models of leadership out there and Andrew Watson, in his well written and easy to read book, has chosen to concentrate on an analysis of the leadership model of Jesus. It is a fascinating read filled with insight. It challenges the exhausting activist models of leadership that are so often presented in the secular world. Andrew Watson points the reader to the nature of the undergirding spirituality which shapes the model of leadership adopted by Jesus. Andrew Watson has recently been appointed as Bishop of Aston and will be moving from the Church he has led for the last 12 years - a church which has grown from 300 to 1000 under his leadership. His study of Jesus' leadership has been lived out in the busy activist world of parish ministry and so it makes a very credible read. Reviewed by Graham Sykes From: The Good Bookstall - March 2009 In this readable, well thought-out book Andrew Watson offers wise, practical advice to leaders, encouraging them to lead like Jesus. Jesus called his disciples to come, to follow, to wait and to go, and the book's basis is that each of these commands represents a different aspect of the call to discipleship. The author also believes that leadership and discipleship are so closely related as to be virtually indistinguishable from one another. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to become more like Jesus. Reviewed by Jackie Rowe
Author Bio
Andrew Watson is Bishop of Aston, and author of The Fourfold Leadership of Jesus (BRF 2008), Confidence in the Living God (BRF, 2009) and The Way of the Desert (BRF, 2011), a Lent book. In a five-star review of the Confidence book, Christianity magazine writes of Watson's 'searching biblical investigation, revealing character portraits, lively anecdotes, relevant application and readable style', which make this 'an outstanding expository book which is anchored in the real world'. The Way of the Desert brings these same qualities to the story of Moses and the Exodus.