Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
So f ya M ali k
INTRODUCTION……………….2
PART 3: AN APPROVED
WORKMAN: LEADERSHIP HELD TO
A BIBLICAL
STANDARD……………………5
Executive Book
CRITICAL EVALUATION………..6
summary
The Book on Leadership
By John MacArthur
THE SUMMARY IN BRIEF
In The Book on Leadership, pastor- In Part 2 – Paul in Corinth: Leadership
teacher John MacArthur entrusts us with Under Fire, MacArthur uses Paul’s most
a look at the principles of Christian personal and passionate letter, the
leadership as they are illustrated through Second Epistle to the Corinthians, to
the life of the Apostle Paul, one of the illustrate how Paul handles the
most influential leaders in the history of challenges of leadership under attack.
the Christian world. These leadership In Part 3 – An Approved Workman:
principles include: taking the intiative, Leadership Held to a Biblical Standard,
motivating others, leading by example, MacArthur summarizes help for
defending your integrity, handling identifying who is fit to lead, and who
adversity, and much more! isn’t, as well as offering warnings against
MacArthur divides the topic into four the pitfalls that disqualify leaders. He
parts. In Part 1 – Paul in Chains: then concludes with a brief epilogue.
Leadership in Action, he discusses the Throughout the book, MacArthur offers
lessons that can be learned from Paul’s us 26 Biblical characteristics of a genuine
leadership during the shipwreck on spiritual leader. As we delve deeper,
Malta on his way to trial before Caesar in we’ll see that the thrust of MacArthur’s
Rome, as recorded in Acts 27. argument is that character, above all
else, is what makes a leader great!
MacArthur also argues that one of the best ways to learn the Despite being in chains, Paul’s trustworthy character has
principles of leadership is through studying leaders who have gained him the respect of the Roman centurion, Julius; his
gone before, not according to the standards of the world, but respectability, intelligence, and kind demeanour has earned
the study of Christian, spiritual leadership. This is why he the trust of his captors, so much so, that Julius has allowed
chooses to focus on the life and behaviours of the Apostle Paul, a prisoner, to take leave of the ship to travel to Sidon
Paul in Acts 27 and the 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians. for medical treatment.
Part 4: Epilogue
Chapter 12. The Measure of a Leader’s Success
“Paul measured his own success as a leader, as an apostle, and as a Christian by a single criterion: He had ‘kept the faith’—meaning
both that he had remained faithful to Christ and that he had kept the message of Christ’s gospel intact, just as he had received it.”
(page 184)
5
The Book on Leadership
The Complete Summary
MacArthur finishes his story on leadership with an epilogue would categorize MacArthur’s description of the leadership of
about how one’s success in leadership can be measured. Paul as being a combination of the trait- and skill-based
According to the world’s standards of success, Paul’s leadership approach with the theory of servant leadership described for us
was a failure – at the end of his life, he was in a prison awaiting in Northouse (2016, chapters 2,3, & 10). The description here
execution and many of his closest friends especially in Asia certainly draws from various styles of leadership, but in
Minor had deserted him due to the terrible persecution against categorizing moral character as the most important quality for
successful leadership in a Christian context, Northouse’s
Christians at that time.
comment about servant leadership came to mind: “Servant
However, Paul’s life and leadership was far from a failure – his leadership is unique in the way it makes altruism the central
influence continues worldwide today, while Nero, the emperor component of the leadership process. Servant leadership argues
who had Paul killed, is one of history’s most despised figures. unabashedly that leaders should put followers first, share control
Influence, not power or position, is the true test of leadership. with followers, and embrace their growth.” (2016, p. 240) This is
In closing off the story, MacArthur briefly looks at some of the exactly how MacArthur describes the Apostle Paul in this book.
significant figures mentioned in Paul’s letter to Corinth at the In reflecting on the quality of MacArthur’s writing, I agree with
end of his life: the team he built, the trials he suffered, the Christian resource reviewer Owen Strachan when he says that,
treachery he endured, and the triumph he obtained in Christ. while “a very good resource for pastors seeking a spiritually-
“Was Paul a failure as a leader? Not in the least. His continuing focused book on leadership….the book feels a little like a
influence in the lives of so many people gives ample proof of the collection of disparate addresses culled together.” (2010).
effectiveness of his leadership to the end. He had kept the faith. Additionally, Tim Challies, a Toronto-based Christian blogger and
He had fought a good fight. He had finished his course with joy. author, comments that while “The twenty six principles of
That was his legacy in this life, and through eternity.” (p. 206) leadership are sound and will no doubt serve to strengthen
many future and current leaders…. In the final analysis, though,
while they are proven from the life of Paul, they were not drawn
explicitly from Scripture.” (2005)
Nevertheless, I found this an invaluable tool for understanding
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Book on Leadership by John
the role of leadership for a Christian who is looking for a
MacArthur. Not only is the author tremendously skilled at
Christian worldview and spiritual perspective on the role of
exegeting scripture passages such as Acts 27 and the 2nd Epistle
leadership in contemporary life, while not ignoring or
to Corinth, both in historical context and for application, but he
marginalizing the role of current scholarly work in theorizing
was also able to draw out some excellent qualities and
different styles and approaches to leadership today. For my own
characteristics of effective leadership along the way, and in a
professional practice, this book will serve me well as I transition
style that was very accessible to scholars and laymen alike.
into the leadership role of Principal of an independent Christian
In drawing from contemporary research on leadership theory, I High School.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How useful is it to study biographies of great (or not so great) leaders to learn about leadership? Are there any drawbacks?
2. Do you agree with the author that character, rather than power, skills, or experience, is the most important leadership factor?
3. What aspects of a person’s character resonate most with you as having a great impact on effective servant leadership?