Timothy Paul Jones - The God Who Goes before You: Pastoral Leadership as Christ-Centered Followership

Churches close daily due to poor pastoral leadership. This book offers pastors an answer to that problema biblical answer Chapter by chapter, Jones and Wilder ask, What about you? It is a hint of the value and practicality of this work.

Gary J. Bredfeldt , professor of leadership, Liberty University

Ready to rethink pastoral leadership through a Scriptural lens? Jones and Wilder, with decades of pastoral leadership experience, have crafted a unique text on leadership for pastors.

Kenneth S. Coley , senior professor of Christian education, director of Ed.D. studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

There are many leadership books available to the church, but few speak with a prophetic voice that addresses timely leadership issues The book you hold in your hands is such a voice. As churches continue to rise and often fall around the personality and charisma of one domineering leader, The God Who Goes before You is a needed voice to bring balance.

Brian Croft , senior pastor, Auburndale Baptist Church, Louisville, KY

In this outstanding book, Timothy Paul Jones and Michael Wilder have zeroed in on the central elements for Christian leadership: union with Christ, communion with Christs people, and mission in the world.

Andrew M. Davis , senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Durham, Durham, NC

Do we really need another book on leadership? The answer is a heartfelt yes when that book is a distinctively Christian, practically-designed, gospel-focused biblical theology of leadership. Timothy Paul Jones and Michael Wilder have provided so much more than another how-to guide for pastors and CEOs. This highly recommended volume presents a thoughtful, integrative, and theologically shaped approach to leadership that calls for investing in people and in the shared calling of a faithful community for the glory of God.

David S. Dockery , president, Trinity International University

Michael Wilder and Timothy Paul Jones ... have provided deeply biblical and practical guidance on how to steward a congregation under Christs leadership.

Kevin Ezell , president, North American Mission Board

From helpful explanations of leadership offices in the Old Testament, to the simple yet profound challenge that leadership for the believer is first followership, this book is filled with wisdom.

Eric Geiger , senior vice president, LifeWay Christian Resources

Rich in content, impressive in scope, and practical in aim, Jones and Wilder have served local churches and the academy by contributing this work to the field of leadership.

Dave Harvey , executive director, Sojourn Network, and teaching pastor, Summit Church, Naples, FL

Written by two scholar-practitioners who love and serve the local church, this theology of leadership is accessible, fresh, and faithfula gift to the church.

Andrew Hebert , lead pastor, Paramount Baptist Church, Amarillo, TX

Michael Wilder and Timothy Jones have profoundly shaped my view of biblical and pastoral leadership Their unique blend of scholarship and pastoral experience makes them the capable guides we need to lead us to the biblical heart of true pastoral leadership.

Beau Hughes , pastor, The Village Church Denton, Denton, TX

Rather than laying a Christian veneer over secular principles, this book will challenge you to consider seriously what it means to draw your leadership practices from Gods Word.

Jeff Iorg , president, Gateway Seminary

Reading this book is like feeling a cool, fresh breeze on a hot, humid summer day. Finally, someone has considered the whole counsel of God when considering leadership, Jesus, and the church.

Benjamin L. Merkle , professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Every leader is still a follower. In The God Who Goes before You , Jones and Wilder connect the practice of leadership to the story of Scripture, pointing leaders toward a more biblical and faithful model than the self-focused leadership methods so prevalent today. This book will equip Christians to lead by teaching them to follow the way of the shepherd.

Russell Moore , president, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

Readers will evaluate leadership motifs in light of the fact that all believers have full access to Gods revelation. They will walk away asking, How can I best serve and care for the people in my community? The authors submit (and rightly so) that it will take courage, creativity and conviction.

David D. Nemitz , director, Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence, and associate professor of religion and instructional design, Liberty University

Not every book about leadership written for a Christian audience is biblical, insightful, thorough, inspiring, and challenging. This one is! The ideal Christian leader is someone who has been shaped by the character of God and who follows the Lord so well that others are inspired to follow Christ.

Miguel Nez , pastor, Iglesia Bautista Internacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The God Who Goes before You is a gift to the church ... Wilder and Jones have given us a rich theology and gems of pastoral wisdom for stewarding leadership in the service of Gods people.

Kevin Peck , lead pastor, The Austin Stone Community Church, Austin, TX

Jones and Wilder have given the church a valuable work on leadership that is defined and motivated by the work of Christ in the history of redemption. With great social intelligence, they offer a much-needed correction to current models of church leadership adapted from Wall Street.

Eric C. Redmond , assistant professor of Bible, Moody Bible Institute

If youre tired of Christian leadership books based merely on business practices and creational wisdom with a few Bible verses sprinkled throughout, then this book is for you! In The God Who Goes before You , Timothy Paul Jones and Michael Wilder argue from the entire storyline of Scripture that Christian leaders are, first and foremost, Christ-followers.

Juan R. Sanchez, senior pastor, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, TX

What a delight to read a book on pastoral leadership rooted in careful biblical exegesis and shaped by biblical theology.

Thomas R. Schreiner , professor of New Testament interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Christ-following leadership principles of this book provide a distinct biblical framework for leaders who guide churches, Christian universities, or faith-based organizations.

Timothy L. Smith , president, University of Mobile

There is so much that is commendable about this booknot least the esteeming of community, the exhortation to lead as under-shepherds of the one true and faithful Shepherd, the teaching about church discipline, and a much-needed corrective to typecasting leaders today as kingly, prophetic, or priestly. But the heart-warming, action-inspiring, best thing about it is that, from beginning to end, The God Who Goes before You is beautifully punctuated by the truth of our union with Christ as that which informs and sustains all that we are and do.

Steve Timmis , CEO, Acts 29

The God Who Goes before You is the leadership book that Ive longed to read. Jones and Wilder write theologically rich content rooted in years of pastoral experience. This book both critiques and considers the best leadership principles from Christian and secular leaders.

Jamaal Williams , lead pastor, Sojourn Community Church Midtown, Louisville, KY

The God Who Goes before You:

Pastoral Leadership as Christ-Centered Followership

Copyright 2018 by Timothy Paul Jones and Michael S. Wilder

Published by B&H Academic

Nashville, Tennessee

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4336-9169-0

Dewey Decimal Classification: 303.3