Craig Groeschel - Lead Like It Matters: 7 Leadership Principles for a Church That Lasts

Many churches and leaders today want the popularity of it but fail to understand the principles it takes. Because I have seen it happen in my own ministry, I know that popularity will fade but principles will last, and Im telling you that if you apply Craigs seven fundamental ingredients, it will take your ministry from good to great. This book is an essential tool for every church leader. Craig is real and authentic and teaches from a place of experience that we all need.

MICHAEL TODD, #1 New York Times bestselling author; lead pastor, Transformation Church

Some organizations have the it factor. Some dont. You may wonder, Do I have it? If you want the answer, you can find it here. Your leadership has never mattered more than it does right now. Read this book so you can lead like it matters.

JOHN C. MAXWELL, Maxwell Leadership

Wow. Every pastor, every minister, every church employee and volunteer has to read this amazing book and give a copy to his or her colleagues. And then they must talk about it. Groeschel has identified something that is essential, transformational, and ridiculously important.

PATRICK LENCIONI, consultant, New York Times bestselling author, and follower of Jesus

With so much discussion around the it factor, who doesnt want it? Not only does Pastor Craig help identify what it is, he aptly teaches us how to find it. This is more than just a book; this is the message of Craigs heart. Not only has he helped me identify the leader in me, I know he will help identify the leader in you. Go for it!

BIANCA JUAREZ OLTHOFF, pastor, The Fathers House OC; podcaster; bestselling author, How to Have Your Life Not Suck

When it comes to leadership, my friend Craig Groeschel has it. He is one of the best leaders I know in any space. The quality of his work and of his team are the proof that you should read and implement every word in this book. Dont hesitate. Do it!

DAVE RAMSEY, #1 bestselling author

My friend Craig Groeschel is the visionary and pioneer of Americas largest church. In Lead Like It Matters, hes generous enough to share the most important lessons hes learned along the way. This isnt just an insightful and interesting book; its a gamechanging guide to leading with purpose.

STEVEN FURTICK, lead pastor, Elevation Church; New York Times bestselling author, Crash the Chatterbox, Greater, and (Un)Qualified

In Lead Like It Matters, Craig wholeheartedly and unreservedly pours out hard-earned wisdom, insight, knowledge, and understanding that are vital to build a thriving church. This book is a gift from one of the greatest church leaders in history. It will inspire, equip, and empower church leaders not only to identify it but to learn to sustain and protect it.

CHRISTINE CAINE, founder, A21 and Propel Women

Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are

Chazown: Discover and Pursue Gods Purpose for Your Life

The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesnt Exist

Daily Power: 365 Days of Fuel for Your Soul

Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe

Dare to Drop the Pose (previously titled Confessions of a Pastor)

Divine Direction: Seven Decisions That Will Change Your Life

Fight: Winning the Battles That Matter Most

From This Day Forward: Five Commitments to Fail-Proof Your Marriage (with Amy Groeschel)

Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not

Liking Jesus: Intimacy and Contentment in a Selfie-Centered World (previously titled #Struggles)

Love, Sex, and Happily Ever After (previously titled Going All the Way)

Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World

Weird: Because Normal Isnt Working

What Is God Really Like? (general editor)

Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

ZONDERVAN BOOKS

Lead Like It Matters

Copyright 2022 by Craig Groeschel

This is a significantly revised and updated edition of It, copyright 2008 by Craig Groeschel.

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Zondervan titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email SpecialMarkets@Zondervan.com.

ISBN 978-0-310-36283-8 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-310-36616-4 (international trade paper edition)

ISBN 978-0-310-36285-2 (audio)

ISBN 978-0-310-36284-5 (ebook)

Epub Edition May 2022 9780310362845

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987, 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).

Scripture quotations marked GW are taken from Gods Word. Copyright 1995 Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. Public domain.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the (NASB) New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Craig Groeschel is represented by Thomas J. Winters of Winters & King, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Cover design: Stephen Cox

Author photo: Life.Church

Interior design: Denise Froehlich

Printed in the United States of America

22 23 24 25 26 /LSC/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook

Please note that the endnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication