Customer Reviews

Agape Leadership

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This book gives us a clear example of "countercultural" Christian leadership, as demonstrated in the life of R.C. Chapman. The reader will be inspired to walk in his example, even as he sought to walk in the example of Christ.

Robert Chapman provides an extraordinary example of godly Christian leadership -- something desperately needed today. Although very few are familiar with this 19th century British pastor, teacher, and evangelist, few will not be inspired by him. This account of his life and ministry may in fact be one of the most spiritually challenging books you may ever read!

The book sets forth the qualities of true -- agape, loving -- Christian leadership:

--Love for God's Word

-- Spirit-controlled character

-- Being patient and gentle

-- Maintaining unity

-- Disciplining and reconciling

-- Practicing hospitality

-- Giving to the needy

-- Continuing consequences

and more. Some excerpts:

To reform the church of God we should always begin with self-reform. Schisms and divisions will increase so long as we begin with reforming others. Wisdom is only with the lowly.

Humility is the secret of fellowship, and pride the secret of division.

The ruin of a kingdom is a little thing in God's sight, in comparison with division among a handful of sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ.

The best testimony that Stephen bore was his last: not when preaching and working miracles, but when he pleaded for his persecutors; for then he most resembled the Lord Jesus in patience, forgiveness and love.

(To a young missionary, heading for the field:) Keep low, look up, and press forward.

The Bottom Line: This book offers a much needed corrective to the kind of corporate (= worldly) leadership styles that dominate most church fellowships today. In that, it ranks with Schaeffer's Mark of the Christian. We highly recommend it be distributed widely, that we might see a generation of Christian leaders arise who are marked by their love, wisdom, and compassion.

This is a must read.

I had never heard of R.C. Chapman before being given this book. After reading about his life, I have gained new insight on what it means to be a disciple of Christ. The book is a quick read (it only took me an hour or two) and is filled with wonderful stories from Chapman's life as well as biblical teachings and application. Not strictly a linear biography, the book is organized under subjects such as "Giving to the Needy," "Hospitality," "Forgiving and Blessing Others" and "Maintaining Unity." Each section illustrates how Chapman applied God's word to in his life in each of these areas. Chapman's life is one that Christians should definitely look to for inspiration on how to be more like Jesus. This book will be a blessing to those who read it.

Incredible insight into what it means to become more Christ like and be a Man after God's own heart. This is a must read to anyone in leadership in their local church.

This brief glimpse into the heart of Agape Leadership in the life of R.C. Chapman is life changing, and brings one to the heart of the Gospel, and what a servant of Christ is supposed to be. If all pastors were like Chapman this would indeed be a much different world, and the church would be what Jesus intended. Millions more would be won for Christ if Christians would live, and love like Chapman.

Dr. Ray DeLaurier, Pastor

This book serves as a model for not only Christian leadership, but Christian life.

Throughout the book, we are encouraged to deal lovingly with people, and that becomes our witness to others.

You will be amazed at the life of R.C.Chapman.

This has truly become one of my favorite books!

I wish every Christian would read this! A powerful spiritual fragrance emanates from every page.

This is truly one of the most revolutionary books ever written. It takes you right back into the heart of New Covenant Christianity. Chapman really did seek to live the Christian life as Jesus did.

I have observed a whole congregation transformed after almost all the members had read this book.

Please buy it, read it, see what you think, and write a review of it!

One of the greatest benefits of reading biographies of departed saints is learning from the experiences of people who youfd never have the opportunity to meet. R.C. Chapman is just such an individual. Relatively unknown today, Chapman is a man all believers would do well to see a role model in our pursuit of holiness.

In Agape Leadership: Lessons in Spiritual Leadership from the Life of R.C. Chapman, authors Robert L. Peterson and Alexander Strauch introduce us to Chapman and his commitment to not only preaching Christ, but living Christ.

And live Christ he did.

Chapman was a man committed to love. He loved God wholeheartedly, making prayer and study his top priority, every day. He exuded patience and gentleness. He loved people and desired to maintain unity within the church.

This book is a hard one to review in some ways. It has challenged me more than any other book Ifve read in about a year, and itfs just packed with helpful, timely material. But, one of the stories I found most helpful and intriguing was that of the Ebenezer Chapel split:

Ebenezer Chapel, a member of the Particular Baptist denomination, had gone through three pastors in eighteen months prior to Chapmanfs arrival. The Particular Baptist denomination held that you could not receive communion or be a member (p. 29). Chapman, finding no basis for this in Scripture, believed that baptism was a response to and public witness of conversion, but not something that prevented a professing believer from membership or communion. He patiently and gently taught the Scriptures, and slowly brought about change within the congregation. Inevitably, though, there were some who would not agree with him and seceded from fellowship.

These seceders then demanded that Chapman's group (the majority of the congregation) move out of the chapel building because it was no longer being used in accordance with Particular Baptist practices.

What was Chapmanfs response? One would expect a fight; there was no provision in the buildingfs deed requiring them to move. Legally, they would be in the right to stay.

gChapman decided that the loving, Christlike response would be to give up the building. He viewed the situation as equivalent to giving up onefs coat to someone who demanded itc the congregation relinquished their rights to the building in 1838 (p. 33). Such a thing would be unheard of today!

But this is the example of a man who truly loved God and truly loved people. He gave up his rights for the sake of love and unity. Amazing!

And thatfs just one such example. As the congregation was in the process of purchasing a plot of land, the Church of England made a claim on it. When Chapmanfs view of the last days came into conflict with that of his eldersf, he refused to teach contrary doctrine for the sake of unity within the church(!).

Despite being a short and fast read, Agape Leadership is a difficult one because itfs so convicting. Chapman seemed to exude holiness (indeed, a complete stranger referred to him as a gholy man of Godc who anyone can see is going straight to heavenh [p. 22]). Truth be told, I am reminded of how short I fall. But Ifm also encouraged to pursue humility. To repent of my pride and my selfishness and love God with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength; to love my neighbor as myself.

Read this book and be transformed by the example of the man Spurgeon called, gthe saintliest man I ever knew.h

Robert Peterson and Alexander Strauch summarize the life and leadership of Pastor R.C. Chapman in Agape Leadership.

More than anything, Agape Leadership puts flesh and bones on the elder qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Peterson and Strauch cover the pertinent biographical information that one might expect. But the critical elements concern the leadership lessons that emerge from the life of R.C. Chapman.

Chapman (1803-1902) is portrayed as a godly man. He was committed to the Word of God, prayer, evangelism, and the local church. His friend C.H. Spurgeon called him "the saintliest man I ever knew."

R.C. Chapman's life reminds me of a church I visited in Belarus. I noticed a sign in Russian above the pulpit. I asked the pastor to translate. He responded with great humility, "Ah, the sign says, 'We preached Christ crucified.'" Chapman's passion was to do just this. His aim in life was to preach Christ crucified. May his tribe increase!

This a great book, if you are intimidated by having to read, don't be, this is one of those books that you wish was 300 pages long, but it's only a few pages, its that kind of book that will lift your spirits and can be integrated in a
daily devotional. The subject matter the Ministry of R.C. Chapman is great reading for anyone who is looking to work in a leadership position, especially in industry.
I can't recommend it more. I hope I can find a translation in Spanish.

Wow...you have to read this book. Easy read, short, but very inspiring. Hard to believe a man like this existed. This is a book to keep in your library and thumb through from time to time. Can't wait for it to come to Kindle or iBooks.