On Church Leadership (Book You'll Actually Read) [Paperback]

Mark Driscoll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 9, 2008 | Series: Book You'll Actually Read

Mark Driscoll knows something about church leadership. He founded Mars Hill Church in Seattle in 1996, and it is now one of the fastest-growing and most prolific church-planting churches in America. Writing out of his personal experience and biblical conviction, Driscoll examines six important areas of church leadership, packing big truth into this little book, making it a book you'll actually read.

This book also includes some helpful appendices that answer seventeen common practical questions about church leadership, as well as a sample membership covenant and a list of recommended reading for further study on church leadership.

On Church Leadership is part of a series of thorough, inexpensive, and accessible books that give clear, biblical answers to difficult theological questions and controversies. Through this series, readers will get a solid and simple introduction to a major doctrine by investing just a little time and money.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mark has a gift of taking weighty ideas and expressing them in clear and lively language."
—Bruce A. Ware, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Serious, informed, reverent, but not technical discussions of great themes."
—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"Simply and superbly written! Mark Driscoll has given us tools that can be placed in the hands of a skeptic or seeker, a new believer or mature saint."
—Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

"These accessible books will encourage believers to see that theology is not an afterthought in the mission of God and the life of his church."
—Ed Stetzer, President, LifeWay Research; author, Subversive Kingdom

"These books are well worth an hour of your time."
—Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor, LifeChurch.tv; author, WEIRD: Because Normal Isn't Working

About the Author

MARK DRISCOLL is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, one of the fastest-growing churches in America. He leads the Acts 29 Church Planting Network and the Resurgence Missional Theology Cooperative. The Church Report has recognized him as the eighth most influential pastor in America. He is the author of several books, including Crossway's Vintage Jesus.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Crossway; 1 edition (June 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433501376
• ISBN-13: 978-1433501371
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 6.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pastor Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington and is one of the world's most-downloaded and quoted pastors. His audience--fans and critics alike--spans the theological and cultural left and right. He was also named one of the "25 Most Influential Pastors of the Past 25 Years" by Preaching magazine, and his sermons are consistently #1 on iTunes each week for Religion & Spirituality with over 10 million of downloads each year.

Pastor Mark received a B.A. in Speech Communication from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, and he holds a masters degree in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of fifteen books.

In 1996, at the age of twenty-five, Pastor Mark and his wife, Grace, with the vision to make disciples of Jesus and plant churches, started a small Bible study at their home in Seattle, which at the time was the least churched city in America. Since that time, by God's grace, the church has exploded with upwards of nineteen thousand people meeting across thirteen locations in four states (Washington, Oregon, California, and New Mexico). Mars Hill has been recognized as the 54th largest, 30th fastest-growing, and 2nd most-innovative church in America by Outreach magazine.

Pastor Mark is the co-founder of the Acts 29 Network, which has planted over 400 churches in the US, in addition to thirteen other nations. He founded the Resurgence, which receives close to six million visits annually and services Christian leaders through books, blogs, conferences, and classes. And he is co-founder of Churches Helping Churches with Pastor James MacDonald, which raised over $2.7 million to help rebuild churches in Haiti and empower them minister and provide aide to the Haitian community, and helped deliver $1.7 million in medical supplies to the devastated country.

With a skillful mix of bold presentation, clear biblical teaching, and compassion for those who are hurting the most--in particular, women who are victims of sexual and physical abuse and assault--Driscoll has taken biblical Christianity into cultural corners previously unexplored by evangelicals. In the same year that he spoke at a Gospel Coalition conference with notable contemporary theologians like John Piper and Tim Keller, he also discussed biblical sexuality as a guest on Loveline with Dr. Drew, was featured on Nightline, and preached for Rick Warren at Saddleback Community Church.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars great series-should be cheaper July 1, 2008

By Philip Taylor

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are a pastor who is sympathetic with the leadership philosophy of Mars Hill, Mark Driscoll, and the Acts 29 Network, you will love this book. It is a concise treatment of elders, deacons, women in ministry and more. If you have people asking how your church does leadership, and this book accurately describes your polity, then you will find it to be a great tool to give to people who would not take time to read Alexander Strauch's book on eldership. I plan on using this as a starting point for elders in process and the more curios lay leaders. Mark's new RE:Lit label with Crossway will no doubt become a great brand for our time.

This series "a book you'll actually read" will be a great series to give to your busy laypeople who don't have time for a 300 page treatment on one of these topics. Pastors will also find Mark's style refreshing, to the point and completely Jesus centered.

I really hate to say anything negative about this series, as Driscoll and Mars Hill have had a big impact in my life, and because I think the series really fills a gap for short but packed treatments of important topics. But the reality is that when you get the books in the mail and then compare their physical size with their cost, you might feel slightly annoyed. The books are small, thin, short, and paperback. Think of this as a really long pamphlet.

No doubt, Mark had nothing to do with the cost. That's a publisher's choice. Hopefully, crossway will drop the price to something more appropriate like $6.99, with a bulk option of 5 packs or something.

Still, I bought all four, and will buy any further books in the series. Driscoll is always worth the time and money.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great insight, may not reach many readers because of the condescending tone August 10, 2010

By Kurt Conner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Like most of the other Driscoll books that I've read, a review of this book depends on whether I'm in a mood to be more aware of the Biblical accuracy of the opinions (which is impressive, with many footnotes and thorough explanations) or the smug and provocative tone in which they're presented. This is a small book which, while almost criminally overpriced, is well worth a read. Driscoll explains the roles of elders, deacons, and church members themselves, and he presents a membership covenant that should help new churches seeking to develop their own. I was also impressed at the humble way that, within certain bounds, Driscoll leaves doors open for different churches to adapt his ideas about leadership to their needs.

Of more concern, though, is the way that Driscoll addresses the controversial issue of women in leadership. His ultimate argument is based on the idea that gender roles are defined in Scripture, which is just fine, but he presents his observations in such a condescending way that even I (a complementarian, like Driscoll, with respect to church leadership) wanted to put as much distance as possible between myself and his views. I know that Driscoll has a reputation for provocative humor, and that's how he draws people in to hear the truths that he then explains well, but it's the kind of "Women naturally like choosing helper jobs" pat-on-the-head stuff that I wish he could put aside to avoid needless controversy for this otherwise helpful little book.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Short, to the point, documented. March 30, 2009

By Paul Van Dyk

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are several aspects to this short book that I wanted to highlight.
First, its short and to the point.
Second, its well documented; foot notes abound.
Third, the author covers opposing opinions and explains where those opinions are coming from.
Fourth, I appreciate the humor with which the author writes. It has a bit of an edge to it and I find it oddly refreshing.
In conclusion, its a fascinating peak at unique church government system. You really can get through it in about 90 minutes. If it intrigues you as it did me, then you can sink further hours into cross-referencing the foot notes.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Why make it harder? September 9, 2008

By Andersson Erik

Format:Paperback

Mark Driscoll, founding pastor of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, has a gift for teaching. And he uses it. This is a small book - the author has in mind that it will not take more than an hour to read it - but it's a big contrubution to every christian person having questions about christians leadership. It may be controversal, because the Bible is, but Driscoll is honest, clear and,just, gifted.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A book I actually read. And tell other people to read. February 11, 2012

By Jeff Tell

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Perhaps the most helpful thing I can say is that after reading this book I bought a copy of it for each of the guys taking the leadership training class at my church. This book is almost perfect for that setting. It is short, so it is not intimidating to guys who are already very busy. It is very clear on the basics of Jesus, elders, deacons, and church members. It sticks to the biblical requirements. And it is quite dense (in a good way), so that despite being short, the book raises many of the issues that we will want to discuss in the leadership training.

It might be even more of a compliment to the book to say that I bought it for our leaders despite several disagreements. Our church does not ordain women as deacons, Driscoll's does. And I thought his chapter on Women in general was okay, but not as strong as the other chapters. Despite these, the book was sufficiently strong that I thought the book would be valuable for us.