Jesus on Leadership [Paperback]

C. Gene Wilkes (Author), Calvin Miller (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

Seven principles to assist leaders with everything from humbling their hearts to building a team for Christ.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842318631
• ISBN-13: 978-0842318631
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

C. Gene Wilkes is married to Kim (McHan) Wilkes (1975) and is the father of two daughters, Storey (21) and Summer (17). He is the pastor of Legacy Church in Plano, Texas, where he has served since 1987. The church has transitioned during Gene's ministry to more effectively carry out its mission to make disciples in the North Dallas/Plano mission field. Gene is the author of "Jesus on Leadership: Discovering the Secrets of Servant Leadership from the Life of Christ." The workbook has been translated into Spanish, and the trade-book edition has been translated into eight languages. Gene has also written "My Identity in Christ" and "With All My Soul: God's Design for Spiritual Wellness," which is part of LifeWay's Fit4 materials. "Paul on Leadership: Servant Leadership in a Ministry of Transition" was released in March 2004. Gene is a national conference speaker on the topics of spiritual gifts, lay mobilization, making disciples, and servant leadership. He has also led conferences and taught in Canada, China, Russia, and Cuba. Gene received his bachelor's degree from Baylor University and his MDiv and PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Gene has been a field supervisor for both Southwestern Theological (Fort Worth, Texas) and Truett (Waco, Texas) seminaries. He is a volunteer chaplain for the Plano Police and Fire Departments. Gene's hobbies are reading, writing, and running. Gene began running seriously in 1999 and since then has completed several ultra marathons, including a 50-mile run, and 5 marathons. He has also completed two sprint triathlons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tremendous Book - Highly recommend., May 9, 2000

By 

Bill MItchell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesus on Leadership (Paperback)

This book is definitely read at your own risk because it may change your view of church leadership. It is a corrective book for the 21st century paradigm. The author builds seven principles of leadership:

#1: Humble Your Heart #2: First Be A Follower #3: Find Greatness In Service #4: Take Risks #5: Take Up The Towel #6: Share Responsibility & Authority #7: Build A Team

HUMBLE YOUR HEART

Humility is the most counterculture quality in the Bible. The author states," Two distinguishing character qualities of a servant leader are humility and the ability to wait." Humility can only begin when you have a true picture of yourself before God. He does a nice job with a pragmatic definition wof waiting: reflection, prayer and expectation.

FIRST BE A FOLLOWER

"A person can be assigned, selected or designated for a position, but a person cannot be appointed to leadership", is a major quote for this section. Two conclusion developed here: 1: AS LONG AS POSITION IS HONORED ABOVE DISCIPLESHIP, CHURCH LEADERS WILL HONOR THE AMBITIOUS OVER THE OBEDIENT.

2: AMBITION IS NOT THE SAME THING AS WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW JESUS TO THE CROSS.

FIND GREATNESS IN SERVICE

The author takes two examples on leadership spoken by the Lord: 1) "Lord it over them" and 2) "Exercise authority". TO LORD IT OVER SOMEONE MEANS TO SUBJECT HIM TO YOUR POWER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIS QUESTIONS.

TAKE RISKS

Quoting Joel Barker, "It is still a great risk in our society to offer new rules for the game", the author develops two points. 1: FILLING ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS WITH WARM BODIES WILL CERTAINLY KILL A CHURCH. FREEING GOD'S PEOPLE TO SERVE AS GOD HAS GIFTED THEM MAKES A CHURCH GROW.

2: ENTHUSIASM DRAINS WHEN A CHURCH GETS OFF ITS MISSION AND FOCUSES ON SHORT TERM GOALS RATHER THAN ON ETERNAL PURPOSES.

TAKE UP THE TOWEL

The author draws contrast to leading by words versus giving people a picture. He emphasizes the need for "story-telling" and "picture-painting" leadership to replace the model of human schemes. Service is demonstrated by "taking up the towel".

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY & AUTHORITY

Good equippers do it like Jesus did: recruit twelve, graduate eleven and focus on three, according to Lynn Anderson. The issue of this section is how responsibility without authority disempowers people. The author makes a radical statement in affirming that: GRUMBLING BY MEMBERS ON A MISSION SIMPLY MEANS THAT LEADERS HAVE NEGLECTED TO ADDRESS A NEED ADEQUATELY.

BUILD A TEAM

Basic changes take place very slowly, if at all, because those with the power generally have no knowledge, and those with the knowledge have no power. A leader cannot be truly effective until he includes those who he leads in all he does. The major point here is: LEADERS WEAR OUT THEIR FOLLOWERS & THEMSELVES WHEN THEY TRY TO LEAD ALONE.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Leadership Primer, September 3, 2002

By 

Rick Brown (Tomball, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jesus on Leadership (Paperback)

Much like Jesus sending the seventy out with only the essentials they would need, Gene Wilkes packs the basics you need for leadership in one volume.

He starts with the most primary issue: the heart. Leaders must first be followers of Jesus. He then deals with what seems like an oxymoron: servant leadership. How is one both a servant and a leader at the same time? His answer is that a servant leader is someone who serves the mission and leads by serving those on mission with him.

Following Jesus' lead, Wilkes then discusses how leaders form teams who together can accomplish much more than an individual can. Throughout the book are leads to other resources that can equip leaders further. Discussion questions and action steps also are helpful. Leadership insights from Jesus that can be seen in the secular world are peppered within the pages of this book.

I had the privelege of spending a day with Wilkes in which I discovered he is truly a humble servant of God who has been given a passion for developing servant leaders. This book will help you do the same.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible! Clearly follows Jesus's model of leadership., January 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jesus on Leadership (Paperback)

This is a great book for those looking for a guide on servant-leadership. The example of Jesus's leadership through the New Testament is clearly shown. It is divided into daily studies with a common goal for the each week. I have really enjoyed going through this book as I prepare for marriage and full-time overseas missions.