Great Leader, Great Teacher: Recovering the Biblical Vision for Leadership

by Gary Bredfeldt

Book Overview

The greatest leaders among us are the great teachers among us.

Whether you're a preacher in the pulpit, an instructor in the classroom, or a behind-the-scenes trainer, you are a leader because you teach.

Using pointed case studies and impeccable research, Gary Bredfeldt informs, inspires, and challenges your teaching skills, allowing you to achieve maximum influence as a leader.

No matter what the size of your flock,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802411479
• ISBN13: 9780802411471
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great Resouce for Pastors

In Great Leader Great Teacher, Gary Bredfeldt offers great insight regarding the need for pastoral leadership to understand and embrace the importance of teaching in forming mature disciples. Specifically, Bredfeldt is correct in asserting that great teaching is the most important tool in maximizing your leadership, a commitment to biblical authority is the foundation of biblical leadership, and understanding the context of our ministry is vital in exercising good leadership. The main critique I have with the book is that in the chapter on leadership contexts, some ministries are not represented accurately. However, the conclusions reached by Bredfeldt appear solid. Pastors and future pastors need to understand their present leadership style and reform their leadership to the biblical model: that is, being committed to teaching the authority of the Word of God.

A return to biblical standards

In a day when many churches use Madison Avenue techniques more than biblical standards, this book is a breath of fresh air. Those who turned the first century world upside down did so by teaching through both life and words. Not only does Dr. Bredfeldt demonstrate the importance of teaching, he briefly examines four basic types of churches in such a way that is helpful to any pastor looking to understand how to better the teaching ministry in his own church. Along the way, he warns of dangers in the Emergent Church movement's drift away from biblical orthodoxy. Many thanks to the author for challenging us to see ministry through biblical eyes.

Read with "The Minister's MBA" for a well-rounded ministry philosophy

Bredfeldt has very susinctly put in print something we all should remember, namely that leadership in the church is not necessarily about management. If you want to have a profound and abiding influence on people, teach them. To balance this book out on the management side, I believe a quick reading of "The Minister's MBA" would suffice. I read both together and saw how functioning as teacher should be my focus, while operating based on solid, ethical, and mission-focused business-type practices, will produce in me a orderly, well-focused, yet discipling ministry.

Teaching Leadership

It is said that actions speak louder than words. I believe Jesus is the greatest example we can emulate on leading by teaching and living it out. I am a strong believer of the teaching ministry within the church and without the church. The leadership by teaching is one of servanthood. For me, this is the most effective and efficient type of leadership which, though it takes a long time to develop, it brings everlasting fruit. Those who practice this leadership by teaching others will be spoken of even many years after they die. Great leaders are those who by their passion for their virtues and for the better good of others teach those things that are necessary for the here and now, and for the world to come. Teaching changes people and sharpens the one who does the teaching. I highly recommend this book to be part of your library since teaching is a gift which positively impacts those who embrace it and the book so implies it. This book is very informative concerning the types of churches which take a different aim at the teaching ministry. Embrace the teaching ministry and become a great leader by being a great teacher...like Jesus.