Leadership in Christian Perspective: Biblical Foundations and Contemporary Practices for Servant Leaders - Paperback

Leadership in Christian Perspective: Biblical Foundations and Contemporary Practices for Servant Leaders

This book brings the best of leadership theory and research together with biblical reflection and examples of leadership in action to offer a practical guide to Christian leaders.

Combining expertise in leadership studies and biblical studies, Justin Irving and Mark Strauss explore how leadership models have moved from autocratic and paternalistic leader-centered models toward an increased focus on followers. The authors show how contemporary theories such as transformational leadership, authentic leadership, and servant leadership take an important step toward prioritizing and empowering followers who work with leaders to accomplish organizational goals. Irving and Strauss organize their book around "nine empowering practices," making it accessible to students, church leaders, and business leaders.

Integrating solid research in leadership studies with biblical and theological reflection on the leadership ideas that are most compatible with Christian faith, this book is an important resource for all Christian students of leadership.

Key Features

• Combines contemporary leadership theory with biblical studies and theological reflection
• Examines transformational leadership, authentic leadership, and servant leadership models
• Organized around nine empowering practices for practical application
• Designed for students, church leaders, business leaders, and ministry professionals
• Integrates solid research from leadership studies with Christian faith principles
• Addresses the shift from leader-centered to follower-empowering leadership approaches

About the Authors

Justin A. Irving (PhD, Regent University) is professor of leadership at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has authored numerous journal articles and has contributed to leadership books, including Servant Leadership: Developments in Theory and Research and Practicing Servant Leadership: Developments in Implementation.

Mark L. Strauss (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is University Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary San Diego. He has written numerous books, including How to Read the Bible in Changing Times and Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels. He also coauthored The Baker Compact Dictionary of Biblical Studies.