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Lead like Christ: Reflecting the Qualities and Character of Christ in Your Ministry
What Does Christ-Centered Leadership Look Like?
As a Christian, does your leadership approach look any different from that of those who don't follow Christ? Throughout the Bible, God shows us what leadership looks in His kingdom, and sometimes it can seem upside-down. The first shall be last. The master shall be the servant. But how can we apply these counterintuitive truths in our world today?
Rather than focusing on the nuts and bolts of management, Lead like Christ uses the book of Titus to take a close look at what biblical leadership entails. Using Paul's instructions to his young ministry partner as a guide, Tozer takes us through themes of grace, servanthood, spiritual boldness, and humility toward the Word of God. This foundation will lead to powerful, long-lasting change in both your own leadership role today as well as in God's eternal kingdom.
As a Christian, does your leadership approach look any different from that of those who don't follow Christ? Throughout the Bible, God shows us what leadership looks in His kingdom, and sometimes it can seem upside-down. The first shall be last. The master shall be the servant. But how can we apply these counterintuitive truths in our world today?
Rather than focusing on the nuts and bolts of management, Lead like Christ uses the book of Titus to take a close look at what biblical leadership entails. Using Paul's instructions to his young ministry partner as a guide, Tozer takes us through themes of grace, servanthood, spiritual boldness, and humility toward the Word of God. This foundation will lead to powerful, long-lasting change in both your own leadership role today as well as in God's eternal kingdom.
192 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2021
75 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
A.W. Tozer
664 books2,101 followersAiden Wilson Tozer was an American evangelical pastor, speaker, writer, and editor. After coming to Christ at the age of seventeen, Tozer found his way into the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination where he served for over forty years. In 1950, he was appointed by the denomination's General Council to be the editor of "The Alliance Witness" (now "Alliance Life").
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 7, 2021
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Bethany House Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
This book begins with an introduction that tries to frame Tozer's writing and thinking in a way that avoids offending the reader. This sort of introduction is necessary because Tozer often strikes this reader as a somewhat mean-spirited and intensely critical writer, and a critical reader is not always appreciative of being paid in his own coin by a critical writer (and vice versa, as it happens). This book is aimed at those in the ministry and is reputedly being written to encourage the reader to be Christlike in every respect. This is a worthwhile aim, but the author fails in at least two serious respects to succeed at this task as well as he aims. First, he fails to exhibit the sort of charity that Jesus Christ showed and that allowed him to be loved by those who might be put off by Tozer's occasionally Pharisaical perfectionism. Second, he fails to point out how Jesus' leadership sprang from the body of biblical law and prophecy that the author seems to largely ignore, perhaps out of a lack of knowledge.
That is not to say that this book is without value. At his best, Tozer is a bracing cup of cold water for the reader, and that can be a very good thing. This book consists of nineteen short chapters of less than ten pages apiece on average that combine to talk about various aspects of being a Christ-like leader in the view of the author, with such topics discussed as: the foundation, model, and a demonstration of Christ-like leadership, motivation by complete truth, the framework of God's promises, preaching, understanding biblical order, obvious fruit, attributes of a spiritual leader, understanding the foundation of leadership, and maintaining a tight grip on the Word. Other chapters explore such issues as sound doctrine, God's grace, our value to Christ, how God sees us, our motives, and facing spiritual warfare. At its best, this book is bracing and challenging in a way that many readers will likely need to be challenged, and this is a worthwhile task that Tozer was well-equipped to undertake.
This book begins with an introduction that tries to frame Tozer's writing and thinking in a way that avoids offending the reader. This sort of introduction is necessary because Tozer often strikes this reader as a somewhat mean-spirited and intensely critical writer, and a critical reader is not always appreciative of being paid in his own coin by a critical writer (and vice versa, as it happens). This book is aimed at those in the ministry and is reputedly being written to encourage the reader to be Christlike in every respect. This is a worthwhile aim, but the author fails in at least two serious respects to succeed at this task as well as he aims. First, he fails to exhibit the sort of charity that Jesus Christ showed and that allowed him to be loved by those who might be put off by Tozer's occasionally Pharisaical perfectionism. Second, he fails to point out how Jesus' leadership sprang from the body of biblical law and prophecy that the author seems to largely ignore, perhaps out of a lack of knowledge.
That is not to say that this book is without value. At his best, Tozer is a bracing cup of cold water for the reader, and that can be a very good thing. This book consists of nineteen short chapters of less than ten pages apiece on average that combine to talk about various aspects of being a Christ-like leader in the view of the author, with such topics discussed as: the foundation, model, and a demonstration of Christ-like leadership, motivation by complete truth, the framework of God's promises, preaching, understanding biblical order, obvious fruit, attributes of a spiritual leader, understanding the foundation of leadership, and maintaining a tight grip on the Word. Other chapters explore such issues as sound doctrine, God's grace, our value to Christ, how God sees us, our motives, and facing spiritual warfare. At its best, this book is bracing and challenging in a way that many readers will likely need to be challenged, and this is a worthwhile task that Tozer was well-equipped to undertake.
January 2, 2024
A.W. Tozer is confrontational and gets his point across very clearly from the get-go that following Christ will cost you everything. He lays the framework for how we can lead as examples in our personal lives as well as with our roles in the church that we serve at.
July 12, 2024
First of anything that I’ve read of Tozer, & I am incredibly glad I got to read this. I would probably give it a 7/10, but Goodreads doesn’t allow for a half star so that’s why I am giving it 3/5.
At times, this felt more like an exegesis paper/ commentary on Titus with little sprinkles of leadership here and there. It felt very, very doctrinal which is great, but I guess I wish he tied the orthodoxy into the “orthopraxy” a little more…
However, the one thing I really appreciate about Tozer is how curt he is- sometimes to a fault in my opinion; the way he writes is blunt (sometimes coming across as abrasive), but always biblical.
The theme of having one’s relationship with Christ be the fount from which all ministry & leadership flows was pervasive throughout the entire book which I really enjoyed. In the latter chapters he also brought it back to leading from a place of “sonship” and leading out of your relationship with God.
At times, this felt more like an exegesis paper/ commentary on Titus with little sprinkles of leadership here and there. It felt very, very doctrinal which is great, but I guess I wish he tied the orthodoxy into the “orthopraxy” a little more…
However, the one thing I really appreciate about Tozer is how curt he is- sometimes to a fault in my opinion; the way he writes is blunt (sometimes coming across as abrasive), but always biblical.
The theme of having one’s relationship with Christ be the fount from which all ministry & leadership flows was pervasive throughout the entire book which I really enjoyed. In the latter chapters he also brought it back to leading from a place of “sonship” and leading out of your relationship with God.
June 12, 2023
A precise and biblical work on what it means to be a Spiritual Leader in your daily Christian life! My only issue with this book is Tozer’s aggressive and harsh tone at times. This is definitely a book that will benefit more mature believers rather than newer ones.
March 18, 2025
Great book. Lots of really amazing challenges here!
July 9, 2021
As a follower of Jesus Christ, does your approach to leadership look any different from most of the books you find in the business section of your local bookstore? What does it mean to be a Christ-centered leader? These are the questions asked and answered in A. W. Tozer’s book, Lead Like Christ: Reflecting the Qualities and Character of Christ in your Ministry.
The book contains material previously unpublished. Dr. James L. Snyder combed through numerous sermons by Tozer on the book of Titus to compile the material. He tried to capture Tozer’s conversational tone as well as his passion for the church, the body of Christ.
Rather than an exposition of the book of Titus, Tozer takes one verse and builds on the concepts found in the verse. He discusses the themes of grace, servanthood, spiritual boldness, and taking a humble approach towards God’s word.
While we cannot select where we will serve, we can learn to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power and authority to do work for his honor and glory wherever we might be. As Tozer explains,
Leading like Christ is not an easy thing. To truly lead like Christ, we need to understand who Christ is and his aspirations concerning the church.
Tozer presents the idea that leaders need to “have the backbone needed to do what is necessary for the church of Jesus Christ today.” We need to be willing to count the cost and stand against everything contrary to the nature of Jesus Christ. While this may seem an impossible task, it is one which is possible if we allow God to work in our lives. As Tozer said, “God does not call the equipped. Rather, in His wisdom, God equips the called.” The underlying message of the book is that God can and will equip those who seek and submit to him.
Dr. Snyder explains in the introduction that this is not an inspirational book to make a leader feel good about himself. Rather, “it is a workbook to empower men and women to be the kinds of leaders need by the church today. To drive them to their knees in absolute surrender.”
The book is best read a little at a time, so that you have the opportunity to think through and digest the ideas. It will give you a new perspective on what spiritual leadership looks like.
Disclosure: I received this book free from Bethany House through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
The book contains material previously unpublished. Dr. James L. Snyder combed through numerous sermons by Tozer on the book of Titus to compile the material. He tried to capture Tozer’s conversational tone as well as his passion for the church, the body of Christ.
Rather than an exposition of the book of Titus, Tozer takes one verse and builds on the concepts found in the verse. He discusses the themes of grace, servanthood, spiritual boldness, and taking a humble approach towards God’s word.
While we cannot select where we will serve, we can learn to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power and authority to do work for his honor and glory wherever we might be. As Tozer explains,
Leading like Christ is not an easy thing. To truly lead like Christ, we need to understand who Christ is and his aspirations concerning the church.
Tozer presents the idea that leaders need to “have the backbone needed to do what is necessary for the church of Jesus Christ today.” We need to be willing to count the cost and stand against everything contrary to the nature of Jesus Christ. While this may seem an impossible task, it is one which is possible if we allow God to work in our lives. As Tozer said, “God does not call the equipped. Rather, in His wisdom, God equips the called.” The underlying message of the book is that God can and will equip those who seek and submit to him.
Dr. Snyder explains in the introduction that this is not an inspirational book to make a leader feel good about himself. Rather, “it is a workbook to empower men and women to be the kinds of leaders need by the church today. To drive them to their knees in absolute surrender.”
The book is best read a little at a time, so that you have the opportunity to think through and digest the ideas. It will give you a new perspective on what spiritual leadership looks like.
Disclosure: I received this book free from Bethany House through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
July 26, 2021
In Lead like Christ, James has edited the original story from A.W. Tozer and complied into a new collection. This book discussed how we can become more effective leaders and to lead like Christ would lead the Church. The book looked at in great detail the book of Titus and how Paul was instilled to mentor him and help him to lead like Christ. He begins the book by sharing how Saul became Paul and was transformed into a Christ follower. He explained how this only occurs when believers have a completely encounter with Christ and they receive them as their personal Savior. Titus was an uncircumcised Greek with a Roman name. Around that time, there was a lot of persecution and Stephen had just been martyred. He was born in Antioch and this was a missionary church. He met Paul and was led to Christ. He explained how Paul taught Titus in the ways of Christ and he became a missionary. He became anointed with the Holy Ghost and he travelled around and even went back to Jerusalem. He had two big goals to kill poverty and get rid of stinginess in Corinth. Titus was gifted with the talent to organize. He used three words to describe Titus and these were integrity, discretion, and enthusiasm. Tozer explained how if we are going to be a reflection of Christ. We must learn to display all these qualities to become representatives of spiritual leadership.
I would recommend this awesome updated and edited version of Lead Like Christ to anyone who is ready to get introduced to a historical writer. I immensely liked how it included up to date examples in the book where readers can grasp the message of building our character and learning to reflect the qualities of Christ. One of my favorite chapters discussed how we need to all learn how to deny whatever is ungodly and not fall into the lust of the world. One of the key struggles is for believers to have a backbone and to deny whatever else someone else is doing. I connected with how he revealed how the saints have become the celebrities of today’s time and we tend to follow whatever they are practicing or promoting. I loved how he included many radical truths about understanding Biblical doctrine. This book will guide readers into stepping into their own personal leadership servant role of Christ.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/Chosen Books for my honest review.”
I would recommend this awesome updated and edited version of Lead Like Christ to anyone who is ready to get introduced to a historical writer. I immensely liked how it included up to date examples in the book where readers can grasp the message of building our character and learning to reflect the qualities of Christ. One of my favorite chapters discussed how we need to all learn how to deny whatever is ungodly and not fall into the lust of the world. One of the key struggles is for believers to have a backbone and to deny whatever else someone else is doing. I connected with how he revealed how the saints have become the celebrities of today’s time and we tend to follow whatever they are practicing or promoting. I loved how he included many radical truths about understanding Biblical doctrine. This book will guide readers into stepping into their own personal leadership servant role of Christ.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/Chosen Books for my honest review.”
July 26, 2021
I hated to rate this one as just OK. It's not my favorite work by Tozer. In fact, it's probably my least favorite. I do not know if that is due to the editor or what, but it seems lacking. While I admire the desire to pull church leadership qualities from Titus it seems rushed. I am not saying that this is a bad book or conveys false doctrine, but something just is not the same about this one.
While it may seem like I am only conveying the bad things about the book, it is very easy to read. It is approachable for readers of all levels and everyone can glean from this book. It is one that should be read and applied. I like the fact that it does not specify differences between the office of pastor and lay leader because all of the information should be applied to any leader.
I was sent this book for a fair and honest review.
While it may seem like I am only conveying the bad things about the book, it is very easy to read. It is approachable for readers of all levels and everyone can glean from this book. It is one that should be read and applied. I like the fact that it does not specify differences between the office of pastor and lay leader because all of the information should be applied to any leader.
I was sent this book for a fair and honest review.
July 26, 2021
Note: I received a complementary copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
I found Lead Like Christ to be a very well-written and thoughtful book. It is difficult to believe that this book was not written recently as so many of the things Tozer mentions in it are difficulties that the church and its leaders face today.
It is very easy to see how leaders should use the examples put forth by Jesus in the Bible - specifically the examples given in the letter to Titus as discussed in Lead Like Christ. And even if one is not a leader in the church, this book is valuable as it will help guide our interactions as a Christian with others.
I am very glad that I was able to read and review this new edition.
I found Lead Like Christ to be a very well-written and thoughtful book. It is difficult to believe that this book was not written recently as so many of the things Tozer mentions in it are difficulties that the church and its leaders face today.
It is very easy to see how leaders should use the examples put forth by Jesus in the Bible - specifically the examples given in the letter to Titus as discussed in Lead Like Christ. And even if one is not a leader in the church, this book is valuable as it will help guide our interactions as a Christian with others.
I am very glad that I was able to read and review this new edition.
July 20, 2025
If you want to learn more about leadership and also search deep within yourself for areas where you need to surrender to God, work on areas of your life that need growing or pruning or recognizing what kind of life you are living for God, then this is your book! You can't be a Spiritual leader if you aren't learning, growing, changing and being obedient through prayer and The Word. Here is your guide to being more for God.
August 23, 2025
“The thesis is that the Christian has eternal life now. The contrary thesis is that the Christian lives in the hope of eternal life. The synthesis, which is the truth, is that eternal life is to experience God in the soul. ‘And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’ (John 17:3).”
September 29, 2025
Every ministers of the Gospel should read this
I’m amazed by how much God has deposited in brother AWT. I just feel the need to pray for myself and plead with God to make me more and more like Christ so that his children I’m leading will be more blessed and follow me as I follow Christ.
I’m amazed by how much God has deposited in brother AWT. I just feel the need to pray for myself and plead with God to make me more and more like Christ so that his children I’m leading will be more blessed and follow me as I follow Christ.
March 17, 2023
More like a 3.7. This book seems mostly oriented at church leadership rather than just being a strong leader generally, but it contains enough good advice for any Christian that I still walked away encouraged and informed. Tozer is concise and clear so it's an easy read.
June 2, 2023
Lots of sound truth. It didn’t really feel to really be that focused on leadership or maybe it was just what I expected it to be. Thankful for Tozer’s teachings though and how he encourages and challenges believers in their walk with Jesus!
Read
May 26, 2024Here's my thing with these posthumously published works of Tozer. I feel that some of his tone and flow feels stilted compared to the works he had published when he was alive. There is still a lot of truth in here, and it was a quick listen, clocking in at 3 and a half hours.
July 6, 2024
Short chapters that are convicting. Really great read. It’s short but took me a few days because I had to process between chapters. Great deep dive into Titus and what leadership looks like for Christ followers.
June 17, 2022
A nice commentary for Paul's letter to Titus.
January 29, 2025
Convicting and inspiring - probably my favorite Tozer book I’ve read!
July 28, 2025
Fixed uses scripture to challenge the reader on what it looks like to lead the flock they’ve been entrusted with like Christ. It’s challenging, comforting, and truth that I will go back to again.
September 21, 2021
This book is based on a series of sermons delivered by A.W. Tozer on the book of Titus. Tozer’s sermons were compiled and edited by James L. Snyder. Snyder tells us to consider the book as a workbook to empower men and women to be the kinds of leaders needed by the church today. Tozer wrote that his purpose for the book was to focus on how we, as servants of Christ, can lead like Christ in the circumstances we are in today.
Tozer focuses on the book of Titus, which records how Paul mentored Titus to be a model servant and lead like Christ. His prayer is that we will be an example, as Titus was, of leading like Christ in the ministry that we are in right now. He includes a prayer at the end of each of the relatively short chapters.
In the book, Tozer takes us through sections of the book of Titus, commenting on aspects of the text. For example, he tells us that leading like Christ will require a thorough understanding of biblical doctrine. To lead like Christ, the first thing we need to do is to know Christ. He tells us that it is the Holy Spirit, and nothing else, who runs and energizes our spiritual leadership. To lead like Christ demands the heart of Christ. He tells us that spiritual leadership depends a great amount on the ministry of preaching. Good leaders are those who lead us, not those who command us. He writes that the Christ-led church will never mirror the culture, but will always reflect the Lord Jesus Christ in all of His glory. Our success comes not by imitating the world, but rather by imitating Christ. Our leadership should always reflect the values of Christ in all we do.
Tozer points out that as Paul is telling Titus the qualifications for church leadership, intellectual qualifications are entirely missing. Instead, the focus is on character traits.
Tozer steps out of the book of Titus to look at the subject of spiritual warfare. He tells us that spiritual warfare is a significant part of leadership today. Too often, though, it is either ignored or overly emphasized. As spiritual leaders, we need to prepare ourselves and our people for spiritual warfare. He writes that as a Christlike leader, he was responsible for training his people in spiritual warfare and putting on the armor of God. He tells us that one of the great problems in leadership, particularly in the area of spiritual warfare, is overconfidence in self.
Tozer tells us that to lead like Christ will cost us everything. We should expect the same kind of persecution that came to Christ, the apostle Paul, Titus, and all the followers of Christ down to this time.
The book was not exactly what I was expecting when I purchased it. I was expecting more about leadership in this book, along the lines of Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. Instead, Lead Like Christ is more like a sermon series on Titus, with occasional references to spiritual leadership.
Tozer focuses on the book of Titus, which records how Paul mentored Titus to be a model servant and lead like Christ. His prayer is that we will be an example, as Titus was, of leading like Christ in the ministry that we are in right now. He includes a prayer at the end of each of the relatively short chapters.
In the book, Tozer takes us through sections of the book of Titus, commenting on aspects of the text. For example, he tells us that leading like Christ will require a thorough understanding of biblical doctrine. To lead like Christ, the first thing we need to do is to know Christ. He tells us that it is the Holy Spirit, and nothing else, who runs and energizes our spiritual leadership. To lead like Christ demands the heart of Christ. He tells us that spiritual leadership depends a great amount on the ministry of preaching. Good leaders are those who lead us, not those who command us. He writes that the Christ-led church will never mirror the culture, but will always reflect the Lord Jesus Christ in all of His glory. Our success comes not by imitating the world, but rather by imitating Christ. Our leadership should always reflect the values of Christ in all we do.
Tozer points out that as Paul is telling Titus the qualifications for church leadership, intellectual qualifications are entirely missing. Instead, the focus is on character traits.
Tozer steps out of the book of Titus to look at the subject of spiritual warfare. He tells us that spiritual warfare is a significant part of leadership today. Too often, though, it is either ignored or overly emphasized. As spiritual leaders, we need to prepare ourselves and our people for spiritual warfare. He writes that as a Christlike leader, he was responsible for training his people in spiritual warfare and putting on the armor of God. He tells us that one of the great problems in leadership, particularly in the area of spiritual warfare, is overconfidence in self.
Tozer tells us that to lead like Christ will cost us everything. We should expect the same kind of persecution that came to Christ, the apostle Paul, Titus, and all the followers of Christ down to this time.
The book was not exactly what I was expecting when I purchased it. I was expecting more about leadership in this book, along the lines of Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. Instead, Lead Like Christ is more like a sermon series on Titus, with occasional references to spiritual leadership.
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