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Leading the Small Church: How to Develop a Transformational Ministry
Small church expert Glenn Daman knows the challenges and rewards of small church ministry. His first book, Shepherding the Small Church, focused on the ingredients for an effective ministry in small churches. This follow-up book addresses the essentials for spiritual leadership in the small church. Pastors and other church leaders will benefit from the author's insights within the context of the small church. Daman shows that contrary to today's prevailing wisdom, the pastor's role is not to be a visionary or organizational leader. The pastor's primary responsibility is spiritual leadership through preaching and godly role modeling. Readers will come away with great insights into the important contribution small churches can make in the spiritual development of people in the church and in the community.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 5, 2023
Lots of helpful thoughts and biblical reminders. The writing sometimes felt disjointed and there were definitely some unnecessary tangents that felt off topic, maybe just filler to hit 200 pages. But overall, still a worthwhile read. 3.5 stars.
March 23, 2019
All small church pastors should read this book.
June 9, 2016
This book is so full of good, solid Biblical theology as well as practical wisdom that I wish I had when I first entered the ministry. In my opinion Daman very accurately assesses both the problems and solutions that small church pastors like me need to hear. Some of my favorite quotes:
Methodology has become the new idol in the church.
Spiritual growth cannot be programmed or manipulated.
The need for clear biblical instruction is even more acute today-this age in which people are inundated with information, much of which is of dubious quality. The rise of mass media and the Internet has not led to a clarification of truth, as one might have hoped; instead, it has resulted in a further dilution of knowledge as misinformation is disseminated more widely and quickly than ever.
...the church needs pastors who are genuine spiritual leaders, and who are not merely managers of the church's organizational functions...
Biblical leadership is built on a foundation of character and conduct, rather than on performance and accomplishment.
Preaching, teaching, calling, praying, even church administration are nothing but the consistent application of God's love to the church.
Our love for the church is measured not by how we treat the people who treat us well, but by how we treat those who treat us poorly. [)o we provide them with the same spiritual care? Are we as willing to spend time with them as we are with anyone else?
Godly character involves both right conduct and right doctrine. If we live right but have wrong doctrine, we're heretics. If we have right doctrine but fail to live rightly before God, we're hypocrites.
Demonstrating godly character means that we are also careful thinkers.
The character and godliness of the people in the pews will not exceed the godliness of the leadership.
When we proclaim Scripture, we minister to people's core needs.
It is precisely because we are part of a family and more than just 'the preacher" that our message has authority.
Methodology has become the new idol in the church.
Spiritual growth cannot be programmed or manipulated.
The need for clear biblical instruction is even more acute today-this age in which people are inundated with information, much of which is of dubious quality. The rise of mass media and the Internet has not led to a clarification of truth, as one might have hoped; instead, it has resulted in a further dilution of knowledge as misinformation is disseminated more widely and quickly than ever.
...the church needs pastors who are genuine spiritual leaders, and who are not merely managers of the church's organizational functions...
Biblical leadership is built on a foundation of character and conduct, rather than on performance and accomplishment.
Preaching, teaching, calling, praying, even church administration are nothing but the consistent application of God's love to the church.
Our love for the church is measured not by how we treat the people who treat us well, but by how we treat those who treat us poorly. [)o we provide them with the same spiritual care? Are we as willing to spend time with them as we are with anyone else?
Godly character involves both right conduct and right doctrine. If we live right but have wrong doctrine, we're heretics. If we have right doctrine but fail to live rightly before God, we're hypocrites.
Demonstrating godly character means that we are also careful thinkers.
The character and godliness of the people in the pews will not exceed the godliness of the leadership.
When we proclaim Scripture, we minister to people's core needs.
It is precisely because we are part of a family and more than just 'the preacher" that our message has authority.
July 15, 2015
Read and keep as resource. Glenn Daman lays out a thoroughly biblical perspective to the calling of pastoral ministry. He challenges to take a step back from the program driven, professionalism model of ministry and put the focus on watching our lives and our doctrine and developing close relationships with people. It is particularly geared towards ministry in rural communities, but his Biblical principles are true for any context of ministry. The book does tend to be a bit repetitive and could be heavily consolidated overall. Still a great book for anyone in pastoral ministry.
April 30, 2015
At times the book can be repetitive, but I think that was by design. Laying the small church reminds pastors that the ministry is not about successful programs and numerical growth. The ministry is pointing people to God and shepherding the church. Pastors need regular reminders that we are working with a family and not overseeing an organization.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews