Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet


Stirrers and Saints, by Brian Harris
 

'An interesting combination of insights on leadership and discipleship'

 

 

Stirrers and Saints, by Brian Stirrers and Saints - Forming spiritual leaders of skill, depth and character
By Brian Harris
Paternoster
ISBN: 978-1-78893-3605
Reviewed by Jeannie Kendall 


On receiving this book for review, I had two initial thoughts. The first was ‘Oh dear, another book on leadership’. The second was what a striking cover it has. I retained the second opinion, but a few pages in I needed to rethink the first.

Brian Harris is writing from the premise that church leaders all too often are either a stirrer or a saint – in other words a magnetic leader but with a superficial internal life which all too often results in a headline-grabbing fall from grace, or a person of great spiritual depth and integrity who lacks leadership skills.

In parallel to this, there are numerous books on leadership, and an equal number on spiritual formation, discipleship etc. In this book however he looks at some of the aspects of both.

In the first section he looks at a selection of the things which form us as people and disciples: not just the expected topics of scripture and prayer but, among others, community and conflict.

He then looks at three biblical leaders – Moses, Daniel and Mary. Yes, Mary – the chapter title is ‘Leading from the second chair’.

In the third section, he reflects on some leadership practices to follow including the seven ‘S’ inventory – stirrer, saint, servant, shepherd, steward, see-er and sage. He ends with chapters on leading quietly and leading without all the answers.

The book perhaps does not contain anything which cannot be found elsewhere, but it is the way he brings them together which makes it particularly interesting. This brings a combination of insights that are, I think, particularly engaging and – especially read in conjunction with the questions for reflection at the end of each chapter – challenging.

One for every leader’s bookshelf and , more importantly, to be read and reflected on.
 

Jeannie Kendall is a ‘retired’ Baptist minister, a current co-leader on the Pastoral Supervision course run by Spurgeon’s College, a speaker and trainer. She is currently writing her fourth book on Psalm 23: her third, Heroes or Villains? was published in 2023



 

Baptist Times, 01/02/2025
    Post     Tweet
Giving the Church, by Michael Moynagh
Giving the Church is a comprehensive critique of how the church at large presents itself to contemporary society
A Handful of Pennies, by Afaf Musallam
This Palestinian Christian Arab woman’s long journey searching for identity and peace works on several levels
Easter Inside Out: The story as if you were there, by David Kitchen
​​'If this kind of retelling scripture is something you have never tried, this is a great place to start'
Raised to Stay, by Natalie Runion
The author uses her own trauma to reflect and share what she has learned; an engaging read but perhaps more suitable for a US context
365 Truths for Every Woman's Heart, by Holley Gerth
'A really useful resource that when everything gets too much in the day (or night), can provide a calming reminder of how God never leaves us or forsakes us'
Dwell, by Anne Le Tissier
'A good and helpful book encouraging readers to dwell consciously and without hurry in God’s Word'
    Posted: 21/03/2025
    Posted: 04/10/2024
     
    Text Size:  
    Small (Default)
    Medium
    Large
    Contrast:  
    Normal
    High Contrast