Book review: Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership

David Bowman May 13, 2020

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My friend Tom Harper sent me his latest book a few months ago: Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership. Every time I pick it up, I get interrupted. Here is what I have learned from this normally frustrating experience: This is a book that bears up well under interruptions.

Let me explain.

This book, as the title indicates, is on the topic of servant leadership. Servant leadership is not that complicated. Jesus embodied it. Great leaders serve. This has always been true. It will always be true. Ask Chick-fil-A’s Mark Miller. Ask Good to Great’s Jim Collins. He will tell you about Level 5 Leaders. Ask Robert Greenleaf, who literally wrote the book Servant Leadership.

Tom keeps this book simple. Throughout each chapter are micro-devotions. These consist of a Bible verse and a tweetable thought. For example:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). Spiritual zeal fuels #leadership.

How about this outline from the chapter on motivation for this season of COVID-19?

1.    Be ready for bad stuff.
2.    Grow your roots.
3.    Pay attention to your physical needs.
4.    Fulfill desires.
5.    Remember who your real boss is.

I needed this today. Someone poured orange juice in my Cheerios. (No, not literally.) You know the feeling. A good day can go south in the blink of an eye.

Here is how I recommend you read this book: Put it on the corner of your desk. Get a discouraging email? Pick it up and read a chapter. This will take you five minutes or so. You will find refreshment and encouragement.

●    Bad phone call? Take and read.
●    Negative financial report? Take and read.
●    Critical coworker? Take and read.
●    Need inspiration before leading a meeting? Take and read.

The book is laid out in four parts.

Part I—Standing Strong: How to Overcome Internal and External Resistance
1.    Sin
2.    Motivation
3.    Fear, Worry, and Facing the Impossible
4.    Criticism and Opposition

Part II—Breaking Out: How to Develop Biblical Boldness
5.    Necessary Division, Insult, and Conflict
6.    Toughness and Nerve
7.    Authority and Power
8.    Gentle Strength

Part III—Practicing Excellence: How to Apply Biblical Wisdom to Leadership Performance
9.    Mission, Vision, Culture
10.    Staffing
11.    Success

Part IV—Going Deep: How to Develop Spiritual Leadership in Yourself and Others
12.    Calling and Legacy
13.    Leadership Development
14.    Joy and Peace
15.    The Leader’s Deeper Spiritual Life

I honestly cannot recommend a more refreshing book to provide necessary reorientation in moments of disorientation. In other words, this is a good book for the season we are in.

I’m guessing it will also be good for the next season and the one after that as well.

Amazon link for this book: Servant Leader Strong: Uniting Biblical Wisdom and High-Performance Leadership

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David Bowman, (DMin, PCC) is the Executive Director of Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, Texas. He also serves as a Multiplying Trainer for Future Church Co. Learn More »

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