Our Favorite Church Leadership Things in 2019

As 2019 comes to a close, Adam and John talk about their favorite books, tweets, documentaries, and stories of the past year. Listen in for some excellent recommendations and helpful leadership principles. This is much more than just a list of favorites.

Episode Summary

John's Favorites:

Favorite Memory: John Knox's Grave
- When visiting Edinburgh, Scotland there is a good chance you will miss, or even park your car on, the grave of 16th-century Scottish reformer John Knox. Despite his massive influence to historic Christianity, he is now buried underneath a parking lot. This should sober us. We should live in such a way that are content to die and be forgotten, knowing we have served God and our loved ones well.
Favorite Documentary: The King of Kong
- While on the surface this might be a documentary about Donkey Kong, it can also encourage of the importance to go all in on something. Rather than beating a record on a video game, we have the opportunity to give our lives to the cause of God's Kingdom.
Favorite Book: Ministry on my Mind by John Newton
- This simple, short (and unfortunately difficult to get your hands on) classic by John Newton, reminds us of the weight and joy of being in ministry. It is truly a high and noble calling.
Favorite Ministry Moment: Reflecting on re|engage
- This past year, re|engage marriage ministry shipped its 100,000th workbook. But far more than any number of books, this has meant thousands of changed marriages. Reflecting back, while the creation of something might be difficult or labor-intensive, you should strive to faithfully serve the Lord and trust Him with the rest.

Adam's Favorites:

Favorite Tweet: Jared C Wilson's Tweet
- "Every day I am confronted by low-level guilt from people who want me to make their thing my thing. But I can't love all the things." This is a helpful reminder that we cannot be passionate about everything. Each of us needs to find out who and what to care deeply about, and then go all in on those things. There will always be problems and important things that we simply cannot have time for.
Favorite Book: Daniel Pink's When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
- Timing really does have an impact. As you think about your work week or leadership opportunities, asking the question "when?" can be as important as asking "what?" or "how?" Daniel Pink outlines when in our day we can truly be the most effective.
My Biggest Mistake:
- Adam realized that having a hands-off approach to team leadership is simply not sustainable. By not approaching your team, and assuming that "no news is good news," you actually miss out on fellowship, helpful conversation, and forget that initiating this is actually the leader's responsibility.
Book I'm Most Excited to Read: Chip & Dan Heath's Switch: How to Change When Change Is Hard
- When we are processing decisions or changes, it can be so helpful to change your frame of mind. Chip and Dan Heath help reader's to do that, and looking forward, this might be something that truly helps 2020 be your best year yet.