The God Who Goes before You Pastoral Leadership as Christ-Centered Followership

In The God Who Goes before You, Michael S. Wilder and Timothy Paul Jones establish a foundation for Christian leadership that draws not from human assumptions, but from the wisdom of God.

By considering the whole canon of scripture as their supreme and sufficient authority, Wilder and Jones present both pastors and laity with a Christ-centered, kingdom-focused vision of godly leadership.

When it comes to leadership, there is much to be learned from empirical research and from marketplace leaders. However, without Scripture as our authority, flawed views of God's purposes and human nature will skew our understanding of the character and practices of God-called leaders. In this book, Wilder and Jones redefine leadership as Christ-centered followership and present a radically countercultural perspective on leadership practices in the church today. 

Timothy Paul Jones serves as Associate Vice President for the Global Campus and as the Gheens Professor of Christian Family Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He has led churches as a pastor and associate pastor for nearly twenty years. He now serves at Sojourn Community Church.

Michael S. Wilder is the J. M. Frost Associate Professor of Leadership and Discipleship and the associate vice president for doctoral studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. 

Foreword, R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Acknowledgments                                                                                
Abbreviations   
                                                                                   
Part One: Foundations for Leadership through Followership

Chapter One: What If Jesus Didn't Lead Like Jesus? Redefining Christian Leadership
Chapter Two: The King Says: Foundations for Leadership in the Creation, Fall, and Exodus 

Part Two: Old Covenant Precedents for Leadership through Followership     Timothy Paul Jones
Chapter Three: The Quest for Justice: Judges and Kings in Israel                  
Chapter Four: A Devoted Community: Priesthood and Prophecy in Israel                                                         
Chapter Five: The Shepherd Leader: A Protector and Provider Who Is Present with His People         
                           
Part Three: New Covenant Practices for Leadership through Followership
      Michael S. Wilder

Chapter Six: The Shepherd’s Call: Fearing and Following God            
Chapter Seven: The Shepherd's Commission: Living as a Leader Who Follows, Feeds, and Dies
Chapter Eight: The Shepherd's Identity: Learning to Lead as a Fellow Elder and Brother
Conclusion: Leadership as Followership that Leads to the Cross

Endnotes
Name Index                                                                                         
Subject Index                                                                                       
Scripture Index