Review of
“Powerful Leaders”
ByMarcus Honeysett
(Published by IVP)
Reviewed by Paul Cooper

If you are in a position of authority in church, if you don’t mind being challenged to take a good look at yourself, if you are determined to stay on course, if you want your church to be healthy and effective, then this book is for you.
Sadly, time and time again we hear about church leaders who have crossed a line and their authority that started out accountable and
biblical has turned into abuse. This doesn’t happen overnight, there is a slow process that starts with a small seed. One decision that at the time maybe seemed almost insignificant, non-consequential, and maybe even made with good intentions, can start a person down a path that quickly takes them into a place where unbiblical decisions become the norm, and truth is slowly eroded form the picture. For most that end up in this place, the chances are that they did not intend to, that they too intended to stay on course, so what happened? It's easy to point at these leaders with a judgmental finger, and wonder how they got there, promising ourselves it will never happen to us. The author examines some of the possibilities as to how a person moves from authority to abuse, but more than that, does it in such a way that it causes the reader to undergo a self-examination, checking for any tell- tale signs within us that, if left unchecked could lead us down a path that ultimately leads to destruction.
Although the book is an easy read, and accessible for most, it remains challenging, and ultimately has the potential to make you more aware of the dynamics of power within in your church, and to ensure that you and your church stay spiritually healthy, accountable and biblical.
Sadly, time and time again we hear about church leaders who have crossed a line and their authority that started out accountable and
biblical has turned into abuse. This doesn’t happen overnight, there is a slow process that starts with a small seed. One decision that at the time maybe seemed almost insignificant, non-consequential, and maybe even made with good intentions, can start a person down a path that quickly takes them into a place where unbiblical decisions become the norm, and truth is slowly eroded form the picture. For most that end up in this place, the chances are that they did not intend to, that they too intended to stay on course, so what happened? It's easy to point at these leaders with a judgmental finger, and wonder how they got there, promising ourselves it will never happen to us. The author examines some of the possibilities as to how a person moves from authority to abuse, but more than that, does it in such a way that it causes the reader to undergo a self-examination, checking for any tell- tale signs within us that, if left unchecked could lead us down a path that ultimately leads to destruction.
Although the book is an easy read, and accessible for most, it remains challenging, and ultimately has the potential to make you more aware of the dynamics of power within in your church, and to ensure that you and your church stay spiritually healthy, accountable and biblical.