Christian Book Notes

Bliss, William G.  Leadership Lessons from the Book: Applying Biblical Lessons for Today’s Leaders.  Kearney:  Morris Publishing, 2009.  190 pp.  $19.95.  Purchase at Amazon.

Introduction

William G. Bliss is a 25-year veteran as a leadership consultant.  He established a consulting firm in 1996 called Bliss & Associates, Inc. If you are involved in leadership in your corporation or ministry, I would highly recommend checking out his website.

Summary

Divided into seven chapters, Bliss offers a leadership conference in print.  He begins with the importance of setting a vision and moves into the importance of quiet time and prayer.  Once this foundation has been set, he exhorts the readers to become servant leaders.

Perhaps the most needed chapter (though all are very well written) is his chapter on communication.  In this chapter, he details the importance of communicating not just the vision you have, but the way in which your corporation is going to practically work it out.  Once you have communicated these goals and the way in which you are going to live them out, he shows the importance of developing the next generation of leaders.

As the process continues to gain momentum and grows and people continue to “buy in” to what you are doing, you will want to set the expectations of everyone in your influence.  Finally, he looks at what it means to be a steward of what God has blessed you with in the corporate world as in the ministerial world.

Review

I greatly appreciated his bibliocentric approach to writing this book.  Each chapter begins with the biblical foundation of the particular topic followed quickly by the application of those passage(s). The self-assessment sections help you to take a closer look, through the lens of Scripture, at how you measure up to what is demanded/commanded of us by God.

As I said above, the chapter on communication is most necessary in every area of life.  I appreciated more his chapter on the importance of prayer and quiet time as well as his emphasis on stewardship–a word that has lost favor to the more popular phrase “going green.”  In using the word stewardship, Bliss keeps us centered, once again, on Scripture.

Recommendation

If you want to be a better leader, Leadership Lessons from the Book is an excellent resource.  William Bliss’ experience in the field of leadership and leadership development is well worth the price of the book.  I highly recommend this book.  Purchase it and prepare to sit at the feet of one of the wisest, biblically saturated, leadership consultants today.