LEARNING, LEADING, AND LEAVING A LEGACY
Leadership Lessons from the Life of Peter the Apostle
Book Review by David P. Craig
Just as life has seasons, leaders also have stages or phases of leadership. In this practical book Jeff Iorg tackles the three seasons or phases of a leader’s life. Using the Apostle Peter as his thematic teaching point, Iorg highlights leadership lessons from the three seasons or phases of leadership: Phase One – learning about leadership; Phase Two – actively leading; and Phase Three – leaving a legacy.
In Part One – Lessons for Emerging Leaders – Iorg tackles 21 lessons for leaders to grapple with in the earliest phases of their leadership development. Some of the topics addressed include: a leader’s calling, identity, prayer life, how to forgive, and serve humbly. The first section of the book highlights leadership principles and lessons from the stories in the Gospels where the Apostle Peter is specifically singled out by Jesus.
Part Two – Priorities for Active Leaders – contains 13 priorities for leaders in their prime, including: calling people to Jesus, accessing God’s power, confronting sin, defending the faith, working with other leaders, and how to move on after making mistakes. In this section of the book Iorg gives emphasis to every story in Acts and the Epistles where Peter is involved in leadership and the lessons or insights we can glean from his example.
In Part Three – Convictions of Maturing Leaders – Iorg expounds upon 10 powerful convictions of a leader intent on leaving a lasting legacy, including: Jesus is enough, pursuing purity, building good relationships, trusting Jesus and His Word, and giving glory to Jesus. The last section of the book summarizes Peter’s legacy from the wisdom he gained, the disciples and leaders he influenced, and the convictions he held to and modeled for a generation of leaders to come.
Jeff Iorg has written a very insightful and practical book that helps leaders learn more about leadership, focus on what’s most important in leadership, and finish well in one’s calling by leading effectively and leaving a legacy for future leaders. Written with emerging leaders and veteran leaders in mind, this book is filled with great insights for leaders of all seasons, ages, and phases of life. Each short chapter includes helpful questions for reflection and discussion. The book would be an excellent resource for church leaders to use in a discipleship type setting over a period of several months. It could also be a very helpful book for older pastors to mentor younger pastors with. I highly recommend this book as a great resource to return to throughout the varied seasons of a leader’s life.
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