Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and best-selling author Dr. Paul David Tripp connects the

transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. The church is experiencing a leadership crisis. For every

celebrity pastor that exits ministry in the spotlight, there are hundreds of lesser-known pastors leaving in the shadows.

Paul Tripp's newest book, Lead, 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church, provides

an honest but hopeful solution.

In today's episode, we'll listen to five segments from Paul on his newest book.

In this first segment, Paul responds to the question,

why do bully pastors rise in the church?

Here's Paul.

I think there are two things that are at the heart of the leadership crisis in the church.

I think the first one is we've backed away from a biblical definition of a leader. Humble, gentle, kind, faithful, loving, servant.

The kind of character qualities that are in the Timothy passage when it talks about qualification for elder, the kind of character qualities that are in the Timothy passage when it talks about the qualification for elder,

the kind of character qualities that are in the fruit of the spirit.

We've backed away from those.

And our definition of a leader is strong personality, quick-witted, forceful, domineering, able to win the day in a discussion

or an argument, can cast vision and collect people. I'm going to say this.

No wonder we've produced a culture of ministry bullies,

who mistreat people,

who look at staff, not as a servant,

but sees those people as just tools for his success.

Leaders who look at a congregation,

not as disciples that need his care, sheep that need a shepherd,

...