The Christian church has recently been shaken by an unsettling number of high-profile leadership failures. The moral collapse of prominent pastors and preachers and the resulting fallout have left a tragic stain on the witness of the church, leading to disillusionment among many congregants and increased skepticism from the watching world. The once sacred trust between the pulpit and the pew has been repeatedly violated, raising urgent questions about the role of leadership within the church. How can pastors guard themselves against such catastrophic failures? How can churches develop leaders who not only preach the truth but live it?

Expositional Leadership: The Shepherd’s Guide to Preaching and Leading, by R. Scott Pace and Jim Shaddix, enters this conversation at a crucial moment when church leadership is under increasing scrutiny. This book offers a roadmap for pastors who seek to lead with integrity and theological depth. Pace and Shaddix emphasize that “it must be the motive of every pastor not first to be a leader of people, but to be a useful servant of the Master. Leading people well will follow serving Jesus well” (p. 21). They argue that the heart of faithful leadership lies in expository preaching that prioritizes Scripture, allowing God’s Word to shape both the message and the messenger. Their thesis is clear: effective pastoral leadership must flow out of a commitment to the careful exposition of Scripture. The book presents expository preaching as more than a communication strategy; it is the cornerstone of pastoral leadership (p. 30).

This message is particularly relevant today, as the failures of prominent preachers remind that charismatic leadership detached from biblical fidelity can, and almost always will, lead to disaster (p. 38). Expositional Leadership offers an antidote to this trend. Preaching is not just about delivering engaging sermons but about shaping the character of the preacher and, in turn, the life of the church. This book is unique among leadership resources as it elevates pastoral leadership in the context of regular, faithful preaching, something that many leadership books have failed to do or address altogether.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its practicality. Expositional Leadership avoids simply outlining the theological importance of preaching—it provides hands-on guidance for the day-to-day realities of pastoral ministry. The authors delve into the mechanics of sermon preparation, offering a clear step-by-step approach to crafting expository sermons rooted in Scripture and applicable to contemporary life. The scope of the book reaches beyond the pulpit as Pace and Shaddix acknowledge that effective leadership extends into areas like church administration, counseling, and discipleship. While the practical advice they provide addresses the full spectrum of pastoral responsibilities, the primary means by which a pastor engages in leadership, they argue, is through expository preaching.

Seminary students and young pastors alike can gain invaluable guidance on how to transition in their calling from the classroom to the pulpit. The authors present a thorough approach to sermon preparation, emphasizing both theological precision and relevance for preachers at every phase of their ministry. They offer detailed advice on how to select sermon texts, structure a message, and deliver it with “clarity and conviction that protects us from interpreting our passage through the lens of our context and circumstances” (p. 133). This pragmatic focus ensures the book is accessible to those just beginning their ministry journey while also providing seasoned pastors with practical tools for refining their leadership approach.

What sets this book apart is its insistence that pastoral leadership must be integrally tied to expository preaching of Scripture. Pace and Shaddix argue that preaching is not an isolated task within pastoral ministry but the foundation upon which all other forms of leadership are built. By faithfully preaching the Word of God, pastors not only instruct their congregations but also model the kind of biblical fidelity and character that is essential for effective leadership.

Another key strength of Expositional Leadership is its emphasis on the character and integrity of the pastor. In an age where moral failures have done incalculable damage to the church’s witness, Pace and Shaddix make it clear that preaching the truth must be accompanied by living the truth. They call pastors to lead by example, reminding them that their leadership is not confined to the pulpit but confirmed by every area of their daily life. By embodying the principles they preach, pastors can build trust and credibility within their congregations.

The authors challenge pastors to consider how their personal lives and public ministries are interconnected. They emphasize that leadership is not just about delivering sound doctrine; it’s about modeling godliness, humility, and integrity: “We can’t expect people to respect us simply because we hold the office of pastor or engage in the ministry of preaching. Thus, as part of our scriptural leadership, we must earn their esteem by the way we live and lead in every area of life and ministry” (p. 30). This message is especially timely in a cultural moment when high-profile leaders have repeatedly fallen from grace, leaving their congregations wounded and confused. Expositional Leadership offers a counter-narrative, urging pastors to pursue holiness and accountability, ensuring that their leadership is both theologically sound and morally upright.

Despite its many strengths, Expositional Leadership does have its limitations. In their effort to elevate the importance of preaching, Pace and Shaddix risk downplaying the significance of other forms of pastoral leadership. Pastors are called to shepherd through a variety of means, including one-on-one discipleship, pastoral care, and administrative leadership. It is important to remember that leadership can—and should—flourish in settings beyond the pulpit. Pastors must invest in their congregations in relational and personal ways that complement and reinforce the public proclamation of the Word through the private care of individual souls.

Nevertheless, Expositional Leadership remains a timely resource for today’s church. The book is an essential for pastors and church leaders who are committed to leading their congregations with biblical fidelity. Its combination of theological depth and practical application makes it an indispensable guide for those seeking to establish expository preaching as a central tenet of their leadership philosophy. Cultural pressures are mounting against biblical Christianity, and moral compromises are becoming more prevalent within church leadership. Like a beacon of hope, Expositional Leadership provides pastors with a clear and uncompromising path forward.

The authors’ commitment to grounding leadership in Scripture ensures that the book is both relevant and timeless. Many have found themselves disillusioned by repeated leadership failures, but Expositional Leadership offers a strong framework for pastors to rebuild trust, lead with integrity, and remain faithful to the task of preaching the gospel. By embracing the principles outlined in Expositional Leadership, pastors can navigate the complexities of modern ministry with clarity, conviction, and unwavering commitment to the truth of Scripture.