When to Take a Risk

Making decisions without destruction

Does leading a church set up an impossible choice between running an efficient, well-maintained program and being sensitive to the needs of suffering people? Can one leader do both?

For many leaders, the answer is not clear. Especially in days when the conflicting demands of institution and individual whipsaw pastors back and forth between office and hospital, altar and pew, management and pastoral care. On top of it all, they are called to pronounce theological blessing or anathema on any knotty question that confronts the body of Christ.

This book offers a four-step approach to decision making that helps local church leaders become versatile servants of God, translating timeless theological truth into everyday life situations. Using the concepts of risk-taking theory, the author shows how to unravel the confusing diversity of modern church life and approach each situation with wisdom and confidence.

Ministers tell stories of the most difficult decisions that they have faced and how they dealt with each. The successes and failures illustrate the high stakes of ministry—and its crucial importance. God gives strength to face the demands of ministry; but he calls leaders to take some risks of obedience along the way.

This is the ninth volume of THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY, a continuing series from LEADERSHIP, the practical journal for church leaders published by Christianity Today, Inc. Others in the series have included Well-Intentioned Dragons, Liberating the Leaders Prayer Life, and Learning to Lead.

More than a collection of theory, THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY provides practical, proven ways to handle the most difficult areas of everyday church life.