Both/And Ministry: Living and Leading Like Jesus

If you serve in a leadership role—whether in ministry or in the private sector—you’ve likely felt pulled in different directions. It might feel like you’re having to choose between a gentle approach or a bold one or between urgency and patience. In the book Both/And Ministry: Living and Leading Like Jesus, author Gary Millar explains that Jesus calls Christian leaders to reject this either/or approach and embrace the contrasts of Jesus’ teaching. Just as Jesus taught with authority and served with tenderness, confronted sin and welcomed sinners, the book encourages leaders to model themselves after Christ and be both/and people.

Each of the seven chapters in the book focuses on an apparent tension in leadership, such as trusting God’s sovereignty but working diligently or leading with confidence but staying grounded in grace. The book explores the contrasting aspects of Jesus’ leadership approach and, at the end of each chapter, offers a self-evaluation scale to help us identify our natural leadership style and identify areas where we can become more balanced.

Whether you hold a role in church leadership, lead others in a secular organization, or aim to lead your family with Gospel integrity, Both/And Ministry will help you identify gaps in your approach and develop a more well-rounded style exemplified by Jesus.

“It takes a particular talent to accomplish what Gary Millar has done in this characteristically clear and profoundly helpful book. With a lightness of touch, he helps us understand the keys to living a life truly grounded in the gospel and pursuing a ministry genuinely shaped by that gospel.” —Alistair Begg