Coram Deo ~

Looking at contemporary culture from a Christian worldview

Both/And Ministry: Living and Leading Like Jesus by Gary Millar

Both/And Ministry: Living and Leading Like Jesus by Gary Millar. The Good Book Company. 134 pages. 2025
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The author, who for the past twelve and a half years, has been working to equip people for gospel ministry in Queensland, Australia, states that living a Christian life often involves embracing two practices, the “both” and the “and”. In this book, he looks at both/and with a number of different examples, such as God (transcendent and immanent),  theology, relationships, salvation (chosen by God and the need to follow Him), the Christian life, leadership, repentance, etc. He tells us that there is a gap between what God calls us to and the actual shape of our lives.

The author tells us that in almost every case of leadership failure, both the person themselves, and many of those closest to them, had somehow managed to excuse clearly sinful behavior for a long time. Great giftedness—or great effectiveness—was valued over basic godliness.

He tells us that the book is written both for those who usually stand at the front, and those who prefer to serve in the background.

He writes that the sad reality is that if there is no desire in us to be godly (to aim high) and no willingness to face the gap between what Jesus asks of us and the actual shape of our lives, and above all no repentance and faith, then our lives will never display the kind of authenticity to which God calls us.

The author states that living a both/and life leads to our joy. He tells us that the great goal of our lives is to keep growing and to keep going to the end, continuing to live a godly, consistent both/and life, continuing to grow in Christ-likeness as we live in repentance and faith.

At the end of each chapter, the author includes “mirror” sections. They are there to help the reader to reflect on the issues raised in the chapter.

Here are five helpful quotes about leadership from the book:

  • The only leaders in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ are servant leaders.
  • Gospel-shaped leaders are marked by both patience and urgency.
  • As leaders, we are engaged in a lifelong battle against both pride and self-pity.
  • Only God can help us live and lead like Jesus.
  • If we want to follow Jesus in all the ways outlined in this book, it’s about both “me” and “us”.