Making the Most of Mistakes

by James D. Berkley

Publishers:

Christianity Today; Word

, 1987

Overview

Everybody makes mistakes.

Not everybody, unfortunately, recovers. Mistakes are inevitable, even for pastors. Wisdom and will can go awry, and ministry can crumple.

But disruption doesn’t have to be the final word. For the Christian, gaffes, grief, and grace walk hand in hand. God is in restoration business, and he employs even failure to produce his results.

Dig into any effective pastor’s past and you uncover mistakes transformed into character. This book shows how grace combines with grit to make that happen.

Pastors who made mistakes ranging from bungling building plans to sinful deceit share not only the facts and feelings of their mistakes but the factors that brought them to recovery. Their hard-gained wisdom is transferable to other church leaders.

This is the eleventh 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 When to Take a Risk and Helping Those who Don’t Want Help.

More than a collection of theory, THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY provides practical, proven ways to handle the most difficult aspects of Christian leadership.

Contents

Top Highlights

“He has learned the lesson: When you flee from temptation, don’t leave a forwarding address.” (Page 68)

“Although not all mistakes prove fatal to ministry, every one carries a price tag. Blunders severely limit one’s effectiveness. They cause painful setbacks requiring years to remedy. They close doors and dash dreams. They may even dishonor God. No one wants to make mistakes. Yet no one is immune.” (Pages 15–16)

“Admitting failure begins the healing process, a process that cannot commence during mental gymnastics to avoid the blame.” (Page 65)

“In general, mistakes should be broadcast no farther than the narrowest necessary circle.” (Page 81)

“It probably won’t. Scott has made the little mistake of forgetting one precious element in the pastor’s schedule: personal growth and enrichment. Ministerial midgets think small, preach small, and live small because of this small mistake.” (Page 45)

Product Details

• Title: Making the Most of Mistakes
• Author: James D. Berkley
• Publisher: CTI
• Publication Date: 1987
• Pages: 167

About James D. Berkley

James D. Berkley is the editor of Your Church and contributing editor of Leadership journal. He has served as a pastor for more than 20 years and is the author of Making the Most of Mistakes, Preaching to Convince, and Called into Crisis.