By Paul David Tripp

Written in 2012, this book is in some ways a prequel to his more recent book, Lead. Whereas Lead focuses on the community of leaders and the culture they set, this book focuses on the pastor.

Tripp’s concern is not with ministry skills or leadership strategies, but with the pastor’s own spiritual life. He calls the pastor to live a life of deep humility. He calls the pastor to make sure that we are living for Christ’s kingdom, not for our kingdom, for Christ’s glory, not for our glory. The book includes an urgent call to prioritize our daily time with the Lord and not just focus on preparing for public ministry. It is a call to be continually aware of our own sinfulness and the need we have to preach the gospel to ourselves.