The Cruciform Leader

Alain Emerson

£15.99

Pages: 256pp
ISBN: 978-1-914553-29-5
Publication Date: 30/05/2025

From beginning to end, this book is Spirit-filled, cross-draped, pet-theory-denying, cosmically-alert and Christ-shaped, and it is personal in the best sense of the word.
Scot McKnight, Visiting Professor, Westminster Theological Centre

The church has been in crisis for too long. From high-profile cases of abuse to the post-Christian culture of self-love, the decline of Christianity in the West seemed like an inevitability.

But that decline isn’t happening. Instead, there is hope. Real hope. People are quietly returning to church, reading the Bible and turning to prayer. They are looking for God – seeking him with all their hearts. This astonishing reversal, this quiet revival needs a new kind of leader with a new approach – one that is transparent, authentic and welcoming to the lost.

Amazingly, a new brand of leader has been quietly emerging from the ashes and rubble, as if in readiness. These leaders are hungry, holy and humble, answering the call to return to the cruciform way – a leadership style rooted in humility; in the sacrificial, cross-shaped example of Jesus.  Alain Emerson, with encouragement and discernment, offers strategic guidance and the practical tools for these new leaders to be part of this exciting change.

From the author of Luminous Dark, with searingly honest acknowledgement of recent leadership failures within the church, comes a heartfelt call for change: a call for a return to the ancient way, to leadership in the way of the cross. Holy, hungry and humble leadership. Cruciform leadership.

Alain exhorts leaders to reflect on the servant-hearted nature of Jesus, to stay true to his call, and to be prepared for temptation, distraction and spiritual attack. Laying out essential tools of spiritual discipline and practical ways to maintain a clarity of vision and perspective, Alain offers real help for courageous ministry in the long term.

The Cruciform Leader is is a wonderful resource for leaders seeking to return to their first love, Jesus, in the way they lead and nurture the bride of Christ. This is a call to radical, sacrificial leadership that has the power to spark a Spirit-led transformation in the church and the world.

What people are saying…

”This book calls us back to first principles – leadership is just advanced discipleship. And the consistent message across the New Testament is that disciples follow the way of the cross through the power of the resurrection. The problem is that the cross is as foolish today as it was 2000 years ago. Thus, Alain gives us a prophetic call that cruciform leadership is the path to experience the power of God. The church needs to hear this word.

Ben BlackwellPrincipal, Westminster Theological Centre

”From beginning to end this book is Spirit-filled, cross-draped, pet-theory-denying, cosmically-alert, and Christ-shaped – and it is personal in the best sense of the word. The book is an apostolic, pneumatic, and christological pastoral theology. Church leaders have too often run to the latest book on leadership instead of, as Alain Emerson reminds us, turning back to the example of Jesus and the words of the apostles. We are at a turning point in the church worldwide, a turning point that (we pray) will lead to a new vision for what a pastor is. This book needs to be in the discussion of that turning point.

Scot McKnightVisiting Professor, Westminster Theological Centre

”The Cruciform Leader is a clarion call for Christlike leadership in the church. With honesty, graciousness and simplicity Alain makes this call. The book leaves you with a hunger for God and a desire to serve Him and His Kingdom like Christ did.

Agu IrukwuSenior Pastor, Jesus House for All Nations

”Our culture is experiencing a crisis of leadership just when we need it most.
We elect braggards and bullies, put narcissists on pedestals then kick away the legs, nurse wounds of coercion – even (especially?) in the church – and in our pain resent and reject the very notion of leadership itself.
In this timely book, a seasoned pastor depicts another kind of leadership, marked by the cross.
Learning lessons from the greatest leader of all time, this is a message of healing and hope for those who aspire to lead with the counter-cultural humility and defiant kindness of Jesus.

Pete Greig24-7 Prayer

Additional information

Contents

Calling Forth the Hungry, the Holy and the Humble
Chapter 1 Christ, the Cross, Calling and the Church: A Biblical Paradigm for Cruciform Leadership
Chapter 2 A Surrendered Soul
Chapter 3 A Servant Heart
Chapter 4 A Tested Apprentice
Chapter 5 A Spiritual Parent
Chapter 6 An Equipper of Saints
Chapter 7 A Team Player
Chapter 8 A Focused Follower: Know Your Enemy
Chapter 9 A Focused Follower: A Formation Framework
Calling Forth the Hungry, the Holy and the Humble

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Dimensions 216 × 19 × 138 mm

About the author

Alain Emerson
Alain Emerson

Alain Emerson is Irish National Director of 24-7 Prayer and one of the lead Pastors at Emmanuel Church, a thriving young church in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. Alain has a passion to see God do a ‘new thing’ in Ireland. He is married to Rachel and they have two daughters, Annie and Erin. He is a former Irish league footballer who now enjoys watching sport rather than playing it, especially the mighty Liverpool! He enjoys hanging out with friends, reading and helping his wife run a dental practice.

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