Includes bibliographical references (pages 309-313).

Introduction: charting our course together -- Putting people in their places -- Running the race for glory -- Power and status in Philippi -- Challenging the social status quo -- The humiliation of Christ -- When Jesus is not enough -- Stepping over the line -- The challenge of social context -- Recapturing Paul's cruciform vision for authentic Christian ministry -- Conclusion. Some final thoughts and challenges.

Social historian and pastor Joe Hellerman addresses issues of power and authority in the church--in the New Testament and in the church today--in a fresh, culturally nuanced way. The local church, Hellerman maintains, should be led and taught by a community of leaders who relate to one another first as brothers and sisters in Christ, and who function only secondarily--and only within the parameters of that primary relational context-- as vision-casting, decision-making leaders for the broader church family. Unique among contemporary treatments of servant leadership, Hellerman interprets the biblical materials against the background of ancient Roman cultural values, in order to demonstrate a social context for ministry that will provide healthy checks and balances on the use of pastoral power and authority in our congregations.