Zac Bauermaster’s Leading with a Humble Heart: A 40 Day Devotional for Leaders is a leadership devotional, and the leadership it has in mind is your job. Bauermaster is an elementary school principal in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He writes out of that, not out of church ministry.
An earlier version of this review presented the book as a call to Christian community service and to discipling men in your congregation. That is not what the book is about. If you came here looking for that, this is the wrong book, and knowing so now saves you the money.
What it actually is
Forty entries, one per day, aimed at a Christian who supervises people at work. Released in July 2022.
Each day follows the same shape: a title, a Scripture verse, a suggested additional passage, a personal story from Bauermaster’s own work as a principal, and a biblical example of the trait in question. The organizing idea is that humility and confidence are not opposites, and that a leader who has settled where his confidence comes from can afford to be humble about himself.
The personal stories are the strongest part. They are specific and small: a hard conversation with a teacher, a decision he got wrong, a moment where he wanted credit. He does not make himself the hero of them, which is rarer in this genre than it should be.
Where it is weaker
Forty days is a lot of entries for one central idea, and it repeats. Around day 25 you will notice you have read this thought before in different words. That is a fair criticism of most devotionals at this length.
The Scripture use is generally responsible, but it is light. Verses are applied to leadership situations more than they are explained. If you want the passage opened up, this will frustrate you.
I could not verify the journaling prompts an earlier version of this review described. The verified structure includes an additional reading suggestion but not a prompt section. Check the Amazon preview if that matters to you.
Worth your time?
Yes, if you manage people and you have been leading on adrenaline and ego without noticing. Bauermaster is honest about the pull toward self promotion in a leadership seat, and forty days is long enough to change how you walk into a meeting.
Yes, for a workplace or school leadership team reading it together. It is written to be discussed.
No, if you are looking for church leadership, eldership, or men’s ministry material. That is a different bookshelf.
Leading with a Humble Heart on Amazon
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