Pastor’s Handbook

John Bisagno

After nearly sixty years in ministry, Letters to Timothy is John Bisagno’s retirement gift to younger and older pastors alike. A voluminous and comprehensive work, it is full of useful advice to ministers covering the “things that might have fallen through the cracks in seminary.” It contains 160 plus small, brief, devotional chapters on relevant leadership topics. Powerful. Practical. Pastoral. 

First published in the 20th century as Letters to Timothy, Bisagno, who continues to counsel and prepare pastors in his retirement years, has worked with Rick Warren to update the content for the 21st century in the newest printing of this classic. The current title is Pastor’s Handbook. You may want to consider using the updated version.

This book's Disciple Making Purpose

This book is a long book with 160 bite-sized truths that no disciple will be able to recall directly after one read. However, we leverage it for Steps 10-11 along the Predictable Pathway. Our goal is to introduce this handbook, get what we can out of it in the first read (much like highlighting), and stress the truth that having seasoned “old” guys and gals around you is a recipe for success in leadership.

Key Topics or Truths

Christian Leadership
Church Structure
Staff Development
and so much more…

This Book is Good For...

Those beginning their journey into church or mission leadership.

How We Use this Book to Make Disciples

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This is a long read but not a difficult read. We always create a safe space for the guaranteed push-back on some old ideas and the search for the underlying truths that are timeless. The truths are bite-sized and simple to review. We have disciples read this book over five weeks reviewing each week’s reading. We use the open review plan during review. Here is our reading plan for the book,

  • Week 1 : Parts 1 – 2
  • Week 2 : Parts 3 – 4
  • Week 3 : Parts 5 – 6
  • Week 4 : Parts 7 – 9
  • Week 5 : Parts 10 – 12

Our open review plan is simple. We let the room speak and talk as a room. Why? As you move closer to the end of Year Three, you should be focused on preparing the disciples to leave the process of discipleship and move to the daily practice of discipleship. You are preparing for release and moving the relationship from a leader to a peer relationship slowly over time. The open review plan works best for this read as we ask the room an open question of “So what did you learn in this week’s reading? Wasn’t it cool?”

Real Life Story

I found this book at a conference when I was trying to figure out how to pastor a church. The conference topics didn’t fit my style or experience. There were things that I challenged and checked against scripture. And, there was a lot of political, “standard church” advice for dealing with situations, boards, and committees. I thought, “We will never be like that” until I was like that. I have found this book extremely valuable as a different, seasoned, perspective that gives great advice and causes you to evaluate your approach.

Know Issues or Controversies

No known issues.

I love this book because it provides a quick look at hundreds of ministry leadership topics in short devotional chapters. It is what I call an “old guy” book where I get to learn from someone with over sixty years of success.

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John Bisagno
Book Details
Pathway Steps: 10 – 12
  • Phase: Year 3
  • Book Type: Non-Fiction
  • Flair: By Example, Instructive
  • Tags: Easy Read, Leadership
Reading Time
Five Weeks
Start Reading After Week 41
13 Pages per Day
20 Minutes per Day
Related Reads

A great compliment to this book is Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders.