The Team Leader's Handbook

We’ve all had the unfortunate experience of being in a team with poor leadership. But nobody wants to be that sort of leader, so when we’re asked to step up and lead a gospel ministry—where eternal futures are at stake—it can seem pretty daunting.

But you’re not on your own. From his wealth of leadership wisdom and experience, Dave Moore shares:

• why good leadership matters
• what good leaders do—always, regularly and often
• practical tips, real-life examples and useful leadership tools.

The Team Leader’s Handbook is a highly accessible must-read guide for any current or future leader of a ministry team.

Part 1: Team leading matters

• 1. So, you’re a team leader
• 2. Teams are worth the pain
• 3. A fruitful team leader
• 4. The four conversations tool

Part 2: What team leaders always do

• 5. Pray the big prayer
• 6. Cultivate a gospel culture
• 7. Focus on principles and values

Part 3: What team leaders regularly do

• 8. Gather the team
• 9. Delegate
• 10. Give positive feedback
• 11. Check in and catch up
• 12. Have a bit of fun

Part 4: What team leaders often do

• 13. Recruit new members
• 14. Record, track and report
• 15. (Re)assign roles
• 16. Play on the team

Part 5: Tools to help you lead

• 17. Know yourself (and your team) better
• 18. Consider what season your team is in
• 19. Assess your team’s performance
• Let’s go
• With thanks

Dave Moore is married to Julie and they have four adult children. He became a Christian through public school Scripture and the youth group at a local church plant. After working in IT during the dotcom boom, Dave did a ministry apprenticeship followed by study at Moore Theological College. He’s been part of the senior pastoral team at Hunter Bible Church for over 16 years. He also serves as part of the Ministry Training Strategy movement, lectures through the Timothy Partnership Certificate program, and is the Executive Director of Safe Ministry Check (safeministrycheck.com.au).

I first read Dave’s material on team leadership as I stepped into a team-leading role in kids’ ministry, and it gave me clarity and confidence as I approached this new way of serving Jesus. The Team Leader’s Handbook will help you see the gospel heart behind team leading, before stepping you through the role and equipping you with a range of practical tools. It’s simple, clear, really applicable, and biblically rooted in the desire to see Jesus glorified through ministry.

—Sophia Lee, Kids Church Team Leader, Hunter Bible Church, NSW

There are so many leadership books out there, so why add The Team Leader’s Handbook to your must-read list? Because Dave Moore is passionate about seeing your church raise up and deploy sacrificial, joy-filled team leaders who love to serve Jesus. Dave breaks down the job of building and deploying volunteer leaders in such a way that every leader in your church can easily grasp his framework and tools. And those leaders will then go on to equip even more leaders.

—Steve Covetz, Lead Pastor, The Point Community Church, NSW

What a fantastic resource! I can’t wait to get this into the hands of my team leaders. Dave Moore’s book has given me a bunch of really clear, practical, principle-driven tools for effectively and lovingly leading a team. I love the focus on prayer, and the way Dave really pushes his readers to think realistically about how to put these tools into action week by week. I have a feeling a stack of these books will find their way into our church library and be a well-used resource for years to come.

—Claire Williams, Pastor for Magnification, City on a Hill, Wellington, New Zealand

I’m so excited that this book has been written! Dave Moore shares wisdom gained from the successes and failures of years spent in building teams and encouraging and equipping team leaders. This book is accessible, theologically principled and practical—the four conversations tool is a winner! Put this in the hands of your team leaders (or potential team leaders) and use it as the basis for training.

—Caroline Litchfield, Membership Director, Christ Church St Ives, NSW

Leading a team in church is an exciting responsibility, but it can also be very daunting! Dave Moore has written the book to dispel any fears and bring clarity to the task. Easy to read, warm, principled and thorough, The Team Leader’s Handbook will help guide the new and long-term team leader in their noble task.

—Dan Ford, Assistant Pastor, EV Church, Erina, NSW

I wish I’d had this book years earlier in raising up and equipping leaders who can empower and train future leaders. Dave Moore breaks down the gospel motivation and practical steps involved in leadership and insightfully addresses the particulars of leading volunteers. He has an obvious love for people and an enthusiasm for thinking deeply and systematically about how to lead teams well to bring glory to our Lord Jesus.

—Jess Sheely, Assistant Pastor, Scots Church Sydney, NSW

I’ve had the privilege of working under and alongside Dave Moore for over ten years. He is a man who loves Jesus and has a wonderful desire for God to be glorified, for God’s people to be loved, and for the lost to be saved. His evangelism and boldness personally helped me become a Christian, so I can’t say anything bad about him. Nothing in this book is just theoretical for him; these are things he lives, breathes and puts into practice. He has a knack for knowing people and helping people learn.

I love this book because it’s made for the volunteer team leader. So many leadership books have great ideas when you’re working with people full-time, but they can be hard to implement in the context of the local church. This book started with seeing a great need to help churches equip our volunteer leaders for the sake of God’s kingdom, and it has stuck to that purpose.

—Scott Curtis, Pastoral Team, Hunter Bible Church, NSW

This book is a must-read for anyone in Christian leadership. For new leaders and established leaders alike, there are nuggets of leadership gold throughout. David Moore puts flesh on the bones of what it means for us to serve as part of Christ’s body. He moves from principles to actions and shares insights from lived experience, all grounded in God’s word. I’m excited to see the fruit of these principles within my own leaders and to see them grow in their godliness and faithfulness through serving our King.

—Ling Shooter, Serving Minister, St Thomas’ North Sydney, NSW

It might be easy to just do a task or delegate a task, but teaching and helping others think through the principles of why the task gets done is super helpful. In The Team Leader’s Handbook, Dave Moore gives clear and concise guidance on moving from theory to practice, giving real-life examples of issues that arise when stepping up to lead ministry teams. It is so helpful, and so practical. It will help new and experienced team leaders alike to grow in self-awareness and deepen their love for their team members to see the joy in serving Jesus together.

—James Hoey, MTS Director of Partnerships

Dave Moore starts with the Bible, helping us see how God uses teams of people for effective gospel ministry. From that platform, Dave offers a thorough application of how team leaders can lead gospel-centred teams. The Team Leader’s Handbook provides a complete set of resources, alongside helpful real-life examples, that provide every team leader with the tools to lead their team effectively. Wonderfully, this book seeks to multiply the gospel by equipping team leaders to grow new leaders too.

—Clare Merkel, MTW-MTS Partnership Developer

This is the best book I’ve read on leading ministry teams. The balance between biblical principles, practical skills and clear application is just right. I’d recommend it to anyone who is looking to grow as a godly, faithful and wise team leader.

—Nathan Xing, Student Minister, Hope Anglican Church, NSW

The Team Leader’s Handbook clearly lays out the distinct role of a team leader and how to put the principles of team leadership into practice. It’s easy to read, and includes a bunch of really useful tools. I can’t wait to read it with our current and potential team leaders.

—Amy Stopher, Serve Purpose Leader, Providence Church, WA

Dave Moore has done us a great service in writing this book for pastors and Christian leaders. He has distilled years of thought and practical experience into a book that gives wonderful insights into many of the frustrations and joys leaders experience in the unique environment of the body of Christ.

—Sam Hilton, City Campus Director, Hunter Bible Church, NSW