Pastor's Library: The Joy Model, book review

The Joy Model: A Step By Step Guide to Peace, Purpose and Balance

Author

Jeff Spadafora

Bibliography

Spadafora, Jeff. The Joy Model: A Step By Step Guide to Peace, Purpose and Balance. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. 2016. 195 pp.

Summary

Have you ever experienced being busy doing activities for the church, the Lord or your community and yet you feel discontent, frustrated, exhausted and heartless? If so, you may sit back and ponder why am I experiencing these feelings while I’m doing the Lord’s work and doing good works for people. In Jeff Spadafora’s new book The Joy Model he provides a paradigm, a shift in thinking and steps to follow to attain joy, peace, purpose and balance. His goal is to provides practical principles which move us from frustrated, exhausted, heartless believers to joyful followers. Jeff says “the health and nature of our connection to the vine determines the quality of the fruit‑and the level of joy-in our life.”

In The Joy Model, Jeff points out there are several reasons we plateau in our spiritual growth but one of the main culprits is “the busyness of life limits our time in the Word, on our knees, and in our efforts to intentionally grow.” The habits of grace become obligations of works, a to do list to check off instead of an avenue to discovering God and gleaning from Him how life should be lived. Jeff describes 6 steps to follow, not as a formula to attain joy, but to know God and ourselves in light of who God says we are. Joy, peace, purpose and fulfillment our by-products from knowing God. His six steps form the acronym MASTER,

Margin: Making Room For Change

Abiding: Life with the Spirit

Self-awareness: Who are you really?

Treasure: The Green Monster

Engagement: Get In The Game

Relationships: Your Richest Gifts

Benefit for Pastoral Ministry

I believe this benefits pastoral ministry personally, pastorally and as a mentor. Ministry work is easy to get lost in the doing, there is always something to do. It is good to sit back and be introspective concerning your own walk. To ask the questions, how is my walk with the Lord? Am I practicing the habits of grace? Am I growing in the Lord? Where do I need to improve on personally? The Joy Model will help you take personal inventory of your own walk with the Lord.

The Joy Model will help you pastorally because if there are times you feel frustrated, exhausted and heartless you know those sitting in the pew do to. Knowing how to guide and lead them and have a process benefits the pastor and staff on how to lead others in becoming joyful followers. Jeff helps us come alongside others and provides insights on how to disciple others to know and abide in Christ and help them discover their calling.

Finally, this well help you develop those you mentor or coach. There is nothing more fulfilling when you lead others into becoming joyful followers, discover the calling and watch them serve the Lord with gladness.