Paul Tripp's book, it seems to me, is a must-read for every pastor, church leader or anyone with a sphere of influence within a church. It is hard-hitting yet tender, exposing yet up building, diagnostic and curative, full of truth and grace. He writes from his own deeply humbling experience about how easy it is for pastors to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. Certain clear themes run throughout the book. One of those themes is nicely summed up by a sentence in the first chapter "Biblical maturity is never just about what you know; it's always about how grace has employed what you have come to know to transform the way you live". Another thread running through the chapters is the problem of the disconnect between the pastor's ministry persona and his private life. The problems are clearly delineated, and then the answers bring hope and healing. For example he talks about finding our identity in Christ and not in the opinions of others; the necessity for a pastor of allowing someone to pastor him and the need to preach the gospel of grace to our own hearts as well as to others. A thoroughly good read.