BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP

Chapter One

Objectives of Biblical Leadership:

1. To acquire knowledge in biblical leadership so that we can improve in our leadership style..
2. To be able to apply what we have learnt into our daily practice faithfully and make them habit.
3. We are trained to have ability to lead and influence others.
4. To be trained to become an effective leader.
5 To multiply leaders who will become Church Planters and be able to lead others also.

MEANING OF BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP

Leadership comes in many forms and traits. It is showing the way, directing the course of another. A leader
is someone who guides a group of people towards a common goal. The goals of Christian leaders; would be
to bring glory to God with their existence, evangelize, advance the Kingdom, and encourage others to grow
in their relationship with Christ. Church leaders do not have the authority of military leaders or the financial
incentives of the corporate world; they only have leadership skills on which to rely. Everything rises and
falls on leadership. The effectiveness of a leader’s work will never rise above his ability to lead and
influence others. You cannot produce consistently on a level higher than your leadership. In other words,
your leadership skills determine the level of your success and the success of those who work around you.
Leadership is not an exclusive club for those who are born with it. The traits that are the raw materials of
leadership can be acquired. Leadership is developed not discovered. The truly born leader will always
emerge; but, to stay on top, natural leadership characteristics must be developed. These leaders can be;
leading leader, learned leader, latent leader or limited leader. Leading in leadership comprises of guidance,
direction and vision. There are certain basic characteristics that all Christian leaders must possess if they
wish to be stewards of the Gospel, leaders indeed, who inspire hope among the nations, and ultimately
accomplish their goals. While excellent books, seminars, and classes on leadership are available, church
leaders, first of all, need to look in to God’s word to learn on biblical leadership.
While the Bible primarily center’s around the story of God’s love for us and His plan of redemption, it also
provides us with insight into spiritual leadership. From Abraham to Moses to the judges to David to the
kings to Peter and Paul, and ultimately Jesus Christ, God has used spiritual leaders to accomplish His
purposes. The Bible gives us not only examples of spiritual leadership but also leadership principles, with a
number of these principles in the pentateus, prophets, book of Proverbs and the writings of Paul the Apostle.
We can use these characteristics to describe biblical leadership.
Call to Biblical leadership

Call to biblical leadership is a divine appointment and different from leadership in the world, who are either
self appointed, nominated or voted in to power. The leaders with divine call, has the following
components’in discerning the call;
1. Sense of the call
2. Heart for the service
3. Exercise of gift
4. Fruitfulness
5. Other factors

1 Sense of the call

He or she has feeling that God was calling him, this is discerned through dream vision or revelation. He
will write the vision down, pray, meditate, receive illumination about the call and confirm it. This vision
becomes the energy behind every effort and the force that pushes through all the problems. With vision
the leader is on a mission and a contagious spirit is felt among the crowd until others begin to rise
alongside the leader.
.
2 Heart for the service
There is desire to serve, which gives no room for idleness and help the person to derive joy, happiness
and satisfaction in the work. He will do the work with zeal even in the presence of negative
circumstances.

3 Exercise of gift
The gift of the spirit is an endowment from the Holy Ghost .Every one that is born again had received one gift or
the other from God.(1 pet 4: 10). Talents are different from gifts. Talents are natural ability that make a person to
do something well. Every one has one talent or the other. Whatever ability you have, develop and use that talent
well. Mt 25 vs 15-28.The gift helps in the calling to be dynamic and active. It also make manifest the call,
according to God’s grace.

4 Fruitfulness
This affirms God’s call on the individual. It is the product arising from carrying out the call. It shows
the effectiveness of the calling Leadership in the church is different from leadership in the world in many
ways. 1. The leader in the church is called by God while in the world they are called by those in
authority, or selected by power that be. 2. The appointment in the church is divine while they are either
self appointed or voted into power.3. The biblical leader is servant with servant heart who is ready to
serve but the worldly leader has the financial gain behind his mind or desire to rule others. The biblical
leaders know the Lord and are born again, this is not so with the leaders in the world. Leaders in the
 kingdom are concerned about the welfare of the people how to help and improve their lots but the
leaders in the world are concerned about themselves first and how to enrich their pocket.

QUALIFICATION IN LEADERSHIP

The spiritual requirements in leadership are very essential that every would be leader must meet this
requirement if he or she is going to be an effective leader. This qualification includes;

1. Christian experiences.
2. Heart qualification.

3. Character qualification/

4. Wisdom and vision;

5. Social and moral

6. Personality and mental

7. Maturity and domestic

1. Christian experiences;

The necessity of Christian experiences cannot be over emphasized. It is a must for the leader to be born
again sanctified and baptized in the Holy Ghost. A good leader will have these experiences to enhance
his effectiveness in ministry.

2. Heart qualification;

Having the servant heart is a necessity in leadership. Servant is from the word Diakonos meaning
servant. One, who renders service to another. In having heart qualification, he has the father’s heart.The
heart that is kind, loving, compassionate humble, giving and self sacrificing. With the ability and
humility to serve the brethren, he could give the word of life, recognize problem and counsel as
appropriate. He is not only ahead of others he is also able to help them. He serves as good example to the
led and able to assist them where necessary. Like Jesus washed the disciples feet or helping a sick
believer at a koinonia location.

3. Character qualification;

Character is from the Greek word Charasso meaning, to stamp on, indentation or distinctive mark.
Character is important in leadership because it gives good credence and testimony to other
qualifications. Character embodies grace and grace gives us life. Leadership without corresponding good
 character will result in failure. Christ-like character is a must for every leader. His character is to be such
as will not leave him open to attack or censure. In other words, if a charge was preferred against him, it
would fall to the ground because his lifeafford no ground for reproach. He must give no opening for his
adversary even to launch a smear campaign. As to those without the church, he is to be of good
reputation. Character qualification will help to show good behavior, live exemplary life that is above
reproach, commands the respect of outsiders, inspire his confidence, arouses his aspiration and have
good relationship with others in all honesty. This is balanced up with admonition, training, instruction
and father’s discipline. (1 Tm 3 vs 1~7 ) Morally, he must be blameless, having a high standard in his
marital relationship, both to the single and married. He must be a man of unchallengeable morality. He
should be able to teach others. Any man who shows himself incapable of successfully teaching others is
not qualified for leadership. Samuel Brengle said Oh, for more teachers among us; leaders who know
how to read hearts and apply truth to the people, as a good physician reads his patients and apply
remedies to their ills. There are soul sicknesses open and obscure, acute and chronic, superficial and
deep-seated which the truth as it is in Jesus will heal…….

4. Wisdom and Vision;

Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge and experience to any given situation. A leader with wisdom is
a great gift to a church, home or society. All biblical leaders need abundant supply of wisdom. God has
promised to supply wisdom to those who ask.(James 1 vs 5 and 1 kg 10 vs 1-8). Through wisdom he
makes the best use of knowledge, develops the ability of discernment and had insight needed for any
given situation. He recognizes problems before they become emergences and solves them with wisdom.
With wisdom he demonstrates integrity and seeks counsels from others. Winston Churchill said “The
empires of the future are the empires of the mind” Vision is the key to understanding leadership. Without
vision one is just playing games with his life. Brother and sisters with vision see more and further than
others. There is nothing that excites and motivates people like a vision to accomplish something special.
It is true for an adage that says “Poor eyes limit a man’s sight, poor vision limits his deeds.” Therefore,
the leader must be visionary.

5. OTHER QUALIFIQUATIONS:

These Include moral, mental, social, domestic, personality and maturity of the leader. The would be
leader should also have the qualities of being discipline, courageous, humble, sincere and of intergrity.
He should have some sense of humour, tactful with inspirational power and executive ability, so that he
will be able to translate his vision into action. OTHER PRINCIPLES include:

8. The Leader as Visionary

 Many of the best leaders lead via vision. Such leaders get an idea (hopefully through interaction with
God) that they want to share with others. The idea is often a mental picture of a possible future based on
biblical principles combined with imagination or possibly, an actual special revelatory "vision" from
God. This idea excites such leaders or fills them with longing. They want others to see what they see and
appreciate how cool it would be. A leader may not always develop a new, unique vision, but may buy
into another's vision. Some studies suggest that the best leaders are not necessarily the most creative
people in a community, although they are usually more creative than average. Whether the leader's vision
is original or borrowed is unimportant. Good leaders practice ways to communicate their visions, tying
future pictures to past realities, showing how such a picture is better than the status quo. They can
explain why attaining such a vision justifies risk and pain. Followers of visionaries find their excitement
contagious, and accept the leader's vision as their own. They find themselves highly motivated to attain
the vision, usually without much consideration of personal benefit.

9. The Leader as Student

In the Christian context, leaders are those who take the time to think deeply about the issues in which they lead.
Most great leaders in Christian history were also scholars (e.g. Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Edwards, etc.). It makes
sense that people are attracted to those who know what they are talking about because of their deep study of
the word. Likewise, an agenda that has been carefully thought through, not only from the standpoint of what will
give results pragmatically, but also from the standpoint of the theological implications and overall theological and
biblical balance is often (though not always) more persuasive. Christians should look, not for leaders who can
press their own agenda, but for those who know and can press God's agenda. Such leaders gain much of their
inner strength and stability from the fact that they have reflected long and hard on their lives, the church, and
the Bible, and are convinced about what God wants. The leader as a Submission to God must be the starting
point. We must allow God to lead us and shape our lives to fit His desires if we wish to leave an impact on this
world. This requires one to be daily seeking and engaging with God in prayer and in His Word. If it is through the
power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Bible that lives are changed.
10. The Leader as Influencer

Someone is a leader when she influences other people, whether for good or bad. We lead others
whenever we cause others to change their behavior or attitudes, either because they see our example and
admire it, or because we persuade them with words to change. We can persuade more effectively after
we carefully reflect before God on what others need to change in their lives. Practice in persuasion and
learning to show others what they have to gain through change are basic skills in leadership. Also,
personal investment into others' lives leads to increased influence in those lives. Some leaders focus
primarily on influencing those with whom they are deeply involved relationally, and depend on them to
influence others.
 Leaders think about the big picture and help others to see the future.
Leaders create vision and direction.
Leaders motivate others to unite around future vision and direction.
Leaders challenge and expect aspiring leaders to grow to a greater level of influence

“The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; / leadership is nothing without a following” (Prov. 14:28).
Leadership is not so much about position as influence. When Paul was transported to Rome as a prisoner
(Acts 27), his ship was caught in a storm and about to sink. At that critical moment, the apostle took
charge, and his leadership saved everyone. We may hold an office in a church, but our influence makes
us leaders. The true test of leadership: Check to see whether or not anyone follows you.
11. The Leader as a Passion-infuser

Leaders may often suggest nothing new or different from what people are already doing, but are leaders
in that they bring a sense of urgency, excitement, or passion to those activities. Leaders' own passion
becomes contagious. People are drawn to passionate, excited people as they seek passion and excitement
in their own lives. If we learn how to get passion and excitement in our own minds regarding the things
of God, leadership is sure to show, and people will be influenced as a result. In The Mentor Leader, Tony
Dungy emphasizes the need for leaders to make developing future leaders a priority.
- Leaders develop the strengths of others.
- Leaders help others achieve success.
- Leaders spend time building mentoring relationships to counsel, coach, and challenge.
12. The Leader as Team builder

Strong leaders are effective at bringing others together in a team. This is often the difference between
leaders and others who also get good ideas, but never have much impact on the Body of Christ. Bringing
people together and helping them overcome barriers to understanding, personal resentments, jealousies,
and prejudice is typical work for leaders. Good leaders often engage in conflict management with
peaceful results. Those who try to manage conflict between others but end up fanning the flames or
consistently repudiating one or the other party in conflict usually cannot lead for long, or at least must
have a small following. Team-building also means that the leader is a consensus former. She is able to
get more than one person to agree about key values or directions of movement.

13. The Leader as Victorious Sufferer

Those who lead suffer just like others, and often more than others. The difference is that leaders can
suffer with grace and even with thanksgiving. They remain focused and functional during times of
suffering and do not lose confidence in their principles as much as others might. Leaders know how to
avoid focusing only on their own suffering even during times of intense pain. They can keep their eye on
the ball spiritually at least most of the time. People admire the heroism of those who can suffer without
 losing their trust in God or their commitment to others. They will ponder how to gain that ability for
themselves and become willing to follow the leader as a result. Leaders who lose their composure too
often or too completely when suffering usually forfeit influence with those they lead.

14. The Leader as a Fighter

Leaders often have to fight negative trends or false beliefs that develop within groups. Good leaders
carefully consider before God what factors are leading to the negative trends or views among their
friends, and devise counter-measures. Leaders know that Satan launches attacks on the health of any
group of fruitful Christians, and this knowledge leads to important conclusions: 1) Individuals within the
group are not the ultimate source of wrong thought and action because "we wrestle not with flesh and
blood." (Eph. 6:12) Therefore, even propagators of wrong can be, and often are salvaged and rescued
from their own foolishness. Look for good leaders to be co-workers with some who were in sin in the
past and some who opposed them earlier. Of course, even the best leader will lose some who fall into
error, and good leaders are willing to sustain such losses rather than go soft on God's standards. 2)
Anticipating spiritual attack leads to watchfulness and alertness (1 Pet. 5:8). Leaders are not always the
first to discern a problem, but they are attentive to problems whether discovered by themselves or others.
3) Leaders know they have to fight in prayer and they bring others into this work. (Rom. 15:30)

15. The Leader as a Helper and Giver

Jesus taught that the heart of spiritual leadership is servanthood. (Mk. 10:43,44) People are attracted to
those who have served them and helped them in the past, and will often follow their advice. Leaders
won't feel they have to meet all needs in the church, but will regularly strip themselves to wash the
saints' feet. People are suspicious of leaders who put on airs and seem to feel they are too important to do
common-place work. Such leaders forfeit influence

16. The Leader as Determined Man or Woman of Integrity

Leaders are regularly battered by circumstances, by Satan, and by their own people. All good leaders
must demonstrate that they can take it without losing composure. People are drawn to strength of
character, and tend to believe what strong people say. While they may feel sympathetic toward the weak,
they tend not to follow them. This doesn't mean leaders should pretend they are not suffering, but that
their determination and integrity dictate that they maintain consistency even in the face of suffering. It
also means that a leader would continue to pursue the right goals and live for God even if no one else
follows. A good leader is not afraid of rejection by his followers because his concern is doing what is
right, not being followed. Jesus taught that the good shepherd "goes out before them" which means that
such a shepherd sets a course knowing that the sheep will follow after. When people sense that a leader
is more concerned about being followed than about what God wants, they grow cynical about following.
Most people are suspicious of leaders anyway, and will test leaders by threatening not to follow. Only
 when they see that a leader can't be manipulated will they realize their choice is to follow or to take their
chances elsewhere.

17. The Leader as Stabilizer

Good leaders tend to be relatively stable over a period of years. While poor leaders periodically strike off
in radically different directions, good leaders commonly stick with their handful of central values and
convictions. Innovation takes the form of finding new and different ways to achieve old goals that
haven't changed in decades of the leader's life. Another common form of instability is quitting. Unstable
leaders leave the work for various reasons, while good leaders are present and accounted for year in and
year out. Many who demonstrate terrific natural charismatic leadership ability end up being poor leaders
because of the erratic course of their lives, while others who manifest little natural leadership end up
being respected and effective leaders because of their sheer dogged focus on basic spiritual principles. In
times of crisis, people tend to fall apart and panic, often proposing destructive radical solutions to the
problems at hand. The good leader is the one who stands firm under crisis and cannot be moved from the
foundation of truth. People are attracted to such stability and reliability, rightly discerning that such
reliability is the result of clear vision for God's way.

18. The Leader as Compromiser

Ironically, good leaders are also compromisers. While doggedness and determination are important,
perfectionism works against effective leadership. We live in a fallen world where our visions will never
be completely fulfilled. People never quite do what they should, and life always presents us with the
unexpected. As a result, leaders realize they need to get the best they can, while not insisting on
perfection or even on complete agreement. Wise leaders realize that the closer they come to their goal,
the better, and that any movement is better than no movement. They also realize that a following must
either be very small, or must include those who have a slightly different view, even though in general
agreement on the most important issues. Leaders also realize they must prioritize goals and they feel
good when major goals are attained even though lesser goals are not. Leaders who fail to prioritize, or
who are perfectionistic, run the danger of eventually breaking themselves and those around them. They
are poor at team building, and cannot negotiate effectively. In the end, they nearly always forfeit their
following.

19. The Leader as Encourager

While it is possible to lead without encouraging, good leaders have learned to use this important spiritual
tool. The Bible commands us to encourage one another, and the leader should show the way in this area.
(1 Thes. 5:11) Leaders are those who, through encouragement, can restore confidence and enthusiasm to
a group of people who are discouraged and depressed. Good leaders are constantly reminding people of
their value, of God's love, of the promises of Scripture, and that failure is not the end of the world. Since
 followers are bound to fail often, the role of encourager, while not owned exclusively by leaders, is
crucial to leaders' ability to maintain morale. Encouragement coming from a leader often has more
impact for good than that coming from others. “A good leader motivates, / doesn’t mislead, doesn’t
exploit” (Prov. 16:10). Nehemiah fearlessly motivated the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Neh.
2:17–20). He laid out a vision, he shared a plan, and he reassured God’s people that God was with them.
When we are moving people for our benefit, we manipulate and exploit them. But when we call people
to a higher purpose, we motivate them.

20. The leader as a selfless head

As leaders we need to be careful that we do not use people to build our own kingdom, to advance our
own careers. To be doing the right thing for the wrong reason can be described as easy, with motivation
and manipulation so similar that we can slip across the line almost without realizing it. We need to
remember it is not our church that we lead but Christ’s church, His bride, and we need to respect her.

CHAPTER TWO
 STEPHEN GRUNLAN DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD CHURCH LEADER
Looking at the book of proverbs Stephen Grunlan put forward the following biblical leadership principles:

a. A good leader has loyal followers

“The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; / leadership is nothing without a following” (Prov. 14:28).
Leadership is not so much about position as influence. We may hold an office in a church, but our influence
makes us leaders. The true test of leadership: Check to see whether or not anyone follows you.

b. Good leaders seek wise counsel

“Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; / take good counsel and watch them succeed” (Prov. 15:22).
Being a leader does not mean we have all the answers; we have the option of seeking help from others with
more experience.

c. Good leaders do not tolerate wrongdoing by others or themselves

Good leaders operate by the highest ethical standards. “Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; / sound
leadership has a moral foundation” (Prov. 16:12). Good leaders must confront wrongdoing and deal with it
without fear or favor, as Paul did with Peter on the issue of Jew-Gentile equality (Gal. 2:11–14).

d. Good leaders have integrity

“Good leaders cultivate honest speech; / they love advisors who tell them the truth” (Prov. 16:13). Honesty
can be classed as the foundation of leadership. Not only are good leaders honest, but they want honest
people around them. Just about every book on leadership lists character as one of the top characteristics of
effective leaders. People don’t follow leaders who lack integrity.

e. Good leaders keep their emotions under control

“An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; . . . Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives” (Prov. 16:14,
15).. While effective leaders are passionate, their passion must remain under control. Leaders are often
attacked and are the victims of false accusations. People misunderstand leaders, misquote them, are
suspicious of them, and attribute negative motives to them. All of these things along with the responsibility
and pressure of leadership can cause us to let our emotions get out of control. As leaders we need to be
especially on guard and carefully inhibit our emotions. We also need to pray for ourselves and have others
pray for us.

f. Good leaders strive for excellence

“Leaders who know their business and care / keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and the cheap” (Prov.
20:8). Not only should leaders give their best, they also need to expect the best from their followers while
helping them to do their best as they train and equip them.

g. Good leaders deal with troublemakers

“After careful scrutiny, a wise leader / makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts” (Prov. 20:26). While our
goal in dealing with dysfunctional people and troublemakers includes healing and restoration, we must not
tolerate dysfunctional people and troublemakers who do not respond to loving correction.

h. Good leaders balance truth and love

“Love and truth form a good leader; / sound leadership is founded on loving integrity” (Prov. 20:28). Love
without truth is a directionless emotion while truth without love is a cold reality. However, truth and love
together have the power to transform, for loving integrity confronts and corrects effectively.

i. Good leaders submit to God

“Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; / he directs it to whatever ends he chooses” (Prov.
21:1). The key to godly leadership is submission, for leadership under God’s control will accomplish God’s
work. Good.

j. Good leaders are always learning

“Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, / the understanding of a good leader is broad and
deep” (Prov. 25:3). An organization can only grow as its leaders grow, as effective leaders constantly
develop and sharpen their leadership skills.

k. Good leaders deal with problems

When the [church] is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it— But it takes a leader of real understanding to
straighten things out (Prov. 28:2).
l. Good leaders do not react; they act
“When a leader listens to malicious gossip, / all the workers get infected with evil” (Prov. 29:12). Good
leaders must not act on hearsay; they must get all the facts first and must follow the process of Matthew
18:15–17.

TOM HARPER DESCRIPTION OF HOW TO BE A GOOD CHURCH LEADER

Tom Harper read through the whole scriptures a looking for one fresh leadership principle in every book and
he found the followings:

1. Build the reputation of your critics

“‘What was I able to do compared to you?’ When he said this, their anger against him subsided”
(Judg. 8:3).

In the book of Judges, Gideon is the weakest member of the weakest clan in his Hebrew tribe, but he is
nevertheless chosen by God to save the entire nation of Israel. Gideon marshals 300 troops to chase the
enemy Midianite army, calling on surrounding tribes to assist. After a small victory of their own, some of the
tribal chiefs complain about missing the glory of Gideon’s main battle. The text says they criticize him
“violently.” But rather than respond in kind, he says, “What have I done now compared to you? . . . God
handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?”
(Judg. 8:1–3).

They want credit for a victory—any victory. And they’ll complain until they get it. When Gideon lifts up
their accomplishments over his own, their jealousy and anger subside. Further criticism is silenced.

Gideon’s technique of promoting his critics without diminishing his own accomplishments can be applied in
two ways:

1. Identify their strengths. When we point out the strengths of a critic in meetings and one-on-one
discussions with coworkers, it gets around that you think a lot of him, and he may feel a twinge of guilt
when he criticizes you in the future.
2. Ask for confidential criticism. Those who sling mud at you in public usually change their tune in private
discussions. Xerox’s CEO Anne Mulcahy said, “Stay approachable. Surround yourself with a group of
good critics. It’s the biggest gift you can get.”

2. Don't argue—ever
“ An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression” (Prov. 29:22 ).

Debate and argumentation are opposites, though they both rely on conflict. The former assumes we have the
same objective, the latter assumes we’re out to dominate the other. The skilled leader knows how to turn
back an argument to a debate, and to prevent a debate from becoming an argument. The following principles
should govern our meetings, relationships, and discussions.

Someone who sounds right all the time probably isn’t. “The first to state his case seems right until another
comes and cross-examines him” (Prov. 18:17).

Control your temper. Robert E. Lee said, “I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control
himself.” Here are a few verses regarding anger:
“A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict, but a man slow to anger calms strife” (Prov. 15:18).
“Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s temper, than capturing a city” (Prov. 16:32).
“The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding” (Prov.
17:27).
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check” (Prov. 29:11).

Don’t protect someone from the consequences of his or her anger. “A person with great anger bears the
penalty; if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again” (Prov. 19:19).

Reconciliation revives and energizes people. “The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious [deceitful]
tongue breaks the spirit” (Prov. 15:4).

Cut off arguments before they escalate. “To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it
breaks out” (Prov. 17:14).

Disassociate from chronically angry people as far it depends on you. “Don’t make friends with an angry
man, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a
snare” (Prov. 22:24–25).

Be quiet and take care with every word. “The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of
trouble” (Prov. 21:23).

When jealousy enters the ring, the fight’s gone too far. Jealousy is one of the most powerful emotions we
humans contend with. It has a more far-reaching effect on us than even anger. “Fury is cruel, and anger is a
flood, but who can withstand jealousy?” (Prov. 27:4).

Don’t let people talk long in meetings. In fact, all communication should be brief or at least broken into
chunks. Effusive monologues are often plagued with manipulation, argumentation, pride, or dishonesty
(Prov. 10:19).

Be quiet to appear wise. The above verse says it well, and so does this one: “Even a fool is considered wise
when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips” (Prov. 17:28).

Don’t overreact to the leader’s anger. Defensiveness and angry responses only incite those in authority to
increase their intensity. “A king’s fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it. When a king’s
face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain” (Prov. 16:14–15).

3. Motivate your people less

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an
adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods’” (Hos. 3:1).

The book of Hosea tells how an ancient leader employed love to reach his people. God commanded the
prophet Hosea to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer to signify Israel’s spiritual adultery. Hosea
grudgingly obeyed. One time he tracked her down at her lover’s home just to make sure she was being well
cared for.

Loving Gomer against his will served a greater purpose. God wanted His people to see how He felt as the
“husband” while they sought after other gods. Ultimately Hosea purchased Gomer back from the slave
auction block after her last lover had had enough of her. Broken and ashamed, she accompanied Hosea back
home to her children.

4. Submit to the law of enduring negativity

“Do not gloat over your brother in the day of his calamity” (Obad. 12a).

5. Lead like a humble dictator

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).

In sixth-century BC Rome, a farmer named Cincinnatus quietly tended his fields. Though widely known for
his prowess on the battlefield, he resisted accepting a military command because his family would starve
without him. When the Roman Senate begged him to accept a military dictatorship in order to defend the
city, he finally acquiesced. Immediately after his victory over the invading tribes, Cincinnatus handed the
mantle of power back to the senate and headed home. In later years they asked him to leave his modest life
again to fight off a revolt, and when this second dictatorship drew to a close, he eagerly returned to his
family again. He is considered one of Rome’s greatest leaders because of his selfless service, unlike most of
the rulers who followed.

A couple of thousand years later, another farmer named George Washington retired from a decorated career
in the French and Indian War. Weary in body and spirit, he relished the solitude and peace awaiting him at
his plantation home. But when Congress came knocking years later, he reluctantly accepted supreme
command of the Continental Army to defend his fledgling country from the British. After six bloody years,
Washington victoriously rode home to Mount Vernon and his fields, looking forward to resuming his quiet
life. But soon the country he’d fought for headed toward another disaster. Its weak government could not
overcome rebellious activists and civil uprisings. Washington left retirement to help create the new
Constitution, which was ratified in 1787, but he couldn’t escape the unanimous congressional vote that
bestowed upon him the first presidency of the United States. After his second term, he finally returned home
again, where he died three years later in 1799.

6. Underrate your plan

“Then the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish three days

The Old Testament book of Jonah builds the case for creating plans that bow to the winds of the culture, not
the whim of the leader. Jonah learns that forces stronger than he are in control. When his plans to go to
Tarshish are dashed by the gaping mouth of a giant fish, he instead accomplishes God’s very different plan.
British writer Hannah More speaks to this philosophy of flexibility: “It is not so important to know
everything as to appreciate what we learn.” We succeed when we set out with the understanding that the plan
could change at a moment’s notice. Sudden market forces, health issues, personnel dilemmas, and
unforeseen economic downturns often strike from the depths.

FURTHER LESSONS ON WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A BIBLICAL LEADER

Therefore to become a good leader, we must have the followings:

 a clear understanding of the nature of leadership

 a sound sense of self-awareness

 in-depth relationships

 the ability to confront

 the courage to take loving stands

 the willingness to be vulnerable

 the willingness to humble one’s self

 clarity of vision

 an understanding of truth

 the willingness to risk rejection

 insight into the heart of others

 sensitivity as to how to respond to others

1. Leaders must understand what leadership is.

Leadership is the act of influencing/serving others out of Christ’s interests in their lives so they accomplish
God’s purposes for and through them. Serving is slave leadership—a radical commitment to Christ in every
follower’s life that impels the leader to act in love with truth no matter what it costs that leader (Mt. 20:26-
27; John 13:16; Phil. 2:5-11; II Cor. 4:5).

Influence comes from serving by:

- Modeling
- Instructing
- Exhorting
- Evaluating
- Confronting
- Training
- releasing
Influence does not come by
- overpowering
- belittling
- manipulating
- threatening
- avoiding
- competing
- controlling
The leader focuses on God’s purposes for and through the followers.
God’s purpose for the followers is to grow them into Christlikeness, and the leader is one of His prime
instruments in guiding the followers to become more and more like Christ.
God’s purpose through the followers is to participate with Him in accomplishing the Great Commission in
accordance with their gifts and opportunities.
The leader focuses on both the functional and the foundational in the followers’ lives.
The functional refers to the tasks the followers undertake and to their competence in light of their gifts,
knowledge, and developed skills.
It refers to the followers’ competencies.
The foundational refers to the followers’ character, the core essence of their being on which all they do
rests.
The foundational determines how well the leader and the followers function.
It relates to their character, that is, who exercises the knowledge and skills to get the vision accomplished.
It relates to their motives, that is, why they do what they do.
It relates to their actions, that is, what they do (for example whether they confront, avoid, forgive, overlook,
exhort, lie, cheat, steal, say harsh words).
It relates to their method, that is, how they do what they do (for example use a method that communicates
freely or seeks to hold power to themselves, sacrifices their own recognition or grasps platform for
themselves).
It relates to their situation, that is where they act (for example acting appropriately in public in such a way
that the leader and followers demonstrate a wisdom that is appropriate for the moment or living in private
what they proclaim in public).
It relates to their timing, that is when they act based on the depth of relationship they have with the
followers, the need in the moment, the particular lesson they seek to teach, and the need in their followers
that must be met before they can become increasingly effective in serving Christ.
When the foundational and the functional integrate with consistency, leaders and followers will show an
uncommon Christlikeness. In a very real sense, character controls competence. Leadership is not only
getting something done; leadership is getting someone grown. Ultimately leadership is as much about
leadership development and leader formation as it is about the act of leading itself. Leading is knowing
where you want to go and getting others to go there with you.
Leading is getting a vision accomplished. But leadership is about far more than this. To get a vision
accomplished and burn followers out is to fail as a leader. To get a vision accomplished and build followers
up is to succeed as a leader. If you pursue leadership development (knowledge and skill development) and
leader formation (character growth) in the action of accomplishing a specific vision, you will more than get
that vision done.
Leaders must have a sound sense of self-awareness
Leaders must have a sound sense of self-awareness that they pass on to their followers. This means leaders
must think of themselves in appropriate ways and teach their followers to do the same. Leaders must think
of themselves as new mind leaders.
To do this they must understand several critical realities:
- new identity (Rom. 6:1-14)
- new resource (John 15:1-11)
- hardened hearts (Mark 6:52-8:33)
- new power (Eph. 5:18)
- new life (Rom. 6:4; 8:1ff)
- new role (John 13:1-17)
- new mind (Co. 3:1-2)
- new self (Rom. 12:3ff)
- new community (Rom. 12:9-15:1)
- new commitment (Mark 8:34)
- new hope (I Peter 1;13)
They must understand that they have everything for everything (II Peter 1:2-4) .
Leaders and followers must think of themselves in light of how God has gifted them (Rom. 12:3).
God has given every believer a gift (Eph. 4:7ff).
God plans to bless every believer through the exercise of these gifts (I Cor. 12:6).
God expects leaders and followers to use his/her gift(s) in accordance with God’s grace (Rom 12:6-8).
Leaders are responsible to equip followers in the exercise of their gifts (Eph. 4:11-12).
Leaders must know how to equip their followers to exercise their gifts (Eph. 4:11)
- mend nets (Mk. 1:19)
- restore sinners (Gal. 6:1), set bones
- develop their followers skills (12345)
- delegate, evaluate, and hold their followers accountable
Leaders must observe, correct, train, rebuke, and encourage
wash feet
Leaders must confront certain characters when needs arise and even remove followers when necessary, no
matter how strong his/her skills may be or how many followers that follower may have

Leaders must have in-depth relationships

You cannot have an in-depth relationship with everyone you lead, but everyone on your team or in your
sphere of responsibility should have some kind of in-depth relationship with a leader former. Some will be
more effective than others as leader formers, but all must have someone ahead of them who seeks to know
them at the heart level.
To know someone at the heart level, you must know that person’s
- fears
- reasons for anger
- dreams
- identity needs—
- where they feel they lack
- the emptiness they’re trying to fill through achievements
- the things that drive them and generate their expectations, both appropriate and inappropriate

Leaders must have the appropriate ability to confront

You need to determine your own willingness to confront when you must despite your adversity to it; know
your primary and secondary styles. Understand confrontation biblically, not culturally or personally. Note
different confrontation models for differing circumstances:
- inferior to superior (Nathan to David)
- superior to inferior (Jesus to Peter + James and John)
- equal to equal (Paul to Peter + Paul and Barnabas to one another.
Realize there are many levels/kinds of confrontation from gentle correction to direct command. Understand
what it will cost not to confront and see which is the most costly, confronting or not confronting.

Leaders must have the courage to take loving stands

The courage to take loving stands relates directly to your willingness to confront. Taking stands doesn’t
always involve confrontation, but it certainly can lead to it. Frequently, followers want their leader to take a
stand even when they argue for a different position. Sometimes they are seeking for leadership from their
leader as well as testing their leader’s willingness and courage to fulfill their responsibility and lead. Taking
stands does not mean you should be inflexible; the secret to taking stands is knowing what is worth entering
tension over and what isn’t. Make certain the stand you take is for the benefit of the person’s growth in light
of the defined and agreed upon vision and goals, not just for policies, your preference or convenience.
Leaders must be willing to be vulnerable

Vulnerability is the willingness to let my followers see my needs, my fears, my feelings, and my growth in
such a way that it edifies them and helps then grow in character and competence. Vulnerability must edify
without manipulating. You will be vulnerable against your will because one of the key reasons why God has
you in leadership is to grow you in public. Because of this, God will make certain that you have many
opportunities to be vulnerable, and not infrequently, against your will. This is not because God wants to
embarrass or shame you, but grow you in such a way that you model growth for others and influence them
to know God through your struggles. Invite others into your pilgrimage in the way Paul did in the New
Testament:

 he frequently gave his testimony, even though it wasn’t complimentary to him;

 he spoke of fear and trembling when coming to Corinth;

 he spoke of facing lions and fearing for his life in Ephesus;

 he spoke of not finding rest for his soul in Troas;

 he spoke of his inadequacy for God’s triumph to the Corinthians;

 he spoke of his weakness as his strength, that is, his vulnerability was the channel God most used to
make a difference in others through him;

 he spoke of the weight of the churches upon him;

 he spoke of his need to confront Peter for the Gospel in Galatians;

 he spoke of his gratitude for funds in Philippians;

 he spoke of his need for prayer to the Colossians;

 he spoke of his need for funds to the Romans;

 he spoke of the hurt done to him by those who attacked him to Timothy;

 he spoke of his intense loneliness and need for others when he was deserted after his trial for his life in II
Timothy.

Leaders must willingly humble themselves

Jesus washed feet because none of His followers had the currency to pay the emotional bill to serve when it
came due. He knew this and chose to model self-humbling to them because He knew power plays, self-
assertion, and competition would never accomplish His mission. Jesus knew power leadership may be short-
term, productive leadership, but in the end it is actually destructive leadership. Jesus also knew His men
would never change without some very direct teaching, but the teaching could not be in words; the teaching
had to be in unforgettable actions that would make a permanent impact on them. We find the currency to
humble ourselves where He found it—in a relationship and mission that meant more to Him than His image,
His power, His drive to be right, His need to win, or anything else in the world. This relationship and
mission was motivated by a love that only He can give. Leader formers must be growing in a love for Christ
that frees them from every other dependency and releases them to humble themselves and serve.

Leaders must follow Jesus and model what they want their followers to be and do
Jesus alone was willing to do what the disciples should have fallen all over themselves to do. He knew
exactly what He was doing and why He was doing it when He got up from the table, stripped to the waist,
took a towel and a basin of water, and went from man to man washing their feet.
- He knew who He was and what His authority over them was.
- He knew the only way He could demonstrate true authority was to serve.
- He knew they would never have true authority unless they became servants in exactly the same way as
He did.
- He knew He was living out what Paul came to describe in Philippians 2, the very same mental attitude
the apostle calls us to have.
- He knew only this mind-set can take up the cross and He had already established that fact that without
the cross, the disciples would never be able to follow Him.
- He consciously chose to model what He wanted them to become.
- He deliberately commanded them to do what He did, to follow Him as a model.

Leaders must have clarity of vision

Vision focused our Lord’s love and gave Him a dream for His men. He saw them doing things they could
never do apart from His love and His mission for them. He saw these ordinary fishermen, businessmen, and
common villagers changing the world.

 He called them because of His vision for them

 He taught them because of His vision for them

 He challenged them because of His vision for them

 He cleansed them because of His vision for them

 He confronted them because of His vision for them

 He modeled for them because of His vision for them

 He commissioned them because His bigger vision of the world included them
Jesus was never off vision; He always knew what He was doing because He always knew why He was doing
it. You must always be on vision, always forming your emerging leader’s character and competence in light
of your vision—the vision Jesus has called you to pursue, to which they have responded and committed
themselves with you. You must also allow them to pursue the vision according to their peculiar (unique)
God-given make up and not force them to pursue it according to yours.

Leaders must have an accurate understanding of truth

Theology matters, and even more so in an emerging church. Consider the first five hundred years of the
church when virtually all theological problems were considered and defined. There is great theological
diversity in your area at this time and a limited ability to communicate or to have theological conversation
across the culture. It is critical for solid theological development to mark the emerging church or the cults
will have a field day in the future. Jesus knew exactly how to serve Peter because He knew theology—He
knew the truth Peter need to know if Peter was going to be useful to Jesus in the course of his life. Emerging
leaders need to understand the truths concerning God, the trinity, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the Lord
Jesus Christ.

Leaders must be willing to risk rejection

Jesus clearly risked rejection by the leaders of His day, both Jewish and Roman. But He also risked the
rejection of the very leaders He was forming, even as Peter rebuked and resisted Him; Jesus even asked
them at one point if they would leave Him. Rejection comes whenever one person goes against the values,
expectations, desires, or demands of others in such a way that those others feel challenged, threatened, and
angry. Jesus went against the selfish values, core expectations, driven desires, and overt demands of His
followers as represented by Peter who rebuked Him (Mark 8:33). Those engaged in leader formation must
take the same risk and may even pay the same price of desertion and denial. Unless the leader former runs
this risk—and even experiences it—he will not be effective in fulfilling his task.

Leaders must have insight in the hearts of others

Leaders must understand the hearts of those they influence:
- insight comes first from Scripture
- insight comes from observing the experience of others
- insight comes from reading what others have learned
- insight comes from the counsel of others who have wisdom about the heart
- insight comes from personal experience and growth
Leader formers need to keep a journal of their growth, recording:
- what they learned
- how they learned it
- what they felt while learning
- what overcame their resistance to learning
- what helped them through their learning experience
- what changed in the core of their being as a result of their learning

Leaders need sensitivity as to how to respond to others

- They respond sometimes directly.
- They respond sometimes indirectly.
- They respond sometimes publicly.
This comes from knowing people by
- understanding their temperaments,
- respecting their concerns,
- believing in their gifts
- supporting their dreams
- challenging their flaws
 CHAPTER THREE

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF CHURCH LEADERS

The depth of character within the people of the Biblical stories is astounding. They faced great challenges
and overcame them with faith and endurance. For leaders today, there is much to learn from these ordinary
people who made decisions that transformed them into extraordinary legends. Church leadership is in dire
need of that level of conviction and determination. The characters of the Bible can teach us a great deal.

1. Noah: Leaders do what’s right even if they are alone

In Genesis 6, God is despairing over the wickedness that has overtaken humanity. Reluctantly, he decides to
wipe out the human race and start from scratch. Noah, however, is the only one who has not been corrupted.
You know the story. God tells him to build an ark that will save him, his family, and a whole host of animal
life. As he is boarding the ark, God says to him, “for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this
time.” Literally the whole world was doing what was wrong. But did that deter Noah from doing what was
right? Not a chance!

2. Abraham: Leaders embrace the unknown

God approaches Abraham in Genesis 12 and tells him to “Go forth from your country, and from your
relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.” In other words, Abraham is
instructed to leave his comfort zone and march onward into uncertainty. As business leaders, that’s a hot
topic: managing risk and uncertainty. Great leaders embrace that uncertainty, because they know the truth:
the promised land awaits them on the other side.

3. Joseph: Leaders endure in spite of circumstances

The story of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37 is powerful. The guy had a pretty tough life. He was sold into
slavery by his jealous brothers. His father was told that he was killed by a wild animal. He was framed by
his boss’s wife because he refused to sleep with her and was thrown into prison. He interpreted the dream of
a prisoner who was released and restored to his position, but the guy forgot about him. In the end, though,
Joseph became the leader of all Egypt–second only to the Pharaoh himself. When there is a famine, he is
then able to save his family from starvation. He tells his brothers when he sees them again that, though they
meant harm, God orchestrated the events to put Joseph in a position to save them. Leaders have a vision that
sustains them through difficult times. We learn from Genesis 41:39-46 Joseph was 30 when he was given the
position of leadership in Egypt. For 13 long years he suffered while learning to be a leader. He had the
vision much earlier, but God chose to wait to fulfill the vision. God forged Joseph into a leader in the
furnace fires of adversity. In the end the trial by fire produced a solid gold leader because he kept his eyes
fixed on God.

4. Moses: Leaders stick up for their people

Yes, it’s true. God has to be very convincing in order to get Moses to take action in Exodus 3. He at first
gives excuse after excuse as to why he isn’t the right guy for the job. When he finally does answer his
calling, though, Charlton Heston–err, I mean Moses, approaches Pharaoh and boldly passes on the iconic
message: “Let my people go.” The Israelites, Moses’ native people, had been enslaved by Egypt and Moses
was the one enlisted to lead them to freedom. When the time came, Moses was willing to step up and lead.

5. Joshua: Leaders rule by example rather than command

In Joshua 24, after leading his people into a new land, Joshua offers the Israelites the option to either A)
serve the God who they had always served, the one who had brought them into the land or B) serve the gods
of the surrounding lands. “But as for me and my house,” he says, “we will service the Lord.” The people
answer in unison that they will pledge their allegiance to God. Because they believe in Joshua’s leadership,
they follow Joshua’s example. He doesn’t have to threaten them; he merely inspires them by his example.

6. David: Leaders are not afraid of giants

Everybody knows this story. In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites are being defeated by the Philistines and their 9-
foot tall giant–Goliath. Goliath taunts the Israelites and challenges them to send him one man and, if that
man should defeat him, the Philistines would become their servants. David, a small shepherd boy who will
not even fit into the armor he is provided, volunteers. When Goliath mocks him, David says, “You come to
me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, whom you have
taunted.” With that, he takes a stone, slings it at Goliaths forehead, and knocks the giant to the ground–dead.
In other words, you can face any challenge as long as you have conviction and strength of resolve on your
side.

7. Isaiah: Leaders rise to the occasion

In a vision Isaiah has in Isaiah 6, God asks who he should send as a prophet to His people. Isaiah responds,
“Here am I. Send me!” Leaders don’t wait to see if anyone else is going to step up when something needs
done. They take initiative. They are first to raise their hands. First to stand. First to speak up. First to make
decisions. Leaders shun inaction and are always ready to take the plunge at a moment’s notice.

8. Daniel: Leaders maintain their resolve without regard for consequences

Many of us know the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel, in Daniel 6, is a highly esteemed government
official whose colleagues become jealous. Seeking to get rid of him and knowing that he is a religious man,
his colleagues convince the king to enact a decree saying that prayer can be made to no god except for the
king. Once the decree is made, Daniel continues on praying and giving thanks to his God just like he always
did. When he is caught, his colleagues tell their king and he is forced to throw Daniel into the den of lions.
The next morning, the king finds Daniel alive. The lions had not harmed him. The point? Daniel’s faith in
his God is what made him great in first place. Knowing this, he would not recant regardless of what
happened to him. Great leaders follow this example and maintain steadfast in their convictions regardless of
what happens.

9. John the Baptist: Leaders aren’t afraid to call out the phonies
John the Baptist, in Matthew 3, is baptizing people and preaching about the coming of Jesus. When a
pretentious, self-righteous group of religious officials comes for baptism, he calls them out for what they
are: “a brood of vipers.” Leaders aren’t afraid to call it like it is. Whether they are suppliers, employees, or
even customers, leaders have what it takes to be brutally honest with the people they come in contact with.

10. Jesus: Leaders are servants

One of the most powerful images in the life of Jesus is when he washes his disciples’ feet in John 13. When
he is finished, he says to them, “You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the
Lord and teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Jesus, of course, isn’t
talking about feet. He’s talking about servant-leadership. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow
them. Great leaders wash their people’s feet.

11. Peter: Leaders recover from failure

Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even knowing Him three times while Jesus is being
crucified. Jesus had predicted he would do it, though Peter insisted he would never deny Jesus–even to the
death. When the rooster crows (what Jesus said would happen), Peter realizes what he had done and weeps
bitterly. In Acts 2, we see Peter giving the first sermon after Jesus’s ascension into heaven–to a crowd of
thousands of people when he had previously denied Jesus in front of just a few days earlier. Leaders don’t
become discouraged when they fail. They don’t wallow in self-pity and give up due to the mishap. They pick
themselves back up and continue on. Leaders do better next time.

12. Paul: Leaders are passionate for what they believe in

Paul, throughout his life recorded in Acts, is a very zealous individual. As a Pharisee, he violently opposes
the spread of Christianity, going out of his way to see Christians killed and imprisoned. When Jesus appears
to him in Acts 9 and changes his mind, he becomes equally adamant about the truth of Christianity. Paul
travels across all of the known world, spreading the message about Jesus and establishing churches
everywhere he went. Leaders are driven by a sense of purpose. Leaders have a fire lit under them and feel
compelled to accomplish their objectives. There is no place for apathy in the life of a leader. Leaders always
care…and care deeply.

In Paul we can see the following leadership quality

a. Willingness to Pay the Price

Paul begins " Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of
Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:" (Col. 1:24). Paul rejoices in what "was suffered
for you." What is he referring to here? Look at the preceding verses and you realize that Paul is referring to
the sacrifice of Christ for our sin. Paul is grateful for Christ's work in their life. Paul goes into some detail
about his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:24-24.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,
thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of
waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city,
in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren………..

b. Servant Mentality

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ………… Tit 1:1

Paul understands that he is a servant of God. He says He is a servant by the commission of God. He
understood that He "worked for God". God did not serve Paul . . . Paul served him.

Paul also sees himself as a servant of the church. He is a servant of God's Kingdom. He is not a
professional . . . but a servant. His job is not to build a kingdom to himself but to build God's kingdom.

And the apostle Paul understands that he is a servant of the Word. His job was to proclaim God's truth. It is
very easy to forget this. We get wrapped up trying to be creative and innovative, we dabble in politics and
pop psychology. But this is not our calling. These things cannot save anyone. There is a tendency to make
the Word of God a servant of the teacher rather than the teacher, a servant of the Word of God. It is not our
job to "pick and choose" which part of the Bible we will focus on and believe. We must present and study
the fullness of the truth. God's Word must dictate what we teach; not public opinion, contemporary events,
personal preference. Scripture is not for us to use to prove our ideas. We are here to proclaim God's ideas!

Effective Christian leaders understand they are not the served but the servants.

c. Visionary Leadership

Paul writes, " For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I
may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. " 2Co 11:2. Paul sees the big picture. He is not seeking to build
organizations . . . he is seeking to develop PEOPLE. His goal is to present everyone perfect in Christ.

Effective Christian Leaders are those who look beyond attendance figures. They look beyond today. They
want to develop people, not just produce events. They want to see people grow not just show up. Do you see
this in Paul's words? Paul understands that His first goal is to reach people with the Gospel and then develop
them in their Christian life.
d. Closeness to the Source of his Strength

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by
day. 2Co 4:16

Paul concludes this section with these words, "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so
powerfully works in me." The word "struggling" in Greek is the word agonizomai, from which we get our
word agonize, and conveys the idea of an athlete straining to win the race."

3. .RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF LEADERS.

4. To serve was Jesus definition of leadership, wether in the secular or in the church.
5. This applies to all leaders too. 1. The leader serves the people.
6. 2. The concern for the welfare and comfort of the people are more important to him than his own
comfort and prestige.
7. 3.He is to show great tenderness and patience towards the failure and shortcomings of his followers.
8. 4. He is to help them reach a higher plane of development.
9. 5. He must maintain godly and loving discipline. If divine standard are to be maintained, especially in
matter of soundness in the faith, morals and Christian conduct (Gal 6 vs 1, 2Thesa 3 vs 15)
10. 6. The biblical leader must know where he is going and be able to guide the flock going ahead of them.
You go before them like the master and the sheep follow you. (John 19 vs 4 and 1Cor 11 vs 1).
7 He must be able to initiate new venture, more gift to achieving orders than for generating ardor. He
must initiate plan for progress or recognize plan of others. HE MUST REMAIN IN FRONT and give
guidance and sense of direction to those behind.
11. He must be able to undertake responsibility and do it willingly.