1.

Character
Character is that set of moral qualities that distinguishes one person from others.

As the Scripture says, it is from the heart of a person that proper attitudes and actions
flow ( ).

The character of the biblical leader may be summarized by three images directly
connected to who Jesus was and how he led.

They are the images of the Servant, the Steward, and the Shepherd.

Can a person serve others without a servant’s heart?

Christ like character is very important, without it, leaders are merely empty shells,
actors who play a part, void of substance and lasting spiritual impact.

2. Calling
Biblical leaders must not only concern themselves with how to lead, but they must also
address why they are leading—for what purpose. They must find their WHY before they
know their WHAT.

Why is this important? Well, if we’re not careful, Vision will turn out to be something we
Invent rather than something we Discover from God. The term “Calling” possesses the
inherent idea that purpose comes from God to us—not the other way around. With a
calling, after all, there must be a Caller. (See

Often, a leader’s plans get confused with God’s plan. The fact is, God has not committed
himself to finance our dreams. He’s not a genie in the bottle who exists to grant our
wishes. He wants us to get involved in his plans. Calling therefore communicates
something received from God (the One calling) to us (the ones called)—and God is
always faithful to supply and sustain that which he initiates. The great promise to leaders
who follow God’s call is that he will be faithful to resource it.
 Additionally, calling is an inherent biblical concept, it is unique to people of faith. While
vision (a mental idea of a preferable future) certainly flows from calling, leaders should
first process and possess a strong sense of God’s compelling call to join him in
the work he is doing. After their response of faith to God’s call, vision will begin to
develop within the hearts and minds of the leaders—and most importantly, that
vision will be rooted in a call from God, not in self-centered ambition.

4. Community
The outcome of biblical leadership is always about transforming the lives of human
beings. Always, in the Scripture, every time God called a leader to a leadership task,
God’s purpose was to redeem and restore his people through the instrument of the
leader. Developing a ministry program, or constructing a building can be a means
toward a people-transforming end, but they are never the end in themselves. People are
of immense value to God, and our leadership should have the development and
transformation of people.

Biblical leaders love the people they lead—they don’t just use them. As Jesus did
life with those he led, He chose to impart himself, not just his teaching.

5. Christ

Finally, worldly leaders may operate in their own strength and in their own
wisdom, and they might be able to accomplish good and even noble things. But
biblical leadership produces eternal results because it comes from a different
source. It’s not based upon the world’s wisdom or the meager human resources
of the leader. These sources can only accomplish what can be explained in
natural and human ways and through the limited skills of the leader. By contrast,
the inner fuel, guide, and force at work for the biblical leader is the very power of
Christ!

In the end, the leader sees limitless possibilities for what can be achieved. When
the task is complete it is God, not the leader, who receives the credit.

A BIBLICAL LEADER is a person of Character and Competence who influences a

Community of people to achieve a God-honoring Calling by means of the power
of Christ.