Some Are Egotistical And Intolerant Of Lesser Talented People
These “hard driving” types think everyone else should be like them or no one else can be like them. They push too hard and usually do not appreciate the people who work for them.
There are many other types but these two are examples of leaders who have the position but not the character that the position of leadership requires. Solomon, who was a leader, provides five key characteristics that leaders should have in order to be qualified as godly leaders:
A Follower And A Leader
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
A faithful Christian servant loves his Heavenly Father and strives to follow Jesus. This means that when he makes choices of what to do in his life, he chooses what Jesus would choose and goes where Jesus would go. A faithful Christian servant will be available to teach others how to follow Jesus too.
Bible Verses About Good Leadership In Church And Beyond
Topics:Bible VersesInspiration
Are you in a leadership position? Or, perhaps you are looking for Bible verses about leadership qualities. Either way, one never knows when he or she could end up in charge or running something and that’s why it’s essential to know the ins and outs of Bible verses on leadership.
In this article, we’ll present some of the most powerful Bible verses about leadership.
These timeless truths not only help us when we’re at the helm, but they guide us toward being the people God wants us to be. Let’s dive in:
Also Check: Do Unto Others Bible Verse
More On Christ Centred Servant Leadership
Claybury Internationals team has spent many years coming alongside Christian leaders around the world to help them meet the practical challenge of Jesus, to serve those that they lead.
Christ-centred servant leadership is not a theological construct it is about the reality of day to day leadership carried out in the character of Christ. As such it is immensely practical but we need to work out how to apply it in our daily lives as leaders.
In The Servant Leaders Garden series, Thorsten Grahn, who wrote this article, offers a fascinating insight into this challenge through parable, by comparing the roles of leader and gardener. It helps those who aspire to be Christ-centred servant leaders to see what it means to serve those whom they lead, so that they are able to achieve their full potential.
What Is Christian Leadership 8 Principles
I heard a well-known pastor describe the church as the most leadership-intensive organization in the world, Stephen Grunlan, senior pastor at Grace Fellowship in Overland Park, Kansas, wrote in Ministry Magazine. 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.
Those leadership skills will define whether church leaders or all Christian leaders, because they have the same values and focus are successful. Where do they find the leadership principles needed to lead? Grunlan asked. While excellent books, seminars and classes on leadership are available, church leaders, first of all, need to look in Gods Word.
Also Check: Chronological Stories Of The Bible
What The Bible Says About Supporting Our Leaders
Just as we are to obey our leaders, were also to support them: wives are to respect and support their husbands as the leader of the home, believers are to honor and support their spiritual leaders, and everyone should pray for and respect their governmental leaders.
63. . . . each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
64. Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.
65. The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. The context of this verse indicates that honor includes financial renumeration.
66. But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work.
67. First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
68. Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
69. Hebrews 13:24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.
The Triumph Of The Unjust
10So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out from the holy place, and they are soon forgotten in the city where they did thus. This too is futility. 11Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. 12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. 13But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.
Solomon begins by referring to religious hypocrites who attend worship but who are evil people. Many times when these people die they receive elaborate funerals and are preached into heaven. In addition to this, those who build comfortable lives for themselves at the expense of others are never judged and punished for their unjust exploitation. Solomon complains that without swift justice others are encouraged to do the same. He does not, therefore, understand God’s tolerance of this kind of evil and hypocrisy.
Read Also: Bible Says About Family
About Leadership Principles In The Bible
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Bible is filled with multiple references to leadership and what it takes to be a good leader. The Bible talks about the effects of good leadership as well as the results of poor leadership. Leaders are responsible for how well they do their jobs and are accountable to God for leading their people astray.
Explore this article
What Is Christian Leadership
Leadership is the act of influencing/serving others out of Christs interests in their lives so they accomplish Gods purposes for and through them, according to Bill Lawrence, president of Leader Formation International, at Bible.org.
Christian leadership is not rooted in worldly notions of success, such as the love of money or power. Jesus Himself spoke against this when expressing the importance of serving others.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:25-28, NKJV
Leaders are not to oppress and overpower others with their authority, like the Gentiles practiced. Instead, leaders serve others, which Jesus demonstrated when He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross .
You May Like: What Is Love Definition Bible
A Good Leader Is Humble
Weve seen countless prominent examples of Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. From politicians and celebrities to CEOs and pastors, many have grabbed headlines as their empires have fallen. In most of these cases, its pride that has crept in. They thought themselves invincible, but quickly found out that no one is. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud .
Leaders Have Exceptional Qualities That Others Aim To Have
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,1 Timothy 3:2
Leaders inspire their followers to be like them. As such, they have to possess certain qualities that will make them stand out from the crowd: charisma, confidence, self-control.
Recommended Reading: Where In The Bible Does It Talk About Cremation
Growing The Servant Heart
Growing the Servant Heart is a free on-line training programme that examines the nature and role of Christ-centred servant leadership in Kingdom enterprises. It is available in the Academy section of Christian Leadership, which you can select from the menu
There is also a free White Paper entitled Growing the Servant Heart which reviews the challenges of people and organisational leadership in a Church or Kingdom enterprise.
An enterprise is an organisation specifically structured to deliver some specific good or service. Kingdom enterprises are those that have Christian objectives and which are led and staffed by Christians. Often they may be para-church organisations but a church may also be called to a specific ministry, which in itself is effectively an enterprise. A Kingdom enterprise requires a distinctively Christ-centred leadership style, following the example of the Servant King.
Download a free copy of the Growing a Servant Heart White Paper here.
Truth #2 Death Is Certain
2It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked for the good, for the clean and for the unclean for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. 3aThis is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men.
Knowing and believing that death is certain, enables one to keep a proper perspective on life and time. This knowledge also forces a person to establish priorities, be more careful in what he does, and seek after God with greater fervor.
You May Like: Bible Books Chronological Order
Bible Verses About Servant Leadership
The Bible has a lot to say about servant leadership. Jesus spoke of Gentile leaders as being on a power-trip, lording their authority over people. He told His disciples they should not be this way that being a leader meant being a servant or a slave. Jesus pointed to Himself as an example of one who came to serve, not be served, and who gave His life as a ransom for many.
At the last supper, Jesus removed his outer garments and went around the table, washing the feet of each of His disciples something a servant would usually do. He told the disciples that He did that as an example to them, that they should follow.
The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:5-8 to have the same mind as Jesus even though He existed as God and was equal with God, He took on the form of a bondservant and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross.
A servant leader doesnt grab power or try to manipulate others a servant leader seeks to serve others. Its not about becoming well-known or highly respected its about making God well-known, about loving, respecting, and empathizing with the people one leads, and about resisting pride and listening to others.
46. 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
48. Matthew 20:26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.
What Did Jesus Say About Being A Leader
1. Leaders are servants first. Jesus taught his disciples not to emulate the rulers of the Gentiles who exercised authority over them. Instead, He taught that in order for us to be leaders, we must become servants first.
Don’t Miss: What Does The Bible Say About Refugees
Leading Others To God
Leading others to God is our prime directive as Christians our constant focus in our relationships with family, neighbors, colleagues, as well as people around the globe. These were Jesus final words just before He ascended to heaven:
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
We may feel shy or incapable of leading others to God, but thats why God gives the Holy Spirit to all believers to give us power to be witnesses!
We can lead others to God through what we say: Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
The way we live can speak volumes to those who dont know Jesus: prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.
In addition to leading others to God through what we say and do, we can enable other people to lead others to God in places we cant go by supporting those on the mission field.
3. Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
Leaders Act With Integrity
It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness.Proverbs 16:12
Leaders who follow what is right and just are rewarded and uplifted. When leaders act with integrity, they are known for sticking to what they believe in and this helps in building a respectable reputation as a leader.
Recommended Reading: What Does Bible Say About Cremation Vs Burial
A Good Leader Is Slow To Anger
Weve all seen the caricatures in movies and television of the angry boss the person who yells for no reason, barks orders and berates and demoralizes the staff. Perhaps youve even worked for such a person. The Bible says that Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. As you read through these qualities of a good leader, hopefully you find them as challenging as I do. God tells us how to be effective, godly leaders. Its up to us to put our human tendencies aside and embrace these principles. Its also up to us to pray for those under which we serve, that they too would be the good leaders God wants them to be.
Brent Rinehart is a public relations practitioner and freelance writer. He blogs about the amazing things parenting teaches us about life, work, faith and more at www.apparentstuff.com. You can also follow him on .
Servant Leadership Examples In The Bible
When Jesus and His disciples came to the town of Capernaum, He asked them about a dispute they had on the way. They were arguing about who would be the greatest, and Jesus took the opportunity to speak about true leadership the concept of servant leadership.
And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.
But what is servant leadership, exactly? The concept isnt fully defined in Jesus words or any other simple phrase. Rather, its illustrated and illuminated in His life and ministry, and thats where you should start if you want to become a more effective leader.
Of course, there are other servant leadership examples in the Bible that can help you along the way. By studying other godly men and women who demonstrated the core qualities of a servant leader, you can better appreciate their triumphs and struggles, as well as your own.
Also Check: What Does The Bible Say About The Last Days Kjv
Bible Verses About Leadership Qualities
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock And exalted be the God of my salvation,
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.The heavens are telling of the glory of God And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
He makes my feet like hinds feet,And sets me upon my high places.
Now the Lord said to Samuel, How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch And He will reign as king and act wiselyAnd do justice and righteousness in the land.
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against a perennially watered pasture for in an instant I will make him run away from it, and whoever is chosen I shall appoint over it. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me into court? And who then is the shepherd who can stand against Me?