LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Assignment Title: What Is Christian Leadership? 8 Principles
Course: CHMN 699 - Internship
Student: Kristine Sage
Date: January 29, 2022
Professor: Dr. Joel Breidenbaugh
What Is Christian Leadership?
“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,” 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” (Philippians 2:7-8).
Christian Leadership Principles
1. Love
God is love (1 John 4:8) and “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy
Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). Expressing the power and influence of the love of
God is difficult to overemphasize. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul famously wrote about the
transformational nature of love and how it is greater than spiritual gifts like faith and hope.
Jesus told His disciples that other people will know them by their love (John 13:35).
Love is central to Christianity and every Christian. Any Christian leader should be driven in his or
her life by the love of God in anything that he or she does. In this light, may other people
recognize the heart and motives of that leader.
2. Modesty
“We’ve all encountered the know-it-all leader, the ‘submit-or-else’ type of leader,” according to
writer Brent Rinehart at Crosswalk. But Proverbs 16:5 says the proud of heart are “an
abomination” to God. Being arrogant does not help model or demonstrate Christ’s interests.
Rather, it is in direct conflict with Christian leadership.
Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
– Proverbs 16:18-19
3. Self-development
Jesus modeled self-development, according to Ron Edmondson, pastor of Immanuel Baptist
Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Jesus often “constantly slipped away to spend time with God.”
One of the most striking examples of this is when Jesus prayed in the garden at Gethsemane
just before His arrest. Jesus knew “all things that would come upon Him” (John 18:4), including
the painful flogging and crucifixion. This caused intense anguish and sorrow, which is evident
from Luke’s account. Luke, who was a physician, was the only writer in the gospels to describe
Jesus’ sweat as blood — referring to a rare condition called hematidrosis.
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but
Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in
agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down
to the ground.
– Luke 22:41-44
Christian leaders can follow Jesus’ example of seeking God for insight into His will and for
strength. Becoming more righteous is a lifelong process for all Christians, and leaders need to
make time to grow spiritually.
4. Motivation
Instead of misleading or exploiting people, good leaders motivate others, Grunlan said.
In Nehemiah 2:17, “Nehemiah fearlessly motivated the people to rebuild the walls of
Jerusalem,” Grunlan wrote. “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.”
5. Correction
Correcting others in the right way is important for all Christians. Many passages in Scripture
speak to this principle, as the following examples illustrate:
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you
in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s
sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are
unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians
5:13-14).
“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in
humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them
repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses
and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2
Timothy 2:23-26).
How can Christian leaders approach correcting others in the right way? Lawrence offers the
following tips:
By understanding their temperaments
By respecting their concerns
By believing in their gifts
By supporting their dreams
By challenging their flaws
6. Integrity
Good leaders practice and value integrity.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And they love him who speaks what is right.
– Proverbs 16:13
“People don’t follow leaders who lack integrity,” Grunlan said. “Integrity involves actions as
well as words. Now, I am not so much referring to things like not stealing as I am to hypocrisy.
Integrity involves practicing what we preach, being consistent and dependable, doing what we
say we will do and living in such a way that others will trust us.”
7. Follower of God’s Will
“Is there anything more important in a leader than he or she seeking God’s direction?” Rinehart
asked. “A good leader seeks the Lord, commits his way to the Lord and the Lord establishes the
next steps.”
The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. …
Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established. …
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
– Proverbs 16:1, 3, 9
