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Biblical Leadership Evaluation
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Biblical Leadership Evaluation
Paul the apostle is widely regarded as the Bible's most influential and prolific writer.
People remember him as the man who gave rise to new religions. His transformation into a
devout follower of the Lord is documented in the Bible. Paul is a central figure in Christianity
because he wrote nearly half of the books in the New Testament. In this paper, I will examine the
apostle Paul through the lens of Kraft's criteria for a "Leader who Lasts" to see if he meets them.
What is meant by the term "lasting leader"
Leadership that lasts requires "a humble, God-dependent, team-playing servant of God
who is called by God to shepherd, develop, equip, and empower a specific group of believers to
accomplish an agreed-upon vision from God," Kraft writes.
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Such leaders are driven by an
insatiable thirst for the Lord and the advancement of His kingdom. A servant's heart, humility,
dependence on God, cooperation, a divine calling, shepherding gifts, the ability to develop,
equip, and empower others, a sense of direction, and the ability to cast vision are all necessary
qualities for a great leader.
Leadership value that last are divided into three categories: foundational, formational,
and fruitful.
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It is imperative that leaders "1) have Jesus Christ at the center as their power; 2)
have Jesus Christ as they develop a purpose; 3) have Jesus Christ as they develop a passion; 4)
have Jesus Christ as they develop priorities; 5) have Jesus Christ as they develop pacing"
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. For
their part, lasting leaders need to work on their "1) Calling, 2) Gifts, 3) Character, and 4)
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Dave Kraft, “Leaders Who Last” (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010) Introduction.
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"Leaders Who Last," Introduction
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Kraft, "Leaders Who Last," Introduction.
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Growth."
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With regards to how it's put together. It has been said that "1) Vision, 2) Influence,
and 3) Legacy" are the three most important qualities in a leader.
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As a result of these
clarifications, the question of whether or not the apostle Paul is a "Leader Who Lasts" can be
researched and answered.
Critical Assessment of Ministry of Paul
Howell argues that Paul was an excellent example of an authoritative, exhortative,
accountable, affirming, self-sacrificing, and missional leader. When Paul said, "I have been
crucified with Christ," he was acknowledging that Christ was the source of his authority. For I
am no longer of this world; Christ lives in me.
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References to Jesus fill Paul's letter to the church
in Colossae; passages like "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with
all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ" demonstrate Paul's
commitment to spreading the gospel and giving God the glory as a result of his service to Jesus.
My final destination, pursued with all the ferocity Christ has given me from God.
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Paul's zeal was stoked because Jesus Christ was pivotal in his life. Paul's heart broke for
the lost and damaged people of the world to find hope in Jesus. He wrote that he would accept
ex-communication from Jesus if it would bring his family to faith in Romans 2. He continued to
preach the gospel even after threats were made to his life due to his work. How incredibly
passionate! Paul's firm foundation in Christ allowed him to set priorities with clarity. Sharing the
gospel, making disciples, being grateful, developing the spiritual path of prayer, and pouring into
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Ibid.
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Ibid.
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Gal. 2:20, ESV.
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Col. 1:28-29, NIV.
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Due to his dedication to Christ, he placed a high value on being involved in the life of local
church communities.
And finally, by taking things slowly and steadily, Paul kept his focus, energy, and
priorities intact throughout his ministry. He encouraged the believers under his care to honor and
celebrate the Sabbath in the same way he did. Paul summarized his case by saying, for those who
enter God's rest, there is still a Sabbath-rest, for they, like God, are able to take a break from their
labors. Let us make every effort to reach that peace so that nobody else gets lost as a result of
imitating their disobedience.
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Paul possessed all these qualities and more, making him a great
leader.
The Lord made his presence known to the apostle Paul and instructed him in his work
while traveling toward Damascus. God blinded Saul, who would later be known as Paul, and
then provided him with instructions on regaining his sight. When God spoke to Saul, he said,
"This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the kings of the Gentile nations and
the people of Israel."
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Saul's eyes were opened instantly, and he began proclaiming that Jesus
was the Messiah (Acts 9:20). To reflect the change that had taken place in his life, in Acts 13 his
name was changed to Paul. He went on to become one of the most influential people in the early
church. Paul argued that the gospel he preached was "not of human origin," meaning that it came
from somewhere other than people. It wasn't handed down to me from high school, nor was I
instructed in it; instead, Jesus Christ made it clear to me directly.
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Heb. 4:9-11, ESV
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Acts 9:15, NIV.
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Galatians 1:11, NIV.
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To fulfill his divinely appointed role as a ministerial leader, Paul needed to draw on a
wide range of skills and abilities. The most valuable ones included the capacity to teach, preach,
exhort, encourage, serve, mentor, and disciple others. Evangelism was another one of his talents.
Paul's authority allowed him to instill scriptural truth into the people who read his letters, and his
ability to encourage and admonish lovingly was unparalleled. Kraft argues that effective leaders
are able to "shepherd, develop, equip, and empower followers and potential leaders through
words."
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. Paul spent much time talking and drawing on his innate linguistic ability to reach his
goal.
Personal honesty and moral decency are indispensable qualities in a leader, just as they
were for Paul. Kraft cited such doggedness as a quality of influential leaders. The church in
Corinth was urged to "do as I do" (a paraphrase of Paul's words "follow my example, as I follow
the example of Christ") in his letter.
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Because of his unwavering faith and impeccable character,
Paul urged others to follow in his footsteps. The claim is quite extreme, but Paul has solid
evidence. His accomplishments gave him the authority to persuade others to replicate them.
Paul's life showed remarkable development. Once a persecutor of Christians, he is now
suffering persecution for the name of Jesus. After coming to the conclusion that Jesus was the
Messiah, he resumed his missionary work with renewed fervor. He was very open and honest
about his struggles and how he overcame them with Christ as his foundation in his writings.
Although his death ended his physical presence on earth, his commitment to Christ and
proclamation of the gospel did not end with it. Paul thus fulfilled the developmental
requirements of effective leadership.
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Kraft, "Leaders Who Last," Chapter 7.
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1 Cor. 11:1, NIV
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In terms of leadership, Paul possessed both a mission and a vision. For Kraft, a leader
with vision is someone who "is on a mission. They naturally inspire others, provide guidance,
and generate enthusiasm and a thirst for adventure. They know where they're going and can
inspire others to follow them.
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By appealing to their "minds and wills," Paul persuaded
Christians to submit to Christ's authority voluntarily.
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This means that he successfully inspired
the faithful to follow his vision. Helping others achieve a God-honoring way of life is the
ultimate goal, and obedience is the path to getting there.
Besides being a visionary, Paul was also a brilliant leader. Kraft defines a leader as "a
person who is on a journey and can attract others to join him in that journey."
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In addition to
Peter, Barnabas, and Silas, Paul also counted on Timothy as a protégé and helped him develop
his preaching skills. Paul argued that his claim of superiority was justified because God chose
him and called him by his marvelous grace before Paul was even born. This occurred long before
Paul's birth. For me to preach Christ to the world's peoples, he was gracious enough to show me
his Son.
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Regarding maintaining the gospel's integrity, Paul is "the most unbending of leaders,"
according to Howell.
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Thus, Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and
Thessalonica churches followed his example and responded to his appeals.
To sum up, Paul's influence and impact on the Christian community have persisted long
after his death, and he is still held in high regard as a spiritual leader. However, his success was
wider than merely expanding his fan base. In its place, he encouraged the rise of future leaders.
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Kraft, "Leaders Who Last," Chapter 10.
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Kraft, "Leaders Who Last," Chapter 10
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Kraft, "Leaders Who Last," Chapter 11
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. Gal. 1:15-16, NLT
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Howell, "Servants of the Servant," 260
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He mentored Timothy to become a key figure in the church and urged fellow believers to teach,
admonish, and encourage one another to live according to the Bible's teachings. Exuberant
leadership can be seen in Paul's unwavering devotion to the body of revealed truth and his
fearless confrontation of those who depart from it.
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Because of these things, Paul displayed the
kind of fruitfulness characteristic of leadership that endures.
Conclusion
Paul's life and ministry are a shining illustration of the transformative power of God's
grace. A former persecutor of Christians named Saul was transformed into Paul, a martyr for the
Christian faith. Following his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul devoted the rest of his
life to preaching the good news of Jesus Christ all over the known world. Paul, an apostle, wrote
13 of the 27 books that make up the New Testament. Christians and contemporary Christian
leaders continue to be influenced by his divinely inspired teachings and exhortations. All of these
things point to Paul being a leader who will last for quite some time.
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Howell, "Servants of the Servant," 257.
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Bibliography
Howell, Don N. Jr. "Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership." Eugene, OR:
Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2003.
Kraft, Dave. "Leaders Who Last." Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010.
