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#3 4MAT BOOK Review J. Robert
Clinton
Biblical Foundation of Christian Leadership (Liberty
University)
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
The Making Of A
Leader By Dr. J. Robert
Clinton
Submitted to Dr. Debra Warren,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
LEAD 510-B02 LUO
Biblical Foundations of Christian Leadership
by
Dora Rabb
October 17, 2015
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Updated 5/1/2021 4:51 a5/p5
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Contents
Abstract...........................................................................................................................................1
Concrete Response........................................................................................................................2
Reflection........................................................................................................................................4
Action.............................................................................................................................................5
References......................................................................................................................................7
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Abstract
How leaders develop and emerge is a topic that has created many discussions and many
untold stories of successful and not-so-successful people seeking to lead other people. Dr. J.
Robert Clinton said, “Leaders, or emerging leaders, need a road map to point out where God will
take them as He develops their gifts.”1 According to the Bible, good men allow God to order
their steps, and as Christian leaders, all of us should be considered good men. The word men is
not referring to males, but to all human beings, both male and female. Leaders are not developed
overnight, but much time is required for any leader or emerging leader to develop and grow into
the kind of person God wants to oversee his flock. Leadership is a process that takes a lifetime of
being and doing.
Clinton said, “There are six developmental phases of growth in a leader’s life, and those
phases are Sovereign Foundations, Inner-Life Growth, Ministry Maturing, Life Maturing,
Convergence, and Afterglow.”2 Each phase is a means by which you can measure or determine
what God was doing at a given time in someone’s life. God has many ways through which He
accomplishes His plans in the life of an individual. These phases are filled with information that
will help any leader make improvements in their life and in their leadership abilities.
Sovereign Foundations is a phase that actually starts at birth and consists of the time that
God lays the foundations upon which the leader builds and starts to develop as a leader. Inner-
Life Growth is the phase where the leader’s character is developed. Clinton said, “Our greatest
challenge as leaders is to develop a godly character.”3 Clinton also quotes D. L. Moody who said,
“Character is what a man is in the dark.”4 Ministry Maturing is the phase where the leader starts
to have followers and passes on to them the lessons he has learned about God and from God. The
1 Robert J. Clinton, The Making Of A Leader, (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012), 21.
2 Ibid., 37.
3 Ibid., 49.
4 Ibid., 49.
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leader is now in a position to impart blessings into the lives of his followers as he continues to
develop his various skills and spiritual gifts. Life Maturing is the phase where the leader learns
about the imperfections of life in a general sense. The leader learns that his relationship and
understanding of God develops depth as he experiences the various situations and circumstances
introduced to his world through everyday living. Convergence is the phase where the leader’s
gifts and experiences are combined, and utilized for maximum ministry effectiveness. The leader
is able to recognize and move out of areas where his gifts are not utilized to maximum capacity
and where he is unable to perform at his best. Afterglow is the phase where the leader may be
recognized for his lifetime accomplishments. It is a time of celebration, but the leader does not
become stagnant, he continues to positively influence his followers and others.
Clinton’s book, The Making Of A Leader, offers leaders and emerging leaders tools that
will definitely make them better leaders. It is clear from the text that becoming a great leader is a
process that does not happen overnight. It is a process that happens over a lifetime.
Concrete Response
There are many skills I need as a leader. I am so grateful that God has not stopped
working on me and my character since I entered the reigns of leadership. If there was ever a time
in my life that I needed God, I sure have needed Him since this leadership journey began.
Leadership, I have learned, is not without obligations and responsibilities. Many times I have
liked the title “leader”, and the fringe benefits of leadership, but I have not liked the level of
commitment it required of me.
Several years into my Christian leadership journey, I assumed a position as senior pastor
in a very small ministry. In fact, I was the only pastor. The congregation loved the Lord, but had
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very little interest in any involvement with the church other than attending Sunday service.
Occasionally, a few would venture in for Bible study. As the leader, I did all I knew to do in an
effort to encourage them to become more involved. It is said that hind sight is 20/20. I can truly
attest to that statement. As I look back on the experience, I can honestly say I was ill-equipped to
be the senior pastor, and would have been a much better assistant to another pastor.
I established a clothes ministry to help those in the community who had clothing needs.
It was open once per month, and the clothes and anything else we collected through donations,
were free. The clothes ministry always had a fairly large group of people to serve. I opened with
prayer and a word of encouragement to boost the spirits of the people. They would promise to
visit the church, but never attended. The clothes ministry attendance grew, while the church
attendance remained the same.
Finally, after several years of stagnation, the decision was made to close the doors of the
church and move forward in a different direction. I was devastated. I needed to experience the
peace of God the bible said surpasses all understanding. When I found that place of peace, God
was able to direct me in the path He had chosen for me. That experience taught me more that I
could imagine. I was now in position to walk in my calling. I was called to minister the Gospel
and to be an assistant to a pastor, not to be a pastor. Clinton said, “Human situations are often
used by God to test a leader and to teach him dependence on God.”5 Yes, I learned that without
God I am hopeless and lost, but I also learned that my strength was in ministering not in
pastoring. They are different callings, and all too often, leaders are unable to distinguish that
difference.
Reflection
5 Ibid., 143.
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The making Of A Leader by Clinton was interesting, but I have enjoyed other books on
becoming great at leadership more. The information presented and the layout of the book was ok
in my opinion, but as with other books of this nature, the process of becoming a great leader is
not so cut and dry. Becoming greater or more excellent in any endeavor requires a lot of dying to
self. As I read Clinton’s book, I reflected back on Reggie McNeal’s book entitled, Practicing
Greatness, 7 Disciplines Of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders. McNeal said, “There are two
questions, as a leader, I must answer for myself and those two questions are, am I a great leader
or do I want to become a great leader.”6 That question still remains unanswered because I am not
sure I want to be considered a great leader or an excellent leader. Clinton does not focus on
being great or excellent. His focus is primarily becoming the leader God want me to be.
Clinton identifies six developmental phases in the process of becoming a leader that I
should pass through in my quest for leadership. I can relate to the first three phases because they
are the phases where God is primarily working in me as a leader, not through me. Clinton did an
excellent job demonstrating that God has different concerns than those of man. God is not overly
concerned with what I do, but He is very concerned about what I am. I can only minister out of
what I am, not what I am striving to become. God is working in me a little at a time because the
work He has to do cannot be done quickly. It takes a lifetime, and God is patient.
The basic components of the phases may seem simple, but they require a lot of personal
work on my part. Change does not happen just because I read a book. Clinton makes it clear that
before I can be the guide for someone else, I must first allow personal guidance in my own life.
God is my best guide, and He guides me daily as I walk in obedience toward Him.
6 Reggie McNeal, Practicing Greatness, 7 Disciplines Of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders (San Francisco,
CA: Jossey-Bass, 2006), 161.
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Action
Clinton’s book was very instrumental in causing me to honestly evaluate where I am
currently as a leader so that I can take the necessary steps to move forward in my life. I needed a
blueprint of where I am and how to get to the next level in ministry. I know that no matter where
I find myself in this journey, standing still or maybe even reverting, I cannot give up because
God has more for me to do. He is not finished with me yet and He will always be with me.
First, in moving forward, I am going to work on becoming more aware of my strengths
and weaknesses. Personal conflicts and ministry issues can sometime cause me to get overly
anxious and fearful because I do not know the end result of the situation. I know that is a
weakness in my character, but I intend to become stronger in that area. I will seek God more and
I will trust Him to guide me. I realize that all levels of growth takes time, so I will not expect an
overnight change in this area of my life. I will also make every effort to not run ahead of God in
an attempt to fix situations that are beyond my control and ability. I know this involves a new
level of trust, but God has proven Himself faithful so many times before so I know He will not
disappoint me.
Second, I am going to seek out a mentor or spiritual elder to help me as I continue to
grow and develop. I need someone who will be able to challenge me to push to become my best
and not allow me to settle for anything less than my best. I know I have to push myself, but it is
easy to do nothing if I think no one cares but me. I want someone to hold me accountable for
following through on my plan for increased growth and development. In all of this development,
I do not want to forget the importance of allowing God to continue to work in me. My
relationship with Him must never get out of focus. Ultimately I want to become more than just a
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successful leader. My goal is to walk in excellence of character, and to become a mature, godly,
and spirit led leader. In all of this, God will get the glory.
References
Clinton, J. Robert. The Making Of A Leader. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2012.
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McNeal, Reggie. Practicing Greatness, 7 Disciplines Of Extraordinary Spiritual People. San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.
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