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LEAD 510 Leadership Making Plan
Assignment
Biblical Foundation of Christian Leadership (Liberty
University)
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Submitted to Dr. Fernando Abella
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
Leadership 510-D03
Biblical Foundations of Leadership
by
Fungetta Whitaker
May 1, 2022
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Contents
Introduction.....................................................................................................................................1
Theology of Leadership..................................................................................................................2
Philosophy of Leadership...............................................................................................................6
Methods of Leadership...................................................................................................................9
Leadership Culture........................................................................................................................11
Leadership Development Plan......................................................................................................12
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................13
Bibliography.................................................................................................................................14
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Introduction
Today's churches must be committed to the same goal as the early church: creating
disciples of all nations. The great commission must be ingrained in the DNA of the church. In
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV), states, "Go then and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you." And lo, I am always with you, even to the end of the age." The great
commission is a command that the church of believers must obey. As the early church followed
Jesus' guidance, Christianity grew rapidly, and a significant number of people were added to the
body of Christ. "And they committed themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the
breaking of the bread and prayers," (Acts 2:42, ESV). The body of Christ grew as a result of
Jesus' leadership and teachings to the apostles, and from the apostles to the early church. As a
result, leadership development is critical in today's church. To ensure the church's growth,
believers must be trained and equipped. As a result, discipleship is critical to the church's
growth. Church leaders must assist in teaching young believers how to live and strengthen their
faith for them to mature spiritually. It is critical for churches to produce leaders who can
influence others to have a leadership development strategy. This leadership development plan is
divided into five components. scriptures. The next part will discuss Biblical concepts that serve
as a foundation for Christian leadership philosophy. Then, various church leadership styles will
be examined.
Then, several church leadership strategies will be examined, followed by how a church can build
a healthy environment within their ministry to help them achieve their mission. Finally, explore
how a leadership development strategy will grow and equip leaders within the church.
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Theology of Leadership
Leadership is a term that can be defined in several ways. Leadership can be found in
many different areas of life; nevertheless, the church must adhere to biblical leadership ideology
rather than the world's perspective. Many different qualities of leadership can be found in the
Bible that are applicable to today's church leadership. Even though leadership is present in many
aspects of life, the church cannot adopt a worldly perspective on leadership and must instead
adhere to biblical truth. Scriptures cover a wide range of leadership topics that are relevant to
today's church leadership. Stuart Boyer describes leadership development as “a multifaceted
phenomenon.”1 Although leadership occurs in a multitude of areas of life, the church cannot take
a worldly perspective on leadership but must conform to biblical doctrine. Numerous aspects of
leadership can be found in scriptures that are crucial for contemporary church leadership.
To be a leader, one must receive Jesus' love and walk in it. The path of love was walked
by Jesus. Matthew 22:37-38 states, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul,
and mind"(Matthew 22;37-38, ESV). As Jesus instructs the Pharisees that the greatest
commandment is to love God with all of one's heart, mind, and soul, a Christian leader must be a
follower of Jesus' instruction as well. Every person who believes in Jesus and chooses to follow
him is subject to the requirements of this command. Because this rule is not restricted to a
specific type of person, a leader must set an example of the command. Their lives must display a
total love for the Lord with their hearts, minds, and souls, as demonstrated by their actions. The
second greatest commandment, "love your neighbor as yourself," is another important point to
consider (Matthew 22:39 ESV). The commandments of love for God and love for others are the
1Stuart W. Boyer, Biblical Leadership Development Principles for Developing Organizational Leaders at
Every Level (London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019), 1.
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foundation of every Christian's life. As a result, Christian leadership should serve as a model for
following Jesus' instructions.
It is critical for leaders to demonstrate how to love God and people with all their being in
order to inspire others to do the same. When leaders place love at the top of their priorities, they
are more likely to build love-based partnerships. According to the authors of Lead Like Jesus:
The Art and Science of Inspiring Others to Follow Jesus, leading like Jesus " requires that you
those you influence so much that you help move from who they are to who God wants them to
be."2 Every church should strive to transform its members via the power of love. As a Christian
leader, you must always demonstrate love because it is the command of Christ for all of us.
A leader must be both a servant and a leader. When viewed from a worldly viewpoint,
such as that of firms and organizations, leaders do not perform the duties of a position below
them; rather, they seek to lead from the top. However, when we consider Jesus' leadership, we
see that He led by serving others. As Jesus states in Matthew 20:28 (ESV), "just as the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Thus,
just as Jesus, the world's savior, appeared to be a servant, leaders are also required to serve, not
to be served. Servanthood is a prerequisite for leadership. Jesus elevates and urges people
desiring to be leaders to begin as servants. According to Malphurs “Christian leadership is
servant leadership, and any definition of a Christian leader must include the concept
servanthood.”3 A leader must first be a servant. According to Blanchard, "“servant leadership
is
2Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Phyllis Hendry, Lead Like Jesus Revisited (Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson, 2016.), 43
3Aubrey Malphurs, Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books,
2003), 32
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not an option; servant leadership is mandate.”4 Through service, a leader can show and display
the love of God.
Christian leaders are followers of Jesus. The biblical leaders did not regard themselves as
being at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Rather, they elevated Jesus to the position of head. He is
the spiritual leader of the church, which is the body. As a leader, you must make Jesus the focus
of your life and always remain a follower of Jesus. According to Forrest, “true Christian
leadership never sets a new course; it is always directionally oriented because it is following the
charge of the King. As God’s position as King, he has granted leaders the opportunity to serve.
We are stewards of what he has tasked us with.”5 You cannot do things on your own or in your
own way if you want to be a leader. Instead, you choose to follow Christ and use the gifts God
has given you to serve good. Leaders in the Christian religion must be modest. A Christian
leader must be able to follow Christ and lead the organization at the same time. Leaders who
claim to be Christians must demonstrate what it means to be dissenting.
Christians are equipped and trained by Christian leaders. Howell describes biblical
leadership as “taking the initiative to influence people to grow in holiness and to passionately
promote extension of God’s kingdom in the world.”6 Leaders have a lot of power over those they
lead. An effective Christian leader inspires others to follow Jesus as well. One of a leader's key
tasks is to assist others in growing in their walk with the Lord. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus
gave the Great Commission to His disciples. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissions his
4Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Phyllis Hendry, Lead Like Jesus Revisited (Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson, 2016.), 14
5Benjamin Forest and Chet Roden, Biblical Theology for the Church: Biblical Leadership (Grand Rapids,
MI: Kregel Publishing Group, 2018), 515.
6Don Howell Jr, Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership, (Eugene, OR: Wipf &
Stock Publishers, 2003), vi.
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disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. As a result, just as Jesus taught and trained his
disciples, he calls leaders to equip and train other leaders in order to carry out God's purposes
Dempsey says [for leaders to] “orient your life around the Great Commission.”7 One of the most
essential responsibilities of Christian leaders is to instruct and equip fellow believers. A leader
must regularly renew his mind and his thinking to reflect Jesus. Romans 12:1-2 states, “I appeal
to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will
of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, ESV). Leaders must die to
their old selves and ways of life in order to be reborn by the path of Christ. They must
demonstrate the transformation of their being into that of Jesus Christ. Blanchard describes
leading like Jesus as a “transformational journey” and says, “leading lasting change requires
understanding and addressing four essential levels of change: change in knowledge, attitude,
behavior, and cultural
norms and expectations.”8 A Christian leader deviates significantly from societal norms. As they
learn to love like Jesus and to be disciples under God's authority, the leader's own essence is
transformed, and they are renewed to behave and think more like Jesus. There is a
transformational process at work, and a leader must feel rejuvenation from inside. According to
Blanchard’s four domains of leading like Jesus, leadership is first a spiritual matter of the heart.9
A leader must not be self-serving but must instead lead from the heart. As their hearts change and
they love God with all their hearts, so do their minds, and they find wisdom and knowledge
7Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is… (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 2.
8Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Phyllis Hendry, Lead Like Jesus Revisited (Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson, 2016.), 248.
9Ibid., 35
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through God and scripture. Their hands and the things they do reflect what is in their hearts and
minds, according to the principles and theology of mind renewal. Finally, with the
transformation of their heart, mind, and hands, their habits are tasks accomplished in order to
remain focused on God. For good biblical leadership, a leader's heart, head, hands, and habits
must be transformed and refreshed by the Holy Spirit. Leaders must undergo a transition in order
to appear less of the world and more like Jesus.
Philosophy of Leadership
Further examination of the scriptures allows for the development of a biblical leadership
philosophy. A church's leadership philosophy is vital because it enables Christian leaders to train
and equip other leaders to be spiritually healthy and mature. Church leaders must display godly
character. Character traits are qualities that describe an individual's nature. The character of a
Christian leader must reflect Jesus and possess a godly spirit. Malphurs describes character as,
“the sum total of a person’s distinct qualities. Godly character encompasses those qualities that
scripture identifies with the Godhead or that God prescribes.”10
According to Colossians 3:12-15, Godly character consists of: “being holy and beloved,
possessing sympathetic hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing one
another, forgiving one another, and most importantly, loving one another” (Colossians 3:12-15,
ESV).
Scripture indicates that a leader must possess these characteristics in order to serve as a role
model for others. These are not inherent characteristics of leaders; they must be developed. 1
Timothy 4:7 reads, “have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for
10 Aubrey Malphurs, Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books,
2003), 26
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godliness.”1Timothy 4:7, ESV). Each leader must nurture the virtue of godliness. They must
make a conscious choice to be godly in order to set a good example for the church.
Being able to face adversity as a believer strengthens character and develops leadership
abilities. Howell states, “leaders with ‘proven character’ are those who have learned to trust God
in the hard experiences of life.”11 Godly character is created as a result of trusting God in the face
of adversity. To be able to build up other leaders, leaders must possess heavenly character.
Through persistence and character training, godly character is created.
Christians cannot just profess their faith in Jesus; they must be transformed by Jesus, and
their transformation must motivate them to action. As James 2:17 (ESV) states, "just as faith
without actions is dead." Jesus sends out the disciples and commissions them to make disciples
of all nations in the Great Commission. The early church adhered to Jesus' commission, which
accounts for Christianity's quick expansion in ancient times. As a result, one of the church's
primary responsibilities is to develop disciples and build up leaders who will be sent out to do
the same. Bonhoeffer explains, “Christianity without the living Jesus remains necessarily
Christianity without discipleship; and a Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity
without Jesus Christ.”12 Discipleship is critical for leadership. A leader must first be a disciple of
Jesus, and as their faith matures, they are to disciple others to follow Jesus as well. Christian
leaders have a common notion that discipleship is optional. However, Dave Earley and Rod
Dempsey argue, “making disciples is not a suggestion to be merely considered or an option to
11 Don Howell Jr, Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership, (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock
Publishers, 2003), 298.
12 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003), 59.
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entertain. Making disciples must dominate the life of a Christ follower.”13 According to scripture
and Jesus' call for his disciples and church, discipleship must be a priority in a leader's life.
Evangelism is a critical component of a Christian leader. Earley and Wheeler discuss
how Christian leaders today have a misperception regarding evangelism. They contend that the
bulk of churches today operate under a series of erroneous evangelistic assumptions. For
instance, many believers within the church believe that evangelism is a choice in which they can
share their faith with others or not, that evangelism is a spiritual gift, and that those who lack the
gift are free to share their faith with others. However, Earley and Wheeler argue that
“evangelism is not a choice and is not a spiritual gift.”14 The great commission demonstrates that
evangelism is a biblical mandate, not a personal preference. "However, you will receive
authority when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and
throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," Jesus declares in Acts 1:8 (ESV).
The verse's essential phrase, "be a testimony," is a direct order from Jesus to his disciples. As a
result, evangelism must be a component of a Christian leader's mission. Discipleship and
evangelism are two critical components for any Christian leader.
Servanthood is one of the most important characteristics of a Christian leader. "But
whomever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among
you must be slave of all," Mark 10:43-45 (ESV) reads. For even the Son of Man did not come to
be served, but to serve, and to lay down his life as a ransom for many." When the disciples
expressed their desire to be lifted and enthroned in glory, Jesus replied that whoever desired to be
great must first serve. Leaders in the church do not aspire to be the greatest Christian of all time,
13 Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey, Spiritual Formation is… (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2018), 3
14 Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism is…, (Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2010), vii.
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but rather to serve in the same way that Jesus did. Howell explains, “servant leaders take the
initiative to bring others to a passionate commitment to what is on the heart of God, the
extension of his saving rule over individuals and communities both qualitatively and
quantitatively.”15 Instead of bringing attention to themselves, a leader's servanthood brings glory
to God. A servant leader's goal is to inspire others to commit to what is on God's heart. Within
the church, leaders want to serve Howell further explains “servant leaders are faithful stewards
of the divine mandate – to fish and to feed, to evangelize and to teach, and to pioneer and to
pastor.”16 Humility is required in a servant leader. Leaders must humble themselves to be under
the authority of Jesus in order to serve. The heart of a leader must not be self-serving, but rather
willing to serve out of love, just as Jesus did. A leader should aim to be last rather than first.
"But many who are first will be last, and the last first"(Matthew 19:30, ESV).
Methods of Leadership
Once the principles have been established, the next stage is to investigate various
leadership styles. Churches currently use two types of leadership structures: centralized and
decentralized. A centralized leadership structure is one in which a leader makes most of the
decisions and then allows them to cascade down from the top to the bottom. Moses is a biblical
example. In Exodus 18, Moses served as Israel's sole judge until his father-in-law Jethro advised
him to share some of his responsibilities. Moses wore himself and others out as a result of such
leadership. A decentralized organization, on the other hand, spreads decision-making as widely
as feasible. Using Moses as an example, after Jethro chastised him for doing all the job alone, he
15 Don N. Howell, Jr., Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock
Publishers, 2003), 296.
16 Ibid, 301
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was able to appoint people from the tribes to assist him in judging amongst the people (Ex18:25,
ESV). He only ruled on the most challenging cases.
The authors of Discipleship Making is..., lay out four various church models that can be
found within congregations. The conventional church is the most popular church model. This
model has a more hierarchical structure. The senior pastor takes on the role of leader and
manages all programs and ministry activities; they usually have the last word in program and
activity approval. Under the head pastor, there are a few roles such as deacons or certain notable
families who serve as a support system for the church. Evangelism is less important, and most
activities take place within the church. “Discipleship usually happens from within the pulpit or
during Sunday hours. It is difficult for leadership growth as training is minimal and the vision of
church planting is minimal.”17 Because the attractional model, sometimes known as the "mega"
church, focuses more on evangelism, the membership tends to grow quite large.
Malphurs outlines a few more types of leadership, in particularly, directional leadership
style. He suggests, leaders who employ this strategy have a knack for asking the appropriate
questions. Directional leaders are responsible with providing guidance and assistance to their
subordinates. What is important to followers is that they are aware of what is important to them.
Directional leaders are tasked to offer direction and help their followers know what really
matters.18
Leadership Culture
17 Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is… (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 230
18 Aubrey Malphurs, Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Books, 2003), 157
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An organization's culture must be carefully cultivated if it is to be successful. Creating a
positive work environment is largely the responsibility of the leaders. In the context of a church,
the senior pastor sets the tone for the culture of the organization. He must lead by example. In
his letter to Timothy, Paul outlines a set of values for all leaders to follow. "And the things you
have seen me say in front of numerous witnesses entrust to reliable persons who will likewise be
qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV). Mentorship culture is what Paul is alluding to.
Leaders need to understand that they will not be around forever. So, one way they might
improve the culture is by teaching people how to lead in the same way they do.
Leaders should embrace an open communication culture. Instructions should be
unambiguous, and subordinates should be free to provide candid feedback to superiors without
fear of reprisal. Boyer observes that this influences trust because leaders establish trust by
thoughtful speech, are receptive to followers' ideas, speak frankly, and appeal to followers'
aspirations. 19 Prayer is a last aspect of leadership culture. Prayer, as demonstrated by Jesus
Christ, is a vital aspect of a leader's life. It should be ingrained in a leader's culture. According to
Luke 5:16, Jesus frequently went into the wilderness to pray. Occasionally, he would select three
of his followers, Peter, James, and John, and accompany them to the mountains to pray.
Leadership Plan
I intend to implement many of these ideas into my personal ministry. First, I would
implement a hybrid church model that draws non-believers on Sundays while also cultivating
disciples in small groups. There would be a pastoral team and an elder leadership team to help
oversee the church's activities. The mission of the church will be to raise up spiritually mature
19 Stuart W. Boyer, Biblical Leadership Development Principles for Developing Organizational Leaders at
Every Level (London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019), 151
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disciples. The goal is to cultivate spiritually healthy leaders who will follow God wherever He
leads. My ministry's vision is to provide a place where Christians can grow in their faith and
identity in Jesus Christ while carrying out Jesus' purpose for our lives. The church will be a
gathering place for Christians, but it will also be open to non-Christians. When people make a
commitment, it's vital to place them in small groups where they can spiritually grow with other
Christians. They will invite non-Christian friends to observe how they grow in faith. It is hoped
that a cycle of elevating and sending leaders will occur. The ideals of the church would include
Sunday service and prayer, but vulnerability and accountability in small groups. The goal is to
raise leaders, but producing healthy leaders comes first.
The pastors' primary duty would be to instruct and equip believers to be healthy leaders.
Because the church's concept is to have collective worship and prayer on Sundays, with a
sermon from the pastor, and a concentration on small groups the rest of the week, small group
leaders would go through a leadership program to assist train and equip them for leading. As
people grow in their faith, the goal within small groups is for those who are spiritually mature to
start a new small group in which they will lead. While all is going on, the church and its leaders
are focused on what God is doing. Howell Jr., states, “biblical leadership maintains a laser-like
concentration on God’s clearly stated agenda, that is, the evangelization of the lost, the
edification of the saved, and the establishment of the vital churches.20 In defining my ministry's
mission, vision, values, and strategy, I must keep in mind what God is asking the church to do.
Conclusion
20 Don N. Howell, Jr., Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock
Publishers, 2003), 301.
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Christian leadership must be founded on God's word. The church should be an example
of love, as the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind, and
soul. Loving God, loving our community and loving our community. The church must not only
show love but also obey Jesus' commandments, especially the great commission. The gospel
must be proclaimed to all people, not just believers. Making disciples is thus one of the key tasks
of church leadership. The church must prioritize discipleship. A church that does not make
disciples is merely retaining believers. The church must focus on Jesus' great commission. The
church's mission, vision, principles, and strategy must be organized, accurate, and clearly
conveyed to all church members. Above all, the church must accord with God's agenda, not men.
Because we are sinful creatures in need of God's redemption, those in positions of authority in
the church must submit to God's will and authority.
Bibliography
Blanchard, Ken, Phil Hodges, and Phyllis Hendry. Lead Like Jesus. Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson, 2016.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, Discipleship. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
Boyer, Stuart W. Biblical Leadership Development Principles for Developing Organizational
Leaders at Every Level (London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019.
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Earley, Dave, and David Wheeler, Evangelism is… How to Share Christ with Passion and
Confidence. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2010.
Earley, Dave, and Rod Dempsey. Disciple Making Is… How to Live the Great Commission with
Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2013.
Earley, Dave, and Rod Dempsey. Spiritual Formation is… Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing
Group, 2018.
Forest, Benjamin, and Chet Roden. Biblical Theology for the Church: Biblical Leadership.
Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publishing Group, 2018.
Howell Jr., Don, Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership. Eugene, OR: Wipf
& Stock Publishers, 2003.
Malphurs, Aubrey. Advanced Strategic Planning. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2013.
Malphurs, Aubrey. Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership. Grand Rapids:
Baker Books, 2003.
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