Leadership Development Plan Assignment
Paolino Curto
LEAD 510: Biblical Foundations of Leadership
March 2, 2024
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Introduction
A vibrant and impactful ministry results from the cultivation of biblically grounded
leaders who have invested in the growth of future leaders. As apparent as that may be, it is also
evident that investing in the growth of future leaders does not happen accidentally. Jesus
commissions Christians to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), which embodies a commitment
to partake in the spiritual development of the body of Christ.
While scripture does not explicitly lay out a personal and unique leadership plan to be
adopted by all ministries, churches, organizations, and persons, it does provide all the
information needed for a leader to develop one. To name a few, qualifications of those who will
hold offices and positions within the church are explained in books like 1 Timothy and Titus,
examples of both good and bad models of leadership are flurried throughout both the Old and
New Testaments, and explanations of the importance of each member of the body of Christ is
found in books like Ephesians and 1 Corinthians.
Through an examination of the theology of leadership, biblical leadership principles
(ultimately exhibited in the life of Jesus), personal leadership styles, healthy ministry culture, and
developing a missional connection, a Christian can create a leadership development plan that will
impact lives, communities, and nations for the glory of God. Christian leaders should strive to
achieve the essential task in the Kingdom of God, which is to make disciples that will become
disciple-makers themselves.1 As stated in The Three Dimensional Leader, “When we don’t
understand leadership in the context of the Great Commission, we end up with self-serving
1 Rod Dempsey, Dave Earley, and Adam McClendon, The Three-Dimensional Leader: A Biblical, Spiritual
& Practical Guide to Christian Leadership (Kirkdale Press, 2023), 177.
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agendas and secular leadership models.”2 The call of a Christian leader is to make disciples.
Jesus is the ultimate representation and example of that very fact.
Theology of Leadership
The biblical narrative contains examples of good and bad leadership models. Examining
two great leaders of the Old Testament, Moses, and David, reveals the common designation of
both as “servant of the Lord”.3 Both Moses and David exemplify a posture of leadership that is
servant-hearted and even “prefigure the great Prophet and King”4, Jesus, who would be the
ultimate example of servant leadership.
Moses was used greatly by God to deliver the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and
to the land of promise. While Moses was far from perfect, his faithfulness to God as a servant set
him apart as an authentic leader with whom God spoke “face to face” (Numbers 12:7-8). David,
likewise, is identified as a servant of God. Don Howell describes David as being “memorialized
as the servant-king who departed from the standard practice of oriental monarchs and submitted
his rule to the will of the Almighty.”5
Through a dissection of the New Testament, one can see servanthood as an essential
component of the leadership model Jesus presented. The Apostle Paul explains that Jesus “who,
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but
emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians
2:6-7, English Standard Version). In comparing the faithfulness in servitude of Jesus and Moses,
2 Rod Dempsey, Dave Earley, and Adam McClendon, The Three-Dimensional Leader: A Biblical, Spiritual
& Practical Guide to Christian Leadership, 178.
3 Don N., Jr. Howell,CServants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of LeadershipC(Wipf and Stock
Publishers, 2003), 7.
4
Ibid.
5 Ibid., 9.
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the writer of the book of Hebrews explains that “Moses was faithful in all God's house as a
servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's
house as a son.” (Hebrews 3:5-6, English Standard Version).
Jesus’ words perfectly describe His purpose as a servant leader: "For even the Son of
Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45,
English Standard Version). Blanchard and Hodges rightly say, “Jesus’ call to servant leadership
is clear and unequivocal. His words leave no room for plan B.”6 His words in Luke 22 represent
that exact clear and unequivocal call to servant leadership; “let the greatest among you become
as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at
table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one
who serves.” (Luke 22:26-27, English Standard Version).
Biblical Principles of Leadership
There are many facets involved in being a biblically grounded, multiplying leader. Three
essential principles to produce healthy, growing, biblically grounded leaders are: an exhibition of
a firm reliance on the Holy Spirit, a desire for continual growth in Godly character, a willingness
to train others to be faithful leaders.
To be an authentic, biblical leader, one must first understand that they are to rely on the
Holy Spirit. In The Three Dimensional Leader, the authors point out that even Jesus “gave no
leadership, he did no miracles, he preached no sermons, he did no evangelism, discipleship,
teaching, or counseling until after the Holy Spirit came upon him at his baptism.”7 To lead in our
own strength is ultimately to neglect leading from a place of true authority and power. Jesus said
6 Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Lead Like Jesus Revisited: Lessons From the Greatest Leadership Role
Model of All Time (Thomas Nelson, 2016), 14.
7 Rod Dempsey, Dave Earley, and Adam McClendon, The Three-Dimensional Leader: A Biblical, Spiritual
& Practical Guide to Christian Leadership, 73.
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to His disciples, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts
1:8, English Standard version). Jesus also commissions His followers by explaining that “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18, English Standard
Version). Without a reliance on the Holy Spirit, a leader misses out on the infinite knowledge,
wisdom, and power that He brings to our lives.8
Secondly, a biblical leader continually desires to grow in Godly character. Ultimately, the
character of a Christian leader is best represented in their love for God and love for others
(Matthew 22:37-39). God is concerned with how the Christian leader regards others. “People
matter to God, and as Christian leaders, we have a responsibility to take into account that we are
interacting with someone God loves.”9 It is also essential for Christian leaders to understand that
even though they are not perfect and exempt from sin, they are to submit themselves to God and
allow Him to continually transform their character.10 Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to, “Trust in the Lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and
he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, New International Version).
Lastly, the biblical leader is willing to train others to be faithful leaders. The relationship
between the Apostle Paul and Timothy is an excellent representation of this principle. Just as the
Apostle Paul trained Timothy, he exhorts him by saying, “what you have heard from me in the
presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2
Timothy 2:2, English Standard Version). Rod Dempsey warns that “if we do not keep Christian
leadership connected to discipleship, the process tends to drift toward worldly metrics and
8 Rod Dempsey, Dave Earley, and Adam McClendon, The Three-Dimensional Leader: A Biblical, Spiritual
& Practical Guide to Christian Leadership, 75.
9 Ibid., 37.
10 Ibid., 43.
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authoritarian ego-driven models.”11 Biblical leaders understand that the goal is not self-promotion
or receiving accolades but rather to mature in Christ and lead others to do the same.
Examination of Differing Leadership Styles
Varying leadership styles are evident in many of the great leaders mentioned in the Bible.
While much time can and should be spent surveying each, the Christian can glean the most
essential leadership styles through an examination of the life of Jesus. Understanding the
leadership styles of Jesus is essential to the Christian striving to follow an authentic biblical
leadership model.
Servant leadership is the heartbeat of the purpose of the life of Jesus. This is exhibited in
the stated purpose Jesus gives for His coming in Mark 10:45. Servant leadership is also a notable
instruction of Jesus to the disciples in Matthew 20:25-28. In this passage, Jesus not only explains
that a leader is to be a servant but points out the contradictory nature of this leadership style with
the cultural leadership of the Gentiles. Malphurs mentions that “Servant leaders display at least
four characteristics: humility, service, focus on others, and love.”12 These characteristics will
often be exempt in secular models of leadership but are essential for the Christian leader
regardless of whether they find themselves in a secular organization, or working full time in a
ministerial role.
“Christian leaders cannot be aimless wanderers. They must have a sense of direction.”13
Jesus serves as the prime example of a leader with a fully understood sense of direction. His
ultimate direction was set toward the cross to the cross at Calvary. Jesus understood this, and
because of that, He knew that His daily mission was to point people to the truth and to “seek and
11 Rod Dempsey, Dave Earley, and Adam McClendon, The Three-Dimensional Leader: A Biblical,
Spiritual & Practical Guide to Christian Leadership, 194.
12 Aubrey Malphurs,CBeing Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian LeadershipC(Baker Books, 2003),
34.
13 Aubrey Malphurs,CBeing Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership, 158.
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save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, English Standard Version). This direction served as a foundation for
all Jesus said and did. The Christian leader will likely be pulled in many directions. To
successfully navigate the right way to go, one must learn from the leadership of Jesus. It is
essential to understand the broad call from scripture to make disciples but also to realize the
personal call and direction God gives each Christian leader.14
Creating a Healthy Ministry/Work Environment
Biblical leaders understand the importance of creating and fostering a healthy
environment where future leaders are challenged, encouraged, and grow. Blanchard and Hodges
explain that “Jesus transformed twelve ordinary and unlikely people into the first generation of
leaders of a movement that continues to affect the course of world history some two thousand
years later.”15 The disciples, indeed, were not the most educated, the most gifted, the most
talented, and even the most qualified, but from the environment Jesus cultivated they would learn
and grow to be some of the most significant leaders the world would ever see. Today's Christian
leaders must follow Jesus' example to develop a community on a mission together regardless of
the inherent limitations that come with each person. One of the key ways to do this is through a
clear communication of vision from the leader to the team he or she is leading.16
Blanchard and Hodges also explain that leaders who lead like Jesus “desire to bring
heaven to earth in community.”17 Jesus is the premier example of equipping and fostering a
14
Ibid.
15 Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Lead Like Jesus Revisited: Lessons From the Greatest Leadership Role
Model of All Time, 11.
16 Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Lead Like Jesus Revisited: Lessons From the Greatest Leadership Role
Model of All Time, 141.
17 Ibid., 232.
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community that would effectively bring heaven to earth. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that “Iron
sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, English Standard Version).
Cultivating a healthy ministry environment means that a leader should develop people who will
in turn challenge and encourage others.
My Plan
Having examined the theology of leadership, critical biblical leadership principles,
personal leadership styles, and the importance of a healthy ministry culture, I will make a
missional connection by crafting a personal plan with steps to ensure the development of people
and leaders to serve God. While I desire to obtain a pastoral role in the future, hopefully in my
local community, I understand that I can create this plan and put into immediate use in my life.
I will begin leadership development by first examining myself. I will craft a personal
mission and vision statement that will serve to guide me and help guide others where God would
have me. I understand that I can only lead others well once I have a clear purpose and vision for
my life. Jesus understood His mission and is recorded stating it in a few instances with His
disciples (Mark 10:45, Luke 19:10, John 12:27). A past mentor helped me craft a personal
mission statement. Still, in reviewing it, it is slightly too broad. I will develop a mission and
vision statement that is personal and specific to me, based on the newfound information I
gathered from the leadership audits section of Being Leaders by Aubrey Malphurs.
One key piece of crafting a specific mission and vision statement for myself is to connect
it to the great commission given by Jesus in Matthew 20:18-20. While my mission and vision
statement will be specific and personal to me, they need to represent fulfilling the command
Jesus has given each of His followers to make disciples. The discipleship process is
representative of leadership development at its core. Not only will I craft a personal mission and
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vision statement connected to making disciples, but I will also make disciples who themselves
will be disciple-makers.
Having crafted a personal mission and vision statement, the next step of my leadership
development plan will be to help others identify and connect with the mission of Jesus and
understand how God may be leading them to develop a personal mission and vision for their life.
I currently lead a young adult men’s bible study on Monday nights at my church. I have had the
privilege of getting to know the men in this group quite well and have been encouraged by their
spiritual growth. This group is an area where I have influence and some established and growing
relationships where I can be a biblically grounded leader and develop other biblically grounded
and healthy leaders.
A critical component of my personal growth in leadership is my willingness to follow the
Apostle Paul’s exhortation of Timothy to pass on what he learned “to faithful men, who will be
able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2, English Standard Version). Investment in these men
outside of the Monday Bible study with the intention of helping them craft a personal mission
and vision statement is a way that I can continue to pass on leadership development to faithful
men.
A third step to this leadership development plan is to engage personally and lead these
men in various forms of evangelism. I reside in the capital region of New York, where the city of
Albany is consistently regarded as one of the most biblically illiterate and Godless cities in
America. Evangelism is one of the biblical mandates that most Christians either feel they are not
gifted to do, do well, or struggle to follow in obedience. Jesus’ told His disciples in Acts 1:8 that
they would be His “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.” (Acts 1:8, English Standard Version). His leadership of the disciples, combined with the
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empowerment of the Holy Spirit, developed leaders who would be bold witnesses, impacting
countless lives for the Kingdom of God.
Jesus witnessed to many through lifestyle servanthood evangelism, and so did the
disciples. Jesus and the disciples often evangelized by first serving and meeting the practical
needs of others but then coupled the service with sharing faith boldly. An excellent
representation of this is the lame beggar that Peter and John healed at the beginning of Acts
Chapter 3 and then boldly preached the gospel to all those amazed by the healing. To be an
effective leader and develop influential leaders in my community and city, I will point these men
and others to being obedient in sharing their faith with the lost and do so through servitude.
Spending time helping meet the practical needs of others opens the doorway for gospel
conversations. While it would be easy to develop a program through the church, I believe it can
be even more impactful to live an evangelistic lifestyle and invite the group of men that I lead in
the Monday bible study, who may not be as comfortable with evangelism, to watch and
eventually partake in this sort of outreach.
A fourth step to develop leaders who serve God and others well is to invest in a few key
and intentional mentoring relationships. It is often difficult to see myself as a mentor due to my
position at my church. I realize, though, that mentorship is less about the position granted to us
by men and more about the qualifying call that God gives each person. The biblical examples of
mentorship, such as Moses with Joshua, Paul with Timothy, and Jesus with Peter, John, and
James, are prime examples of how key relationships grow the next generation of leaders to fulfill
God’s purposes in the world. I will seek to foster 1-2 of these types of relationships with men
who are faithful, available, and teachable over the next year. As I mentioned in the other steps in
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this leadership development plan, I believe a great starting place to seek these relationships will
be some of the men in the Bible study I lead.
A fifth step in developing biblically grounded healthy leaders will be to lead others to
understand their spiritual gifts, unique personality, and natural leadership styles. In 1 Corinthians
12:4-11, 27-28 (English Standard Version), the Apostle Paul tells us:
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service,
but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who
empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the
common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to
another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the
same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to
another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are
empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he
wills. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has
appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then
gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.”
Each Christian has spiritual gifts delegated by God that are to be used to equip other
believers to build up the church. Many Christians seek ways to be leaders and serve in their local
church but, in sorts, are throwing darts in the dark. They do not understand how God has wired
them for service in His kingdom and what gifts He has given them to partake in equipping the
body of Christ. I plan to help others discover their God-given spiritual gifts by guiding them
through the spiritual gifts profile available through a course at my church. This profile has helped
me understand how I can serve God best in my community and be a productive leader to others. I
will incorporate this as an aspect of investing in a few key and intentional mentoring
relationships.
Along with helping others determine their spiritual gifts through key intentional
mentoring relationships, I will also seek to personally connect with the ministry leader at my
church that teaches a course called “Discovering Your Design For Ministry”. This course helps
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congregants discover their design for ministry and then take steps to become involved in service
in the local church and, ultimately, the Kingdom of God. Through connecting with this ministry
leader, I will be able to learn more about how to teach others to identify, foster, and lead others
through spiritual gifts. A goal of this step will be to know how to teach this course as I desire to
lead in more capacities within my church.
The last step I will take in developing biblically grounded, healthy, multiplying leaders
will be to assess and measure results. While numbers are not always the best representative of
impact, they can be helpful. As I previously mentioned, investing in 1-2 intentional mentoring
relationships, I will seek to track the impact that those relationships will have via multiplication.
I aim to invest in these relationships to train others to make disciples who will also make
disciples. Tracking the results of these two relationships' impact will be encouraging and a
reminder of God's design for biblical discipleship.
Conclusion
To ensure a vibrant and impactful ministry that glorifies God, it is essential to cultivate
biblically grounded leaders who see the importance of investing in the growth of future leaders.
The most prominent way to accomplish this is by adhering to the biblical mandate of making
disciples. It will take time, effort, energy, and ultimately, a reliance on the Holy Spirit to
faithfully follow this mandate and make disciples who make other disciples.
Christians are provided with a comprehensive set of principles in scripture to be and
train effective, healthy, and multiplying leaders. Scripture also provides us with the richness of
the great triumphs and downfalls of leaders in the Old Testament and New Testament.
Ultimately, the life of Jesus serves as the most excellent example of leadership that develops
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others, voids self-promotion, and emphasizes humility. Jesus fostered a ministry environment
that saw ordinary men change the landscape of the world for eternity.
Although the keys to effective leadership can be found in abundance throughout the
Bible, leaders need to take the appropriate measures to develop a personal plan for leadership
development. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians: “For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10, English Standard Version). If we only observe, we will never live. God has
created us as leaders. He has given us influence over the people in our lives, and we are to walk
in the good works God has already prepared for us to do. Our leadership must begin with a plan
of intentionality if we want to raise other leaders up who glorify God in all they say and do.
Bibliography
Blanchard, Ken and Hodges, Phil, Lead like Jesus Revisited: Lessons from the Greatest
Leadership Role Model of All Time. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016.
Dempsey, Rod, Dave Earley, and Adam McClendon. The Three-Dimensional Leader: A Biblical,
Spiritual & Practical Guide to Christian Leadership. Kirkdale Press, 2023.
Howell, Don N. Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership. Wipf and Stock
Publishers, 2003.
Malphurs, Aubrey. Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership. Baker Books,
2003.
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