What Is Leadership?

Leadership is one of the key essentials in helping us become all that God wants us to become. In fact, the Bible tells us in Proverbs 11:14, "Without wise leadership, a nation falls". This is true of every single area of life. Without wise leadership a family is in trouble. Without wise leadership a business is in trouble. Without wise leadership a community is in trouble. Without wise leadership a church is in trouble. Without wise leadership the world is in trouble. Everything rises or falls on leadership.

There are three major leadership problems in our culture and in our world today. Firstly, there is the fact that we no longer are able to differentiate between those who are celebrities and those who are leaders. Celebrities are those people who are famous but leaders are those people who influence our way of life. Secondly, there is a shortage of godly leadership, leaders who have the right character. Thirdly (and this is especially true in the Church) there is not a clear understanding of what leadership really means.

The objective of this course is to help those who aspire to lead others to understand what Biblical leadership really means and then to provide the tools and principles that need to be learnt for their development as leaders. In each of the lessons there is a personal evaluation that should be done with honesty and an openness to change so that any areas that need to be dealt with can be done through the course of these lessons thereby allowing effective growth and development as a leader.

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

There is much talk in today's world about leadership. There is leadership in the business world – management teams that are able to take the business in a particular direction and cause other people and industries to follow in that direction. There is leadership within a family, the father being the head and the one who directs the family and the wife and the children being the followers. There is also leadership within the Church. The leadership within the Church is commonly believed to be that of the five fold ministry – the apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor and evangelist (Ephesians 4). Additional leadership within the church also encompasses those who help the five fold ministry – the deacons and the elders. However, leadership is not only those people who stand up in front of the church and speak from the pulpit. It is not only those who are in a form of management in the office. It is not only for those who are making the decisions. Leadership is for everyone. Everyone has been called to be a leader in their immediate environment. Everyone has been called to be an influence on other people in society.

When we look at the commandment of Jesus before He ascended into heaven, He speaking to His disciples and followers said, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

The ministry that Jesus was calling every believer into was a ministry of leadership. But what does leadership entail? How can we define leadership if everyone is supposed to be involved in it? Can everyone be the pastor of the Church? Can everyone who is a Christian be placed in a management position at work? No! Leadership is more than a position and a title. Leadership is a work and a function.

LEADERSHIP DEFINED

The Collins English Dictionary defines leadership as:

• The position or function of a leader.
• The period during which a person occupies the position of leadership.
• The ability to lead, the leadership qualities.

John C Maxwell sums up his definition of leadership as "leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less."

When we look at this definition we see that leadership moves beyond the position defining the leader, to looking at the ability of the leader to influence others – both those who would consider themselves followers, and those outside that circle. Indirectly, it also builds in leadership character, since without maintaining integrity and trustworthiness, the capability to influence will disappear.

There are three key original words that define a leader in the Bible:

"NACHAM"

Meaning: Showing the way by example, directing or advising.

• Bring – To cause people to come to a certain place in God. The leader must be familiar with this place to bring about such leadership.
• Bestow – To give a person to the things of the Lord like one would give in marriage. To show the way by going in advance. To guide a person in the ways of God as by taking the hand.
• Govern – To control the actions or behaviour of a believer in accordance with the Word of God. To keep under control or restrain behaviour to within the limits of the Word.
• Put – To cause to be in a specified position according to the Word (position for blessing etc). To adapt a person for living in the Spirit.
• Straighten – To bring a person to a place of enforcing rights of blessing. To restore a person. To reform a person or improve the lot of a person.

"NAHAG"

• Lead on – To cause a person to follow some course of action. To carry a person from a place outside of God to a place in keeping with the Word of God.
• Cause to drive – To cause a person to push or propel himself in the things of God and to press on forcibly and urge forward.
• Guide – As above.
• Brought – As above.
• Acquainting – To make a person familiar with the Word and the ways of God. To inform a person about the Word. To cause a person to know God personally.
• To behave itself of heart – To help a person conduct themselves in keeping with the Word of God. To help conduct themselves properly.

"NAGIYD"

• Ruler – To govern according to the principles of God's Word (1 Samuel 25:30, 2 Samuel 6:21).
• Prince/overseer – To keep watch over and direct the work of believers in the fashion of a supervisor (1 Kings 14:7, Job 31:27, Psalm 76:12). One who commands people in keeping with the Word, who leads or guides others (Isaiah 9:16, Isaiah 10:1, 2 Samuel 5:2).
• Governor – To follow and administer the Word of God in relation to believers (1 Chronicles 29:22).
• Noble – To lead as a result of the demonstration of the greatness of the fruit of the Spirit in the life of an individual (Job 29:20).
• Tell, declare, show, utter and expound – To bring people into alignment with the Word by announcing (preaching or teaching) the principles of the Word.
• To illuminate – To make the principles of the Word understandable and clear. To brilliantly attract people to a lifestyle of obedience to the Word.
• To bring light to people – As above.

Leadership is therefore the capacity to:

• Influence
• Inspire
• Rally
• Direct
• Encourage
• Motivate
• Induce
• Move
• Mobilize and activate others.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP MEANS PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING

Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

You cannot be a leader if you have no followers. Therefore if we are to be a leader – someone who directs and leads others into the knowledge of God and helps them to develop a personal relationship with Him, then we need to make disciples – those who will follow us as we follow the example of Christ. Timothy followed the example of Paul.

Making disciples is much like assuming the responsibilities of being a parent:

• Until they learn to feed themselves, you make sure they are fed.
• You teach them how to feed themselves as soon as possible.
• If they get into trouble, you help them — even if it is inconvenient, because they are your top priority.
• You train them to do what they need to do.
• You teach them what you know.
• You help protect them from danger.

As a leader our goal is to eventually reproduce ourselves — another believer who can also stand on their own and reproduce. For example: Christ reproduced Himself in His 12 disciples who in turn reproduced themselves in the Early Church believers.

LEADERSHIP MEANS YOU ARE BEING AN INFLUENCE

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences."

Leaders are those who have the ability to influence other people. Every Christian has some degree of influence because Jesus said (Matthew 5:13-16),

• We are the salt of the World
• We are a light

Both of these things, salt and light, have the ability to change their environment for the better. The salt is able to preserve and bring healing and the light is able to expel darkness. Therefore as we influence people in our society we are able to lead people from a place of poverty in their knowledge of God to one of abundance. Every time we interact with anybody, we should be influencing them for Christ. The Bible says if you are a believer, God expects you to lead others for good and for God. If you are a follower of Jesus, He wants you to be a leader of others.

We can either use the influence that we have been given for good or evil. Our influence can either be positive or it can be negative. When we look at the example of the 12 spies that went to go and spy out the land of Canaan, we see that there were 10 spies that used their influence in a negative manner. Their influence caused the people to be afraid, to rather not pursue the very things and provisions of God. However there were two spies, Joshua and Caleb who used their influence positively. Their influence would have resulted in the people of Israel pursuing and laying claim of the very promises of God which had been given hundreds of years earlier to Abraham (See Numbers 13:1-33, 14:1-38). The first ten spies used their influence to manipulate the people of Israel to create fear – they were afraid and therefore they influenced with fear. The other two spies, Joshua and Caleb, used their influence to try and motivate the people to do what was right – what was an action of faith that would lead them into the perfect will of God.

It is impressive to note the great influence that Joshua had with those of his generation. Joshua 24:29-31 "And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel." Joshua's influence caused the people of Israel to follow God's commandments.

Influence involves moving people to change their thinking and ultimately their behaviour. It involves:

• Persuasion: The primary way to influence is by persuasion. Paul influenced and thus persuaded unbelieving Jews to accept Christ by reasoning with them from the Scriptures that Jesus was their Messiah (Acts 17:1-4, 18:4, 2 Corinthians 5:11).
• Encouragement: David sought to encourage Joab by sending him directions on how to win the battle even though it was for a bad cause (2 Samuel 11:25).
• A godly example: The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us to consider the outcome of their leader's lifestyle and to imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:5).

How can we become a person of influence – a leader? As we look at the life of Joshua we are able to learn important keys to how he became a man of such great influence.

• Be a prayer warrior

Joshua was a man of prayer. Exodus 33:11 "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle."

• Be obedient to God

Joshua had a heart of obedience. He was willing to go up into the land of Canaan regardless of the "fears" and the "giants" that the other ten spies had spoken of. Why? Because he knew that it would be in obedience to God. He therefore was motivated to do something out of his desire to obey God more than man.

• Be faith-filled

Joshua's life is a life in testimony to the faith that he had. He was bold and courageous because He was full of faith.

• Be a God-pleaser not a crowd pleaser

Joshua stood before the people and declared that no matter what they all chose to do, he was going to choose to be a God pleaser and therefore be committed to God. Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

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.

Influence comes from serving by:

• Modelling, Instructing, Exhorting, Evaluating, Confronting, Training, Releasing

Influence does not come by:

• Overpowering, Belittling, Manipulating, Threatening, Avoiding, Competing, Controlling

LEADERSHIP IS BEING AN EXAMPLE

1 Corinthians 11:1 "And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's."

Every Christian has been called to be a Christian leader. That is to be the salt and light people (Matthew 5:13-16) to those around them that may not have a knowledge of the Saviour. Because of the power of our example and the way one's life either negatively or positively influences others, the Scripture repeatedly addresses this vital responsibility. Leaders and Christians as a whole are to be models for others to imitate. In truth, every believer's life is to become a source of motivation and direction for others. We are to be a picture of reality, a proof that Jesus Christ saves and changes lives so we can become a powerful magnet that draws others to Christ.

We are firstly to become followers of His example: "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1)

When we look at this scripture we see that the issue and the key to leadership and spiritual maturity is not how great we are, but how much we are following Jesus Christ who is our supreme example. How much are we allowing Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives? Are we in hot pursuit of knowing and experiencing the life of Christ as was the apostle Paul?

"BE": The verb "be" is a present imperative of ginomai, "to become." Again, it emphasizes this is not an option. It is a command. The present tense and the meaning of this verb reminds us this is a process, a target, a goal to set our sights on and pursue daily. None of us ever arrive—but it should be a daily goal. A key question is, "Are we aiming at the target?"

"IMITATORS": "Imitate" is mimetes and refers to one who mimics another. It is an active noun which brings out the concept of an active responsibility, but we should not let the word "mimic" fool us. This is not a superficial mimicry or a mere imitation. According to New Testament truth, this involves the process of reproduction. The Lord Jesus seeks to reproduce Himself in us as we appropriate His life by faith through the knowledge of the Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Christ-likeness is the direct and exclusive consequence of God's activity in us. It is not the consequence of our capacity to imitate God, but the result of God's capacity to reproduce Himself in us through the Holy Spirit as we learn His Word and learn to walk by faith.

Secondly, we are to lead others by the example that we receive from our leaders:

1 Thessalonians 1:6 "So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord."

Hebrews 13:7 "Remember your leaders, who spoke God's message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith."

Philippians 3:17 "Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example."

1 Timothy 4:11-16 "Command and teach these things. Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you."

In 1 Timothy 4:13-16 Paul gives six commands that are needed to be effective models of the Saviour. Verses 13-14 deal primarily with public ministry and the stewardship of his spiritual gifts. Obedience to these commands would allow Timothy to become an example to follow in public ministry when the church is assembled. Verses 15-16 deal more with his private life and stresses the idea of dedication, diligence, endurance, and discipline, a fitting challenge against laziness and just going with the flow.

We have no choice in being an example of some kind and having an impact on those around us, but we do have a choice in the kind of witness and impact we provide. Someone is going to follow us and be influenced by us. The question is: Do we know where we are going? Are we providing the kind of example that will enhance their lives, or are we like the blind leading the blind?

We need Christian maturity that provides people with a real example of authentic Christ-like living. Effective ministry to others is often equated with such things as dynamic personalities, with talent, giftedness, training, enthusiasm, and with charisma. But these things alone are inadequate. Much more is needed. In the Bible, the qualities that led to effective ministry are found in the elements of spiritual character, in the character of Christ reproduced in us by the ministry of the Spirit (see Ephesians 4:12; Galatians 5:22).

LEADERSHIP IS BEING A SERVANT

Matthew 20:25-28 "But Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.'"

The Gentile leadership and the leadership of the Pharisees of that time were to lead through the tyrannical use of power. True leadership however does not lead in this manner. Christian leadership leads humbly, serving those whom they are leading. In this portion of Scripture we see that servant leadership is defined as:

• Manner of leadership (How?): Humble – "not lording it over" – humility, no ego.
• Essence of leadership (What?): Service – "a servant and slave" – giving, not receiving.
• Recipients of leadership (Who?): Others – "for many" – others, not self.
• Motives of leadership (Why?): Love – "the full extent of His love" – a towel, not a throne.

LEADERSHIP IS GUIDING OR DIRECTING

In 1 Timothy 5:17 Paul admonishes Timothy as the leader to "direct the affairs of the Church."

Moses was responsible as a leader to guide the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt (Exodus 3:10). Joshua was called to guide the people into the promise land (Joshua 1). John the Baptist was called to guide and direct the people to repentance (Matthew 3). Jesus directed people to the only way of salvation (John 3). Providing direction and guidance is therefore another function of leadership.

SUMMARY

Leadership is characterised as:

• Having followers
• Being an influence
• Being an example
• Being a servant
• Guiding and directing others

As we look at this broad term, we see that not only are those who are part of the five fold ministry leaders, but every Christian, as every Christian has been called to make followers (disciples). Every person has the potential to become a leader of new converts. To train and disciple them so that they in turn will be able to lead and direct others in their knowledge of God.