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    What is leadership? Is it who we are as an individual? Is it a particular quality or trait that we have? Is leadership an action we take? Are we born with leadership skills or are they acquired over time?

    Having examined leadership studies over the past fifty years, Harris Lee learned that there are more than 350 definitions of leadership. This confirms James MacGregor Burn’s conclusion that leadership is “one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth.” Although defining leadership can be quite a challenge I have found that most people know it when they see it. And when effective leadership is absent from the lives of leaders in the church, most people would agree that the Kingdom of God suffers.

    For whatever else leadership may be leadership is a gift from God. A gift that must be nourished, cultivated, and used wisely. Leadership used wisely can stir the soul of men and women to accomplish great things in the Lord’s church. Leadership used unwisely in the church will lead to the frustration of its members and the eventual deterioration of its health.

    Although many people may be born with personality traits that lend themselves to effective leadership skills, it is God that offers to us the leadership abilities we need to use in His Kingdom. Paul taught the Ephesians that it was Christ who “gave some to be... evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. ... From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:7, 11, 16) and later said to the Elders of the Ephesian church, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” (Acts 20:28).When we do not acknowledge the power that God offers to us as leaders through His Spirit, effective Kingdom leadership cannot take place.

    Having a great passion for the subject of leadership for a number of years now I have come away with two, one-word definitions of leadership. First, leadership is influence. Leadership cannot take place unless you are influencing the lives of others towards a positive outcome. When you are focused on the shepherding needs of your congregation you are wanting to influence them in a way that they know that you care about their welfare. If you’ve influenced their lives in a positive way then your voice will remind them of your care for them, just as the voice of the First Century shepherd reminded his sheep of green pastures and cool waters.

Leadership is everything.

    If you are focused on mentoring new Christians in the body of Christ, then your desire is to map out for them the territory they need to travel because you have been that way before. And if you are focused on equipping members for ministry, you are wanting to influence them in a positive way towards service in the Lord’s Kingdom.

    The second one-word definition is this: Leadership is everything. As Lovett H. Weems, Jr. states in his book Church Leadership, “The best of message, opportunity, resources, facilities, and people will count for little if leadership falters and is ineffective.” A congregation will usually not grow spiritually and numerically if leadership does not first set a tone for growth. To be an evangelistic church, leadership must first set the example of evangelism in their own lives. If leaders are only interested in maintaining the status quo in their congregation, then the future of that local family of God may be uncertain.

    Again quoting Lovett H. Weems, Jr., “The task of leadership is change. Leaders inspire others to their best efforts in order to do better, to attain higher purposes. Leaders are not satisfied with the status quo. They are not satisfied with maintaining things as they are. They are idealists who believe things can be better.”

    Do you believe things can be better in your church? Whether your desire is to see a greater level of evangelism, involvement, Bible study, spirituality or fellowship in your local congregation, it has to first begin with you. You cannot influence someone else towards a positive outcome unless you are first serving as an example, a model, for the positive change you are wanting to see in others.

    Secondly, and most important of all, look to God for the positive change you desire in your local congregation. Paul said, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20) I believe that’s a promise given to us as leaders if we will let His power work in our lives. Dear God, we pray for your Spirit’s power in our lives as leaders in your Kingdom. May we be the right example for others so that we will influence them in a positive way for your glory. I pray for the leaders that are reading these words today that every desire they have for the growth of their congregations may be supplied to them through your glorious grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

© 1999, Archie Luper, used by permission. The ChurchPlanning Ministry.