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Lesson OneWhat Is Leadership?9 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoA Biblical Overview of Leadership10 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeBiblical Models of Leadership Development7 Activities2 Assessments
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Lesson FourBecoming a Redemptive Leader9 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveBeing an Effective Ministry Leader in a Changing World9 Activities
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion3 Activities
Participants 44
Defining Leadership
To answer the question, “What is leadership?” we really have to ask sub-questions which contextualize leadership such as:
- Who’s leading?
- When are they leading (e.g., during a time of prosperity, adversity, stagnation, or development)?
- Why are they leading?
Answers to these questions become the factors that determine what effective leadership is. Leadership is largely responsive to the zeitgeist (i.e., the general mood or intellectual, moral, and cultural climate) of a particular period of time. This means that not all people who are leaders can lead in a particular context and meet the needs of those whom they are leading unless they intentionally seek to understand their context and the people they want to lead.
The context of leadership
To lead effectively, leaders need to be able to understand the context in which they are in and what the needs are of those they are leading. Said another way, to lead effectively one needs to not only exegete the Bible (i.e., interpret the text of the Bible in order to understand it), but also to exegete the times and the people who need leading. Consider this biblical scenario.
In 1 Chronicles 12:32 when military leaders from Israelite tribes joined David’s mighty men to overthrow King Saul, we read:
This means that this group of leaders from Issachar were serious about exegeting their times (i.e what was happening in their clan at that time and the issues they were facing). And the verse then says that they “knew what Israel should do.” So because they understood the times in which they were leading and what people were facing, they could lead effectively.
The adaptive nature of leadership
Consequently, since leadership is largely determined by its context, leadership is adaptive in that it is responsive to ever-changing times. We may often hear others say, Ah, it was easy to lead in the good old days or in my days, but obviously those “good old days” may not have been good for all people in all contexts. Problems always exist in society no matter what time period or context because people live in relationship with each other and society and conflict results. So effective leaders emerge to accomplish purposes at God-ordained times that require a certain type of leadership. For example, Jesus’ leadership took place at a certain moment in history within a specific socio-cultural and geographical context that saw His influential ministry rollout in certain ways (e.g., large public roadside gatherings) so that the gospel could be spread throughout the world.
The relational nature of leadership
The concept of leaders being sovereignly chosen and situated in a specific time, context, and people group can be shown in this interactive diagram.
Select the information icons to read more about how leaders are in relationship with the community and context in which they are leading.
Leadership exists in relationship with and adapts to various factors
Leadership as relationship
I think people want to be magnificent. It’s the job of the leader to bring out that magnificence in people and to create an environment where they feel safe and supported and ready to do the best job possible in accomplishing key goals. This responsibility is a sacred trust that should not be violated. The opportunity to guide others to their fullest potential is an honor and one that should not be taken lightly. As leaders, we hold the lives of others in our hands. These hands need to be gentle and caring and always available for support (Blanchard 2001).
Blanchard’s communication to secular organizations emphasizes that leadership is all about relationships. Leaders of ministries, and of all types of organizations, therefore, need to see the people whom they are leading as the goal, not as obstacles to achieving their goals. Let’s continue on to explore this and other aspects of leadership.