Christian leadership is unique because it reflects the heart of Christ—marked by humility, service, and devotion to God, not personal glory. True leaders follow Jesus' example by leading with wisdom, love, and self-sacrifice, not status or power.
The Bible guides us on what makes a Christian leader unique, especially as compared to what the world esteems: reverence for God, humility, godly wisdom, and self-sacrifice—are all traits that Christian leaders are called to lead with. Though Moses was not a skilled speaker, he was humble, trusted God, and, when he was leading well, was self-sacrificing toward those God called him to lead (Exodus 3:11-12, 4:10-12, 32:31-32). Moses’ reverence for God pointed to his wisdom, a quality Proverbs emphasizes as vital for believers (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 16:16), including leaders. These and other qualities of Christian leadership are exemplified perfectly in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The New Testament indicates that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, to serve others rather than to be served (Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28). He left heaven to live among sinful humanity and to minister to the needs of people (Philippians 2:6-8). In letters to Timothy and Titus, the apostle Paul affirms these Christian leadership traits and goes into even more specific detail. Scripture shows that effective Christian leadership is rooted in God’s character and in Christ’s example of service with truth, love, and humility.
Leadership expert John C. Maxwell defined a leader as “one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” “The Way” for Christian leaders is Jesus Christ, “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus explained to His apostles that worldly leaders seek power over others, but that His followers should lead by serving others (Matthew 28:25-26). A true Christian leader will heed our Lord’s words. The apostle Paul is a great example of Christ-like humility and service to others (1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 2:3-5). In most of Paul’s letters, he begins by referring to himself as a servant or slave of Christ Jesus. Christian leaders today should also identify themselves first, as servants of Jesus, under His authority, genuinely concerned with reflecting Christ’s values and integrity.
Those who have dreams of glorifying themselves rather than glorifying God are not fit to lead. If you’re thinking of taking on a leadership role in your church, it’s a good idea to ask some self-reflective questions: What are your motives? What are your expectations? Are you ready to work in service to the Lord, oftentimes without overt acknowledgement from others? Effective Christian leadership is rooted in Christ’s example of service with truth, love, and humility.