Note: I am indebted to Frank Viola for helping me think through some of these summarizing principles. Some of the points are his, both in concept and in wording. Following are some summary points to assist in establishing a biblical definition of Christian leadership. The Bible does not specifically use the words “leader” or “leadership,” …
Monthly Archives: September 2013
Redefining Christian Leadership
One way to deal with the leadership dilemma is to quit using the words “lead, leader, leadership.” That was the suggestion of one brother in Latin America. Certainly that is one way to deal with the problem, but in my mind it is an insufficient solution. The church, called to be a contrast community in …
Leadership: Sight and insight, influence, every member
Leadership is not what most people think it is. Secular concepts of leadership stand in stark contrast to biblical concepts of leadership. Three aspects of biblical leadership highlight the contrast. Leadership is sight and insight. To guide is a common synonym of the verb to lead. To guide means to show the way. One root …
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Leaders and Leadership: Understanding the Words
While the etymology of a word does not provide a current definition, understanding the root, origin, and past usage of a word can help us understand the present. What is the origin of the word “lead?” The Arcade Dictionary of Word Origins gives two roots. One is related to the metal, spelled the same but …
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Caution: Secular Leadership is not Biblical Leadership
The brother in Christ, a long-standing and faithful member of the church in another country, was not seeking confrontation or conflict. He only wanted clarification. “What is this thing called leadership that you are talking about?” Where does the Bible use the word? [Good question, and worthy of a thoughtful, well reseached answer!] Leadership (and …
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It’s Sunday Again: Christ is in the midst of his church
In Revelation 2-3, Christ is pictured in the midst of the seven churches of Asia. In Revelation 21-22, Christ is again in the midst of the church. In these two passages, perhaps related if one accepts a symmetrical or chiastic outline of Revelation, there is a lesson for the modern church and today’s Christians. Certainly …
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