This post may use affiliate links from Amazon and other retailers which earn us a commission for any purchases made through them. This is done at no extra cost to you and we thank you for the support. Learn more.
It’s no secret that good leadership is hard to find, but biblical leadership can sometimes feel impossible. Finding leaders within your community who will humbly shepherd others with grace, integrity, and faithfulness takes time. Finding the leader within yourself can feel unattainable and may take even longer.
But when we look at the lives of leaders in the Bible, a clear pattern starts to appear for us to learn from. Biblical leadership is not about power or prestige. It’s about character, service, and a deep love for God and His people.
As you embark on your own leadership journey, remember that God equips those He calls, even when you may not feel adequate. Let’s look at some biblical leadership examples and concepts you can look up to to forge yourself into a better leader within your own life.
What is Biblical Leadership?
Biblical leadership ultimately means following the example set by Jesus Christ Himself.
Jesus embodied servant leadership. I think nowadays this concept is either looked down upon or is discredited.
Christ taught that true greatness comes from serving others rather than seeking power or recognition (Matthew 20:25-28). It’s not merely about holding a position of authority, but about utilizing your influence to guide, inspire, and bolster others to grow in their faith and live out God’s purpose.
This model of leadership principles involves guiding and inspiring others and helping them to develop themselves rather than holding power over them.
Characteristics of a Godly Leader
The Bible gives us tons of examples of effective leadership in action, from the courage of David facing Goliath to the compassionate care Jesus had for the sick.
And although the situations these biblical leaders found themselves in may feel very different than those of today, the underlying qualities remain timeless and applicable to modern life. The characteristics of a godly man go hand in hand with biblical leadership and you can read my take on them all here.
These examples can be very helpful to anyone, in any position. We’ll look at some of those examples in more detail, but first I want to take a quick look at some of the qualities of a biblical leader that show up again and again.
1. Humility
A Biblical leader doesn’t seek their own glory but acknowledges their need for God and the value of others. Remember what Proverbs 16:18-19 tells us:
“Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy
Than to divide the spoils with the proud.“
Leaders love to learn and grow no matter how much they think they already know.
When I was in the law enforcement academy, I was chosen as Class Sergeant and that meant I was in charge of the decisions made for the entire group. Looking back, I didn’t want the position and I thought pretty highly of my own way of doing things so I chose to just lead by example and direct my fellow classmates in the same way.
Because of that, I completely missed that a couple of my classmates were actually struggling. Instead of checking in, I remained oblivious because I felt like everything was running great.
It was a learning experience for me about how true leadership means considering others before yourself. A little humility would have served the people I was supposed to be leading (and even myself) better in that moment.
Read More:
–The Essentials of Biblical Masculinity: Humility
2. Integrity
Living a life of honesty and consistency both in public and private, builds trust and earns respect and trust from others.
Again we see this in Proverbs 12:22:
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.“
A Christian leader and church leaders alike are called to live lives above reproach. We must embody truth, integrity, and honesty no matter how hard it may be.
Read More:
–The Essentials of Biblical Masculinity: Integrity
3. Servant’s Heart
Having a servant’s heart means being more like Jesus and putting others before yourself. An example of this is when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as we see in John 13:5-17.
Amidst knowing that His death was near and that His disciple Judas was filled with betrayal from the devil, He still got up and served those He loved dearly.
Biblical leaders model the characteristics of Christ. They don’t just simply delegate everything, they lead with action and genuine concern for others.
Leading God’s people should be motivated by a desire to serve, not to be served.
Read More:
–The Essentials of Biblical Masculinity: Leadership
–5 Steps To Master Biblical Leadership Discipline in 2024
4. Vision
Leaders understand where they’re going and inspire others to follow, just as Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-10).
Having a vision is crucial for leadership development. Otherwise, it’s like the blind leading the blind.
5. Courage and Fortitude
Whether standing up for truth or making hard choices, biblical leadership requires unwavering faith to withstand hard times and decision fatigue.
Despite facing immense opposition, Joshua exemplified this quality when he united the Israelites and conquered Jericho.
Can you imagine the level of trust and dependence on God Joshua had to have to do what God had asked of him?
That same type of courage allowed him to make a simple yet profound declaration to the people of Israel, encouraging them to choose whom they would serve, famously saying, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” ( Joshua 24).
Fortitude through lasting faith is an essential leadership trait especially in a world of uncertainty we’re seeing today.
Read More:
–The Essentials of Biblical Masculinity: Fortitude
6. Discipline
A disciplined life allows leaders to persevere through difficult seasons. This means prioritizing time with God in prayer, sticking to your plans and goals, and doing the hard work even when you don’t feel like it.
A leader needs to have enough discipline to continue to build their own relationship with God as well as complete worldly tasks.
I’ve written a lot on discipline and you can dive deeper into it by checking out these articles:
- Best Bible Verses About Discipline and Hard Work in 2024
- Mastering Biblical Self-Discipline Strategies in 2024
- 5 Best Spiritual Discipline Books for Men: Reshape Your Spirit
Biblical Examples of Effective Leaders
Now that we’ve looked at some of the qualities of a biblical leader, let’s jump into some examples we can learn from.
1) David (Shepherd, Warrior, King)
From a young age, David displayed courage, faithfulness, and leadership. His early experiences as a shepherd prepared him for a future as king.
Even before confronting Goliath, people recognized something special in David. 1 Samuel 16:18 describes David this way:
“Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.”
When facing insurmountable odds against Goliath, David relied on God’s power and triumphed (1 Samuel 17). However, we also learn from David’s failings later in his life as he allowed pride and temptation to lead him down a very dark path.
Ultimately, it is David’s willingness to humble himself before God, take responsibility, and learn from his errors that cements him as a biblical leadership example for us today.
2) Peter (From Denial to Bold Proclamation)
The apostle Peter offers us an honest depiction of how human frailty and incredible faith can co-exist in a leader.
This relatable example illustrates the power of restoration in leadership. We’re reminded that biblical leadership isn’t about perfection, it’s about God using imperfect people to carry out extraordinary things.
Peter was devoted to Jesus, but in a moment of weakness, fear overcame him and he denied even knowing Jesus. Not once, not twice, but three times, and even when he was told that he would do so.
Later Peter was fully restored in his faith by Jesus. He went on to deliver the first public sermon after Jesus’s ascension into Heaven. You can learn more about this in Acts 2.
Talk about a comeback story. Peter’s journey is relatable to many men, including myself, and it reminds us that even when we stumble, God can still use us mightily.
3) Apostle Paul As An Example of Biblical Leadership
The Apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, is a powerful example of biblical leadership in action. He had a major life change!
He went from persecuting and killing followers of Christ as a devout Jewish pharisee to becoming one of the greatest champions of Christianity and the biggest influences in the New Testament.
If you haven’t yet, you should read his testimony and conversion really quick by clicking here or by reading Acts 22:6-21 sometime.
But here’s the thing, Paul’s leadership wasn’t about holding a fancy title. It was all about serving others and building up the church.
Paul was all about planting new churches and spreading the Gospel, particularly to Gentiles aka non-Jews. This took some serious courage because he faced persecution, imprisonment, and all kinds of danger. But he never backed down.
He knew his mission was more important than his own comfort.
He wrote letters to those churches, offering guidance and encouragement. These letters became God’s Word written in the New Testament and they still give us practical advice on leadership and Christian living today.
Paul was also big on mentorship. He knew that strong leaders invest in others and he mentored guys like Timothy and Titus, preparing them for leadership roles in the church.
Paul understood that leadership wasn’t about bossing people around. He saw it as serving others with humility. He led by example, showing his followers what it meant to live a life of faith and sacrifice.
After seeing some of the most prominent examples of biblical leadership, I am confident that you will have a better grasp of what it means to be a biblical leader so you can apply it to your own leadership journey.
FAQs About Biblical Leadership
What Is the Biblical Concept of Leadership?
The biblical concept of leadership diverges from the world’s definition, which often equates leadership with power and authority. Instead, biblical leadership models the example of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated that true leadership involves putting the needs of others before our own. This concept emphasizes service, humility, integrity, and above all, love.
What Does the Bible Say About Leadership?
Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible is full of examples and teachings on leadership. One example is the famous story of Moses in the book of Exodus, who, despite his initial reluctance, was called by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
His journey was one of learning obedience, relying on God’s strength, and putting the needs of his people first. From his experience, we learn that God equips those He calls, even when they don’t feel adequate.
What are the Qualities of a Leader in the Bible?
Whether we examine the life of David, Peter, or Paul, common threads emerge regarding the qualities of a leader: They’re marked by humility, seeking God’s guidance rather than their own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Courage also characterizes these individuals, standing firm in their convictions even when facing adversity (Joshua 1:9). Their lives demonstrated that servant leadership is not about seeking recognition but about investing in others. Jesus called His disciples to be servant leaders, putting the needs of others above their own.
What is the Biblical Standard of a Leader?
The Bible establishes a high standard for those who lead. The biblical definition of leadership is rooted in love for God and others. The biblical standard for leaders emphasizes integrity and being people whose actions align with their words, both publicly and privately (Psalm 15).
This standard calls for leaders to shepherd and care for those entrusted to them just as a shepherd watches over his flock (John 21:15-17). Leaders must understand their responsibility to serve others with love and compassion.
Biblical Leadership Conclusion
Ultimately, embracing biblical leadership means pursuing ongoing spiritual growth to follow the example set by Jesus Christ.
The Bible challenges leaders to exhibit these characteristics, not through their own strength, but by relying on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
When we make it our mission to consistently seek to understand and implement these principles into our daily lives, we honor God and positively influence others to do the same. The early church thrived under this kind of leadership and even today we can as well.
So get out there and lead others by using what you learned in this article and share it with someone else who can use it to serve the Lord!
