According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, there are nearly 2 billion Christians worldwide, distributed throughout all 238 countries. Within the next 24 hours, 24,500 people will become Christians in Africa, and 5,000 people will become Christians in North America. Yet, only 2,000 years ago, there was a single man, Jesus, whose heart and vision for a world of lost people started it all. When developing a biblical theology and philosophy of leadership, there is no one better to base it on than Jesus himself, the ultimate leader.

The ministry of Jesus as recorded in the four gospels illustrates the power and effectiveness of servant-leaders. It also demonstrates the importance of relational ministry based on discipleship and mentoring. Finally, the importance of vision, prayerfulness, and rest in a leader’s life are shown. For this paper, I will exegete the following passages: Luke 2:41-52; John 2:1-11; Mark 1:14-20; 2:13-17; John 13:1-17

Luke 2:41-52

In this passage, Mary and Joseph take a 12-year-old Jesus to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. When it is time to return home, Jesus’ parents leave, assuming Jesus is in their company. After a protracted search, they return to Jerusalem and find Jesus in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ Luke 2:47-49

Even as an adolescent, the teachers in the temple recognized Jesus as a natural leader. He fearlessly sat down with respected temple leaders to discuss scripture, without intimidation. They saw his wisdom and understanding, and respected his abilities. This passage illustrates Jesus’ natural leadership. But innate ability is not enough for effective leadership. One must also have vision and purpose. This passage shows Jesus’ single-minded drive for fulfilling his duty. Already, Jesus understands that his earthly life will be devoted to doing his father’s business. This vision and purpose seen in the adolescent Jesus are key components of leadership.

John 2:1-11

Further evidence that Jesus’ leadership capabilities were recognized early on, before he started his teaching ministry and amassed large crowds, is seen in John 2:1-11, where Jesus changes water into wine at a wedding at Cana in Galilee.

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ‘Dear woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My time has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ John 2:3-5

Mary recognized her son’s leadership capabilities and turned to him in time of need. And Jesus did just what good leaders do: He took action. Jesus also demonstrated an ability to listen, to comprehend the problem and emphasize with the people involved. Finally, he showed initiative. He wasn’t afraid to take charge in the situation and instruct the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And while this command seemed silly, the servants followed his instructions. Leaders are not afraid to take action, even if their methods seem strange or counterintuitive to those who follow.

Mark 1:14-20; 2:13-17

These passages describe Jesus calling his first disciples. Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee when he saw Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the lake. “‘Come, follow me,’” Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (v, 17-8). Jesus commanded, and they followed. Similar events surrounded the calling of Zebedee and John (v. 19-20), and Levi (2:13-17). Before his ministry even began to blossom, Jesus found a group of men to invest his life into. These men were not the famous, wealthy, or popular men of the community; Andrew, Simon, Zebedee, and John were common fisherman and Levi was a despised tax collector.

These passages — indeed, the entirety of all four gospels — illustrate the need for leaders to disciple and mentor other individuals, investing their life into future leaders. Throughout the gospels, Jesus is seen walking beside and teaching his disciples. Yet his purpose is not companionship or personal betterment. Jesus’ goal is very clear from the start. He chose these men to make them “fishers of men.” In essence, he picked future leaders of his church, men who would carry on the torch once he left the earth. Already he was beginning the process of grooming his successors, and his teaching ministry had not yet begun.

Effective ministry is intentional. In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (1998), John Maxwell states that leaders build relationships with people as individuals, one by one. They also initiate contact by taking the first steps. This is indeed what Jesus did when calling his disciples. He called out a group of men to whom he would effectively communicate truths, principles, and plans. He built a team of people with shared purpose and complementary gifts. Like Jesus, leaders intentionally walk beside those they minister to during their different life stages, teaching the truth in multiple ways and formats that influence each person’s mind, heart, and actions. This model of leadership is at the heart of servant leadership.

John 13:1-17

Perhaps the greatest example of servant-leadership is shown in John 13:1-17, where Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. Just days before Jesus was to die on the cross, he washed the feet of his disciples after the evening meal. In ancient Israel, servants typically performed this menial task. But when there was no servant present and no one else volunteered to perform this action, Jesus did it. This emphasizes his humility, a quintessential foundation of leadership: service in action. In fact, Jesus lived a life of service, performing miracles such as changing water into wine, healing the sick, raising Lazarus from the dead, etc. His final act of servanthood was dying on the cross, taking upon himself the sins of the world so that no one might perish.

In Romans 12, Paul collaborates with this view of servant leadership, instructing Christians to offer their “bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.” (v.1) In verse 3, Paul instructs the reader to not “think of yourself more highly than you ought” but to do your duties accordingly, whether it be serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, or leadership.

Matthew 17:1-13

The Transfiguration

17  After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.  ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”  ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.  ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”  ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Summary

Effective leaders engage in relational ministry centered on discipleship making. In Deuteronomy 6:7-9, the author implores us to “impress [God’s Word/instructions] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” This passage describes a mentoring and discipling relationship. The teacher does not lecture the learner, rather he/she leads the learner and teaches through actions and example. It also implies that there is a close and nurturing relationship between the teacher and learner.

A second principle that can be taken from Deuteronomy 6:7-9 is that

I believe that the growth and cultivation of Christians should occur through discipleship and mentoring. The end goal of ministry is to shepherd individuals toward the transforming life of Jesus Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to mold them into faithful followers of Jesus Christ. While the structure of a ministry may look different in particular regions of the country and among distinct subcultures, effectual ministries have two main qualities in common: they are actively involved in discipling and they are populated by transformed believers of Jesus Christ.  Life-changing ministries pass on their heart for evangelism and discipleship to the church, and encourage others to worship God through utilizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Leadership lies at the heart of Christian ministry. Effective leadership is important for creating a firm foundation for the ministry and it is essential for setting a pattern for everyone else to follow. Essential to Christian leadership are both content and character.  In the area of Christian leadership, I believe the character of the leader is just as important as the duties that he/she must perform.

In the Bible, the requirements listed for a Christian leader include character as an essential component (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6). This means that a Christian leader must be a prayerful person.  In his short book In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen insists that the “leadership [of Christian leaders] must be rooted in the permanent, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus.”  As a pastor, I must not only be dedicated to praying for the people I minister to, but also to maintaining my personal relationship with God.  No matter what else happens in ministry this is the most important thing. For this to occur, a Christian leader must be humble and unbusy. 

            Spiritually, my goal is to promote unity and care for one another (Romans 12:9-10), to encourage personal Christian growth (Romans 12:11), to find and build leaders who are examples of Christ, (John 13:15-16), and to encourage and bring about maturity in others through Christ (Colossians 1:28).