(Post by: Lilly Hobbs)
I began three new college classes last week, and one of the assigned books I am reading is a book called, Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders. Just this morning, I was reading about the eight qualities of leadership Sanders believes are essential for the Christian life, which I found to be incredibly challenging and impactful.
Allow me to share these qualities with you, as I believe we should make it our goal to cultivate them in our everyday lives so we can be fruitful for the sake of the Kingdom and eternity…
The first essential quality of leadership is discipline, and is perhaps the most critical. Discipline is cultivated when we create rules for our thoughts, behaviors, and practices. It is the act of doing what needs to be done even when we may not feel like it. Discipline is a skill that requires attention and commitment and takes much time to develop.
The second essential quality of leadership is vision. Within Scripture, “vision” often refers to divine revelation or insight given by God to His people. It is a critical theme which emphasizes the sort of reliance we should have upon spiritual insight and the Lord’s leadership in our daily lives if our goal is to be faithful Christians. Bold and Biblical leaders, such as Moses, Joshua, and Nehemiah, possessed and daily relied upon divine vision in order to lead God’s people effectively. They were able to see beyond present circumstances and be obedient to whatever it was the Lord was calling them to. In the church, leaders are also called to seek vision for their communities, ensuring that they are being led well spiritually.
The third essential quality of leadership is wisdom. The Lord provides His Church with divine revelation and understanding of His ways that far exceed the values and priorities of the earthly realm which we inhabit. James defines spiritual wisdom in James 3:13 when he says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” I believe that if we wish to gain more spiritual wisdom, we must first desire it, which entails desiring a closer relationship with the Lord.
The fourth essential quality of leadership is decision. Decision-making is an integral part of leadership. A good spiritual leader will take the necessary time to embrace the quality of vision first, by taking the time to look, listen, learn, and pray, and once they are confident concerning the will of God, they promptly move toward action. If we are determined to lead with integrity, wisdom, and conviction, we must seek first to be guided by the power of the Holy Spirit and when He leads, we must act accordingly.
The fifth essential quality of leadership is courage. Our faith is not simply what we claim to believe, but it is also what we do with what we believe. Courage is essential when sharing the Gospel, as we can expect to meet resistance. Courage does not overlook danger or pretend it doesn’t exist, but it challenges us to triumph and be victorious in spite of it. Courageous leaders say and do the right thing regardless of temporal consequences.
The sixth essential quality of leadership is humility. Although we live in a world that often celebrates self-promotion and pride, humility can appear to be a weakness instead of a strength. However, humility is about recognizing how sorely insufficient we are on our own, as well as our great need for God’s grace. According to Galatians 5:22-23, humility is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, the Holy Spirit works in us to produce the quality of humility.
The seventh and eighth essential qualities of leadership are integrity and sincerity. These two qualities were part of God’s law for the Israelites to follow (Deuteronomy 18:13), so we know that He finds them to be of value (Sanders, 2007). The presence of integrity in leadership extends beyond mere honesty. Possessing these qualities involves a consistent alignment between one’s values, words, and actions. It’s about being consistent, accountable, and transparent in every part of life.
–> Leave a comment letting us know which quality you are going to make an effort to cultivate, and how you plan to do so practically!
References
Sanders, J. O. (2007). Spiritual leadership. Moody Publishers.
The Few 
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