Leadership has been the big “buzz-word” for the church in America during the last dozen or so years, but exactly what is meant by real leadership? Many books and resources are available on this subject, and to be honest with you, most of them are fluff and nonsense, distilled from contradictory business paradigms and faulty presuppositions that ignore the truths of Scripture! I have spent most of my ministerial career studying leadership as a church growth constant, I even went to Harvard Business School where I pursued an MBA. I thought that would make me a better leader for Christ. But, I gradually came to understand that what makes a leader great and effective is not found in most business schools or even books on leadership. Quite the contrary, those qualities are found in the Person, work, and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. When I ”found” what leadership was really about in the early 90’s, I also found that few would agree with or back me up. As a result, my Ph.D. Dissertation was not accepted, and I was eventually phased out of my church growth firm because I was no longer teaching the status quo of leadership. They saw leadership as a force of will and personality infused with the most up-to-date trends. I saw leadership as Christ modelled it. I challenge you to reconsider what you think you know about leadership. Get your direction and mold from Christ rather than trends, the latest ideas, or what you think will work. Purely and simply, leadership is learned from being a child of God and a servant of Christ first.

We usually know what the world calls us to, but do you know what God calls you to? The Bible calls us to a higher level of excellence¾one of vision, love, integrity, and functionality. That is what I call “Incarnational Leadership.” It simply means that I will lead the way Christ led. I will not lead the way the world wants me to. Incarnational represents the view that we are to leave the ways of the world and its ways of leadership, and turn to the ways of Christ. As He was Incarnational, we can be too¾not in the mysteries of the God-Man, but more precisely, using how He led as our example and template. As our name Christian stresses, we are Incarnational. Christ-like is to be in Christ, not in the realm of the world. We are to be influencers but not partakers, and our modes of leading the church must follow suit. We can glean non-contradictory insights from business paradigms, but business theories and practices are not meant to rule His flock. Why? Because Christ built a bridge to us as Christians, and we are to build a bridge for others so they see Him in us. We are to build bridges to our interpersonal relationships as leaders and as followers. It is about caring for people because we are being dependent upon Him and His precepts in order to be real and effectual in Kingdom values and the modelling of His ways to the world (Phil. 2:6-8).

Incarnational leadership is rooted in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, as “He took a towel” (John 13:2-5). He was efficient with people, had goals in sight, but was also relational over being task-driven. This kind of leadership produces a church filled with real purpose and motivation as people are called, appreciated, loved, encouraged, discipled, involved by mentoring and discipleship before they are deployed in ministry. This is “Christ life” before “ministry life.” Thus, the leadership of Christ is producing a church of spiritual maturity and involvement so that the people are inspired to be devolved, as in caught up in Christ and with one another to be more admirable in the faith and in the world making Him known. After they are deployed, the equipping and encouraging are to continue. Manipulation, conniving, and posturing are to be absent, as God’s Love is the fuel. This kind of leadership sees Christ glorified as our tempers and temperaments come in line with His precepts. It means being imitators of Christ so we go in the direction of the possibilities; we stretch beyond what we think we can do or go, and seek where and what He has for us, even with our limitations and frailty.

Incarnational Leadership is based on values and character, so it is about “how we do things." Who we are as Christians needs to transcend in how we are with one another. Leadership that is effective, even in the business world, is more about how we treat and empower our workers and staff. We are with Christ, we are with one another, and we bear with one another in love. It is about being humble-minded, gentle, and patient; it is about being truly rooted in Christ so our focus is to glorify Him rather than follow trends or lift ourselves up. It causes us to carry one another with honesty and grace in spite of our personalities and eccentricities. It requires us to be deeper, lasting, and real in Christ so our model of leadership focuses on Christ and not business. It causes people to see Christ at work in us. It is not about control or command; it is about empowerment, listening, and unleashing. As a shepherd, we lead others where they need to go, where we have walked to the destination first, or are on the way. It is not about results, although they are sought and are important. It is about nurturing and empowering people in Him (Prov. 27:23; John.  10:3-14; 1 Cor. 15:49; Eph. 4:1-16; Col. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:13-14; 1 Pet. 3:8; 5:1-7).

Incarnational Leadership is demonstrated by the people of Christ who go out of their way for one another for a common goal because they are truly rooted in Christ and focused on spiritual unity. It is the operation of the Fruit of the Spirit and character so that patience, courage, sensitivity, and enthusiasm help keep us focused on Him and the wonder He has for us. It stresses how we are called to act so what we do is moved by character. Leadership that is real and devout is not about us; it is all about who Christ is and shows in us personally. It is never about personal agendas, power plays, posturing for power, or control. It sees no ethnicity, no gender, no economic status, and no politics within the church, or who has the best education.

It is never about pride or leading others to us and ignoring Christ. If so, it is not biblical or effective leadership! Pride blinds leaders as well as the others who are to follow; it misleads, oppresses, and keeps us complacent when we are called to be revolutionaries to the world. We are called to adjust our thinking and style to pick up a towel and not a whip. We are to take Christ, and unselfishly make the best of our goods, resources, and situations to move a church in the direction He called us to before we were born¾to be a revolutionary (Jer. 1:4-10; Gal. 1: 15).

A big problem in a lot of our churches today is that way too many strategies have been borrowed from the business world and touted to be the way a church should be managed and led. Consequently, the management of staff and volunteers in devising plans and visions comes from business development. Thus, the family and Christ-like characteristics become secondary as we strive to be a successful CEO or marketer of a church rather than a servant as Jesus exemplified and called us to be. We are to be led by the Shepherd to be shepherds for Him. Having a business model in our churches is a sign of success and of “you have arrived” in the twenty-first century. Therefore, the pastor becomes the CEO, and concentrates only on strategic thinking, thus losing touch with people, prayer, care, character, and Christ. Such churches have little teaching causing discipleship and ministry to be absent in their community and world. This is pathetic as compared to the real potential in numbers, call, and opportunity. As we have seen in the news recently, the business model has not worked well for many businesses, even the big ones. Thus, it cannot possibly work for the Bride of Christ! Even now, the business world is looking for new effective paradigms and models because of so many failed techniques. And, “Servant Leadership” is creeping its way to them! 

Yet, most Christian leaders still tend to use the business model for managing volunteers and staff. The head pastors in many churches are forced into a business model because it is expected and, as a result, they lose touch with the people and the other leaders. In addition, they definitely lose touch with Christ! An elder of a church called me recently asking for a pastoral candidate profile with the emphasis on a pastor with the gifts of marketing and communication. I could not find those gifts listed in the Bible. Yes, marketing and communication are important factors in church leadership, but they are tools to be employed, not the means to lead and pastor. I had to tell that elder that no such profile existed, because what the church was seeking was neither biblical nor productive. Their focus needed to be on what Christ has called us to do. The elder was not interested. This is very unfortunate, because although some good principles can be attained from a business model, the church is not a business. It is a family in Christ!

What is Servant Leadership?

So, how can a church be led if not like a business? The Bible shows us how. That “how” is called Servant Leadership. Jesus and Paul clearly taught and modeled the servant form for leadership through the entire scope of Mark, and 1 Corinthians 3 & 4! Servant Leadership is simply following the character of our Lord into a management model. Some business principles can still be applied as long as they do not conflict with biblical ones. To be a Servant Leader means being an “effective” and “effectual” pastoral leader who shepherds, no matter what the size of the church. Then, the church focus and goals are centered and led from the perspective of being effective for His glory by having, as the definitive focus for success, the serving of others in care and love. Fundamental. It is what Jesus did and what Jesus would have us do. A business model typically just leads and manages with the attitude and priority of obtaining goals by whatever means. Conversely, a servant model equips, models, and cares, with the attitude of serving others and the prime goal of glorifying Christ.

Jesus, in Mark 10:41-45, gives us a principle precept on leadership. He tells us that the corrupt Gentile leaders lorded it over the people. In other words, they led people by means of clever micromanaging and manipulating, and they sought to subjugate and control people for their own agendas, interests, or personal gain. Focusing on ideas at the expense of people is the guidance of the world, not the guidance from God’s Word and comes from following values that are not Kingdom-based. These are the very same means many pastors use in their churches, forgetting the virtues of love, discipleship, and humility. In order to have control, many will seek power to obtain places of honor. Jesus tells us to do the opposite; in order to have honor and be great, we have to be a servant of others. Leadership that is real and effective is not measured by how many people serve us; on the contrary, it is about how many people we serve for Him. How did the Creator and Lord of the universe lead His followers and model for us to do and be? By being a servant! We must aspire to give our lives as he gave His! If we do not desire to lead in this way, we are seeking our own will and self, not Christ and we will be pride-based, not Kingdom-based.

The language of the New Testament does not give us simply clues on how to lead, but specific frameworks. In Romans 16:1, 1 Timothy 3:8, and 3:12, the Greek word for someone who leads is diakonos, which appears almost 100 times. Translated usually as deacon, it really means servant¾someone who ministers to another or performs practical service for another. In Mark 10:45, John 12:26, Ephesians 4:13 and Philippians 1:1, the Greek word used is doulos meaning a slave under subjugation with little to no rights. In Philippians 2:7 the word used is huperetes, which denotes slavery. These conditions of being a servant are also in the realm of meekness (2 Cor. 4:7-12).

The running themes in these passages do not mean that we sell ourselves to another; rather, we seek to serve without the recompense of respect or honor from others. Our focus should be on honoring our Lord, not on what the world thinks or even church members to a degree¾at least the ones who are not lined up with the Word. The theme of serving means being subordinate in Christ. What does this entail? Real, authentic leadership is never a force of will, personality, or control. It is not to dominate, subjugate, oppress, subvert, or lead by authoritarian means, persuasiveness, or manipulation. Servant leadership is relying on God’s authority, empowerment, and power. It is about how we respond, and how we are toward others with a task and goal in mind that is running in His direction and precepts. It is being influenced by Him so we can be influencers for Him. Servanthood and meekness are not about being weak. They are the means of focusing and developing others for Him. Style and personality in leadership are not the main issue as long as the leaders are working in Christ with His character and Fruit flowing through them. But, remember it is not just about the goal; it is about equipping and empowering people, training and equipping them, and allowing them to follow their call to minister to others in loving supervision, allowing for mistakes so they can learn and grow.

Doing What is Popular or What is Christ?

We church leaders need to go from our head knowledge of what we think we should do according to popular models and trends, to practicing, as Christ did, Incarnational Leadership, more popularly referred to as Servant Leadership. These principles are key to modeling a biblical role for the church so all of the leadership will be trained and encouraged in this biblical model! All those in leadership must make being a Servant Leader the prime parameter from which to attempt any organizational or leadership venture. Remember, goals are important, but they are not the main focus! The task and vision are still at hand, but the focus is on people and Christ over task and goals. It is how we are to one another. Just look up “one another” in a concordance or see the Bible verse references in our Pastors Page channel.

Take heed. The business model will isolate the leadership from the people, their potential, call, and from the Word through which we are called to influence! Yet, many Christian leaders and churches are reluctant and reticent to embark on servant leadership, thinking, as one prominent church leader told me, “they will lose the edge of effectiveness and be too wishy-washy!” Christ and Paul were, in fact, not wishy-washy! Real effectiveness will be increased, not reduced, as some church growth paradigms would have us believe. However, remember that the effectiveness Christ has for us is not what the world or the business model will have. Do not measure success by increase in numbers, but by increases in faith, character, spiritual formation, obedience, service, and most important, a worshipful attitude through following biblical precepts! The numbers will then follow!

Incarnational Leadership and Servant Leadership Principles

            Servant Leaders are the managers and administers who do the hands-on work of the Lord by being the people of the Lord. Incarnational Leaders are people who are more visionary, the ones who set the tone and empower the Servant Leaders. Incarnational Leaders are the visionaries, entrepreneurs, architects, and builders of the church. They lay the foundation and, with love and care, equip others for the details. They provide the building materials in leadership from their spiritual formation and growth. They give positive direction and engage one another in caring, effective relationships so the church will be operating on Kingdom principles. Servant Leaders are genuinely contributing to the life and ministry of the church. They are proactive and hands-on managers and administrators. Each leader type realizes he/she is not about gifts and personality; rather, each is a temple of God operating in Fruit, character, virtue, and serving Christ and one another.

            Here are a few bullet points with ideas for you to consider with prayerful contemplation. Read the passages at the beginning of this article and here in parentheses, and then look at each point and discuss. The veracity of each of the principles below applies to both Incarnational and Servant leaders:

Ask yourself or Group:

1.      Are these working in you and in your church? If not, why not?

2.      What would your church look like if these precepts were functioning?

3.      What can you do to instill Incarnational Leadership in yourself and your church?

            Hint: it starts with modeling them! And, don’t forget, lots of prayer (Romans 12; Galatians 1:15; 2:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 2:11; Philippians 2-3).

·        Incarnational and Servant Leadership are about being humble-minded! They are never negative, condescending, or scheming.

·        Incarnational and Servant Leaders will have the enthusiasm and willingness to be virtuous and positive to all of the people they touch, both in their family and in the church.

·        Incarnational and Servant Leaders are not insecure, but secure in whom they are in Christ. They recognize that life does not revolve around them, but rather on relationships, first with Christ and then with others. Their focus and motivation are not on their ideas, but first on Christ and then on others. In contrast, bad leaders are distinguished by their pride, boasting, self-absorption, self-protection, and self-interests.

·        Servant Leaders give priority to others and value their opinions. They do not compare or criticize others. 

·        Incarnational and Servant Leaders are, first and foremost, loyal to Jesus Christ. They are never concerned about serving their own interests, manipulating, or seeking personal gain or control.

·        They are people who have the attitudes that Jesus had!

·        They are people who have been transformed by Christ, with faith as the core of their being, and fuelled by Christ, not self!

·        They are people who place the needs of others first!

·        They are people who have eternal values and God's timing in mind!

·        They are people who place integrity ahead of ambition! (1 Tim. 3:2a & 7a)

·        They are people who see glorifying Christ and serving Him as the measure of success!

·        Servant Leaders of Jesus Christ and His church have His “basin and towel” attitude (John 13:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:26, 27)!

·        Servant Leaders do not neglect their families!

·        Incarnational Leaders do not allow themselves to fall away from their responsibilities and call.

·        Incarnational Leaders will have a deep sense of purpose that comes from God, with His direction, identity, and eternal destiny in mind.

·        Servant Leaders are not weak¾they are meek (strength under control)! They are willing to challenge the system, ask questions, take risks, and, when necessary, they are willing to change.

·        Incarnational and Servant Leaders, above all, desire to pursue their Christian formation to become excellent both in character and spirituality.

·        Christian leaders and followers must not allow personal agendas or power issues to get in the way of God’s Word or of reaching the goal of the church (if the goal is biblical).

·        Servant Leaders think strategically, like a quarterback does in football. They see the big picture and what is needed to run plays, then see possible options and defenses needed in order to better glorify our Lord in life, programs, and the church.

·        Incarnational Leaders do not seek power and/or influence; rather, they are revolutionaries showing that the world’s ways are ludicrous and ineffective (Mark 9: 33-37)!

·        Servant Leaders know how to lead themselves and others in order to bring the church deeper into the heart of God so to worship and glorify Him!

·        Servant Leaders are not willing to compromise truth or the Word just to be more effective!

·        Incarnational Leaders tear down sin and Satan’s strongholds and pull the weeds of strife away from the flock.

·        Servant Leaders should be able, while modeling the way, to get others to follow, empowering them to grow spiritually and in ministry.

·        Incarnational Leaders do not compare or judge one another. They see each church and leader who is operating under God’s call as unique and purposeful. They do not seek to become what they are not, nor cause division, strife, or conflict.

·        Incarnational Leaders do not leave conflict unresolved or festering. They are proactive and nip potential problems in the bud by showing others the vision that Christ has given and seeking how all can work together more efficiently to help build His Kingdom. 

·        Servant Leaders will include the team in all major decisions and strategic planning for the ministry.

·        Servant Leaders keep in mind Barnabus and his relationship to the disciple, Paul. The early church leadership, a model that we need to apply, linked them to each other.

·        Incarnational Leaders promote the atmosphere of unity as well as diversity. The unity is in Christ and the diversity is in race, economic status, gifts, abilities, and call. They are also willing and able to deal with disunity and divisions before they become rooted in the church culture.

·        Servant Leaders work primarily within their call, gifts, and Scripture, while at the same time are willing to be challenged. They will take up the slack in areas in which they are not best equipped until a better replacement is ready.

·        Servant Leaders are open and motivated by the Holy Spirit, which is not just a charismatic thing! (2 Tim 1:6,7)

·        Incarnational Leaders honor, respect, trust, and support one another as joint-heirs and partners in service to the Body of Christ (Rom. 8:14-17; Titus 3:7).

·        Servant Leaders never micromanage or manipulate others; rather, they exercise their power in constructive ways to serve others and empower them to be more effective and character-driven.

·        Servant Leadership is a team approach! The teammates know that working together means giving without receiving, as well as growing spiritually, both personally and corporately! 

·        Incarnational Leaders are realistic and are willing to take risks within reason.

·        Servant Leaders do not forget to support the church’s overall vision and purpose statement, nor place personal feelings higher or in place of it. Each team and Servant Leader is a working part amongst the other parts. Just as a car cannot go anywhere with just an engine, each team and leader contribute to the overall mission and purpose of the church.

·        Servant Leaders always tell the truth, stand for biblical convictions and values, and work to change what is not healthy in the church.

·        Servant Leaders know that loyalty, harmony, unity, trust, and commitment come from a collaborating and encouraging environment.

·        Servant Leaders realize they will face criticism, unpopularity, and risks, as well as public and private verbal rebuke and gossip. However, they are still willing to stand strong, because they do not stand alone. Christ is with them. He is never with the gossipers!

·        Servant Leaders listen to everyone, not just the ones in power or ones who have the influence!

·        Servant Leaders and Incarnational Leaders listen; they never brag or boast, except about Christ.

·        Servant Leaders are extremely important! All of the pastoral staff and board need to be servant leaders, as they will set the tone for the church.

·        Incarnational Leadership seeks to make sound, logical judgments that glorify Christ. They try not to jump ahead of God’s timing and plan, or jump to false conclusions.

·        Servant Leaders know that the effectiveness of their empowerment, training, and supervising of the team will determine the effectiveness of the ministry and church. 

·        Incarnational Leaders uphold and promote a vision that motivates, encourages, and inspires the church to accomplish the mission Christ gave. They encourage cooperative objectives that promote Kingdom agendas.

·        Servant Leaders can and should expect that Satan will not be happy with them, and must be aware of his various ways of distraction and confusion, especially when success comes which infringes on his ground. The church is Satan’s ground all too often!!

·        Incarnational and Servant Leaders know that Jesus walked the earth as a revolutionary. He did not conform to this world, nor did the Apostles. Our Lord’s teachings were conveyed with tender confidence, controlled power, and with passionate truth. He was not influenced by the rich and powerful of His day, as He rebuffed them and never backed down from His convictions. Jesus did not measure up to what they thought He should be, while at the same time, He was also threatening to those in power.

·        Servant Leaders will resist the latest fads and leadership trends that are unbiblical! Yet, they will use techniques that are in the character of our Lord to make them more effective! Examples might be budgeting and time management.

·        Servant Leaders are never prideful and do not take themselves too seriously! They will never have inflated feelings about their importance or thrive on attention and admiration!

These principles will take time to learn, as they cut across what we may have learned in seminary, at conferences, or from high-priced consultants. Nevertheless, we are called to run a church this way¾His way. We can learn it and implement it! In so doing we will be excellent and successful in what really matters, serving by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus Christ!

Servant Leadership Checklist

We have to ask ourselves whether we are being an agent of change or being manipulative and controlling. We have to ask ourselves if we are empowering people or scheming to get them to do what we want. Are we leading from our authentic spiritual formation or from an idea of what we think we should be? Because, to be a leader for Christ, we must put off our own personal agendas and adopt His will and ways! An Incarnational and Servant Leader is a servant of Christ and a servant to others above all else. So, do you follow the above servant leadership principles? Incarnational Leadership is servant leadership. It is about our personal and spiritual growth and that of others. It is being an example and imitator of Christ so not only are we planted, growing, and thriving, but we are planting seed and cultivating others to do so, too (Philippians 3:10-17; 1 Timothy 4:11-14; 2 Timothy 2:15; Titus 2:6-8). 

1.      What is working?

2.      What is not working?

3.      What am I doing wrong?

4.      What am I doing right?

5.      How can I put these precepts into practice?

·        The job of one who is committed to Servant Leadership is to model and facilitate trust in God and in one another. You must be committed to a stress-free environment in your team relationship! A good leader will always be actively listening and courteous. Your appreciation, love, and recognition of the contribution of others will encourage respect for one another because, as a team, all are growing together!

·        The leader