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One of my favorite quotes on leadership comes from the movie “The American President” where Michael J. Fox’s character gives an impassioned call to his friend and the current president to lead (NOTE: I do not endorse the politics of the movie, nor the movie itself, nor Michal J. Fox, although he was great in Back to the Future).  He said this:

“People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership they will listen to any voice that steps up to the microphone.  They want leadership.  They are so thirsty for it they’ll craw through a desert toward a mirage and when they discover there is not water, they will drink the sand.”  

I believe this is what we think about leadership, but frankly, leadership sometimes intimidates us.  We know there are some that seem born to lead, some that are naturals at it, and some are really good at it.  But what about the rest of us?  Are normal guys that follow Christ called to lead?  And if so, what does it take to be a leader? 

The answer should not be surprising.  Every man that has been transformed by the gospel is a follower of Christ, and thus calls others to follow him.  Men are leaders when it comes to disciple making, their homes, and their church.  This does not preclude women being leaders nor does it make men better (remember, Adam was incomplete without Eve…he needed help!).  Here are a few Biblical necessities of Biblical leadership:

• Leadership is cumulative, or a result of other pursuits – When we pursue God in worship, humble ourselves, purify ourselves, and become a servant of all, leadership will inevitably flow

• Leadership demands we know how to follow – A leader knows who his Leader is (see Ps. 5:8, 25:5, 31:3 on David’s understanding of this).  A leader knows that he is to be submissive to God, that his leadership is delegated from God, and this allows him to lead people to God.

• Leadership knows talk, by itself, is cheap (Phil. 3:17-4:1) – People will follow people that have demonstrated care and love.  We know that information is often better caught than taught, and a leader understands that he is calling people to follow his way of life, not just his words.  It is clear that a Biblical leader leads those toward the cross, not toward temporal satisfaction.  

• Leadership assumes the posture of a shepherd (Isa. 40:11; 1 Pet. 5:1-4) – A shepherd would always initiate with and observe, would protect, correct, nourish, love sacrificially, and serve tenderly with the flock he was in charge of.  A leader does the same with those he is leading.