Spiritual Gift of Leadership

The spiritual gift of leadership is the special ability God gives to some to set goals in accordance with God’s purpose and to communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily work together to accomplish these goals for the glory of God. It is a divine enablement to cast vision, motivate, and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God.

“He must not be dictatorial, egotistical, or dogmatic; he is to be anything but that. Rather, he is to be humble, gracious, courteous, kind, and filled with love; yet at times he must be very firm…the leadership idea outlined in the New Testament is decisively in opposition to the notion of great pomp and pageantry. Rather, it emphasizes the graces of humility and service.” (Graham, 201)

Moves Things Forward

Leadership is a calling and never something that is thrust upon someone. A person with this gift will step forward when leadership is called for, both formally and informally, and will use their gift to move things forward. Organized and with a calm demeanor, a leader is able to inspire others to take on tasks and work to meet collective goals. They bring order to chaos.

Someone with this gift does not lead for their own personal gain. They will always have the well being of the body in mind when making decisions. They respect and earnestly appreciate those who take their leadership and accomplish goals. Luther comments on leadership when he writes with regards to Romans 12:8 the following:

“The clear and distinct norm of every ruler ship is diligence, as the apostle here states. Moreover, only he can be diligent in relation to others who is not concerned for himself or his own. For diligence makes one unconcerned, the wrong kind of diligence in the wrong way and the right kind in the right way. Therefore, then, let him who rules do so with diligence, i.e., with no concern for himself.” (Luther/Pauck, 339)

Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Leadership

Luther saw leadership as a way for believers to use their talents and skills to serve God and others, and to help build up the Church and the wider community. He believed that leaders should be committed to the common good and work for the betterment of all, rather than seeking personal gain or power.

Luther also stressed the importance of leadership being grounded in a strong faith and a deep understanding of God’s word. He believed that leaders should be knowledgeable and well-versed in the teachings of the Bible, and should be committed to upholding and sharing these teachings with others.

John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Leadership

Wesley encouraged believers with the gift of leadership to use their talents and skills to promote the well-being of others and to help build a more just and compassionate society. He saw leadership as a way for believers to serve God and others, and to contribute to the flourishing of the Church and the wider community.

The Catholic Church on the Spiritual Gift of Leadership

Overall, the Catholic Church sees the spiritual gift of leadership as an important aspect of Christian discipleship, a way for believers to use their talents and skills to serve God and others, and to help build a more just and compassionate world. Leadership should be grounded in humility, service, and a deep commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

People with this Gift:

Provide direction for God’s people or ministry
Motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities
Present the “big picture” for others to see
Model the values of the ministry
Take responsibility, establishes goals and makes course corrections when necessary
Able to make difficult decisions
Respects those who are doing the work to accomplish the goals
Does not get mired in details; different from the gift of Administration
Looks to build up leaders for the next team

Bible References

Ezekiel 34 1:4	Woe to leaders who do not take care of the flock
Acts 14:23	Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (leaders) for every church
Romans 12:8	Paul mentions the gift of leadership
Hebrews 13:7, 17	Exhortations for your leaders
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15	Paul on leadership and encouragement
1 Timothy 3:1-7, 12	Paul on leadership qualifications
1 Timothy 5:17	Honor the leaders of the church
1 Peter 5:1-4	Watch over your flock because you are eager to serve, not for personal gain

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References