Church Leader Qualities

Leaders don't need to try to be influential. When they are who they should be, they will make an impact on people's lives. Their lives will provide the example people need and want from their leaders.

Heart Qualities Matter Most to God

In God's Book, who we are matters more than what we do and what we look like.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7)
 
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Prov. 4:23)
 
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (Matt. 7:17-18)
 
A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. (Lk. 6:45)

Christ-like Traits That Impact a Leader's Ministry

We could list many of Jesus' qualities. Here, however, we'll look at some key ones for leaders. (Click on links for more about each trait. -- Check back for upcoming posts on qualities without links.)

Humility - not proud or arrogant, not acting superior but teachable and willing to serve rather than be served

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Phil. 2:5-8)

Integrity - authentic, transparent, true, above reproach, not hypocritical

"Teacher," they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others ..." (Matt. 22:16) - But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. (1 Pet. 1:15)

Love - caring and selfless in giving of yourself to others

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (Jn. 15:12-13) - ... walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 5:2)

Perseverance - diligent, determined, persistent

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2) - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal. 6:9)

Self-control - disciplined, able to restrain anger and other impulses

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin. (Heb. 4:15) - "Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matt. 26:52-54)

When we possess these qualities, we will tend do what we should do as leaders. Go to: Church Leadership Roles

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Posts in the Practicum with an Overview of These Leadership Traits in Specific Responsibilities:

For more, go to: Leader Qualities and Attitudes Resources


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