{"id":12497,"date":"2025-01-13T09:00:36","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T14:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/?p=12497"},"modified":"2026-07-13T09:36:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T13:36:38","slug":"biblical-leadership-roles-policy-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/biblical-leadership-roles-policy-making.htm","title":{"rendered":"Biblical Leadership Roles Positively Affect Policy Making"},"content":{"rendered":"

What we do as leaders begins with who we are, even in policy making. If we don’t have Christ-like hearts<\/a>, it’s going to be difficult to fulfill our God-given roles — that of being a\u00a0 shepherd, guide, servant, steward, and example. Attitudes and motivations in policy making driven by ego and selfish concerns don’t go hand-in-hand with these biblical leadership roles.<\/p>\n

How Biblical Leadership Roles Positively Affect Policy Making<\/h2>\n

\"BiblicalHere\u2019s an overview of\u00a0leadership roles<\/a>\u00a0that positively affect policy making based on God\u2019s instructions to leaders in 1 Peter 5:2-4.<\/p>\n

Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Pet. 5:2-4, NASB)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Future posts will look more in depth at how these roles relate.<\/p>\n

1) Be a shepherd<\/a>.<\/p>\n

God wants leaders to \u201cshepherd the flock of God among you\u201d (1 Pet. 5:2). When we shepherd people, they’re our top priority, not our rules and regulations. Sure, we may need to tend to the pasture by putting safety measures and the like in place, but it\u2019s with the intent of protecting the sheep. We\u2019re not mere administrators or rule enforcers. Make a careful assessment of your priorities. Do people sense that next to loving God, they are your priority?<\/p>\n

2) Be a guide.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been given the responsibility of \u201cexercising oversight\u201d (1 Pet. 5:2). The remainder of the verse suggests that we do that more as a guide, not a dictator. And so, any policies we develop look after the welfare of the sheep and lead them to the Chief Shepherd as the ultimate One they follow, the One to whom we will all give an account. Looking at your leadership style, would you be considered more of a facilitator or enforcer?<\/p>\n

3) Be a servant.<\/p>\n

Leaders mustn\u2019t use policies as a way of \u201clording it over\u201d (1 Pet. 5:3) people. Rather, we selflessly and eagerly serve, using policies as mere tools to a greater good. Reflect on how even the enforcement of policies can be used as a means of serving people. How can we better communicate that intent?<\/p>\n

4) Be a steward.<\/p>\n

Notice that the \u201cflock of God among you\u201d has been \u201callotted to your charge\u201d (1 Pet. 5:2). When \u201cthe Chief Shepherd appears\u201d (1 Pet. 5:3), He will hold us accountable for more than the policies we developed and enforced. God has entrusted His people to our care as our top priority. May we hear \u201cWell done good and faithful servant\u201d for how we served the flock.<\/p>\n

5) Be an example.<\/p>\n

We best serve by \u201cproving to be examples to the flock\u201d (1 Pet. 5:2). We point people to the Chief Shepherd by our own attitudes, actions, and words, more than through the policies we develop. Think of ways even the wording of policies can reflect this objective.<\/p>\n

For More on These Topics:<\/p>\n