Natural Leadership Vs. Spiritual LeadershipFND 360 Concepts of Servant Leadership

Natural SpiritualSelf-confidentKnows menMakes own decisionsAmbitiousCreates methodsEnjoys commandSeeks personal rewardIndependent

Confidence in GodAlso knows GodSeeks God’s willHumbleFollows God’s exampleDelights in obedience to

GodLoves God and othersDepends on God

Spiritual Leadership Spiritual leadership blends natural and spiritual

qualities.Spiritual Leadership transcends the power of

personality and all other natural gifts.Spiritual leadership requires superior spiritual power,

which can never be generated by the self.Spiritual leadership influences others through natural

gifts as the Holy Spirit works in and through the leader.

John Mott and Spiritual Leadership“Leadership in the sense of rendering maximum

service; leadership in the sense of the largest unselfishness; in the sense of full-hearted absorption in the greatest work of the world; building up the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Sanders p. 32)

Natural Leadership HeresiesHeresy #1Success in ministry is determined by numbers.Being focused on the numbers can cause:PrideDiscouragement (When growth stops or levels off)Drivenness (Work harder and smarted to the point of

exhaustion)Compromise (The Gospel Message)Comparison (Measuring ourselves by others)

God’s TruthSuccess in ministry is measured by…Faithfulness (Matthew 25:14-23) Are we being faithful

to God and his calling?Bearing Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) Are we bearing the

fruit of the Spirit in our daily walk.Fulfillment (John 15:11) Are you fulfilled in the

ministry you are doing? Could you do anything else and still be fulfilled-Joyful?

Glorifying God (1 Peter 4:11) Are you making God famous?

Natural Leadership HeresiesHeresy #2God needs our help and needs to be paid back.God’s TruthOur participation in the work of the Gospel brings His

blessings to and through our lives. God displays Himself through His blessings to us,

thereby bringing glory to His name. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Natural Leadership Heresies Heresy #3 Giving credit to human factors as the

explanation for what God accomplishes.Acts chapter 1:8 indicates that we must wait in prayer

for what God the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish.Acts chapter 1:8 indicates that we need to make God

famous by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Natural Leadership HeresiesHeresy #4 the institutional heresyHeresy TruthBoard ledStaff runCongregation servedWorld ignored

Board protectedStaff ledCongregation servingWorld served

Heresy #4 ExplainedBoard manages like an

organization or business.Staff does the work of

the ministry.Congregation becomes

the customer.World ignored-the saints

become the focus and recipients of service.

Board oversees and shepherds like a living organism-the church.

Staff equips the saints for the works of ministry.

The congregation serves customers.

World served-the lost become the focus and recipients of ministry.

ReferencesCousins, D. (2008). Experiencing the leadershift. David

C. Cook: Colorado Springs, CO.Sanders, J. O. (1994). Spiritual leadership. Moody Press,

Chicago, IL.