The Role of a Shepherd
The essence of spiritual leadership is following Jesus and serving people. The tasks of leadership may vary. You will lead programs, people and projects. But the method of leading never changes. We don’t move from servanthood on to something else. The silver thread running through everything we do is that of servant-leadership. Leadership that does not involve servanthood is not spiritual leadership. Once we stop serving, we stop walking in Christ’s footsteps of leadership.
THE LEADER AS A SHEPHERD
In 1 Peter 5:2-3 Peter writes to the leaders of the church. “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
The primary duties of a shepherd are to lead, feed and meet the needs of the sheep. When we stop caring for people we relinquishment the right to lead. Our care for people is the basis for ministering to them. The adage is true...people don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care.
Real leaders are in short supply. Constantly people and group of people often search for real leaders people who are capable to lead. Throughout the bible God also search for real leaders too.
According to 1 Samuel 13:14, Ezekiel 22:30 and Jeremiah5:1. Shows that when God finds a person who is ready to lead, to commit to full discipleship and take on responsibility for others, that person is used to limit. Those leaders still have short comings and flaws, but despite those limitations, the serve God as spiritual leaders. Such leaders were Moses, Gideon, and David.
To be a leader in the church requires strength and faith beyond merely average.
Leadership is a influence, the ability of one person to influence others to follow his or her lead.
When God calls us, we cannot refuse from a sense of inadequacy. Nobody is worth of such trust. When Moses tried that excuse, God became angry (Exodus4:14). Let us no pass the buck of leadership because we thing ourselves incapable.
Spiritual leadership requires spirit filled people.