LEADERSHIP-CHARACTER
A leader
should be able to communicate in a nonargumentative, nondefensive and nonthreatening way - demonstrating
gentleness, patience and teachability without
compromising the message of the Word of God.
Leaders on Leadership, 1997, p. 92, Gospel
Light/Regal Books, Ventura, CA 93003, Used by Permission.
Spiritual
leadership is not won by promotion, but by prayers and tears. It is attained by
much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous
sacrifice of every idol, a bold uncompromising, and uncomplaining embracing of
the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified. This is
a great price, but it must be unflinchingly paid by him who would be a real
spiritual leader of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven,
on earth and in hell.
Samuel Brengle
According to
Scripture, virtually everything that truly qualifies a person for leadership is
directly related to character. It's not about style, status, personal charisma,
clout, or worldly measurements of success. Integrity is the main issue that
makes the difference between a good leader and a bad one.
John MacArthur
Grace to You Newsletter, Oct. 15, 2004.
God has not
given us one set of leadership principles for marriage relationships, another
set for biological family relationships, and yet another for relationships in
the larger (church) family. Though each
sphere of influence broadens in terms of function and responsibility, the basic
leadership principles are the same. A
husband is to be a servant-leader to his wife, a father is to be a
servant-leader in his family, and elders/overseers are to be servant-leaders in
the family of God.
Gene Getz
Elders and Leaders, Moody, 2003, p. 126.
Do you wish
to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay
first the foundation of humility.
Augustine
Do not desire
to be the principal man in the church. Be lowly. Be humble. The best man in the church is the man
who is willing to be a doormat for all to wipe their boots on, the brother who
does not mind what happens to him at all, so long as God is glorified.
C.H. Spurgeon
Micah's Message for Today.
A true and
safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a
position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press
of the external situation.
A.W. Tozer
But the
greater [a person] appears to be; the more humble he ought to be, and the more
ready to seek the common good in preference to his own.
Clement
Clement's
First Letter, 48:6-49:1.
The fact is,
the higher up we find ourselves in terms of power, influence, and wealth – the more
people look up to us – the more vulnerable we are to pride and self-deceit, and
the more prone we are to be blind to our spiritual needs and deficiencies. Once
we are established in a position of influence, we have a reputation to
maintain. We have a lot to lose if we get honest about our real spiritual
needs. For most of us, the subtle encroachment of pride is more dangerous, and
more likely to render us useless to God and others, than any other kind of
failure.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Brokenness, The Heart God Revives, Moody
Publishers, Chicago, 2002, p. 81-82.
It is very
rare for the spirituality of a group of Christians to exceed that of its
leaders.
John Benton
Quoted in: Reformation and Revival
Journal, v. 13, n. 3, p. 77.