The Role of Leadership

Scripture uses numerous illustrations to describe Christian leaders and their relationships to their followers.

In Ezekiel 34, the leaders of Israel were called shepherds. They were given the responsibility of guiding, caring for, and protecting God’s flock, the people of Israel.

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul saw himself as a farmer and God’s people as the field. He had the responsibility of planting the crops, while other leaders like Apollos had the responsibility of watering them.

Paul also described himself as a master builder laying the foundation, and God’s people as the building. (1 Cor. 3:10)

To the Thessalonians, Paul described himself as their mother and father, and they as his children. He affectionately cared for them. He also exhorted, encouraged, and charged them to lead holy lives. (1 Thess. 2:7-12)

In each case, the Christian leader exists to serve his followers. The growth and maturity of the flock, field, building, and child are first priority. If your motivation for being a leader is to gain status on campus, feel needed, or have something to show on your college transcript…beware.

A leader serves people by freeing them to use their various gifts and abilities in working toward a common goal. The orchestra conductor frees musicians to make beautiful music together by providing them with a down beat, crescendo indications, and sectional balance. Without a conductor, musicians doing their own thing create dissonance and noise.

For example, the leaders of an IVCF chapter free their fellow students to use their gifts to work together toward a common goal by:

• Helping the group decide to which options they will commit themselves.
• Providing structure that will enable the group to communicate.
• Ministering to students’ fears, identifying their dreams.
• Affirming their followers’ intrinsic worth, and encouraging them to give themselves fully to the work.
• Providing models of sacrificial service that the group can imitate.