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INTRODUCTION TO IMAGES OF LEADERSHIP
You have probably already concluded that real-life leadership seldom precise-
ly follows strict laws. As Max DePree said, "Leadership is an art," not a science, and is
about shades and tones, not black and white. The advantage of thinking about
images, Biblical, three-dimensional, look-at-them-from- different-angles images is pre-
cisely that they are not black and white. They have texture and shape, they can be
examined at a distance or in detail. They may be contextualized, yet they have real
substance. And, in fact, they are biblical. Most often, images are the ways the scrip-
ture teaches about leadership. In one form, parables, they comprise the bulk of Jesus'
teaching in the gospels.
Hence
Images of Leadership. The nine images are meant to form a package,
a composite image, of leadership from scripture, in the same way that the various
images on the cover combine to form a single composite picture of our Lord. Each
image, each chapter of the material, can easily stand alone and doesn't need the other
material to make it understandable or useable for a group. The sessions are modular
so that they can be rearranged or selected to serve the needs of any group or team.
EACH SECTION IS ORGANIZED AROUND THE FOLLOWING PATTERN:
B discussion-based Biblical study,
C brief summary in lecture format, and
D small group discussion using case study, personal inventories, and interactive
exercises. The result is a training experience that is
> THOROUGHLY BIBLICAL: the sessions are built not around alliterative lists but an
inductive study of Scripture.
> THOROUGHLY INTERACTIVE: the sessions are built not around the flamboyant
story-telling and personality of some presenter but the shared experience in Scripture and its
application to the specific contexts of the group members.
> THOROUGHLY INSIGHTFUL: the sessions combine familiar and less familiar passages of
Scripture with keen insights for ministry that can be used and built upon in your ministry today.
> THOROUGHLY INTEGRATED: the sessions emphasize the character and faith develop-
ment of the leader and not simply rote application of techniques.
> THOROUGHLY PRACTICAL: with a skilled use of case studies and personal exercises,
the Biblical insights are brought home with memorable and useful tools and skills.
This material has been developed and tested in countless settings with
InterVarsity students around the country over decades, as IVCF staff have applied our
historical strengths of Scripture study and contextualization to the question of leader-
ship development with young adults. More recently, this material has been brought to
the church in its current format. All the case studies have been reframed for the church
context, but the Biblical insights remain as foundational as ever.
IMAGES OF LEADERSHIP: CONTENTS
IMAGE
WHAT GOD OFFERS
OUR RESPONSE
Psalm 23
ˇ To be satisfied in his care.
ˇ His shepherding care.
John 10:1-17
ˇ Out of our sense of provision, offer
ˇ His fierce loyalty to us
SHEPHERD
Ezekiel 34
shepherd care to others.
as his sheep.
John 21:15-19
ˇ When we lack what we need to be
ˇ Extravagant provision
Acts 20:17-38
shepherds, we are to return to the
for his flock.
1 Peter 5:1-4
Lord, our shepherd.
ˇ A model of extravagant
ˇ To lead by serving.
servanthood.
Mark 1:40-44
ˇ To serve by leading: foresight and
ˇ A call to extravagant
SERVANT
Mark 10:42-45
insight.
servanthood.
John 13:1-17
ˇ To serve by speaking.
ˇ The resources with
ˇ To participate in the economy of God.
which we can serve others
in God's name.
ˇ All of his expertise and
Psalm 50:7-15
ˇ To stop trying to impress God and
power available to heal
Isaiah 64:4
let him work.
and to save.
ˇ To submit to the Doctor's care and
PATIENT
Luke 12:35-38
ˇ His work and mercy for
Acts 17:22-25
his prescription for our health and
those who wait for him.
Mark 8:34-38
wholeness.
ˇ Life, security, greatness
Mark 10:27-31
ˇ To find our heart's desires met in a
if pursued by paradox
Mark 10:41-45
life of ministry
through faith
ˇ To young leaders, the
ˇ To believe God will give us the wisdom
resources with which to
we need to care for his people.
lead, especially his prom-
ˇ To care about what is in people's
SAGE
1 Kings 3:5-28
ise of wisdom to all who
hearts, not just their behavior.
James 1:5-7
ask for it.
ˇ To offer wisdom wisely, helping people
ˇ Encouragement and
make their own decisions.
support.
ˇ For his people, a sen-
ˇ To embrace the message of the sen-
tinel, one who sees clearly
Ezekiel 33:1-9
tinel, rejecting the lies of sin.
approaching danger and
Hebrews 3:12- 4:1
ˇ To step in to the role of sentinel in a
SENTINEL
speaks clearly of it.
1 Samuel 25
daily, routine way.
ˇ Promise of future provi-
ˇ To speak in a way that people hear
sion and grace, if we
grace and a way out.
listen to the sentinel.
L E A D I N G E D G EŽ ŠInterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003
IMAGES OF LEADERSHIP: CONTENTS
IMAGE
WHO LEADERS ARE
WHAT LEADERS DO
ˇ Captivated by a vision
larger than themselves.
ˇ Speak about what is true but have
ˇ Receive vision as a gift
hope for what is possible.
VISIONARY
1 Chronicles 29:1-22
and pass it on without
ˇ Model risky choices to move toward
their ego in the way.
the vision and call others to follow.
ˇ Clearly see God and his
ˇ Live by faith in a way that inspires
great goodness and their
others to do so also.
own dependence.
ˇ Heartbroken over the
needs of the people of God
ˇ Both pray and plan, neither too "spir-
ˇ Moved to pray for a work
itual" nor too practical.
STEWARD
of God in response.
Nehemiah 1:1-2:18
ˇ Delegate the vision, not just a task.
ˇ Thoughtful regarding
Responsibility with authority.
how to participate in that
ˇ Evaluate afterward and learn from it.
work.
ˇ Make difficult choices between com-
ˇ Willing to entrust the
peting values.
vision to others.
ˇ Give opportunity, training, authority
and insight to prepare people for min-
ˇ Eager to turn over real
Luke 9:1-6, 10
istry.
SPONSOR
ministry to others.
Luke 10:1-21
ˇ Speak about the difficulties, not just
ˇ Equipped to be equip-
2 Timothy 1:1-2:7
the joys, of ministry.
pers.
ˇ Serve as a coach, offering vision,
training, challenge and encouragement.
ˇ Committed to growth
Mark 3:7-19
and multiplication of min-
ˇ Focus on partnership over coverage
Mark 6:7-13
istry.
and depth over breadth.
John 13:1-17
ˇ Willing to focus on a
SOWER
ˇ Model and articulate the model in
Acts 20:17-36
few for the sake of the
order to pass it on.
Mark 2:18-20
many.
ˇ Look for ways to turn situations into
ˇ Committed to serving
multiplicative ministry opportunities.
leaders not using them.
L E A D I N G E D G EŽ ŠInterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003
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